AGY-3521 | Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee [Charles Sturt University]

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The first meeting of the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee of Charles Sturt University (CSU) was convened on 9 August 1989, soon after the Charles Sturt University Act, 1989 was enacted in July 1989. (1) Initially the membership of the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee consisted of only the Vice-Chancellor and the Principals of each member campus. That is, the Mitchell campus (Bathurst), Murray campus (Albury-Wodonga) and Riverina campus (Wagga Wagga). (2) No distinct terms of reference were devised for the Committee, rather it was seen as a forum whereby the Vice-Chancellor could take advice from the Principals in relation to matters concerning the University. (3) By 1996 the membership of the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee had grown to include:
- the Vice-Chancellor;
- the Deputy Vice-Chancellors (two);
- the Pro-Vice Chancellors (three);
- the Deans (five); and
- the Dean of Studies. (4)
During this stage of its development the Committee used to meet on a weekly basis by video conference. The Committee was deemed to be the principal administrative forum for information exchange, consensus formation, policy formation and coordination within the University. The existence of the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee was intended to reduce the need for other Committees whose principal functions were either the coordination or formation of advice to the Vice-Chancellor. (5) In particular the Committee was utilised to:
- review the developmental priorities of the University and detail annual targets;
- review the Capital Development Plan of the University;
- review the Strategic Plan of the University to assess the extent to which the goals set are being achieved;
- review periodically the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations of the University. (6)
Changes in the Senior Executive of Charles Sturt University signified that changes would also take place within the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee. This however, was reflected more in the membership of the Committee, rather than the specific functions delegated to the Committee. In 2002 the membership of the Committee had grown to include the following:
- Vice-Chancellor (Presiding Officer);
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic);
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administrative);
- Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Graduate Training);
- Pro-Vice Chancellor (Planning and Development);
- Pro-Vice Chancellor (Learning and Student Support);
- Pro-Vice Chancellor (Public Affairs);
- Presiding Officer of the Academic Senate;
- University Secretary;
- Executive Director Information Technology;
- Executive Director Marketing & Communications;
- Executive Director Human Resources;
- Executive Director Financial Services;
- Executive Director Library Services;
- Executive Director University Properties;
- Director Student Services;
- Director Student Administration;
- Director International Office;
- Director Indigenous Education Centre;
- Director Learning Materials Centre;
- Director Centre for Enhancing Learning and Teaching;
- Director Planning and Audit. (7)
At the same time, the terms of reference for the Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee were to provide advice to the Vice-Chancellor on matters relating to:
- the University’s strategic plan;
- major proposals for the future development of the University;
- topics raised by any member of the Committee which are referred to the Committee by the Vice-Chancellor; and
- other matters referred to the Committee by the Vice-Chancellor. (8)
Endnotes:
(1) Minutes of the inaugural meeting of the CSU Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee, Meeting 1/89, 9 August 1989, p.1.
(2) CSU Mitchell Handbook, 1990, p.11.
(3) Ibid., p.11.
(4) Agenda Item 2 of Meeting of the CSU Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee, Meeting 1/96, 4 March 1996, p.1.
(5) Ibid., p.2.
(6) Ibid., p.2.
(7) Charles Sturt University Administration Manual, Section GOV 42, Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee, p.1.
(8) Ibid., p.1.