Academic Senate

Roles and responsibilities of members of the Academic Senate

Members of the Academic Senate, particularly elected members, have a crucial role in explaining Senate and its work to other members of the academic community – and in encouraging colleagues to bring forward relevant matters for discussion at Senate committees. Too, all members of Senate are encouraged to bring to committees their own experience and expertise – as well as the views of the particular group or electorate that they represent (such as the student body or the Senior Executive or a School or Faculty). Nevertheless, as a member of a Senate committee, all members' decision-making and inputs into the committee must reflect the interests of the University as a whole. Beyond this, members' responsibilities are to be aware of the committee's purpose and functions, to be ethical and diligent, and to contribute actively and critically to the committee's discussions and work. Importantly, members should also be the communication point between the committee and the member's School, Faculty, Division or other area regarding the discussions, decisions, policies and other developments in the committee. All this applies as much to Faculty and School committees as it does to University committees and Academic Senate itself.

The Academic Senate has agreed that regardless of their category of membership (that is, elected, nominated, ex officio etc) all members of Academic Senate and its committees have the following roles and responsibilities:

• to understand the purpose and functions of the committee;
• to regularly attend and actively contribute to meetings and to the work of the committee;
• to read and critically review all agenda papers before each meeting;
• to ensure due care and diligence is taken in decision making;
• to act honestly and in the best interests of the committee and the University;
• to maintain confidentiality, where required;
• to declare any conflict of interest that they may have with any matter on an agenda;
• to be the communication point between the committee and the member's School, Faculty, Division or other area in  relation to discussions, decisions, policies and other developments of the committee;
• to comply with the law and University Rules, policies and procedures.

Elected, nominated or appointed members of Academic Senate or one of its committees are encouraged to bring to that committee their own experience and expertise and the views of the particular group or electorate (such as the student body or a School or Faculty) that they represent. However, as a member of the committee, their decision and input into the committee must reflect the interests of the university as a whole. Once they assume membership of the Academic Senate or committee they are subject to the overriding duty to serve the interests of the Academic Senate or committee (Bennetts v Board of Fire Commissioners of New South Wales (1967) 87 W.N. (Pt1) (NSW) 307 at 311 refers).

The Academic Senate Standing Committee was established to decide urgent matters which arise between meeting of the Academic Senate and when it is not practicable to convene a full meeting of the Academic Senate. The Committee also performs other functions as outlined in the Academic Senate Standing Committee - Membership and Terms of Reference.

Whilst the University routinely communicates a range of institutional information to the public, Academic Senate Agendas and Minutes may contain small amounts of confidential and personal information, so access is currently limited to University staff for University purposes.

Requests for access by other persons

The University will manage any Right to Information requests pertaining to these Academic Senate Agendas and Minutes by following the Records Management Procedure - Access to University Records. The University's Right to Information page sets out additional information on how to deal with requests from the public for access to information in these documents.

Whilst the University routinely communicates a range of institutional information to the public, Academic Senate Agendas and Minutes may contain small amounts of confidential and personal information, so access is currently limited to University staff for University purposes.

Requests for access by other persons

The University will manage any Right to Information requests pertaining to these Academic Senate Agendas and Minutes by following the Records Management Procedure - Access to University Records. The University's Right to Information page sets out additional information on how to deal with requests from the public for access to information in these documents.