A/8.9 University Equity Committee charter
Policy Owner | Director, Equity |
Approval Date | 25/05/2022 |
Approval Authority | Vice-Chancellor and President |
Date of Next Review | 01/12/2023 |
8.9.1 Purpose
8.9.2 Accountability
8.9.3 Responsibilities
8.9.4 Membership
8.9.5 Meeting frequency
8.9.6 Reporting and communication
8.9.7 Procedures
8.9.8 Secretariat
Modification History
8.9.1 Purpose
The University Equity Committee promotes the achievement of fair and equitable outcomes for diverse QUT student and staff communities, so that they can flourish and achieve their potential. This is done through providing advice to the Vice-Chancellor and President, and awareness raising and advocacy at all levels of the University.
8.9.2 Accountability
University Equity Committee is a management committee accountable to the Vice-Chancellor and President.
8.9.3 Responsibilities
University Equity Committee undertakes the following responsibilities:
Advisory
- provides advice to the Vice-Chancellor and President on all social justice matters
- reviews state, national and international trends in higher education, State and Federal legislation, and public policy, which have the potential to impact on the social justice framework and/or equity related objectives of the University
- recommends policy initiatives in the equity area
- advises on the equity implications of University policies
- advises on the development of institutional responses to policy initiatives taken by government and other external agencies
- consults with and advises appropriate committees and officers of the University on equity matters.
Coordination and Awareness
- through Equity Committees in each faculty and division, consults, collaborates, and coordinates social justice efforts across the University through information sharing, strategy development, and promotion of priority programs
- coordinates and supports working parties of University Equity Committee as established from time to time.
Monitoring
- monitors the implementation of equity policy and programs within the University.
8.9.4 Membership
- Nominee of the University Registrar as Chair
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Australians) or nominee
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) or nominee
- Chair of each division/faculty equity committee ex officio
- One undergraduate student nominated by the University Registrar
- One postgraduate student nominated by the University Registrar
The Director, Equity attends meetings as executive officer of University Equity Committee.
Nominated members of the Committee serve a term of office of up to two years. The length of a nominated member’s term of office is recommended to the nominator by the Chair, on advice from the Secretariat.
8.9.5 Meeting frequency
Terms of office are as detailed in section 6 of Council Procedure 1 - Committees.
University Equity Committee meets at least four times a year.
8.9.6 Reporting and communication
University Equity Committee reports to the Vice-Chancellor and President, as needed.
8.9.7 Procedures
University Equity Committee operates in accordance with Council Procedure 1 - Committees.
8.9.8 Secretariat
A nominee of the Vice-President (Administration) and University Registrar is secretary, on recommendation of the Director, Equity.
Modification History
| Date | Sections | Source | Details |
| 25.05.22 | All | Vice-Chancellor and President | Revised charter following management committee self-assessment outcomes |
| 26.02.21 | A/8.9.4, A/8.9.8 | Vice-Chancellor and President | Revisions to membership provisions following organisational restructure |
| 22.09.20 | All | Director, Governance and Legal Services | Date of Next Review extended to accommodate the committee review and self-assessment process deferred to 2021 |
| 02.05.19 | All | Vice-Chancellor and President | Revised membership following self-assessment review |
| 08.02.18 | All | Vice-Chancellor | Terms of reference redrafted to committee charter and renamed to University Equity Committee |
| 14.11.12 | All | Equity Board | Revised terms of reference and membership provisions to include a representative from Caboolture campus |
13.11.08 |
All |
Equity Board |
Annual Committee self assessment – Board reviewed, no change required |
29.11.07 |
All |
Vice-Chancellor |
Renumbered to A/8.9 (formerly A/8.1) as part of revised policy framework for social justice; sub-committees of Equity Board disestablished as formal Vice-Chancellor’s committees (Low-SES Student Equity Committee, Disability Services Committee, Cultural Diversity Committee and Equity Awards Committee) – these committees to continue as working parties from 01.01.08 under their current membership and terms of reference (endorsed by Equity Board 15.11.07) |
14.08.07 |
All |
Vice-Chancellor |
Revised terms of reference for Equity Board (triennial reporting cycle approved, effective from 2006) (endorsed by Equity Board 03.07.06) |
25.10.06 |
All |
Council |
Revised membership provisions relating to student representation on Equity Board and its sub-committees, consistent with Council Procedure 1 - Committees |
| 29.06.04 | All | Vice-Chancellor | Revised terms of reference and membership provisions in accordance with recommendations of Vice-Chancellor's Panel of the 2003/2004 Committees Review (Equity Board to be further reviewed by end of 2004) |
| 30.08.00 | All | Vice-Chancellor | Revised membership to include a representative from Chancellery |
| 28.05.98 | All | Council |
Change to chairperson and reporting arrangements |