Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

FACULTY GOVERNANCE AND STRUCTURE

1. FACULTY

1.1 MEMBERSHIP

The membership of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences is as prescribed in Clause 4 of Statute 8 which reads as follows:

'4.(1) Each faculty comprises:

(a) the academic staff in all schools, centres and institutes funded by the faculty; ¹ and

(b) as many academic staff from other schools, centres, and institutes which teach in the faculty's courses as the Academic Board determines;

(c) members in any other categories which the Academic Board approves; and

(d) any other persons which the members in paragraphs (a) to (c) appoint for specified periods.

(2) The following are ex officio members of all faculties but are not counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at  a meeting—
the Chancellor;
the Pro-Chancellor;
the Vice-Chancellor and all other members of the Executive;
the Chair of the Academic Board; and
any other officers of the University as determined by the Academic Board.

(3) A faculty is properly constituted even if any of the members required by its constitution to be elected or nominated have not as yet been elected or nominated.'

¹ As defined in Statute 8, 'academic staff' means those staff members holding academic appointments on a full-time or 50 per cent or greater fractional basis other than those holding emeritus, visiting, adjunct, clinical or honorary appointments.

and comprises:

(a) the Dean of the Faculty;

(b) the Deputy Dean of the Faculty;

(c) the Associate Dean(s) of the Faculty;

(d) the Student Adviser of the Faculty;

(e) all academic staff in the Schools of Humanities, Music, and Social and Cultural Studies, and in such other schools as may from time to time be established within the Faculty;

(f) all academic staff in Economics, Fine Arts, Geography, Industrial Relations, Mathematics and Statistics, Psychology and such other subject areas as may be taught in the Faculty;

(g) all academic staff in such centres as may from time to time be established in the Faculty;

(h) the Dean of the Faculty of Business or nominee;

(i) the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics or nominee;

(j) the Dean of the Faculty of Life and Physical Sciences or nominee;

(k) the Faculty Manager;

(l) the Manager, Student Affairs;

(m) four members elected annually by and from the administrative and technical staff who hold full-time or 50 per cent or greater fractional appointments in the Schools of Humanities, Music and Social and Cultural Studies and in the Faculty Office;

(n) one member elected for a two year period to the Faculty and the Faculty Board by and from the general staff who hold full-time or 50 per cent or greater fractional appointments in the Schools of Humanities, Music and Social and Cultural Studies;

(o) the President of the Arts Union and two other students enrolled in the Faculty, elected annually by members of the union;

(p) one student elected annually by and from the students enrolled in the courses administered by the Board of Studies of Social Work and Social Policy;

(q) the University Librarian or nominee;

(r) one representative of the Australian Association of Social Workers (WA branch) nominated annually by the association; and

(s) such other persons, not exceeding ten in number, as may be co-opted by the foregoing members from time to time, provided that each is co-opted for a period not exceeding two years and may be co-opted again at the end of a period of office.

1.2 POWERS

The powers of the Faculty are set out in Clause 6 of Statute 8 which reads as follows:

'6.(1) A faculty, subject to the Statutes and regulations and to resolutions of the Senate, and within the constraints of University policies, has power to determine the administration of courses under its governance.'

1.3 MEETINGS

(1) Meetings are held in accordance with Clause 7 of Statute 8 which reads as follows:

'7.(1) Meetings of a faculty are held—

(a) at least once in each academic year, and

(b) within ten working days of the service on its dean, of a requisition signed by at least six members of the faculty and containing a statement of the matters to be discussed; and

(c) whenever its dean sees fit.

(2) The dean must ensure that, as far as is practicable, all members receive the agenda for a meeting of the faculty at least three working days before the meeting.

(3) Meetings of a faculty are chaired by the dean but, in the absence of the dean, the members present determine which one of them will take the chair.

(4) All questions which are before a faculty are decided by a majority of the members present and voting unless the faculty determines otherwise in its governance document.

(5) The chair of the meeting has an ordinary vote and a casting vote.

(6) Subject to the Statutes and regulations and to resolutions of the Senate, a faculty has the power to regulate its own procedures, but if a dispute arises, the standing orders of the Senate apply.'

(2) Meetings are normally held on the afternoon of the first Monday following cessation of second semester classes.

1.4 QUORUM

One third of the membership of the Faculty or 25 members, whichever is the lesser, constitutes a quorum.

1.5 NOTICE OF MEETINGS

Notice of meetings is prescribed in Clause 7(2) of Statute 8 which reads as follows:

'7.(2) The dean must ensure that, as far as is practicable, all members receive the agenda for a meeting of the faculty at least three working days before the meeting.'

If possible, items for the full Faculty will normally be published ten working days before the meeting.

2. FACULTY OFFICERS

2.1 DEAN

(1) The role of the Dean (formerly known as the Executive Dean) is as prescribed by Senate Resolution 102/93 which states:

'that the . . . Deans have:

(a) a Faculty executive role such that they will be bound by Faculty resolutions that cover research, teaching, academic structures and academic processes;

(b) delegated authority from the Vice-Chancellor to manage University resources and to implement Faculty plans, University policies and priorities.'

(2) The sense in which the Faculty's resolutions are binding on the Dean is explained in the minutes of the Academic Board meeting of 17 March 1993.

2.1.1 Reporting Procedures

By Senate Resolution 102/93—

(a) the Dean is required to report biennially to the Senate through the Academic Council, on the Faculty's achievements against the Faculty plan;

(b) the Dean's report is presented to the Faculty whose comments are submitted to Academic Council at the same time as the Dean's report.

2.2 DEPUTY DEAN

(1) Clause 11 of Statute 8 provides that:

'The Vice-Chancellor, after taking appropriate advice, appoints for a specified period a deputy for each dean who performs the duties of the dean during the dean's absence.'

(2) A deputy dean is normally appointed for a period of at least one year.

2.3 ASSOCIATE DEANS

Clause 12 of Statute 8 states as follows:

'With the approval of the Academic Board, through its chair, a dean of a faculty may delegate any of the duties and responsibilities of the office to other officers or members of the faculty for a specified period.'

2.3.1 Associate Dean (Research and Research Training)

Role

(1) The Associate Dean (Research and Research Training) has delegated responsibility to provide advice to the Dean on, or to deal with, certain research related matters.

Method of Appointment

(2) The Associate Dean (Research and Research Training) is appointed by the Academic Board through its chair on the recommendation of the Dean.

2.3.2 Associate Dean (Education)

Role

(1) The Associate Dean (Education) has delegated responsibility to provide advice to the Dean on, or to deal with, certain teaching and learning as well as  with certain student related matters.

Method of Appointment

(2) The Associate Dean (Education) is appointed by the Academic Board through its chair on the recommendation of the Dean.

2.4 FACULTY MANAGER

Role

(1) The Faculty Manager has delegated responsibility for the overall administration of the Faculty including responsibility to:

(a) assist the Dean in the execution of his/her duties;

(b) analyse and advise on matters associated with Faculty strategic and operational goals and objectives;

(c) contribute to strategic planning and policy development in the Faculty;

(d) provide leadership in Faculty management and administration;

(e) ensure that there is an effective interface between the Faculty and the Central Administration and committee system; and

(f) ensure effective compliance with statutory requirements and other legal imperatives of University governance.

Method of Appointment

(2) The Faculty Manager is appointed in accordance with the University's standard procedures for the selection of general staff.

2.5 MANAGER, STUDENT AFFAIRS

Role

(1) The Manager, Student Affairs has delegated responsibility to manage student administration and governance functions within the Faculty including:

(a) ensuring Faculty compliance with, and providing advice as necessary on, external legislation, University legislation, policy and procedures and faculty legislation, policies and procedures in academic administration;

(b) administering admission/selection processes in accordance with University and Faculty policies and specific course rules and ensuring that student enrolments comply with course rules; and

(c) preparing detailed agendas and minutes for Faculty committees and forwarding minutes and other documentation to Academic Council/Legislative Committee in accordance with the written requirements of those bodies.

Method of Appointment

(2) The Manager, Student Affairs is appointed in accordance with the University's standard procedures for the selection of general staff.

2.6 STUDENT ADVISER

Role

(1) The Student Adviser has delegated responsibility through the Faculty Manager for the following duties in relation to student matters:

(a) providing advice to students and prospective students (usually, but not necessarily exclusively, undergraduate students) on a wide range of matters relating to admission, enrolment and examinations;

(b) providing general advice to students on study problems, and other problems affecting their capacity to benefit from their University studies, and/or reference of students for appropriate professional help;

(c) making decisions on particular student cases, within University and/or Faculty policy, on such matters as credit and deferred examinations;

(d) providing advice and recommendations to the Dean, Associate Dean (Education), heads of schools, chairs of discipline groups, the Faculty Board, the Board of Examiners and other various committees on matters of student-related policy; and

(e) monitoring  and reporting to the Faculty on various student-related matters, such as attrition rates and unit pass rates.

Method of Appointment

(2) The Student Adviser is appointed in accordance with the University's standard procedures for the selection of academic staff.

3. FACULTY BOARD

By R104/93 the Senate resolved—

'(a) that faculties have faculty boards which shall be responsible to the Faculty for the conduct of all Faculty business (except constituting the Faculty Board);

(b) that resolutions of the Faculty Board that relate to research, teaching, academic structures and academic processes, be binding on the Dean, and that the Faculty Board be advisory to the Dean on resource matters;

(c) that the composition of the Faculty Board be determined by Senate on the recommendation of the Faculty to Academic Council.'

3.1 MEMBERSHIP

The Faculty Board comprises:

(a) the Dean;

(b) the Deputy Dean;

(c) the Associate Dean(s);

(d) the Student Adviser;

(e) the following Heads of Schools:

(i) Humanities;

(ii) Music; and

(iii) Social and Cultural Studies;

(f) the Chairs of the following discipline groups in the School of Humanities:

(i) Classics and Ancient History;

(ii) European Languages and Studies;

(iii) Linguistics;

(iv) History; and

(v) Philosophy;

(g) the Chairs of the following discipline groups in the School of Social and Cultural Studies:

(i) Anthropology and Sociology;

(ii) Archaeology;

(iii) Asian Studies;

(iv) Communication Studies

(v) English and Cultural Studies;

(vi) Political Science and International Relations; and

(vii) Social Work and Social Policy;

(h) six members elected by and from the Faculty, other than chairs or acting chairs of discipline groups;

(i) three student members nominated as follows:

(i) two undergraduate students nominated by the undergraduate student body; and 

(ii) one postgraduate student nominated by the postgraduate student body;

(j) the Faculty Manager;

(k) the Manager, Student Affairs;

(l) a member elected by and from the general staff who hold 50 per cent or greater fractional appointments in the Schools of Humanities, Music and Social and Cultural Studies and in the Faculty Office, who is also elected by and from those staff to membership of the Faculty;

(m) up to three co-opted members chosen by the board from any of the categories of membership of the Faculty—

(i) to ensure equal opportunity for all faculty members;

(ii) to ensure representation from a non-resourced school or discipline group; or

(iii) because the Faculty Board considers their input desirable.

3.2 MEETINGS

3.2.1 Chair

(1) Meetings are chaired by the Dean or, in his or her absence, by the Deputy Dean.

(2) If both the Dean and the Deputy Dean are absent, the members present determine which one of them will take the chair.

3.2.2 Quorum

One third of the membership of the Faculty Board constitutes a quorum.

3.3 TERMS OF OFFICE

Members' terms of office are as follows:

(a) academic staff members—two years, to be eligible for re- election for one further term of two years;

(b) general staff member—two years;

(c) student members—one year, eligible for re-election for two further periods of one year; and

(d) co-opted members—one year.

3.4 METHOD OF ELECTION

(1) Elections for the Faculty Board are held annually at the full meeting of the Faculty normally to be held on the first Monday following cessation of second semester classes.

(2) No more than two persons may be elected from any one discipline group.

(3) Heads of schools are not permitted to nominate the elected members of the Faculty Board but are permitted to vote in these elections.

3.5 SAFEGUARDS

(1) Agendas and minutes of all board meetings are made accessible on the web to board members and other members of the Faculty.

(2) Any member of the Faculty may attend a meeting of the board with the approval of the Chair.

4.COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD

(1) All committees of the Faculty Board have the power to co-opt, and must take into account equity issues when co-opting.

(2) Unless otherwise specified, all terms of office are three years.

4.1. TEACHING AND LEARNING COMMITTEE

4.1.1 Functions

(1) The Teaching and Learning Committee provides advice to the Faculty Board on matters relating to teaching and learning (including curriculum matters) in the Faculty.

(2) The committee:

(a) provides assessments of all new course and unit proposals for the Faculty Board;

(b) develops and monitors policies relating to teaching and learning on behalf of the Faculty Board;

(c) develops new initiatives in teaching and learning (such as new modes of delivery, study abroad, summer courses, etc.);

(d) develops incentives and mechanisms for collaborative forms of teaching across discipline groups and schools in the Faculty; and

(e) assists in the formulation and implementation of operational priorities related to teaching and learning.

4.1.2 Membership

(1) The committee comprises:

(a) the Associate Dean of Education as Chair;

(b) the Dean or nominee;

(c) the Student Adviser;

(d) the Manager, Student Affairs;

(e) the Manager, Marketing;

(f) the Manager, Multimedia Centre or nominee;

(g) the Teaching and Learning Co-ordinator from each of the Schools of Humanities, Music and Social and Cultural Studies appointed by the relevant Head of School;

(h) one undergraduate student nominated by the Arts Union from any of the Faculty's undergraduate courses; and

(i) one member representing schools which are outside the resourced Faculty but which teach in the Faculty's courses, appointed by Faculty Board, on the nomination of the Dean, chosen for his/her demonstrated teaching and learning skills and expertise in teaching and learning matters.

(2) A member appointed under (1)(g) is normally the Teaching and Learning Coordinator, or equivalent, of the school concerned but if a school has not appointed a Teaching and Learning Co-ordinator, or equivalent, the appointee is chosen for their demonstrated potential and their expertise in teaching and learning matters, and with the intention of maintaining representation of a breadth of discipline groups, gender balance and a balance of experienced and less experienced staff.

4.1.3 Terms of Office

Members' terms of office are as follows:

(a) academic staff members—two years and may be re-appointed; and

(b) student member—one year.

4.1.4 Quorum

(1) Subject to (2), one half of the membership of the committee, including co-opted members, constitutes a quorum.

(2) At least two members present, excluding the Chair, must be members of the Faculty's teaching staff.

4.2 RESCINDED

4.3 RESEARCH COMMITTEE

4.3.1 Functions

(1) The Research Committee provides advice to the Faculty Board on research matters (excluding those dealt with by the Board of the Graduate Research School).

(2) The committee:

(a) develops an incentive scheme for eligible staff to apply for research grants;

(b) enhances the research culture in the Faculty through a variety of initiatives and policies;

(c) develops and monitors policies relating to research on behalf of Faculty Board;

(d) assists in the formulation and implementation of operational priorities for research; and

(e) assists in the co-ordination of postgraduate studies in the Faculty. 

4.3.2 Membership

The committee comprises:

(a) the Associate Dean (Research and Research Training) as Chair; 

(b) the Dean or nominee;

(c) one member from each of the Schools of Humanities, Music and Social and Cultural Studies appointed by the relevant Head of School and chosen for their proven research skills or demonstrated research potential;

(d) the Postgraduate Co-ordinator in each of the Schools of Humanities, Music and Social and Cultural Studies;

(e) up to three co-opted members chosen for their proven research skills or demonstrated research potential and with the intention of maintaining a balance of early career and established researchers, and a breadth of discipline groups; and

(f) one postgraduate student for discussion of policy issues only.

4.3.3 Term of Office

Members other than those who are ex officio hold office for two years and may be reappointed.

4.4 BOARD OF EXAMINERS

4.4.1 Functions

The Board of Examiners in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences makes all decisions on examination results and reports them to the Registrar. The board also has powers delegated by the Faculty to make decisions on admission to honours, award of honours, student progress and sanctions, and prizes in accordance with Faculty policy.

4.4.2 Membership

The board comprises:

(a) the Dean or nominee as Chair;

(b) the Student Adviser; and

(c) two members of the Faculty appointed by the Faculty Board on the nomination of the Dean.

4.4.3 Term of Office

The members referred to in 4.4.2(c) hold office for one year and may be reappointed.

4.5 BUDGET COMMITTEE

4.5.1 Functions

(1) The committee assists the Dean with Faculty budget matters at the strategic and planning level.

(2) The committee presents the draft Faculty budget to the Faculty Board for comment.

4.5.2 Membership

The committee comprises:

(a) the Dean as Chair;

(b) the Heads of the Schools of Humanities, Music and Social and Cultural Studies;

(c) the Faculty Manager;

(d) one member from a school or unit that is resourced by the Faculty, other than heads or acting heads of schools, appointed by the Faculty Board on the nomination of the Dean, chosen for their proven managerial experience or demonstrated managerial potential; and

(e) the School Managers of the Schools of Humanities, Music and Social and Cultural Studies.

4.5.3 Term of Office

The member referred to in 4.5.2(d) holds office for two years and may be reappointed.

4.6 BOARD OF STUDIES IN SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL POLICY

4.6.1 Functions

The Board of Studies makes recommendations to the Faculty Board on policy, structure, content and admission requirements of the course administered by the board.

4.6.2 Constitution

The Board of Studies comprises:

(a) the Chair of the Social Work and Social Policy Discipline Group;

(b) the full-time members of the teaching staff in Social Work and the part-time lecturers responsible for full units in the course for the degrees of Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work (by coursework or by coursework and dissertation);

(c) the Dean of the Faculty or nominee;

(d) the Student Adviser of the Faculty or nominee;

(e) the Head of the School of Social and Cultural Studies or nominee;

(f) two persons at senior lecturer level or above, drawn from the staff of the University and having a relevant academic background, nominated by the Dean, having regard to the recommendation of the Head of the School of Social and Cultural Studies after appropriate consultation with the Chair of the Social Work and Social Policy Discipline Group;

(g) three persons, not otherwise included, actively engaged in the practice of social work and social administration appointed by the Faculty, having regard to the recommendation of the Board of Studies;

(h) one representative of the Australian Association of Social Workers (WA Branch) nominated by that association;

(i) three undergraduate students and one postgraduate student elected annually by and from the students enrolled in courses administered by the Board of Studies; and

(j) a member of the staff of the School of Indigenous Studies at this University nominated by the Dean having regard to the recommendation of the Chair of the Social Work and Social Policy Discipline Group.

4.6.3 Term of Office and Meetings

(1) The members appointed under 4.6.2(f), (g) and (h) hold office for a period of two years and are eligible for reappointment.

(2) Meetings of the board are chaired by the Chair of the Social Work and Social Policy Discipline Group but, in the Chair's absence, the members present must determine which one of them is to take the chair.

(3) Nine members present constitute a quorum.

(4) Meetings of the Board of Studies are held at such times and places as the Chair of the Social Work and Social Policy discipline group determines, but no less than twice a year.

4.7 BOARD OF STUDIES IN MUSIC

Note: The functions and membership of the Board of Studies in Music is currently under review.

4.7.1 Functions

(1) Except as provided in (2), the Board of Studies makes recommendations to the Faculty Board concerning the structure, content and admission requirements of courses administered by the board.

(2) The board refers all recommendations concerning postgraduate coursework courses to the Dean prior to submission to the Faculty Board.

4.7.2 Membership

The Board of Studies comprises:

(a) the Head of the School of Music;

(b) the full-time members of the teaching staff of the School of Music;

(c) two members elected by and from the part-time teaching staff of the School of Music;

(d) the Dean of the Faculty or nominee;

(e) the Student Adviser of the Faculty or nominee;

(f) one undergraduate student being the President of the Music Students' Society and one postgraduate student elected annually by and from the students enrolled in courses administered by the Board of Studies;

(g) one full-time academic staff member of each of the Faculties of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and Education, nominated by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences having regard to the recommendation of the Head of the School of Music;

(h) one representative of the WA Symphony Orchestra, nominated by the General Manager;

(i) one representative of the Ministry of Education (music branch), nominated by the Ministry;

(j) one representative of the Australian Music Examinations Board (WA Committee), nominated by the board;

(k) a member of the Music staff of the WA Academy of Performing Arts, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor of Edith Cowan University; and

(l) no more than three other persons co-opted by the members.

4.7.3 Appointment

The members listed in paragraphs (h) to (l) of 4.7.2 are appointed for two years and are eligible for reappointment.

4.7.4 Meetings

(1) Meetings of the Board of Studies are held at such times and places as the Head of the School of Music thinks fit, but no less than three times a year.

(2) Meetings of the Board of Studies are chaired by the Head of the School of Music or, in his or her absence, by the Acting Head.

(3) If both the Head and Acting Head are absent from a meeting, the members present must determine which one of them is to take the chair.

(4) Ten members constitute a quorum.

4.8 FACULTY APPEALS COMMITTEE—ACADEMIC ASSESSMENT

In accordance with the University's regulations governing appeals against academic assessment available at http://www.secretariat.uwa.edu.au/home/policies/appeals/, the Faculty will constitute a Faculty Appeals Committee as necessary with membership as set out in those regulations.