The Academic Senate is the principal academic body of the University. Its main function is to provide academic governance for the University, as is required by law in the Charles Sturt University Act 1989 No 76, the Charles Sturt University By-law 2005, and by the conditions of its registration as an Australian University through the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
The principal functions of the Academic Senate as prescribed in the CSU By-Law and in the Governance (Academic Senate) Rule 2018 include advising the Council and Vice-Chancellor on all matters relating to teaching, scholarship and research and ensuring the high quality of teaching and learning and research within the University by developing and implementing appropriate policies.
The Academic Senate has established six subcommittees to assist it in exercising its responsibilities.
The Academic Senate has a diverse membership that brings unique talents and insights. Many members of the management of the University are also members of the Academic Senate, and therefore have responsibility for providing critical oversight of activities which they also manage for the University.
Member | Category | Appointment | Term Ends |
---|---|---|---|
Emeritus Professor Joyce Kirk | Chair, Academic Senate | Appointed | 31 December 2021 |
Professor Frank Marino | Deputy Chair, Academic Senate | Elected | 31 July 2022 |
Professor John Germov (Interim) | Vice-Chancellor | Ex-officio | N/A |
Professor Janelle Wheat (Acting) | Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) | Ex-officio | N/A |
Professor Michael Friend (Acting) | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) | Nominated | 30 June 2021 |
Associate Professor Lucy Webster (Acting) | Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) | Nominated | 30 June 2021 |
Associate Professor Jason White (Acting) | Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) | Nominated | 30 June 2021 |
Professor John McDonald | Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts and Education | Ex-officio | N/A |
Professor Tracey Green | Executive Dean, Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences | Ex-officio | N/A |
Professor Megan Smith | Executive Dean, Faculty of Science | Ex-officio | N/A |
Associate Professor Jay Phillips | Chair, Indigenous Board of Studies | Ex-officio | N/A |
Ms Luisa Foliaki | Undergraduate Student | Appointed | 30 June 2022 |
Mr Muhammad Rana | Postgraduate Student | Appointed | 30 June 2023 |
Ms Susan Penn-Turrall | Higher Degree by Research Student | Appointed | 30 June 2021 |
Professor Samuel Adeloju | Member of the Professoriate | Elected | 30 June 2022 |
Professor Chris Blanchard | Member of the Professoriate | Elected | 30 June 2021 |
Professor Mark Morrison | Member of the Professoriate | Elected | 30 June 2021 |
Associate Professor Jane Quinn | Member of the Professoriate | Elected | 30 June 2022 |
Associate Professor Lucie Zundans-Fraser | Member of the Professoriate | Elected | 30 June 2022 |
Professor Geoff Gurr | Member of the Professoriate | Elected | 30 June 2021 |
Dr Angela Fenton | Academic staff member, Faculty of Arts and Education | Elected | 30 June 2021 |
Ms Robin Harvey | Academic staff member, Faculty of Arts and Education | Elected | 30 June 2021 |
Dr Dominique Sweeney | Academic staff member, Faculty of Arts and Education | Elected | 30 June 2022 |
Vacant | Academic staff member, Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences | Elected | 30 June 2022 |
Dr Stacey Jenkins | Academic staff member, Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences | Elected | 30 June 2021 |
Mr Igor Mescher | Academic staff member, Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences | Elected | 30 June 2022 |
Vacant | Academic staff member, Faculty of Science | Elected | 30 June 2022 |
Dr Nidhish Francis | Academic staff member, Faculty of Science | Elected | 30 June 2021 |
Dr Abishek Santhakumar | Academic staff member, Faculty of Science | Elected | 30 June 2022 |
Associate Professor Will Letts |
Alternate member from the Faculty of Arts and Education Faculty Board | Nominated | 30 June 2022 |
Associate Professor Jenny Kent |
Alternate member from the Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences Faculty Board | Nominated | 30 June 2021 |
Associate Professor Cate Thomas | Alternate member from the Faculty of Science Faculty Board | Nominated | 30 June 2021 |
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:
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.
Member | Category | Appointment | Term Ends |
---|---|---|---|
Emeritus Professor Joyce Kirk | Chair, Academic Senate | Ex-officio | N/A |
Professor Frank Marino | Deputy Chair, Academic Senate | Ex-officio | N/A |
Professor Janelle Wheat | Chair, University Courses Committee | Ex-officio | N/A |
Professor Heather Cavanagh | Chair, University Research Committee | Ex-officio | N/A |
Associate Professor Lucy Webster | Chair, University Learning and Teaching Committee | Ex-officio | N/A |
Ms Robin Harvey | Member of the Academic Senate | Nominated | 30 June 2021 |
Mr Igor Mescher | Member of the Academic Senate | Nominated | 30 June 2022 |
Dr Angela Fenton | Member of the Academic Senate | Nominated | 30 June 2022 |
Date | Time | Location | Agenda Close | Meeting Records | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AS168 3 February 2021 | 10.00am - 1.00pm | Videoconference | 20 January 2021 | Agenda | Minutes (unconfirmed) Notice of Resolutions |
AS169 7 April 2021 | 10.00am - 1.00pm | Videoconference | 24 March 2021 | Agenda |
Minutes (unconfirmed) Notice of Resolutions Action Sheet (as at 7 April) |
AS170 4 June 2021 | 10.00am - 1.00pm | Videoconference | 19 May 2021 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS171 4 August 2021 | 10.00am - 1.00pm | Wagga Wagga | 21 July 2021 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS172 29 September 2021 | 10.00am - 1.00pm | Videoconference | 15 September 2021 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS173 24 November 2021 | 10.00am - 1.00pm | Bathurst | 10 November 2021 | Agenda | Minutes |
Refer to the current Governance Services Meeting Schedule for the meeting and agenda close dates for all governance committees supported by the Office of Governance and Corporate Affairs.
The Academic Senate Annual Plan 2021 provides details of the schedule of regular reports to 2021 meetings.
Date | Time | Location | Agenda Close | Meeting Records | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AS162 29 January 2020 | 9.00am - 12.00pm | Bathurst | 8 January 2020 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS163 4 March 2020 | 10.00am - 2.00pm | Videoconference | 12 February 2020 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS164 6 May 2020 | 10.00am - 2.00pm | Videoconference | 22 April 2020 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS165 1 July 2020 | 10.00am - 2.00pm | Videoconference | 17 June 2020 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS166 9 September 2020 | 10.00am - 2.00pm | Videoconference | 26 August 2020 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS167 11 November 2020 | 10.00am - 2.00pm | Videoconference | 28 October 2020 | Agenda | Minutes |
Date | Time | Location | Agenda Close | Meeting Records | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
AS155 6 March 2019 | 10.00am - 1.00pm | Bathurst | 20 February 2019 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS156 15 March 2019 FM | N/A | Flying Minute | N/A | Agenda | Minutes |
AS157 8 May 2019 | 10.00am - 1.00pm | Videoconference | 24 April 2019 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS158 7 June 2019 | 2.00pm - 4.00pm | Videoconference | N/A | Agenda | Minutes |
AS159 3 July 2019 | 10.00am - 1.00pm | Videoconference | 19 June 2019 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS160 11 September 2019 | 10.00am - 1.00pm | Wagga Wagga | 28 August 2019 | Agenda | Minutes |
AS161 20 November 2019 | 10.00am - 1.00pm | Videoconference | 6 November 2019 | Agenda | Minutes |
Tony Heywood
Acting Director, Governance
E: governance@csu.edu.au
P: (02) 6338 4704