Beginning the New Year as we mean to go on
News 5 FebruaryA message from the Executive Dean of Theology and Philosophy, Professor Richard Colledge: A new year provides opportunities to nurture what has been planted, and bring buds to bloom.
07 February 2017
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A message from the Provost, Professor Pauline Nugent:
Dear colleagues,
I am pleased to share with you some recent highlights from my Portfolio:
Enrolments
Since late last year, I have been leading the 2017 admission process and working with Executive Deans, Student Administration, OPSM, and my office to closely monitor applications and offers.
The main offer rounds for undergraduate courses via the TAC environment have been concluded. As at 20 January, ACU has significantly increased offers by 46.7 per cent more than the same period last year. First Preference and Direct offers combined are also significantly higher than last year. I will continue to lead the offers strategy over the coming weeks which will involve detailed analysis and close consultation with Executive Deans as we shape load for 2017.
Postgraduate and international fee paying enrolments are still open and building. We will continue to monitor load with final performance against plan for Semester 1 2017 to be evaluated in late February when all commencing and continuing students have enrolled.
Expanding international collaboration
I am currently travelling in the United States to conduct University business.
Last week in Washington, DC I met with Dr Andrew Abela, Provost, Catholic University of America (CUA) to discuss the future strategic direction of our Rome Campus collaboration. While there, Director of Identity and Mission Fr Anthony Casamento and I also met CUA’s Dean, School of Theology and Religious Studies Fr Mark Morozowich to further collaborative work towards an ecclesiastical status for ACU’s Faculty of Theology and Philosophy.
We also attended the 2017 Annual Conference of the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU) of which ACU is one of 238 member institutions. ACCU is the peak body for higher education providers with a shared commitment to their Catholic mission and identity.
This week, I am with Professor Michelle Campbell, Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences for meetings with the University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and University of San Diego on potential partnerships and academic collaboration in health sciences. I will share more details of the meeting outcomes in the next bulletin.
Core Curriculum
The International Core Curriculum was held at the Rome Campus with a total of 28 students enrolled. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Students, Learning and Teaching Professor Anne Cummins delivered the unit alongside Fr Anthony Casamento. This student cohort was also privileged to have our Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Greg Craven in a lecture on Human Dignity and the Law. Our students complemented their classroom learning with community engagement activities including food distribution to the homeless and visiting Roma Camps with members of the Community of Sant’ Egidio.
The London offering of the International Core is currently running at Heythrop College with 26 students. Professor Cummins is teaching this three-week intensive unit with Director, Office of Student Success Ms Evelyn Picot.
Following the Academic Board’s approval in November last year, the refreshed Core Curriculum Unit UNCC300: Justice and Change in a Global World is currently being delivered to over 1100 students during the summer period. I am pleased to note that preliminary feedback from faculty and students has been very positive.
Interest amongst academic and professional staff to teach the refreshed Core Curriculum Units, both domestically and internationally, have also been encouraging with 150 expressions of interests received.
A message from the Executive Dean of Theology and Philosophy, Professor Richard Colledge: A new year provides opportunities to nurture what has been planted, and bring buds to bloom.
Congratulations to ACU Honorary Professor David Runia who was named a Member of the Order of Australia in this year’s Australia Day honours.
During the first week of February every year we celebrate World Interfaith Harmony Week.
The Centre for Education and Innovation (CEI) is offering six one-hour professional development sessions to prepare academics for the start of Semester 1. Register for the webinars here.
The library has expanded its support for affordable learning.
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We’d love to hear from you. Learn how to submit a Staff Bulletin story, as well as some changes to our Staff Communications Policy.
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The Office of the Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Director, Campus Leadership, is seeking expressions of interest for male staff members, both professional and academic, to be on the staff panel fo...
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Lock in your professional development for the 2025 year.
Changes to the Academic Regulations were approved by Academic Board and take effect in 2025.
A new Authority to Act Policy and Authority to Act Procedure were approved by Academic Board and take effect in 2025.
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Please note the digests from Academic Board meetings 06/2024 held on 14 November 2024 and via circular resolution from 15-19 November 2024.
The 2025 Academic Timeline interactions and focus zones are now available to help prioritise the planning and delivery of learning and teaching. Sync the focus zones to your Outlook calendar now.
The 2024 Showcase of Teaching and Learning brought staff and students together to share innovations and collaborations from across the university. An online edition will be hosted in early 2025.
It has been a big year, and we understand that the festive season can be a different experience for each of us. Access a new resource from our employee assistance program, designed to help you prepare...
Visit Service Central to access Corporate Services.