Approaching year end and a new Council for JCU

Dear Colleagues,

As the academic year draws to a close - for students sooner than for staff - activities linked to its finalisation are in full swing. Grading, moderation and subject and course results are considered and processed across the University. It's a strange thing that many in the broader community assume that we share the holiday rhythm of the school system. That once the students have finished for the year, we can all relax.

Of course, that isn't so. Once coursework teaching and learning have wrapped for the year, there is still a huge amount of work going on. Research students' programs continue, research activity for many academic staff gets renewed focus once again and, for many professional staff, their areas are hitting their straps, particularly those colleagues who are deeply involved in student admissions and preparations of all sorts for the coming year.

We usually expect a number of decisions from Government at this time of year. Discussion papers and decisions are often released in the few weeks leading up to Christmas. Last year, it was the Bradley Review as well as some much needed (and very welcome) funding for capital/building.

This year there are a number of change processes and reviews being undertaken at the national level. Changes to the way that research is evaluated and rewarded are more or less settled, but the outcome of much of this is not yet plain. We expect ERA assessment outcomes for the first two discipline clusters to be available within the week.

There is a review of regional provision of higher education, consistent with the recommendation from the Bradley Review. We expect a discussion paper to be released in the next week or so - and, if not then, in the New Year. No-one will argue with the idea that we need to better understand the additional costs associated with regional provision. It will be important to ensure that the costs associated with operating a research intensive university in regional Australia are brought to bear, rather than confine consideration to the costs of delivering teaching and learning. Changes to the loadings paid to regionally based operations are not expected until 2012.

Recently, we found out that none of the three JCU expressions of interest, identifying projects seeking funding from the Education Investment Fund, have gone through to the second round for preparation of a full proposal. This is very, very hard to understand. All three were extremely well prepared and positioned. A number of our colleagues were involved in putting these together and we engaged a private firm to assist us as well - folk who have a very good track record of success with other EIF proposals. We will look for feedback, but we have a Plan B and that is being engaged as I write. The good news is that now we don't have to wait until sometime next year to see if our projects will be funded. We know the position and can move ahead with certainty.

JCU has a new Council. The University's 15th Council will be inducted on Nov 30 and will meet to conduct University governance for the first time on December 3 in Townsville. Ten of the 22 members are new. I look forward to briefing them on the University, our achievements and plans. We have been very well served by the 14th Council and I'm sure the 15th Council will serve the University just as well. Lt Gen John Grey AC continues as Chancellor and JCU is extremely lucky to have someone of his calibre in this important role. All external Council members give generously - and freely - of their time and expertise in the service of the University. I'm very grateful to each and every one of them for taking on this important governance role.

My next post will be my last for the year. It will be part a 'year in review' summary and part a look towards our 40th birthday year - 2010.

Cheers,

Sandra

Posted at 06:19PM Nov 29, 2009 in General  |