Hot topics in Academic Senate

TEQSA Chief Commissioner presenting at UoN

9:30am - 11.30am Monday 25 June, 2012
Venue: HB15 Callaghan

The Chief Commissioner of the Tertiary Education and Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA), Dr Carol Nicoll will talk about what TEQSA means for all universities and for UoN in particular.

TEQSA regulates and assures the quality of Australia's higher education sector, both public and private. Dr Nicoll speaks well and is passionate about this topic, so we look forward to an engaging and informative presentation.

Video conferencing will be available for Port Macquarie, City and Ourimbah.

All staff are strongly encouraged to attend

You can find more information here

Streamlining Academic Policies (SAP): Important dates

1 June 2012 - Feedback on the 'Courses and Assessment' policy suite is due to Governance. This will be reviewed by the SAP Working Party. For the complex and contentious issues, we will work with the Assistant Deans (T&L) and AARs.

The plan: 

  • July 2012 - Academic Senate to consider the Courses and Assessment Rules and Policies. We need Council approval for these for implementation from 1 January 2013. 
  • July or September 2012 - Senate to consider the Courses and Assessment Policy and Procedures Manual and the updated versions of the Program Management and of the Admissions and Enrolment suites. The updates are needed to ensure compliance with TEQSA requirements (Higher Education Standards Framework). Come to the TEQSA presentation outlined above and hear about the directions of change nationally and their status internationally. 
  • October is policy month - all academic policy updates need to be ready to ensure all academic and professional staff are aware of changes starting on 1 January 2013.

Programs and quality assurance

At the 23 May meeting, Academic Senate discussed program quality. We also discussed how we would introduce a very innovative program. How quickly could it happen and, do the processes we use now ensure the quality of all new programs?

How well do we understand program quality?

For each program there is a comprehensive External Program Review within every seven year period. Many are also separately reviewed for accreditation by their profession. Consecutive reviews provide details of changes over time and some informal benchmarking nationally as we obtain input from others within the discipline or profession. This is a 'vertical' type of program review, a regular review of a program over time.

What about the baseline quality of all UoN programs?

Senate also needs a way of comparing the quality of programs (perhaps all AQF level 7 or 9, or all coursework or all research etc.). We need ways of identifying quality and excellent practice and extending this across the University. This requires a 'horizontal' overview - a snapshot in time that identifies the key drivers of a high quality program and also pinpoints the pockets of excellence throughout our programs.

Three Faculty PVCs described some of the excellent and innovative developments in their programs at the last Senate meeting.  Ask a Senate member or read the draft minutes (due this week). You will find this very valuable.

Question:

Did you get the answers to the questions last issue about the Diplomas and the extended Masters degrees?