The Academic Board has been established as the peak academic governance body within the University and which reports to the Council as a delegate on academic matters.

It is tasked with ensuring the University maintains quality learning, teaching, scholarship and research. As well as reviewing academic policy recommendations and approving and accrediting degrees and other awards, it provides a forum for debate within the University and between the academic community and senior executive officers. 

Academic Board's Terms of Reference should be read in conjunction with the Academic Board Regulations 2021.

 

Related

Academic Board Membership

The Academic Board is composed of ex-officio members and internal members including teaching and research staff, professional staff and students.

Chairperson: Professor Tom Clark
Phone: +61 3 9919 2196
Email: tom.clark@vu.edu.au

a. Two members elected by and from teaching and research staff from each College:

  1. Associate Professor Jeannie Rea (A&E)
  2. Vacant (A&E)
  3. Dr David Moore (VUBS)
  4. Vacant (VUBS)
  5. Associate Professor Alasdair McAndrew (E&S)
  6. Dr Roan Plotz (E&S)
  7. Vacant (H&B)
  8. Breanna Wright (H&B)
  9. Vacant (L&J)
  10. Dr Christopher Brien (L&J)
  11. Associate Professor Brent McDonald (SES)
  12. Vacant (SES)
  13. Silvana Di Sisto (VUC)
  14. Vacant (VUC)
  15. Dr Vivienne Decleva (VUP)
  16. Maria Juj (VUP)
  17. Vacant (Partnerships & Innovation)
  18. Raquel Licciardi (Partnerships & Innovation)
  19. Associate Professor Tom Clark (VU First Year College®) (Chair)
  20. Jesse Singh (VU First Year College®)
  21. Associate Professor Deborah Zion (VUR)
  22. Associate Professor Randall Robinson (VUR) (Deputy Chair)

b. Two members elected by and from teaching and research staff who work in organisational units other than a College:

  1. Deb Tyler
  2. Dr Paola Balla

c. Four members elected by and from professional staff:

  1. Alex Skevofylakas
  2. Shane Cameron
  3. Sandra Griffin
  4. Vacant

d. One member elected by and from Indigenous staff:

  1. Karen Jackson 

e. Four student members, comprising—

  1. one student elected by and from students enrolled in a higher education degree by coursework course of study: Hassan Nur Hussein Abdi
  2. one student elected by and from students enrolled in a higher degree by research course of study: Majid Hassanzadeganroudsari
  3. one student elected by and from students enrolled in a Vocational and/or Further Education course of study: Vacant
  4. one student elected by and from onshore international students: Vacant.

f. There will be seven ex officio members, comprising—

  1. the Vice-Chancellor:  Professor Adam Shoemaker
  2. six members of staff who hold positions determined by the Vice-Chancellor after consultation with the Academic Board:
  1. Professor John Germov
  2. Wayne Butson
  3. Professor Andy Hill
  4. Professor Rob Strathdee
  5. Professor Karen Dodd
  6. Professor Andrew Smallridge.

g. There will be a maximum of four co-opted members:

  1. Professor Chris Walsh
  2. Michelle Gillespie
  3. Vacant
  4. Vacant.

Academic Board Functions

  1. Set institutional standards for academic quality and outcomes; monitor the effectiveness of initiatives to improve the quality of teaching and learning, programs and courses and the student experience, domestically, internationally and through third-party arrangements. 
  2. Receive reports from delegates and management that assess the University’s capacity to demonstrate it meets the academic-related standard of the Higher Education Standards Framework and the Standards for VET Accredited Courses and report to Council.
  3. Make determinations on proposals for the accreditation and reaccreditation of all academic programs of study offered by the University.
  4. Maintain oversight of academic and research integrity, including monitoring breaches, and mechanisms to mitigate potential and emerging academic risks including reporting to the Compliance, Audit and Risk Committee.
  5. Review and provide advice on the development and effectiveness of policies and procedures that guide all academic and educational activities, including approval of policies relating to academic quality.
  6. Monitor and provide advice on policies and procedures that are intended to support participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and ensure sensitivity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and cultures.
  7. Monitor the quality of scholarship, research, research training and research-related matters and associated policies and foster the development and maintenance of high standards and support for research and scholarship.
  8. Monitor and review the effectiveness of delegations made under policies and procedures relevant to the role and functions of the Academic Board and its standing committees, ensuring delegations are appropriately implemented.
  9. Advise Council and/or the Vice-Chancellor on the academic aspects of the University's strategic plans, priorities and risk management, including evaluating the quality and effectiveness of educational innovations or proposals for innovations.
  10. Monitor and report on the annual and strategic reviews of third-party arrangements, course delivery and agreements involving education programs delivery.
  11. Evaluate annual self-reviews of Academic Board’s standing committees to ensure that their referred responsibilities are effectively discharged.
  12. Provide a forum to facilitate communication on issues within the education sector and encourage discussion and dissemination of information within the University regarding good practices in scholarship and research.
  13. Monitor and report on the occurrence of formal complaints about academic matters and allegations of academic misconduct, and actions taken to address underlying causes.
  14. Advise on matters referred to the Academic Board, within the remit of its delegated authorities, by Council, the Vice-Chancellor or other University officers.
  15. Provide a report to Council following each meeting of Academic Board.
  16. Review and report annually to Council on its own performance.

Academic Board meetings

The Academic Board meetings commence at 9am and are held at the Footscray Park Campus.

  • Wednesday 1 February
  • Wednesday 1 March
  • Wednesday 5 April
  • Wednesday 3 May
  • Wednesday 7 June
  • Wednesday 2 August
  • Wednesday 6 September
  • Wednesday 4 October
  • Wednesday 1 November
  • Wednesday 6 December

Committees of Academic Board

Supporting the Academic Board, and established under delegations, are the following committees of the Academic Board:

  • Academic Board Executive Committee (including power in its own right)
  • Courses Committee
  • Learning & Teaching Quality Committee
  • Research & Research Training Committee.

The Courses Committee is responsible for monitoring, reporting and advising the Academic Board on the quality and standards of courses in accordance with University legislation and policies on courses against internal and external quality indicators; advising on related policies and monitoring their implementation.

Acting Chair: Professor Andrew Smallridge
Phone: +61 3 9919 4758
Email: andrew.smallridge@vu.edu.au

See Courses Committee Terms of Reference.

Composition & membership

The Courses Committee is composed of:

  1. One person elected as Chair from the elected members of the Academic Board: Professor Andrew Smallridge (Acting Chair)
  2. Chair of Academic Board Ex-officio: Professor Tom Clark
  3. Chair of the Learning and Teaching Quality Committee Ex-officio: Associate Professor Jeannie Rea
  4. Director of Academic Quality and Standards Ex-officio: Deb Tyler
  5. Each Executive Dean and equivalent for VU Polytechnic appoints two members with leadership responsibilities for teaching and learning. (Note: For the HE colleges, this will normally include the Associate Dean Learning and Teaching and the Deputy Associate Dean Learning and Teaching):
    1. Dr Ligia Pelosi  (Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT)
    2. Dr Marc C-Scott (Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT)
    3. Associate Professor Loretta Konjarski (VU First Year College®)
    4. Dr Bert Oraison (VU First Year College®)
    5. Dr Joshua Johnson (Sport, Health and Engineering)
    6. Dr Romana Morda (Sport, Health and Engineering)
    7. Maria Juj (VU Polytechnic)
    8. Dianne McKeagney (VU Polytechnic)
  1. One Teaching and Research staff will be appointed by the relevant Senior Officer from:
    1. Tracey Cooper (Moondani Balluk)
    2. Dr Rose Lucas (Research and Impact)
    3. Raquel Licciardi (TNE/Partnerships)
    4. Professor Chris Walsh (VU Online)
  1. There will be a maximum of three co-opted members:
    1. Professor Andrew Smallridge (Deputy Chair)
    2. Kylie Brown
    3. Vacant

Courses Committee meeting dates 2023

  • Wednesday 25 January
  • Wednesday 22 February
  • Wednesday 22 March
  • Wednesday 26 April
  • Wednesday 24 May
  • Wednesday 28 June
  • Wednesday 26 July
  • Wednesday 23 August
  • Wednesday 27 September
  • Wednesday 25 October
  • Wednesday 22 November

The Learning and Teaching Quality Committee is responsible for:

  • monitoring, reporting and advising the Academic Board on learning, teaching, education and training activities and initiatives
  • oversighting the planning, strategy, implementation and review of the University’s learning and teaching framework
  • activities related to learning, training and teaching, including student participation, retention and completion.

Chair: Associate Professor Jeannie Rea
Phone: +61 3 9919 4049
Email: jeannie.rea@vu.edu.au

See Learning & Teaching Quality Committee Terms of Reference.

Composition & membership

The Learning and Teaching Quality Committee is composed of:

  1. One person elected as Chair from the elected members of the Academic Board: Associate Professor Jeannie Rea
  2. Chair of Academic Board Ex-officio: Professor Tom Clark
  3. DVC, Higher Education Ex-officio: Professor John Germov
  4. DVC, People & Organisation or nominee Ex-officio: Michelle Gillespie
  5. Director of Academic Quality and Standards Ex-officio: Deb Tyler
  6. Executive Director, Digital Transformation and Quality Learning Ex-officio: Gail Bray
  7. Each Executive Dean, or equivalent for VU Polytechnic or relevant Senior Officer appoints one member with leadership responsibilities for teaching and learning (Note: For the HE Colleges, this will normally be the Associate Dean Learning and Teaching):
    1. College of Sport, Health and Engineering: Dr Joshua Johnson
    2. College of Arts, Business, Law, Education & IT: Ligia Pelosi
    3. VU First Year College®: Associate Professor Loretta Konjarski
    4. VU Polytechnic: Wayne Butson
    5. Moondani Balluk: Paola Balla
    6. TNE/Partnerships: Raquel Licciardi
    7. VU Online: Professor Chris Walsh
  8. There will be a maximum of three co-opted members (currently Nil)
  9. Four student members comprising of the:
    1. VUSU President or nominee Ex-officio: Chandra Altoff
    2. ISA President of nominee Ex-officio: Yashii Gupta
    3. VUPA President or nominee Ex-officio: Catherine Chen
    4. VU Polytechnic Representative appointed by the VUSU President Ex-officio: Seeking Nomination.

Learning & Teaching Quality Committee meeting dates 2023

  • Wednesday 8 February
  • Wednesday 8 March
  • Wednesday 12 April
  • Wednesday 10 May
  • Wednesday 14 June
  • Wednesday 9 August
  • Wednesday 13 September
  • Wednesday 11 October
  • Wednesday 8 November

The Research and Research Training Committee is responsible for monitoring, reporting and advising the Academic Board on quality and standards against internal and external quality indicators, and advising the Academic Board on relevant proposed regulations, policies and procedures. [Reg 9(2)(a)].

Acting Chair: Associate Professor Marcelle Cacciattolo
Phone: +61 3 9919 5903
Email: marcelle.cacciattolo@vu.edu.au

See Research & Research Training Committee Terms of Reference.

Composition & membership

The Research and Research Training Committee is composed of:

Current Members (Not currently in new membership) – Maintains membership until outcome of election:

  1. 1 person elected as Chair from the membership of the Academic Board: Associate Professor Marcelle Cacciattolo (Acting Chair)
  2. Chair of Academic Board (Ex-officio): Professor Tom Clark
  3. Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Impact (Ex-officio): Professor Andy Hill
  4. Dean of Graduate Studies (Ex-officio): Professor John Price
  5. Executive Director Research Services (Ex-officio): Bev Baugh
  6. President of VUPA or nominee (Ex-officio): Meixia Xu
  7. Each Executive Dean appoints one Teaching and Research staff from their HE College:
    1. Professor Anthony Watt (Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT)
    2. Professor Tom Clark (VU First Year College®)
    3. Professor Andrew McAinch (Sport, Health and Engineering)
  1. Executive Director, Moondani Balluk appoints one Teaching and Research staff from Moondani Balluk: Dr Clare Land
  2. Two Teaching and Research staff, who are VU Research Fellows, Conducting Research and / or HDR Supervision or Research Only Academic staff elected by and from each of the Flagship Research Institutes (IHES, ISILC): Refer note below.
  3. Two members elected by and from staff of the Research and Impact Portfolio: Refer note below.
  4. There will be a maximum of three co-opted members.
    • Alex Skevofylakas
    • Professor Itamar Levinger
    • Professor Željko Pedišić
    • Associate Professor Marcelle Cacciattolo (Deputy Chair 16 March 2022 to March 2024)
    • Professor Mikel Duke
    • Dr Mary Woessner
    • Dr Khandakar Ahmed

Research & Research Training Committee meeting dates 2023

  • Wednesday 15 February
  • Wednesday 15 March
  • Wednesday 17 May
  • Wednesday 21 June
  • Wednesday 16 August
  • Wednesday 20 September
  • Wednesday 18 October
  • Wednesday 15 November

Academic Board legislation & important documents

Academic Board legislation and important documents provide additional information: