This year, for the first time, staff will be nominating for one of two positions on the Council, each for a fixed term of two years.

This change is the result of decisions the Council approved at its meeting in August that will improve its effectiveness and bring it into line with other similar bodies in New South Wales.

Earlier this year, University Council commissioned an expert assessment of its size and practices as part of the regular cycle of governance reviews across the organisation. Emeritus Professor Janice Reid, former Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University, and Dr Rhonda Hawkins AM, now Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Victoria University, were contracted to conduct the review and reported back to the Council in March.

Professor Reid and Dr Hawkins made several recommendations that will help improve the efficiency and decision-making capacity of the University Council, freeing it up to oversee strategic matters. The report also made three key recommendations regarding the size, composition and tenure of Council members, all of which were approved by the University Council at its meeting in August:

1. Fixed terms for Council members

Council members were previously appointed for variable terms depending on the nature of their appointment. This allowed for flexibility in the Council membership, but also resulted in inconsistencies in the duration of appointments. The Council agreed to set a standard four-year term for appointed members, including the Chancellor. Staff members will be elected to a two-year term in this election, however, Council has approved an extension to the term to three years to enable greater continuity. Regulatory changes are required to effect this three-year term and that process has commenced.

2. Term limits for Council members

Prior to the review, there was effectively no limit on the number of terms members could serve. This helped create a Council whose members could become deeply involved in the University over many years, but also made it more difficult to recruit new talent and expertise without increasing the size of the Council and reducing its efficiency. Following the review, Council approved a maximum of three four-year terms for appointed members, including the Chancellor, except in exceptional circumstances. This change applies to all current and future appointed members.

3. Reduction in the size of Council

The size of Council is key to its effectiveness, and over time our Council has grown to 19 members, all of whom have added value and insight into the University’s governance. Across the sector, however, University Councils are much smaller, with an average of 15 members. In line with sector practice, the Council agreed to gradually reduce the number of members as their terms expire. Over the next 12-18 months, the number of graduate members will reduce from nine to six, and the number of academic staff elected representatives will reduce from three to two, becoming eligible for re-election once after their first term.

With Professor Howitt retiring, and Professors Kane and Dean concluding their current terms in December, this final change will come into effect for the forthcoming election.

For more information, visit the University Council website or contact councilelections@mq.edu.au

Professor Deb Kane from the Department of Physics and Astronomy is commencing her third term on Council and aspires for “our University community to function collectively so that we can all read the University’s Ethical framework, with a sense that its principles are alive and well at Macquarie University”.

Professor Richie Howitt from the Department of Geography and Planning, has been elected for a second term and sees the big challenge of his term “as ensuring that Council nurtures Macquarie’s capacity to respond to change in ways that are consistent with our Ethics Statement and that support our capacity to nurture successful academic career paths for future staff”.

Deb and Richie are joined by Professor Catherine Dean, the Head of Department and Director of the Physiotherapy Program, who has been elected to Council for the first time. Cath is looking forward to working on Council “to ensure the University realises its strategic vision”.

More information on University Council and all its members can be found on the Council website.