WORKING PARTIES ESTABLISHED BY ACADEMIC COUNCIL AND ITS SUB-COMMITTEES

DEFINITIONS

POLICY

1. Academic Council and its Sub-Committees may establish one or more working parties to advise or recommend on specific aspects of the University's activities that fall within the terms of reference of the parent committee.
   
   
2. Working Parties associated with Academic Council and its Sub-Committees will:
   
   

   2.1	agree with the parent committee on the terms of reference, membership, including appointment of the Chair, reporting process and timetable. The Chair of the Working Party does not have to be a member of the parent committee; and
   2.2	in reaching recommendations identify and consult with key stakeholders as appropriate.

   
   
3. At the next meeting of the parent committee following the Working Party's establishment, it will present a concept paper to the parent committee that will:
   
   

   3.1	outline the nature of the issue being addressed by the Working Party and its preliminary thoughts on any core questions or options being considered (for the parent committee's early input);
   3.2	make recommendations on and seek approval for any detailed terms of reference which will describe the scope, purpose, list of actions to be taken, including consultation procedures and content for the report and the reporting process and timetable;
   3.3	identify and report on the likely key stakeholders in the area under consideration. This identification of likely key stakeholders will be made by the Working Party and/or by self-identification following a call for expressions of interest; and
   3.4	make recommendations on any change to the membership of the Working Party, possibly to provide expertise in a specific area.;

   
   
4. A brief verbal or written update on the progress of the Working Party will be provided at each meeting of the parent committee during the life of the Working Party. The parent committee may at any time request an interim or partial report on particular aspects of the Working Party’s deliberations or an overview of their progress.
    
5. Recommendations must not be inconsistent with the Murdoch Act, or with Statutes, By-Laws, Rules, Regulations or Policies.
   
   
6. Recommendations may include a requirement for the parent committee to review and report on any recommendations that have practical and demonstrable outcomes.
   
   
7. The Chair of the parent committee may invite the key stakeholders to comment on the recommendations prior to their final consideration by the parent committee.
   
   
8. The final report will be made at the agreed date, unless an .extension is provided.
   
   
9. The Working Party's final report must include clear recommendations, together with the rationale supporting them. Where a draft policy is recommended it should be presented as a separate attachment. When this involves revision of an existing policy, it should further be presented with the changes highlighted (via bold for insertions and strikethroughs for deletions).
   
   
10. Where members and/or key stakeholders hold opposing views to the recommendations made in the report their perspective should be discussed in the report, and the reasons given why their position was not accepted by the Working Party
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11. The final report will contain an executive summary, and appendices that give:
    
    

    11.1	membership of the Working Party;
    11.2	names and positions of those key stakeholders whom the Working Party consulted and the nature of the consultation;
    11.3	a list of all reference materials, including University documents; and
    11.4	must be presented to the parent committee over the signature of the Chair of the Working Party to confirm that the terms of reference have been followed and key stakeholders consulted.