Academic Board Digest

A summary of the Academic Board meeting held on 16 November 2022 is detailed below.

Chair of Academic Board’s update

Academic Board:

• noted the update of the Academic Board Self-Review
• noted the Annual Student Priority List closing report 2022
• noted the approvals granted by the Chair of Academic Board during the period of 1 September 2022 to 4 November 2022.

Vice-Chancellor and President’s (VCP) update

The VCP updated members on the following matters:

• the Vice-Chancellor’s Staff Excellence Awards
• acknowledgement of the seven ACU researchers who were named on the Highly Cited Researcher list for 2022
• the outcome of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) accreditation
• ACU’s preparations for its renewal of registration with TEQSA.

Provost’s update

The Interim Provost reported on:

• student-related projects including the Student Success Agenda and the Academy for Global Impact and Leadership through Ethics (AGILE)
• scholarships awarded through the 2023 Honours Scholarship Pilot
• grants awarded through the Teaching and Development Grants in 2022
• support for the Teaching for Australia program in NSW
• engagement with Catholic Education South Australia that resulted in the offer of a scholarship to ACU students to undertake their final practicum in South Australia
• potential engagement with students in rural and regional areas (including Ballarat in 2023), through the Step Up Into Teaching (SUIT) program
• Dr Jessica Lake, Institute for Humanities & Social Sciences (ILSTE) successful DECRA application
• the online pilot program delivered by Global Leader Experience (GLE), in partnership with Common Purpose
• strategies to mitigate reputational risk of low ATARs in our Initial Teacher Education (ITE) courses.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise update

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research and Enterprise, reported on:

• ACU’s maintenance of its position in the top 300 ranking in the 2023 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Ranking and improvement in the Research and Performance recognition category
• the awarding of three Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards from the Australian Research Council (ARC) for projects spanning ancient thought, legal history and educational motivation
• Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) round funding
• grants awarded since the launch of the new ACU Research and Enterprise funding schemes
• the established new partnerships in stroke research, youth mental health and global health.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Ethics update

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Ethics, reported on:

• Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Ethics update
• PM Glynn Institute:
  • the second ETHOS event on the future of work
  • the first Greg Craven lecture of Ethics and Politics
• Institute for Child Protection Studies:
  • Daryl Higgins met with Australian Parliamentarians for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
  • the campaign to End Physical Punishment of Australian Children (EPPAC)
• the recent achievements of Steve Matthews, Marija Kirjanenko and Bernadette Tobin from the Plunkett Centre for Ethics
• the recent achievements of Dr Bridget Pratt and Dr David Kirchhoffer from the Queensland Bioethics Centre
• First Peoples update
• the commencement of Janet Fletcher as Director, Libraries.

Vice-President update

The Vice-President reported on:

• the inaugural Ex Corde: Leading our Mission at ACU live-in retreat
• the book launches of Voices of Clemente and Ex Corde Ecclesiae: Reflections after 30 Years
• the recent Mission Induction Workshops and the filming of the Hiring for Mission video testimonials
• students for the Semester in Rome (SIR)
• successful participation of ACU students at the 2022 Brisbane and Sydney Ignite conferences
• Semester 2 numbers of students enrolled in Community Engaged Learning units
• new scholarship projects.

Presentations

Academic Board:

• discussed and noted the Interim 2022 Academic Misconduct Report
• discussed and noted the Widening Participation Plan 2023-2026 and Widening Participation Implementation Roadmap.

Reporting Committees

1. Courses and Academic Quality Committee (CAQC)

Academic Board:

• noted the report of the Chair of the Courses and Academic Quality Committee (CAQC), dated 3 November 2022
• approved the new course proposal for the Master of Liberal Arts (Western Civilisation) for implementation for Semester 2 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000376
• That Academic Board approve the major course change for the:
  • Master of Teaching (Early Childhood and Primary)/Graduate Certificate in Religious Education; and
  • Master of Teaching (Secondary)/Graduate Certificate in Religious Education
    for implementation for ACU Online Term 3, 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000386
• Pending a successful outcome of the tender detailed in the proposal, Academic Board approved the major course change for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five) (Accelerated), for implementation for Professional Term 3, 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000397
• approved the major course change for the Bachelor of International Development Studies, for implementation for Semester 2 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000449
• approved the proposal to discontinue the Graduate Certificate in Psychology of Risk, for implementation for Semester 2 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000421
• approved the new course proposal for the Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science for implementation for Semester 1 2024, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000257
• approved the new course proposal for the Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice for implementation for Semester 1 2024, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000256
• approved the recommendations of the course review of the:
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science
  • Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Commerce
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Laws
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science / Bachelor of Laws (Honours)
  • Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours)
    for implementation from Semester 1 2024, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000297
• approved the recommendations of the course review of the:
  • Bachelor of Applied Public Health
  • Bachelor of Biomedical Science / Bachelor of Applied Public Health
  • Bachelor of Exercise Science / Bachelor of Applied Public Health
  • Bachelor of Applied Public Health / Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Applied Public Health / Bachelor of Global Studies
    for implementation from Semester 1 2024, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000399
• approved the major course change for the Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry) for implementation from Semester 1 2024, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000410
• approved the major course change for the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Surgical) for implementation for ACU Online Term 1 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000409
• approved the proposal to discontinue the Graduate Certificate in Aged Care Management effective from Semester 1 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000420
• approved the proposal to discontinue the:
  • Undergraduate Certificate in Public Health
  • Undergraduate Certificate in Nutrition Science
    effective from Semester 1 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000422
• approved the new course proposal for the Diploma in Criminology, for implementation for Semester 1 2024, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000424
• approved the new course proposal for the Graduate Certificate in Supervision for implementation for Semester 1 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000428
• approved the major course change for the Graduate Diploma in Supervision for implementation for Semester 1 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000396
• approved the major course change for the:
  • Master of Spiritual Direction
  • Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction (exit award)
    for implementation for Semester 1 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000395
• approved the major course change for the Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies for implementation for ACU Online Term 3 2023, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000398
• approved:
  • the amendments to the Structuring Coursework Programs Policy, with effect from 1 January 2023, pending the removal of the text in the Exit qualifications column for the Bachelor Honours (end-on) Degree
  • the rescission of Guidelines for Bachelor and Double Bachelor Programs, with effect from 1 January 2023
  • the rescission of:
    • Guidelines for Honours Programs
    • Guidelines for Postgraduate Coursework Programs
      with effect from 1 August 2023
• noted the minutes.

2. Internationalisation Committee

Academic Board noted the minutes.

3. Student Administrative Lifecycle and Policy Committee

Academic Board:

• noted the SALPC Chair’s report, dated 2 November 2022
• approved the amendments to the 2023 Academic Regulations, with effect from 1 January 2023
• approved:
  • the amendments to the Student Complaints Policy and Student Complaints Procedures, with effect from 1 January 2023
  • the consequential amendments to the Student Conduct Policy, with effect from 1 January 2023
• approved the amendments to the Student Appeals Policy and Student Appeals Procedures, with effect from 1 January 2023
• approved amendments to the Conferral and Graduations Policy and Procedures for Graduation Ceremonies with immediate effect
• agreed to resolve the approval of the Recognition of Academic Excellence Policy and Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedures via circular resolution following clarification on issues raised by members
• noted the minutes

4. University Learning and Teaching Committee

Academic Board:

• noted the Student Experience and Outcomes Report
• discussed and noted the Quality Assurance Framework: Progress and Roadmap
• noted the minutes.

5. University Research Committee

6. Faculty Boards

Academic Board noted minutes and updates.