Further Information
Constitution of the Academic Council.
Constitution
1. The Academic Council is the Executive Committee of the Academic Board and, subject to Clause 8, determines all matters delegated by the Academic Bard and which by statute, regulation, or custom are the Board's responsibility, with the exception of:
(a) the amendment of the Academic Board Regulations;
(b) the determination of the membership of the Council and committees of the Board or Council, except as provided in Clause 4;
(c) matters relating to: the development of new academic policies and rules, establishment of academic standards and academic quality assurance;
(d) the creation or suppression of schools, and the suppression of an organisational entity within schools;
(e) the transfer of resourcing responsibility for an organisational entity from one school to another;
(f) any policy recommendations of the committees of the Board or Council as are classified as 'major' by the Chair of the Board or by the originating committee;
(g) any matter which is declared a 'special matter' under the provisions of Clause 9(5);
(h) recommendations to the Senate for the conferring of the title of Emeritus Professor.
2. The Academic Council may refer any matter to the Board for decision, and may advise the Academic Board on any of the matters listed in sub-sections (a) to (e) inclusive of Clause 1.
3. The membership of the Academic Council comprises:
(a) the Chair of the Academic Board as Chair;
(b) the Deputy Chair of the Academic Board;
(c) the Associate Chair of the Academic Board;
(d) the Vice-Chancellor or the Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor;
(e) the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) or nominee;
(f) the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) or nominee;
(g) five persons nominated by and from the Heads of Schools each for a period of three years and a maximum of two consecutive terms of six years in total;
(h) the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Education);
(i) the Dean of the Graduate Research School;
(j) the President of the UWA Student Guild;
(k) the President of the Postgraduate Students' Association;
(l) ten academic staff members elected by and from the members of the Academic Board, each for a period of three years and a maximum of two consecutive terms of six years in total. Eligibility for membership on Academic Council is contingent on valid membership on Academic Board; and
(m) up to two members co-opted by the foregoing, each for a period of up to two years.
4.(1) The Academic Council may fill a casual vacancy in its own membership or that of an Academic Council committee for the balance of the term of the former member if it has no more than one year to run.
(2) If the balance of the term is greater than one year, casual vacancies are filled by Board election.
5. The procedure governing election to the Academic Council is the same as that determined by the Academic Board for all its Council committees.
6.(1) In the absence of the Chair, the Deputy Chair of the Academic Board takes the chair.
(2) In the absence of both the Chair and the Deputy Chair of the Academic Board from a meeting, the Associate Chair of the Academic Board takes the chair.
(3) In the absence of the Chair, Deputy Chair and Associate Chair of the Academic Board from a meeting, the Chair of Academic Council appoints a chair from the membership of Academic Council.
7. The quorum for a meeting of the Academic Council is 13.
8.(1) The Council is permitted to make decisions without reference to the Academic Board, only if these decisions are supported by a two-thirds majority of the members present and voting.
(2) If a proposed decision is supported by a simple majority but not by a two-thirds majority, it must be submitted to the Academic Board for consideration.
9.(1) The full agenda and minutes of the Academic Council are distributed to all members of the Academic Board at the same time as they are sent out to the Council.
(2) The Academic Council must not make a decision or recommendation on any matter which has not been listed in its circulated agenda.
(3) A member of the Academic Board is entitled to make a submission to the Academic Council, in writing, or at the relevant meeting, or both, on any matter listed in its agenda.
(4) Within seven days of the circulation date which appears on the relevant minutes of the Academic Council, a member of the Academic Board may request the Chair of the Board to recommit to the next meeting of the Council any matter dealt with in those minutes, provided that the member gives reasons for such a request and is prepared either to submit a paper on the issue for the Council’s consideration, and/or to attend the Council's meeting to discuss it.
(5) If 10 members of the Academic Board so require, a special meeting of the Board must be convened to consider any matter dealt with in the minutes of the Academic Council.
(6) Any matter considered under (5) by the Academic Board must be finalised by the Board itself without further reference to the Academic Council.
(7) If four or more members of the Academic Council so request, an item on a Council agenda must be referred to the Academic Board for consideration.
10. Establishment by the Academic Council of standing committees, and their terms of reference, delegations and membership, are subject to the approval of the Academic Board.
11. The Academic Council meets as and when required.