University Legislation

Statute No. 5 -- Academic Council

(approved 5/6/1974) (last amended 20/01/2009)

1.	The Academic Council shall be a committee constituted by this Statute for the purposes of section 18(1) of the Act and is the principal academic body of the University. Subject to the authority of the Senate, the functions of the Academic Council are:
	(a)	to determine the policies of the University on academic aspects of the University, including teaching and learning, admission of students, credit for prior learning, assessment and academic progress of students, and research, and to make Rules on such matters where it deems this appropriate;
	(b)	to determine the courses and majors to be offered by the University, subject to the authority of the Vice Chancellor as academic principal and chief executive officer of the University;
	(c)	to recommend to the Senate on the making, amending or repealing of Regulations concerning the requirements for the award of degrees, diplomas and certificates (other than honorary awards), the Division Regulations and the Library Regulation's; Senate shall make or amend Regulations in these areas only after considering the advice of the Council;
	(d)	to conduct periodic reviews of the quality of teaching and research within Schools;
	(e)	to award degrees, diplomas and certificates on behalf of the Senate;
	(f)	to award University Medals;
	(g)	to perform such other functions conferred on Council by Statute, Regulations or resolution of the Senate;
	(h)	to advise the Senate and the Vice Chancellor on the University's strategic plan, on any matters either of them refer to it, and on any broad issues of importance to the academic life of the University community;
	(i)	to consider reports and recommendations from the Divisions or the Guild of Students on any matters relevant to the functions of Council.
2.	The members of the Academic Council shall be--
	(a)	A President elected by the members of the Academic Council from among the full-time academic staff of the University of the rank of Associate Professor or above.
	(b)	The persons holding the following offices, ex officio--
		--	Vice-Chancellor;
		--	Faculty Deans;
		--	President of the Guild of Students;
		--	Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic);
		--	Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Corporate);
		--	Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research);
		--	Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Faculty, Enterprise & International);
		--	Education Vice-President of the Guild of Students
		--	Guild General Secretary
	(c)	Twelve persons elected by and from among the permanent and temporary academic staff of the University with contracts 50% or more full-time.
	(d)	One academic staff member from the regional campuses. This person shall be elected from among the permanent and temporary academic staff of the University with contracts 50% or more full-time: (i) whose contract specifies that they are based at a campus other than the Murdoch Campus, or (ii) whose primary office is located at a campus other than the Murdoch Campus, or (iii) who are employees of Murdoch University clinics or research centres that are based in the City of Rockingham, the Town of Kwinana or the Peel region (as defined in the W.A. Regional Development Commissions Act). In addition to these people, all coordinators of units taught at a campus other than the Murdoch Campus in the year of the election are entitled to vote for this position.
	(e)	Three elected students: one elected by and from among the postgraduate students, one elected by and from among the undergraduate students, and one elected by and from the students whose course is based at one of the regional campuses. A person who is a member of the staff of the University with a contract 50% or more full-time is not eligible for election as a student member.
	(f)	Two persons elected by and from among the permanent and temporary general staff of the University with contracts 50% or more full-time.
	(g)	Any person or persons co-opted under section 21(2)(d) of the Act.
3.	(1)	Elections for the President and members of the Academic Council shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by the Election Regulations.
	(2)	The President and elected staff members of Council shall hold office for three years, commencing and ending at the start of second semester in the relevant year. The elected student members shall hold office for one calendar year.
	(3)	The election of staff members to Council shall be staggered that four of the academic staff elected under section 2(c) shall be elected each year, the regional academic staff member shall be elected every third year and the general staff members shall be elected in separate years.
	(4)	Any elected member shall cease to hold office when he or she ceases to be eligible for election to that position, or resigns. The following arrangements shall apply for filling casual vacancies--
		--	President of Council: an election shall be held to fill the balance of the term.
		--	Elected staff member: an election shall be held to fill the balance of the member's term, unless that balance is less than six months.
		--	Elected student member: the Secretariat of the Guild of Students shall appoint a replacement member from among those students eligible for election to the position.
	(5)	An elected member who has served two successive terms is not eligible for re-election until twelve months after the second term expires.
4.	The Council shall appoint a Deputy President from among its elected members, to hold office for a calendar year. In the absence of the President of the Academic Council the Deputy President shall act as Chair at any meeting. In the absence of the President and Deputy President the Council shall elect a Chair for the meeting.
5.	(1)	The quorum for meetings shall be one half or the next higher whole number of members of the Council for the time being, or ten members, whichever is the less.
	(2)	Each member shall have a deliberative vote at any meeting of the Academic Council and where there is an equality of votes, the Chair shall have the casting vote as well as a deliberative vote.
	(3)	A meeting of the Academic Council may be held at any time on the initiative of the Vice-Chancellor or Chair of the Academic Council. A meeting shall be held within fourteen days after lodgement with the Secretary of a request for a meeting signed by not less than three members of the Council.
	(4)	The position of any member of the Academic Council who has been absent from three consecutive meetings of the Council, without leave of the Council, shall become vacant.

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The information contained on this page was correct as at 20/01/2009 but is subject to amendment without notice.