Call for Nominations for Academic Council

Nominations are now being accepted from eligible staff for election to the expanded Academic Council effective 1 January 2015.

Academic Council is the senior decision making body on academic matters, academic policies and the approval of academic offerings within the University. Council plays an integral part in the shaping and management of the Academic environment as Murdoch seeks to implement, develop and continually improve its academic offerings in line with its strategic plan.

The recommendations of the recent Academic Governance Review were approved by Academic Council at its meeting held on 17 September and by Senate at its meeting held on 8 October 2014.  A new-look Academic Council is established effective 1 January 2015. 

The aims of the review included:

• to reposition Academic Council to be more strategic and to take account of the need to include consideration of resources; and
• to involve those who need to be involved and to provide enhanced links between the various committees with the Academic Council framework and with the Vice Chancellor’s suite of committees (e.g. Strategic Leadership Group(SLG)).

The membership has been expanded.  Members are:

• President of Academic Council
  • The following ex officio members;
    • Vice Chancellor
    • Provost
    • Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Development
    • Pro Vice Chancellors
    • School Deans
    • Dean, Graduate Studies
    • Dena, Singapore
    • Chief Operations Officer
    • Chief Finance Officer
    • Academic Registrar
    • Director, Library and Information Services
    • President, Student Guild
    • Education Vice President, Student Guild
    • General Secretary, Student Guild
    • President, Murdoch University Postgraduate Students Association
    • Vice President Research Murdoch University Postgraduate Students Association
      • Vice President Coursework, Murdoch University Postgraduate Students Association
  • The following elected members:
    • 19 elected staff members:
      • 8 Level D-E Academic Staff – one per Academic School elected by and from eligible staff in the School
      • 8 Level A-C Academic Staff – one per Academic School elected by and from eligible staff in the School
      • 1 Non-School Academic Staff member elected by and from eligible non-school Academic staff across the university
      • 2 elected Professional Staff
      • 2 elected students including one undergraduate and one regional campus representative

To avoid all terms ending at the same time, Academic Council and Senate have resolved to stagger the terms at these elections such that Level D-E positions are filled for a 3 year term, Level A-C positions for a 2 year term, the non-school Academic staff member for a 1 year term, one Professional staff position for a 3 year term and one for a 2 year term.

If you are interested in becoming actively involved in the future of Murdoch University at the highest level, we encourage you to nominate.

If you are interested but unsure of what membership of Council entails, please see the Academic Council web pages and the Academic Governance Review Report, or contact the Secretary to Academic Council, Louise Dixon, for more information either via email to l.dixon@murdoch.edu.au or phone extension 6839.

Nomination process
To be eligible, you must be a permanent or temporary academic staff member with a contract 50% or more full-time in the relevant category. You must be a staff member of the relevant School if you are nominating for a School position.   You can nominate yourself. However, if you are nominating someone else, you must include their consent with the nomination. There is no nomination form, and no need for a nominator or seconder.

The Professional staff candidate who comes first in the election will be appointed to the 3 year term and the candidate who comes second will be appointed to the 2 year position.

If you nominate, please supply a digital photograph and a biography or election statement of no more than 400 words regardless of how many positions you are nominating for.  These will be included in an information sheet provided to voters. Ideally, you should provide these documents at the time of nominating. Please email these documents to Lynette Darnell at l.darnell@murdoch.edu.au.  

Nominations will close at 4.00pm Tuesday 11 November 2014 and electoral statements and photos must also be submitted by this date.

Electronic voting system
Please note that voting in these elections will be via the electronic voting system only.

There may be instances where for reasons such as being in remote locations without network access, or due to disability, some staff may be unable to vote online. If for such reasons of special need you require a paper based postal vote, please contact Lynette Darnell via email to l.darnell@murdoch.edu.au or phone extension 6544 before 4.00pm Tuesday 11 November 2014.

The following dates apply to the conduct of the election:
Tuesday 11 November 2014 - Nominations close at 4.00pm
Tuesday 18 November 2014 - Voting commences 2.00pm
Tuesday 2 December 2014 – Voting closes 2.00pm

For more information on elections, please visit the Elections web page.