Academic Board & committees

The Academic Board has been established as the peak academic governance body within the University and which reports to the Council as a delegate on academic matters.

It is tasked with ensuring the University maintains quality learning, teaching, scholarship and research. As well as reviewing academic policy recommendations and approving and accrediting degrees and other awards, it provides a forum for debate within the University and between the academic community and senior executive officers.

Academic Board's Terms of Reference should be read in conjunction with the Academic Board Regulations 2021.

Academic Board Membership

The Academic Board is composed of ex-officio members and internal members including teaching and research staff, professional staff and students.

Chairperson: Professor Tom Clark
Phone: +61 3 9919 2196
Email: [email protected]

: a) Three members elected by and from Teaching and Research staff from each HE College and VU TAFE:
College of Sport, Health and Engineering
Dr Joshua Johnson
Professor Zora Vrcelj (Deputy Chair)
Dr Melissa Chan
College of Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT
Associate Professor Jeannie Rea
Professor Lidia Xynas
Dr Janine Arantes
First Year College
Professor Tom Clark (Chair)
Dr Edward Lock
Dr Puspha Sinnayah
VU TAFE
Vacant
Owen Smith
Vivienne Decleva

b) One member elected by and from Teaching and Research staff from:
Research and Impact
Professor Itamar Levinger

VU Online
Professor Chris Walsh

TNE / Partnerships
Raquel Licciardi

An area not included in the seven categories above (ie a1 to b3)
Deb Tyler

c) One member elected by and from Indigenous staff
Tracey Cooper

d) Two member elected by and from professional staff
Heather Marsh
Sonja Kiernan

e) One Executive Dean, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor in consultation with the Executive Deans
Professor Andrew Smallridge
: f) Four Ex-officio student members comprising:
VUSU President or nominee
Mayank Sajwan
ISA President of nominee
Armaan Singh
VUPA President or nominee
Hafiz Saleem
VU TAFE Representative appointed by the VUSU President
Ivan Puggioni
g) Five Ex-officio members, comprising:
Vice-Chancellor
Professor Adam Shoemaker
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer or equivalent
Professor John Germov
Chief TAFE Officer and CEO of VU TAFE or equivalent
Wayne Butson
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Impact or equivalent
Professor Andy Hill
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Enterprise and Digital or equivalent
Lisa Line (DVC Enterprise & Digital)
: h) There will be a maximum of three co-opted members.

Nil

Academic Board functions

Purpose and responsibilities of the Academic Board.

: Set institutional standards for academic quality and outcomes; monitor the effectiveness of initiatives to improve the quality of teaching and learning, programs and courses and the student experience, domestically, internationally and through third-party arrangements.

Receive reports from delegates and management that assess the University’s capacity to demonstrate it meets the academic-related standard of the Higher Education Standards Framework and the Standards for VET Accredited Courses and report to Council.

Make determinations on proposals for the accreditation and reaccreditation of all academic programs of study offered by the University.

Maintain oversight of academic and research integrity, including monitoring breaches, and mechanisms to mitigate potential and emerging academic risks including reporting to the Compliance, Audit and Risk Committee.

Review and provide advice on the development and effectiveness of policies and procedures that guide all academic and educational activities, including approval of policies relating to academic quality.

Monitor and provide advice on policies and procedures that are intended to support participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and ensure sensitivity to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge and cultures.

Monitor the quality of scholarship, research, research training and research-related matters and associated policies and foster the development and maintenance of high standards and support for research and scholarship.

Monitor and review the effectiveness of delegations made under policies and procedures relevant to the role and functions of the Academic Board and its standing committees, ensuring delegations are appropriately implemented.

Advise Council and/or the Vice-Chancellor on the academic aspects of the University's strategic plans, priorities and risk management, including evaluating the quality and effectiveness of educational innovations or proposals for innovations.

Monitor and report on the annual and strategic reviews of third-party arrangements, course delivery and agreements involving education programs delivery.

Evaluate annual self-reviews of Academic Board’s standing committees to ensure that their referred responsibilities are effectively discharged.

Provide a forum to facilitate communication on issues within the education sector and encourage discussion and dissemination of information within the University regarding good practices in scholarship and research.

Monitor and report on the occurrence of formal complaints about academic matters and allegations of academic misconduct, and actions taken to address underlying causes.

Advise on matters referred to the Academic Board, within the remit of its delegated authorities, by Council, the Vice-Chancellor or other University officers.

Provide a report to Council following each meeting of Academic Board.

Review and report annually to Council on its own performance.

Academic Board meetings

The Academic Board meetings commence at 9am and are held at the Footscray Park Campus.

: Wednesday 5 March
Wednesday 2 April
Wednesday 4 June
Wednesday 6 August
Wednesday 3 September
Wednesday 5 November
Wednesday 3 December

Committees of Academic Board

Supporting the Academic Board, and established under delegations, are the following committees of the Academic Board:

Academic Board Executive Committee (including power in its own right)
Courses Committee
Learning & Teaching Quality Committee
Research & Research Training Committee.

: The Courses Committee is responsible for monitoring, reporting and advising the Academic Board on the quality and standards of courses in accordance with University legislation and policies on courses against internal and external quality indicators; advising on related policies and monitoring their implementation.
Chair: Dr Joshua Johnson
Phone: +61 3 9919 8279
Email: [email protected]
Courses Committee - Terms of Reference (PDF, 264.45 KB)
Composition & membership
The Courses Committee is composed of:
A. One person elected as Chair from the elected members of the Academic Board
Dr Joshua Johnson (Chair)
B. Chair of Academic Board Ex-officio
Professor Tom Clark

C. Chair of the Learning and Teaching Quality Committee Ex-officio
Associate Professor Jeannie Rea

D. Director of Academic Quality and Standards Ex-officio
Deb Tyler

E. Each Executive Dean and equivalent for VU TAFE appoints two members with leadership responsibilities for teaching and learning. (Note: For the HE colleges, this will normally include the Associate Dean Learning and Teaching and the Deputy Associate Dean Learning and Teaching)
Dr Ligia Pelosi (Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT)
Dr Marc C-Scott (Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT)
Associate Professor Loretta Konjarski (First Year College)
Dr Bert Oraison (First Year College)
Dr Joshua Johnson (Sport, Health and Engineering)
Dr Romana Morda (Sport, Health and Engineering
Dianne McKeagney (VU TAFE)
F. One Teaching and Research staff will be appointed by the relevant Senior Officer from:
1. Research and Impact
Dr Rose Lucas
2. Moondani Balluk
Tracey Cooper

3. TNE/Partnerships
Raquel Licciardi

4. VU Online
Professor Chris Walsh

G. There will be a maximum of three co-opted members.
Nil.
Committee meeting dates 2025
Wednesday 22 January
Wednesday 26 February
Wednesday 26 March
Wednesday 16 April
Wednesday 28 May
Wednesday 25 June
Wednesday 23 July
Wednesday 27 August
Wednesday 24 September
Wednesday 22 October
Wednesday 26 November
Wednesday 10 December
: The Learning and Teaching Quality Committee is responsible for:
monitoring, reporting and advising the Academic Board on learning, teaching, education and training activities and initiatives
oversighting the planning, strategy, implementation and review of the University’s learning and teaching framework
activities related to learning, training and teaching, including student participation, retention and completion.
Chair: Associate Professor Jeannie Rea
Phone: +61 3 9919 4049
Email: [email protected]
Learning & Teaching Quality Committee - Terms of Reference (PDF, 294.28 KB)
Composition & membership
The Learning and Teaching Quality Committee is composed of:
One person elected as Chair from the elected members of the Academic Board
Associate Professor Jeannie Rea
Chair of Academic Board Ex-officio
Professor Tom Clark
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer Ex-officio
Professor John Germov
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Enterprise and Digital or nominee Ex-officio
Michelle Gillespie
Director of Academic Quality and Standards Ex-officio
Deb Tyler
Executive Director, Digital Transformation and Quality Learning Ex-officio
Gail Bray
Each Executive Dean, or equivalent for VU TAFE or relevant Senior Officer appoints one member with leadership responsibilities for teaching and learning (Note: For the HE Colleges, this will normally be the Associate Dean Learning and Teaching):
College of Sport, Health and Engineering
Dr Joshua Johnson
College of Arts, Business, Law, Education & IT
Ligia Pelosi
VU First Year College®
Associate Professor Loretta Konjarski
VU TAFE
Wayne Butson
Moondani Balluk
Paola Balla
TNE/Partnerships
Raquel Licciardi
VU Online
Professor Chris Walsh
There will be a maximum of three co-opted members
Nil.
Four student members comprising of the:
VUSU President or nominee Ex-officio
Mayank Sajwan
ISA President of nominee Ex-officio
Armaan Singh
VUPA President or nominee Ex-officio
Hafiz Saleem
VU TAFE Representative appointed by the VUSU President Ex-officio
Ivan Puggioni
Committee meeting dates 2025
Wednesday 12 February
Wednesday 9 April
Wednesday 11 June
Wednesday 13 August
Wednesday 8 October
Wednesday 12 November
: The Research and Research Training Committee is responsible for monitoring, reporting and advising the Academic Board on quality and standards against internal and external quality indicators, and advising the Academic Board on relevant proposed regulations, policies and procedures. [Reg 9(2)(a)].
Chair: Professor Itamar Levinger
Phone: +61 3 9919 5343
Email: [email protected]
Research & Research Training Committee - Terms of Reference (PDF, 168.51 KB)
Composition & membership
The Research and Research Training Committee is composed of:
A. 1 person elected as Chair from the membership of the Academic Board
Professor Itamar Levinger
B. Chair of Academic Board (Ex-officio)
Professor Tom Clark
C. Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Impact (Ex-officio)
Professor Andy Hill
D. Dean of Graduate Studies (Ex-officio)
Professor John Price
E. Executive Director Research Services (Ex-officio)
Bev Baugh
F. President of VUPA or nominee (Ex-officio)
Nardo Wai
G. Each Executive Dean appoints one Teaching and Research staff from their HE College:
Professor Anthony Watt (Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT)
Professor Tom Clark (VU First Year College®)
Professor Andrew McAinch (Sport, Health and Engineering)
H. Executive Director, Moondani Balluk appoints one Teaching and Research staff from Moondani Balluk
Dr Clare Land
I. Two Teaching and Research staff, who are VU Research Fellows, Conducting Research and / or HDR Supervision or Research Only Academic staff elected by and from each of the Flagship Research Institutes (IHES, ISILC)
Dr Sean Yan (IHES)
Dr Mary Woessner (IHES)
Dr Catherine Lou (ISILC)
Dr Natalie Kon-yu (ISILC)
J. Two members elected by and from staff of the Research and Impact Portfolio
Associate Professor Deborah Zion
Dr Lesley Birch
K. There will be a maximum of three co-opted members
Nil.
Committee meetings dates 2025
Wednesday 19 February
Wednesday 19 March
Wednesday 18 June
Wednesday 20 August
Wednesday 15 October
Wednesday 19 November

Academic Board legislation & important documents

Academic Board legislation and important documents provide additional information:

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