AGY-3227 | Charles Sturt University

Full description

Charles Sturt University was established by the Charles Sturt University Act, 1989 (Act No.76, 1989), which was proclaimed on the 19 July 1989 (1). The Act brought together the Mitchell College of Advanced Education and the Riverina-Murray Institute of Higher Education (2).

The University was created as a federated network University with semi-independent member campuses and a central administration (3).

The Charles Sturt University Amendment Act, 1998 (No.117, 1998) encapsulated in legislation the structure of the University. The new structure was an integrated, multi-campus structure in which the major academic units, the Faculties, were represented on at least three campuses of the University and the administrative divisions have University-wide responsibilities (4).

As required by the Act, the University operated main campuses at Albury-Wodonga, Bathurst, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga. The University also operated from other locations including the City of Sydney, Manly, Goulburn, Canberra, Morpeth and Broken Hill. The University's headquarters was located at the Bathurst campus (5).

Under the provisions of the Charles Sturt University Amendment Act, 1998 the Board of Governors was reconstituted as a Council (6). This was the governing body of the University. It had a membership of nineteen comprising: the Chancellor, Vice Chancellor, and the Presiding Officer for the Academic Senate as an ex officio member; two parliamentary members; four members appointed by the NSW Minister for Education and Training; four graduate members nominated by the Council and appointed by the Minister; three elected staff members; two student members; and one of the heads of Campus who serve for one year on a rotational basis (7). The Council met at least five times each year (8).

The Council was assisted in its work by five committees: the Finance Committee; the Audit Committee; the Personnel Committee; the Honorary Awards Committee; and a Standing Committee which meets only to deal with urgent matters (9).

On the 15 December 2011, the Council of the Charles Sturt University passed a governing body resolution to meet new standard governing body provisions (set out in the Universities Governing Bodies Act 2011).(10) On the 15 June 2018, the Charles Sturt University Amendment By-law 2018 was made to remove the provisions relating to the election of staff and student members of the Council in the Charles Sturt University Act 1989. (11)

In 2021, The Council consisted of six standing committees: Audit and Risk Committee; Council Executive Committee; Finance Committee; Foresighting Committee; Investment Committee; and Nomination and Remuneration Committee. (12)

The Academic Senate was established by the Act as the principal academic body of the university. In 2021, the Senate had established the following subcommittees to assist it in exercising its responsibilities: Academic Senate Standing Committee; University Courses Committee, including Indigenous Board of Studies (sub-committee); University Learning and Teaching Committee; University Research Committee; Faculty of Arts and Education Faculty Board; Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Sciences Faculty Board; and Faculty of Science and Health Faculty Board. (13)

Endnote
1. NSW Government Gazette, 14 July 1989, p.4202.
2. Charles Sturt University Undergraduate Handbook 2000.
3. Op Cit.
4. Op Cit.
5. Op Cit.
6. Charles Sturt University Amendment Act, 1998.
7. Charles Sturt University Post Graduate Handbook, 2000.
8. Op Cit.
9. Op Cit.
10. Universities Governing Bodies (Charles Sturt University) Order 2012 (No. 193, 2012); NSW Legislation website, 11 May 2012.
11. Charles Sturt University Amendment By-law 2018, s.1, NSW Legislation website, 15 June 2018.
12. Charles Sturt University, Annual Report 2021, p.14.
13. Ibid.