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The Academic Senate  

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What is the Role of the Academic Senate?

The Academic Senate is the principal academic body of the University of Newcastle. It is the primary forum for debate on all academic issues in the University, approves academic policies, and has a major role in academic quality assurance processes through its Committees ( Teaching and Learning Committee and Research Committee). The Academic Senate has a mission to protect, promote and enhance the excellence of the core academic activities in our institution – teaching and research. The majority of the members of the Academic Senate is elected by the academic staff of the University.

What is the Role of the President of Academic Senate?

The President of Academic Senate is the senior elected academic in the University, with primary responsibility to the Academic Senate. The President is thereby servant of the academic community within the University. It is the duty of the President to contribute to the achievement of the University's vision, mission and goals, particularly by promoting the academic objectives of the University through participation in the work of key committees and other bodies, and by virtue of ex officio membership of the Executive Committee and the University Council.

Items on the Academic Senate Agenda

All Faculty Boards and Academic Senate Committees provide reports on their meetings and refer items to the Academic Senate for consideration and advice. These include all major policy items with academic import.

The Academic Senate considers a wide range of matters and may refer them to the Vice-Chancellor and other senior officers, the University Council, various Committees and Boards, and other bodies, for consideration, noting, or action, as appropriate. Matters are also referred from these sources for consideration, noting, or action, by the Academic Senate.

Each meeting includes an Issue for Discussion. Examples are:

Examples of other recent agenda items include:

From 2006 agendas are organised under the following headings:

Queries, comments and suggestions about Academic Senate agenda items can be directed to your faculty representatives, your Faculty Board and Pro Vice-Chancellor, the President of Academic Senate or the Secretary to Academic Senate.

Meetings of the Academic Senate

Meetings of Academic Senate are held at least six times per year. Members of the Unviersity community are welcome to attend meetings as observers. Please let the Secretary know if you would like to attend.

Agendas, minutes and supporting documents  are available on the Academic Senate website as well as other relevant information.

Committees of the Academic Senate

The major committees of the Academic Senate are

Each committee advises Academic Senate on matters specifically relevant to its terms of reference and also has responsibility for matters of academic quality assurance in relation the teaching and learning and research. Both Committees have sub-committees with specific roles for example, the Research Training Sub-Committee and the Policy Development Sub-Committee.

Academic Senate Mailing List

The Academic Senate web site contains agendas, minutes, supporting documents  and other relevant information.

Interested members of the University community may subcribe to the Academic Senate mailing list where they will receive notices of updates to the web site and other relevant notices relating to Academic Senate. To subscribe please email the Secretary requesting subscription.

Committee Links

Contacts

Related Information