Rules Governing Faculties

Document Number	000305
Date Approved	15 December 2006
Date Last Amended	21 May 2010

 

1. Application of Rules

1.1. The governance of the Faculties of the University shall be as provided by these Rules.

2. Interpretation

2.1. In these Rules, the following terms shall have the meanings assigned:

academic staff means persons designated as members of the academic staff in the University of Newcastle By-law. For the purposes of these Rules, a person who is appointed on a half-time or greater basis is deemed to be a member of the academic staff;

Faculty means a Faculty established within the University by the Council;

schedule means the schedule to these Rules applicable to a particular Faculty;

School means a school or other unit of organisation forming part of a Faculty;

student means a person enrolled as a candidate in a program for which a Faculty has responsibility, who is not a member of staff of the University.

3. Pro Vice-Chancellor – Staff

3.1. The Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty shall be the principal line manager for staff of the Faculty.

4. Faculty Executive

4.1. A Faculty Executive Group shall be convened by the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the Faculty.

4.1.1. The membership of the Faculty Executive Group shall include at least:

4.1.1.1. Deputy Head(s) of the Faculty;

4.1.1.2. Heads of Schools;

4.1.1.3. Assistant Deans;

4.1.1.4. Assistant Academic Registrar;

4.1.1.5. Faculty Executive Officer; and

4.1.1.6. Faculty Business Support Accountant.

4.1.2. The Faculty Executive Group shall provide advice to the Pro Vice- Chancellor on matters of strategic and operational significance for the Faculty, particularly in relation to, but not restricted to:

4.1.2.1.items arising from the annual reviews of the performance of whole or part of the Faculty including challenges and opportunities facing Schools and other organisational units of the Faculty. The Faculty Executive Group will assist the School or organisational unit in considering or planning action in response to such challenges;

4.1.2.2. matters arising from discussion of strategic themes linked to the strategic plan, with the outcomes being monitored by the Faculty Executive Group periodically;

4.2.2.3. matters under consideration by other committees of the Faculty with significant financial or resource implications;

4.2.2.4. academic issues with significant resource implications, which will be considered by both Faculty Board and the Faculty Executive Group.

5. Faculty Board

5.1. The affairs of the Faculty shall be conducted by a Faculty Board in accordance with the Faculty Board Terms of Reference as approved by the Academic Senate.

6. Election of Members other than Ex Officio Members

6.1 The election of the members of a Faculty Board shall be undertaken by the University Secretary in accordance with the election protocols specified in the By-law and the Constitution of the Academic Senate, as appropriate.

7. Terms of Office

7.1 Terms of Office shall be prescribed in the Faculty Board Terms of Reference as approved by the Academic Senate.

8. Vacancies

8.1. Where a vacancy in an elected position provided under section 4 Membershipof the Faculty Board Terms of Reference shall occur, it shall be filled in accordance with the process described in the Faculty Board Terms of Reference as approved by the Academic Senate.

9. Functions of Faculty Board

9.1. Subject to any resolution of the Council or the Academic Senate, and any provisions of any Rules, a Faculty Board shall undertake the functions as described in the Faculty Board Terms of Reference as approved by the Academic Senate.

10. Subsidiary Bodies

10.1. A Faculty Board may establish subsidiary bodies in accordance with the Faculty Board Terms of Reference as approved by the Academic Senate.

11. Secretary

11.1. A Faculty Board shall be serviced through the Office of the Academic Registrar.

12. Meetings

12.1. The Faculty Board shall conduct its meetings in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Academic Senate.

13. Quorum and Conduct of Urgent Business

13.1 The quorum and conduct of urgent business shall be in accordance with the Faculty Board Terms of Reference as approved by the Academic Senate.

14. Communication

14.1. The minutes of the Faculty Executive Group (other than matters discussed confidentially) shall be made available to all members of the Faculty.

14.2. In accordance with the Standing Orders of the Academic Senate, any member of a Faculty may observe the proceedings of the Faculty Executive Group, save for items discussed in camera.

15. Faculty Progress and Appeals Committee

15.1. Each Faculty shall establish a Faculty Progress and Appeals Committee with the following membership:

15.1.1the Deputy Head of the Faculty, or nominee, who shall Chair the Committee;

15.1.2 the Assistant Dean, Teaching and Learning; of the Faculty;

15.1.3 the Assistant Academic Registrar of the Faculty;

 

15.1.4 one other member from a pool of five Faculty academic staff determined by the Pro Vice-Chancellor; and

15.1.5 co-opted members from within or outside the Faculty for particular cases as determined by the Chair.

15.2. The Faculty Progress and Appeals Committee shall have responsibility for matters referred to it:

15.2.1 under the Review of Progress Procedure 000647;

15.2.2 under the Appeal Against a Final Result Procedure 000261 and;

15.2.3 any other student progress or appeals issue forwarded to it by the Pro Vice-Chancellor.

In such cases the Committee shall advise the Pro Vice-Chancellor on an appropriate course of action.

16. Related Documents

Faculty Board Terms of Reference

Rules Governing Schools - Rule 000309 

Standing Orders of the Academic Senate

 

Approval Authority	Council
Date Approved	15 December 2006
Date Last Amended	21 May 2010
Date Promulgated	18 December 2006
Policy Sponsor	University Secretary
Policy Owner	Vice-Chancellor
Policy Contact	Deputy Academic Registrar, Governance and Academic Administration
Amendment History	Removal clause 15.2.3 due to reference to rescinded policy document Special Circumstances Affecting Assessment Items Procedure 00641. 5 January 2012. New Rules approved by Council 21 May 2010 with effect 1 July 2010 (C10:083) Faculty Board Rules: Amended - 14 December 1990, 18 October 1991, 12 June 1992, 10 December 1993, 28 October 1994. Rescinded: 25 June 1999 Rule - Governance of the Faculties: Approved - 25 June 1999 Amended: 27 August 1999, 9 March 2001. Faculty Board Rules: Approved - 26 October 2001 Amended: 10 May 2002, 12 December 2003, 17 December 2004, 2 September 2005 Rules Governing Faculties amended Feb 2007.