The Academic Timeline presents an overview of university tasks, processes and interactions between Directorates and Faculties. It is designed to reflect the capacity of teaching academics at different times of the year and as a result, increase collaboration, and promote communication when it is most optimal.

The Academic Timeline

ACU strives to bring a distinctive perspective to higher education in Australia with a focus on opportunity, innovation, and ethics. ACU's distinctive approach to education requires collaboration across all areas of the University and needs to be founded on clear communication, teamwork, and mutual understanding.

The Academic Timeline presents an overview of university tasks, processes and interactions between Directorates and Faculties, to increase collaboration, promote communication and efficiencies. The Academic Timeline will assist:

  • Academic Staff to gain an understanding of what interactions they can expect to have with Directorates, including when and detailed processes.
  • Directorate staff to understand peak periods and focus zones for academic staff, most appropriate times for seeking assistance and detailed processes for their respective interactions with academic staff.

Staff should consult the Focus Zones prior to contacting teaching academics to ensure the timing of the interaction is appropriate to their current priorities.

 

 

Focus Zones

Focus Zones are peak periods within a teaching academic's calendar requiring their complete attention and time around learning & teaching activities and the student experience.

Directorates are kindly asked not to request information or participation from academics during these periods, with the exemption of interactions identified within the dashboard or ongoing student engagement activities that are integral to the student experience and learning and teaching. In return, teaching academics will have greater capacity for information sharing and participation during non-peak periods with Directorates.

Focus Zone Period

2025 Dates

Total Weeks

1

 17 – 23 February

1 week

2

3 March – 16 March

2 weeks

3

21 April –  4 May

2 weeks

4

 9 June – 29 June

 3 weeks

5

 21 July – 27 July

1 week

6

 4 August – 17 August

2 weeks
7  29 September – 12 October 2 weeks
8  10 November – 30 November 3 weeks

 

16 weeks
Save the Focus Zones to your Outlook Calendar
  1. Download the 2025 Focus Zones here. The .ICS files will be downloaded to your computer.
  2. If you have classic Outlook for Windows: Unzip the folder and open the iCalendar file and click save & close. The Focus Zone will appear in your Outlook calendar.
  3. If you have new Outlook for Windows: Open the calendar view in Outlook and drag and drop the .ICS files from the unzipped folder onto the Calendar. An add calendar window will open, select your calendar from the list and select Import. The Focus Zone Period will appear in your Outlook calendar.

 

The Academic Timeline Dashboard

Access the Academic Timeline Dashboard

Dashboard Demonstration

The following video provides a demonstration of the functions and features of the Academic Timeline Dashboard. 

  

Governance Framework

The Academic Timeline is a live document to reflect the university's ever-changing environment. To support the implementation of the initiative the Academic Timeline Governance Framework was endorsed by Academic Board in 2023 and amended by the Steering Group in November 2024. Access the Governance Framework here.

Updates to the Academic Timeline will be ongoing and monitored by the Academic Timeline Steering Group and the Academic Timeline Community of Practice. If you have any questions or suggestions of additional interactions, please contact CEI@acu.edu.au.

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Page last updated on 11/12/2024
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