What the positions involve

Senate
is the primary governing body of the University with responsibilities that include setting the strategic framework for the University and monitoring performance against that framework. Membership involves attending six meetings a year (held at 4.30pm on a Wednesday afternoon)as well as a planning retreat and membership of at least one Senate committee.

Academic Council
is the senior decision-making body on academic matters within the University. Every meeting has substantive debate on some major educational issues, usually following reports from committees. Council meets nine times a year, on Wednesday afternoons. The Postgraduate Student Representative on Academic Council is also a member of the Learning and Teaching Committee.

Faculty Learning & Teaching Committees
are responsible for advising the Faculty Dean on matters pertaining to the Faculty coursework and research learning and teaching environment and on the introduction of any new academic majors, minors and courses within the Faculty including, recommending to the Faculty Dean the structure of all courses, majors and minors and the unit offerings within the Faculty, as well as monitoring learning and teaching quality outcomes. They meet at least quarterly. Further information on these committees is available at http://www.guild.murdoch.edu.au/representation/school-representatives/

School Boards
are responsible for recommending each year on the courses and units to be offered within the School in the following year; recommending on course requirements, and varying them in individual cases; advising the School Head on resource and strategic academic issues; administering the courses offered by the School; academic oversight of units; and determining the School response to the 5-yearly School Review. They meet at least once a semester. Further information on these boards is available at http://www.guild.murdoch.edu.au/representation/school-representatives/

Occupational Health and Safety Policy Committee
advises the Deputy Vice Chancellor on policy issues in this area. It is required to meet every three months.

Guild President
is the official spokesperson and chief executive of the Guild of Students, represents the Guild and the student body both within the University and to external organisations, and is responsible for Guild operations. This position is full time and paid. This role is also an ex-officio member of Academic Council.

Guild Education Vice President
is a spokesperson on education issues, assists the Guild President, chairs the Guild Education Council, and coordinates the work of the student representatives within the University. This position is full time and paid. This role is also an ex-officio member of Academic Council and a member of the Learning and Teaching Committee.

Guild Council Members
meet regularly to discuss Guild policy, major issues and areas of student concern. Guild Councillors are elected directly to their portfolios. For further information on these portfolios, please go to http://www.guild.murdoch.edu.au/representation/

Collective Representatives
represent the interests and concerns of the collective which they are elected to represent to the Guild Council. There are collectives for women, external students, indigenous students, students with disabilities, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and queer students.

Guild Association Presidents
The MISA, PSA, RSA and MUPSA each have a President, elected from the members of that Association. The President’s role is to advocate for the students whom they represent, and also to coordinate the activities, meetings and finances of their Association. They also serve as a member of the Guild Council

NUS delegates
represent Murdoch students at the annual state and national conferences of the National Union of Students. Both conferences are held in December.