News from the Students, Learning and Teaching Portfolio

A message from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Learning and Teaching) Professor Anne Cummins: ACU has taken steps to ensure our campuses are places of safety and respect.

The University is currently focusing on student safety and wellbeing, as an important example ACU has policies and resources to prevent sexual assault and sexual harassment, and ensures services are in place to support any student who discloses or reports any incidents.

As part of our regular practice, we are reviewing our approach to safety in regard to policy and associated documents, sexual harassment and sexual assault awareness and prevention programs on all campuses, and resources and information for students.

We have established an advisory committee that will review our current approach and recommend initiatives to promote and ensure safety and inclusion of students at ACU.

The Respect Now Always Advisory Committee currently includes staff and student representatives.

We have also partnered with other Australian universities in a national initiative led by Universities Australia. The Respect. Now. Always campaign highlights the determination of Australia’s universities to ensure students are safe from sexual assault and sexual harassment.

This work led by Universities Australia combined with our own review will strengthen ACU’s approach to preventing and responding to sexual assault and harassment.

We encourage you to report any incidents of sexual violence and harassment in the University to ACU Campus Security on 8888 on campus or 1300 729 452 off campus, and to the Police on 000.

Students, Learning and Teaching Conference 2017: Engaging Students for Success

If you are in a student facing role, don’t miss out on this year’s conference. The aim of the conference is to:

• Promote engagement with students from diverse backgrounds, with equally diverse aspirations and support needs
• Raise awareness of the impact of portfolio services on student engagement
• Demonstrate relationships between curricular and co-curricular experiences for students in enhancing student learning
• Strengthen and build effective partnerships between faculties and SLT directorates to create a positive learning environment for student success.

The conference will be held on Friday 14 July in Sydney.  Visit the Conference website here for registration details and more information.

With best wishes

Professor Anne Cummins
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students, Learning and Teaching)