Academic Board digests

Digest – Academic Board Meeting – 06/2024, 14 November 2024

A summary of the Academic Board meeting 06/2024 held on 14 November 2024 is detailed below.

Chair of Academic Board’s update

Academic Board:

• noted the membership update.
• approved the acquittal of the 2024 Academic Board Risk Register.
• noted the self-review activity for 2024.
• noted the Chair of Academic Board approvals.

Vice-Chancellor and President’s (VCP) update

The VCP reported on:

• the recent opportunities to meet with staff at the VC Staff Talks on the Ballarat, North Sydney and Strathfield campuses and acknowledged the campuses where future meetings were planned.
• press coverage of an incident at a Melbourne Graduation ceremony.
• the university’s performance regarding domestic and international enrolment numbers.

Academic Board noted:

• the Report of the Vice-Chancellor and President.
• the Self-Assurance Reports developed as part of ACU’s Renewal of Registration with TEQSA as provided by Professor Tim McKenry, Institutional Lead.
• the definitions of strategic measures for Impact Phase 1 (2024–2026) including the Research Training State of Play Update.

Provost’s update

The Deputy Provost reported on:

• the outcome following the review of the Academic Workload Policy and provided an overview of next steps.
• the continuous review of the EFTSL target and the current review of the enrolment plan.
• the new course proposal for the Bachelor of Computer Science/Master of Data Science, noting it would be the first vertical degree available in NSW.
• the strength in research across the university.
• highlights of activities in the faculties.
• the challenges in global education along with the opportunities available to the university, in particular, transnational education (TNE)

Academic Board discussed and noted the Report of the Provost.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) (DVCRE) update

Academic Board noted the Report of the DVCRE.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Education (DVCE) update

Academic Board noted the 2024 Educational Partnership Register report of new and revised partnerships as provided by Professor Anthony Whitty, Director, Centre for Education and Innovation (CEI) and provided advice on the policy that triggers this reporting.

Vice-President (VP) update

Academic Board noted the Report of the VP.

Presentations

Academic Board discussed and noted the 2023 Academic Misconduct Final Report, and the 2024 Academic Misconduct Interim Report as presented Professor Anthony Whitty, Director, CEI.

Academic Board discussed and noted the Generative AI / Assessment Presentation as presented Professor Anthony Whitty, Director, CEI.

Policy development

Academic Board approved:

• the 2025 Academic Regulations with effect from 1 January 2025.
• the amendments to the Student Conduct Policy and Managing Student Misconduct Procedure and the rescission of the Dealing with Instances of Fraudulent Information Policy and Dealing with Instances of Fraudulent Information Procedure with effect from 1 January 2025.
• consequential amendments to clause (16) h of the Student Academic Integrity and Misconduct Policy and clause (71), Table 1 of the Student Appeals Procedure with effect from 1 January 2025.

the AI Policy, with effect from 14 November 2024 for the recently established ACU AI Council, the Terms of Reference for which were submitted to VCAC for noting on 23 September 2024.

Reporting committees

1. Courses and Academic Quality Committee (CAQC)

Academic Board:

• noted the report of the Chair of the Courses and Academic Quality Committee, dated 4 November 2024.
• approved the major course change to amend the admission requirements for the Bachelor of Arts (Western Civilisation), as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000913, effective for Semester 1 2026.
• approved the proposal to discontinue the non-award short course, Child Safe Organisations, as detailed in the submission attached as Item, effective for Semester 2 2025.
• noted the recommendations of the Stage 1 Course Review of the:
  o Master of Health Professional Education
  o Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education
  o Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education
• noted the recommendations of the Stage 1 Course Review of the:
  o Master of Professional Psychology
  o Master of Psychology (Clinical)
  o Master of Psychology (Educational and Developmental)
• noted the recommendations of the Stage 1 Course Review of the:
  o Bachelor of Commerce
  o Bachelor of Commerce/ Bachelor of Business Administration (BCOMBA)
  o Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (BCOMLW)
  o Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Laws (Honours) (BCOMLH)
  o Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Commerce (BABCOM)
  o Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Global Studies (BCOMGL)
  o Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Commerce (BPSBCO)
• noted the recommendations of the Stage 1 Course Review of the Master of Professional Accounting.
• noted the recommendations of the Stage 1 Course Review of the Master of Business Administration.
• noted the recommendations of the Stage 1 Course Review of the Bachelor of Information Technology.
• noted the recommendations of the Stage 1 Course Review of the Master of Information Technology.
• noted the recommendations of the Stage 1 Course Review of the Master of Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management.
• endorsed the new course proposal for the Bachelor of Computer Science/Master of Data Science, to be offered at the North Sydney campus from 2026, for Senate approval effective for Semester 1 2026.
• noted the combined Course Reviews 2015-2024 - Assurance Report and 2025 Faculty Stage 1 Course Review submission schedules as recommended by the Courses and Academic Quality Committee on 16 October 2024.
• noted the Provost’s Course Suspension Approvals.
• noted the minutes.

2. Internationalisation Committee (IC)

Academic Board:

• discussed and noted the Agent Management Processes update.
• noted the minutes.

3. University Learning and Teaching Committee (ULTC)

Academic Board noted the minutes.

4. University Research Committee (URC)

Academic Board:

• noted the report of the Chair, URC dated 31 October 2024.
• noted the Research Operations Report for year-to-date August results inclusive of:
  o the Research Activities Quarterly Update; and
  o the Research Ethics and Integrity Report.
• approved the Progress Update / Close-Out Report for the Final Report on the Thematic Review of Research and Research Training (2023).
• noted:
  o the Higher Research Degree (HDR) Report; and
  o the Graduate Research School Update,
  dated October 2024, as noted by the University Research Committee.
• noted the Higher Education Standards B1.3.12 Action – ODVCRE Response.
• noted the minutes.

5. Faculty boards

Academic Board noted the minutes and updates from:

• Faculty of Education and Arts.
• Faculty of Health Sciences.
• Faculty of Theology and Philosophy.

Digest – Academic Board Meeting via circular resolution, 15-19 November 2024

A summary of the Academic Board meeting held via circular resolution, 15-19 November 2024 is detailed below:

Academic Board:

• approved the following major course changes arising from the recommendations of the Stage 1 Review of the Master of Teaching (Secondary) (Leading Learning):
  o amendment of the course completion requirements;
  o amendment of the schedule of unit offerings;
  o amendment of the course map; and
  o introduction of a Professional Term 3 map,
  effective for Summer Term 2026.
• approved the following major course changes arising from the recommendations of the Stage 1 Review of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five):
  o revised course aims and description, and statement of mission and values; and
  o revised course learning outcomes, effective for Summer Term 2026.
• approved the major course change for the following degrees:
  o the addition of the internship specialisation to:
  • the Bachelor of Education (Secondary);
  • the Bachelor of Education (Secondary and Special Education), and
  o the offering of the internship specialisation online for the:
  • the Master of Teaching (Secondary);
  • the Master of Teaching (Secondary)/Graduate Certificate in Religious Education,
  effective for Semester 1 2025.
• approved the following major course changes arising from the recommendations of the Stage 1 Review of the Bachelor of Social Work, and Bachelor of Social Work (Honours):
  o amendment of the course structure; and
  o replacement of elective units with required Fields of Practice units,
  effective for Semester 1 2026.
• approved the major course change arising from the recommendations of the Stage 1 Review of the Bachelor of Biomedical Science consisting of amendments to the admission prerequisites, course rules, and the course learning outcomes, as detailed in CMAS proposal PR000790, effective for Semester 1 2026.