Academic Board Digest - 19 February 2020

Meeting 01/2020  19 February 2020

1. Report from the Chair of Academic Board

   The Chair spoke to the following highlights:

   • The 2020 Academic Board Governance Day was held on Tuesday 18 February 2020. Attendees were thanked for their participation in a successful Governance Day, which featured several presenters including Emeritus Professor Hilary Winchester, who would be conducting an independent external review of ACU’s Academic Governance processes in April 2020. Professor Emeritus John Niland AC, who also attended part of the governance day, would be conducting the review of Senate.
   • With respect to literature, the ACU Book of the Year 2020 This is my Song by Richard Yaxley would be gifted to every commencing first year student. The annual ACU Poetry Competition was underway.
   • Senate passed a resolution on 12 February 2020 to amend Statute 2.5 to include the Director, Learning and Teaching as a member of Academic Board. Professor Meg Stuart was welcomed back as an ex-officio member in her capacity as Director, Learning and Teaching following the conclusion of her term as FHS elected representative on 31 December 2019.
   • A vacancy existed in the position of Chair of the Standards and Compliance Committee Pursuant to the terms of reference, the Chair of SCC would be appointed by the Chair of Academic Board.
   • The position of Deputy Chair of Academic Board remained vacant. The Deputy Chair would be elected in accordance with Statutes 2.5 and 8.3, with the Corporation Secretary appointed as Electoral Officer.

    

2. Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education and Innovation) (“DVCEI”)

   The DVCEI spoke to the following highlights:

   • ASQA audit of ACU College
   • Office of Student Success:
     • 24/7 academic skills support service
     • University Crisis Line out-of-hours crisis counselling support, which aligned with the University’s mental health strategy

   The Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global and Education Pathways and the Academic Registrar delivered a presentation on the UAC White Label Direct Entry Scheme, which involved the consolidation of all ACU entry programs into one early entry scheme and portal. The Direct Entry Scheme was planned to be brought to Academic Board for endorsement later in the year.

   Academic Board approved the updated Membership to the University Learning and Teaching Committee Terms of Reference, which had been endorsed by the University Learning and Teaching Committee on 13 February 2020.

    

3. Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research)

   Academic Board approved the proposed amendments to the Research Active Definition Policy, which had been endorsed by the University Research Council, subject to minor amendments, as agreed.

   Academic Board noted the proposed amendments to the Research Study Program Policy, which had been endorsed by the University Research Council and was pending approval by the Vice-Chancellor and President.

   Academic Board members were briefed and consulted on the eight proposed faculty research centres to support research activity and development of research culture before referral to Senate for approval.
   
   

4. Executive Approvals by the Chair of Academic Board

   Academic Board noted the following Executive Approvals by the Chair of Academic Board pursuant to powers granted under cl 7.5 of the Delegations of Authority Policy:

   • 4 December 2019: to approve the withdrawal of the Bachelor of Human Services from offer from Semester 1, 2020, following endorsement from the Courses and Academic Quality Committee meeting at its meeting on 30 October 2019.
   • 4 December 2019: to approve the rescission of award completion and conferral for student S00186560, following endorsement from the Courses and Academic Quality Committee meeting at its meeting on 24 January 2020.
   • 16 December 2019: to proceed with the marketing / advertising campaign, subject to the approval of the course review of the undergraduate initial teacher education courses for implementation Semester 1, 2021, following endorsement from the Courses and Academic Quality Committee meeting at its meeting on 24 January 2020.
   • 18 December 2019: to revise the English Language Proficiency requirements for all accredited Bachelor of Nursing courses for implementation Semester 1, 2020, following endorsement from the Courses and Academic Quality Committee meeting at its meeting on 30 October 2019.
   • 22 January 2019: to approve the changes to amendment to the admission requirements for the Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurses) courses for implementation Semester 1, 2020, following endorsement from the Courses and Academic Quality Committee meeting at its meeting on 30 January 2020.

    

5. Internationalisation Committee – Report from the Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global and Education Pathways (“PVCGEP”)

   The PVCGEP provided an update on the novel coronavirus crisis and its impact on the higher education sector. There was discussion regarding ACU’s response to the virus as well as the following topics:

   • Code Blue Response Committee – critical incident management
   • ACU students impacted by travel bans and quarantine
   • Correspondence to students and maintaining contact with students affected by travel bans and quarantine
   • Issues with access to LEO due to Chinese firewall
   • Placement students affected by travel bans
   • Managing concerns of students and staff

    

6. Courses and Academic Quality Committee

   Academic Board approved the following major changes to courses:

   • Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design
   • Graduate Certificate in Higher Education
   • Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five Years)
   • Bachelor of Educational Studies
   • Bachelor of Education
   • Diploma in Liberal Arts
   • Diploma in Education (Tertiary Preparation)
   • Master of Teaching (Secondary)
   • Bachelor of Arts

   Academic Board approved the following course reviews:

   • Bachelor of International Development Studies
   • Bachelor of Education
   • Bachelor of Paramedicine
   • Graduate Certificate in Performance Analysis

   Academic Board approved amendments to the Courses & Academic Quality Committee Terms of Reference.

    

7. Standards and Compliance Committee

    Academic Board approved:

   1. the amendments to the Educational Partnerships Policy and the Educational Partnerships Procedures, as endorsed by the Standards and Compliance Committee by circular resolution on 7 February 2020, and
   2. the rescission of the Policy on Joint Awards between ACU and Other Institutions.

    

8. University Medals Committee

   Academic Board approved the award of 2019 University Medals and Honours Medals.

   Academic Board approved a minimum medals score of 6.300 for 2020.

   Academic Board approved amendments to the University Medals Committee Terms of Reference, which had been endorsed by the University Medals Committee on 4 February 2020.

    

9. Office of Planning and Strategic Management (“OPSM”)

   Academic Board noted the Fraud and Corruption Control Framework Update.

   Academic Board endorsed the OPSM draft reporting schedule for 2020.

    

10. Reporting Committees

    Academic Board noted minutes submitted by the following subcommittees:

    • University Research Committee
    • Courses and Academic Quality Committee
    • Internationalisation Committee (no minutes available since the last Academic Board meeting)
    • Academic Administrative Committee (no minutes available since the last Academic Board meeting)
    • Standards and Compliance Committee
    • University Learning and Teaching Committee
    • Faculty Boards:
      • Faculty of Education and Arts
      • Faculty of Health Sciences
      • Faculty of Law and Business
      • Faculty of Theology and Philosophy
        
        
11. Next Meeting

• Bachelor of Nutrition Science
• Master of Rehabilitation
• Bachelor of Nursing
• Bachelor of Midwifery
• Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
• Bachelor of High-Performance Sport
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Master of Business Administration (Executive)
• Bachelor of Laws
• Graduate Certificate in Governance and Management
• Master of Theological Studies
• Master of Religious Education
• Graduate Certificate in Philosophy (Healthcare Ethics)

Meeting 02/2020 of the Academic Board will be held on Wednesday, 29 April 2020 at 10:00 am in the Peter Cosgrove Centre, Tenison Woods House, 8-10 Napier Street, North Sydney.