Academic Board Digest

Academic Board Digest from the 2 February 2022 meeting.

1. Chair of Academic Board’s update

In the Chair’s absence, the Deputy Chair updated members on the following matters:

• Membership
  • Newly elected members for the term 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2023 were welcomed.
  • Professor Mary Ryan (incoming FEA Executive Dean) would assume ex-officio membership on 14 February 2022. Professor Tobias was thanked for his contribution as Interim FEA Executive Dean.
• Meetings
  • Pattern and mode of meetings for 2022 would be conducted by either MS Teams or Face to Face.
  • Declarations of interest had been introduced as a new standing item on the Agenda and would be implemented for all of Academic Board’s sub-committees.
  • 2022 Academic Board Governance Day.
• Policy
  • The Academic Registrar was invited to updated Board on the review of the Course Approval, Amendment, Review and Discontinuation Policy, which she reported was expected to be brought to the March 2022 Board meeting.
  • Implementation of an Educational Partnerships Register was in progress, as required by the Educational Partnerships Policy.
• Courses
  • Reported that the Chair had met with the Director, Libraries to discuss scholarly resources and engagement with Libraries as part of course reviews.

Academic Board:

• endorsed the Statement of Responsibilities for ACU Staff Members of Board
• noted the 2021 Annual Academic Board Report to Senate
• noted the Executive Approvals during the period 18 November 2021 to 2 February 2022.

2. Vice-Chancellor and President’s update

The Vice-Chancellor spoke to the following highlights:

• Professor Meg Stuart’s appointment as Interim Provost following the Provost’s departure from ACU on 4 February 2022
• appointment of the Chancellor, Hon Justice Daubney AM, with effect from 1 January 2022 for a five-year term
• appointment of Professor Andrew Condon, Industry Professor, Veterans and Their Families
• campus reactivation
• government, partnerships and grants
  • appointment of The Hon Stuart Robert MP as Acting Education Minister
  • Memorandum of Understanding with the NSW Government to pursue innovation under the NSW University Innovation Partnership scheme
  • partnership with the National Catholic Education Commission to address critical teaching shortages. The VCP recorded his thanks to Associate Professor Tanti
  • ACU had been successful in securing the Victorian International Education Resilience Fund Grant, which would be utilised to support international student pre-enrolment engagement, transition and retention in 2022/2023.

3. Provost’s update

The Interim Provost reported on the following matters:

• Digital Education
  • ACU Online teaching had commenced on 31 January 2022.
  • Work had commenced on an implementation plan for new Learning Management System, Canvas, which was expected to go live from Semester 2, 2023.
• Enrolment
  • Enrolment EFTSL was below target, primarily due to delayed ATAR release.
  • Action Groups were meeting twice-weekly to discuss strategy.
• Academic Workforce
  • The Interim Provost recorded her congratulations to Associate Professor Lorenzen, who had been appointed as Manager, Student Engagement and Success.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor, Global Education and Pathways provided an update on his portfolio and highlighted:

• International student acceptances had significantly exceeded target.
• Student Veteran acceptances had almost been reached.
• The appointment of Ms Bronwyn Bartsch as Director, Global Engagement.

Academic Board noted the Educational Partnerships Report (June to December 2021).

4. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprises (DVCRE) update

The Interim DVCRE reported on the following matters:

• the appointment of Professor Kate Fullagar as a member of the Australian Research Council
• sector update
• upcoming ERA assessment
• impact of COVID on research.

5. Vice-President’s update

The Vice President:

• tabled the ACU Book of Prayer for members’ information
• provided an update on the Rome Campus.

6. Presentation

The Director, Learning and Teaching presented ACU Signature Pedagogy: A Distinctive Curriculum and highlighted:

• ACU’s education strategy vision
• the Blacktown campus transition pedagogy
• all re-assessments results
• future steps.

7. Reporting committees

Courses and Academic Quality Committee

Academic Board recommended the following new course proposals to Senate:

• Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five Years) (Accelerated)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting)
• Bachelor of Commerce (HRM and Management)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing)
• Bachelor of Commerce (Data Analytics)
• Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Honours)
• Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice / Bachelor of Laws
• Doctor of Ministry

Academic Board approved the following major course changes:

• Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Master of Professional Studies in Theology
• Graduate Certificate in Mission and Culture

Academic Board approved the following course discontinuations:

• Master of Global Learning and Leadership
• Bachelor of Commerce (Indigenous Cohorts)

Faculty Boards
Student Administrative Lifecycle and Policy Committee
Student Experience and Retention Committee
University Learning and Teaching Committee
University Research Committee

Academic Board noted minutes and updates.

8. Reporting

Academic Board noted the TEQSA Renewal Readiness Report.

9. University medals

Academic Board approved nominations for the 2021 University Medals and Honours Medals and a minimum medal score of 6.300 for 2022.