(1) The Academic Board is established under Section 15 of the University of New England Act 1993 (NSW) (UNE Act) and Part 5 of the University of New England By-law 2005 (NSW) (UNE By-law). (2) The provisions of this document take effect as a Council Rule made under Section 29 of the UNE Act. (3) This Rule prescribes the following: (4) The delegation of Council powers to the Academic Board under this document are actions authorised under Section 17 of the UNE Act. (5) The objectives of this Rule are to: (6) Under this Rule the Academic Board will have the following members: (7) The following are recognised Observers under Section 19(2) of the UNE By-law: (8) The objective will be to ensure, so far as is practicable, that the membership of the committee considers diversity representation in accordance with UNE policies. (9) Elections for Academic Board membership, other than to fill a casual vacancy, will be held annually in March/ April with elected members terms of membership commencing mid-year. Whenever possible, elections will be rotated to ensure that there is a balance between continuity and renewal of the elected membership. The rotation is determined by the Director Governance and University Secretary, who will annually notify the Board for the following three years. (10) Elected representatives employed on fixed-term contracts must have sufficient service remaining to fulfil their period of office. (11) Elections of Academic Board members are conducted by the Returning Officer (appointed by the Director Governance and University Secretary) by secret ballot as determined by the Standing Orders of Academic Board and Committees. (12) An elected position becomes vacant automatically if: (13) Where an elected member is granted leave of absence by the University (e.g. special studies program), or is otherwise unable to attend meetings due to conflicting duties, for up to one year, the Academic Board Executive has authority to arrange for the temporary vacancy on Academic Board to be filled for the duration of the leave of absence by secondment from the appropriate constituency and ratified at the next Board meeting after the vacancy has occurred. The temporary replacement representative shall have full voting rights. (14) Where an elected member is absent from a particular Academic Board meeting, the absentee may nominate a substitute to attend the meeting on the absentee's behalf. The nominee shall have observer rights for the meeting attended. The Secretary to the Academic Board must be notified of the nomination by the elected member before the meeting at which substitution is sought. (15) Where an elected member resigns from the University, is granted leave of absence by the University (e.g. special studies program) or is otherwise unable to attend meetings for more than one year, or ceases to be an elected representative for any other reason, the casual vacancy will be filled for the remaining term by election according to the provisions of Clause 10. The new representative shall have full voting rights. (16) The ex officio members will be Academic Board members while they hold their primary office. (17) The tenure of the Chair and Deputy Chair is two (2) years, which is to commence and end on the day of a board meeting. (18) Elected Academic Board staff members' tenure is three (3) years. (19) Elected Academic Board student members' tenure is two (2) years. (20) Members co-opted under Clause 6.e shall have tenure for one (1) year, renewable to a maximum of three (3) years. (21) Academic Board will be chaired by the Chair of Academic Board, or in their abscence, one of the two Deputy Chairs. (22) The objective will be to ensure, so far as practicable, that the membership of the Committee considers diversity in accordance with UNE policies. (23) All Academic Board members must carry out their board functions according to the duties as set out in Schedule 2A of the UNE Act. These are: (24) Academic Board members must comply with relevant policies of the University, including: (25) Under Section 21 of the UNE By-law, the Academic Board must report to Council and advise the Council and the VC&CEO on all developments and initiatives relating to and affecting the University’s teaching and research activities and its educational programs. Academic Board has delegated authority from Council to perform on behalf of Council the functions set out in these Terms of Reference. (26) Academic Board oversees (27) Academic Board will: (28) Academic oversight assures the quality of teaching, learning, research and research training effectively, including by: (29) In exercising its functions, Academic Board will consider the University’s objects, Strategic Plans and Values as well as academic and emerging risks. (30) Academic Board and its committees are authorised to seek information from the University through the VC&CEO to meet the Board's functions. (31) The members of the Academic Board Executive are prescribed by Section 20 of the UNE By-law and are: (32) The Chair of Academic Board and the two Deputy Chairs are elected by the Academic Board from among the elected Academic Board members who are Professors or Associate Professors. A Deputy Chair may stand for Chair. (33) The election of the Chair will be held every second year in March. The Chair-elect will assume office in April. (34) The election of one Deputy Chair will be held each year at the first Academic Board meeting of the calendar year and will assume office immediately upon election. (35) Once elected, the Chair and Deputy Chairs remain Academic Board members for the duration of their terms of office (provided they remain University employees) irrespective of any changes after election to the status that originally entitled them to Academic Board membership. Exceptions to this Clause are if the Chair or a Deputy Chair is appointed as a member of the Executive (other than on a temporary ‘acting’ basis), in which case their role as Chair or Deputy Chair will cease. (36) The office of Chair or Deputy Chair of the Academic Board may not be held by one person for more than three consecutive terms. However, this limit shall not apply to a Deputy Chair who is elected as the Chair, who may serve a maximum of three consecutive terms in either or both offices. (37) The Chair is the University academic spokesperson to the VC&CEO and to the Council, and represents the academic community as an ex officio member on the Council and on Committees of the University Senior Executive as the VC&CEO determines. (38) The Academic Board may empower the Chair to act on its behalf on routine matters. (39) If the Chair is unavailable or unable to act for a period of time, then the Chair must appoint one of the Deputy Chairs of Academic Board to act as Chair. (40) The Chair must appoint from the elected members of the Academic Board: (41) If the office of Chair is vacant, or the Chair does not appoint one of the Deputy Chairs to act as Chair, then the Chancellor must appoint one of the Deputy Chairs to act as Chair. (42) Where the Chair or Deputy Chair is absent for up to six (6) months on Special Studies Program leave, the Chair will be replaced for this period by a Deputy Chair. Similarly, a Deputy Chair will be replaced for the same period by a temporary Deputy Chair elected from among the elected membership of the Academic Board by secret ballot. (43) In addition to the duties of all Academic Board members listed under Clause 23 and 24, elected members are required to: (44) Under Section 23 of the UNE By-law, Academic Board may establish such committees as it considers necessary to carry out its business and may establish terms of reference for such committees. (45) Academic Board has established the following committees, which report to Academic Board: (46) The Chair of Academic Board will report to Council regularly on the business conducted by the Academic Board, including in an annual report of the Board’s performance of its functions. (47) The Academic Board will meet bimonthly, or otherwise as required in order to perform its functions. Academic Board members should be given at least seven days' notice of a meeting, or such shorter notice period as is practicable where the matter is urgent. (48) In exceptional circumstances, Academic Board may pass a resolution by 'flying minute' provided that the resolution has been approved by a simple majority of the Academic Board members at the time the resolution is made. A request for a flying minute must include an outline of the exceptional circumstances within the report. (49) Draft minutes will be prepared by the Secretariat after each meeting and will be provided to the Chair for endorsement. The Chair endorsed minutes are ten to be presented at the next meeting for confirmation by the Academic Board. If members request changes to the Chair endorsed minutes, they are to provide these changes in writing to the Secretariat after the meeting. If changes have been requested, the minutes will be resubmitted to the following Academic Board meeting for confirmation by the Academic Board. (50) Once in every twelve month period, Academic Board shall devote part of one meeting to the review of its policies, practices and procedures over the preceding twelve months. (51) The University Secretariat will provide secretarial and administrative support to Academic Board. (52) Academic Board may make standing orders relating to the conduct of its meetings and business generally. To the extent of any inconsistencies between these Terms of Reference and the Standing Orders – Academic Board and Committees, these Terms of Reference prevail. (53) This document does not override or otherwise affect:Terms of Reference (Council approved) - Academic Board
Section 1 - Overview
Objectives
Top of PageSection 2 - Membership
Member
Observers
Diversity representative objective
Election procedure for elected members
Automatic vacancy of an elected representative
Temporary replacement of elected members
Temporary substitution of elected members
Casual vacancy of elected representatives
Term of office
Ex officio members
Elected members
Co-opted members
Chair
Diversity representation objectives
Duties of Academic Board members
Section 3 - Academic Board Functions
Functions
Section 4 - Academic Board Executive
Members
Election of Academic Board Executive
Term limitation of the Chair
Chair's responsibilities
Deputising for Chair and Deputy Chair
Temporary vacancy through the Special Studies Program
Section 5 - Elected Academic Board Members' Role
Elected Academic Board members
Top of PageSection 6 - Academic Board Committees
Top of PageStanding Committee of Academic Board
Teaching and Learning Committee
Research Committee
Curriculum Committee
Section 7 - Conduct of Academic Board Business
Reporting to Council
Meetings
Flying minutes
Confirmation of minutes
Self-review
Secretary to Academic Board
Standing Orders
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