University Council Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference (Act s16)

1. Subject to this Act the Council shall:
   1. perform any function or duty conferred or imposed upon the University under this Act;
   2. act in all matters concerning the University in such manner as appears to it best calculated to promote the objects and interests of the University; and
   3. control and manage the operation, affairs, concerns and property of the University.

Composition (Act s9)

(1) Subject to this Act the Council shall consist of -

(a) 6 persons appointed by the Governor being persons with experience in education, the professions, industry or commerce and such other persons who are representative of the community;
(aa) 1 person who is nominated by the Minister charged with the administration of the School Education Act 1999;

(b) the person for the time being holding office as the chief executive officer of the University;

(c) 2 persons who are members of the full time academic staff of the University who are elected by members of that staff in such manner as is prescribed by Statute;

(d) 1 person who is a member of the full time salaried staff, other than academic staff, of the University, and who is elected by members of that staff in such manner as is prescribed by Statute;

(e) 2 persons who are enrolled students of the University, and who are elected by the enrolled students of the University, in such manner as is prescribed by Statute;

(f) 2 persons who are elected by and from among the persons whose names are registered on the Register of Alumni maintained by the University;

[(g), (h) deleted]

(i) 5 persons appointed from time to time by cooption by the Council; and

(j) if he is not already a member pursuant to one of the foregoing paragraphs, the Chancellor.

Chairperson: Chancellor.

Accredited Observers

1. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Advancement)
2. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
3. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International)
4. Vice-President (Corporate)
5. Chair, Academic Board (if not already a member of Council)
6. ECU Student Guild President *
7. President, Academic Staff Association **

* If the Guild President is elected as a Council Member the Guild Vice-President may serve as Accredited Observer. If both the Guild Presdient and Vice Presdient are elected as Council Members the Guild may nominate an elected member of the Guild Senate as an Accredited Observer.

** If the President of the Academic Staff Association is elected as a Council Member, the Association may nominate an elected office bearer of the Association as an Accredited Observer.

Reporting

Council is the governing body of the University.

Corporate Governance Statement

Council endorsed a statement on corporate governance in December 2002. The statement was amended by Council in December 2004 and in June 2007, and may be found at http://www.ecu.edu.au/GPPS/committees/corp_gov_stmt.html

Council Code of Conduct

A Code of Conduct has been prepared to assist individual Council members to discharge their duties and responsibilities in a manner which will contribute to the greater good of ECU. It is intended that the Code will:

(i) ensure that members of Council are aware of the legal duties, liabilities and protections arising from their membership of the Council;

(ii) promote good practice among Council members by describing the general responsibilities they have to the University, the Council and fellow members and to the staff and students of ECU; and

(iii) describe the Unviersity's obligations to Council members, which will assist them to carry out their duties and responsibilities to the best of their abilities.

A copy of the Code of Conduct may be found at http://www.ecu.edu.au/GPPS/council/

Matters to be Reserved to Council

Clarity as to which matters require Council approval is an important foundation for good governance and helps define decision making boundaries. in 2006 Council approved a schedule of items which it determined that it would not delegate. The document Matters to be Reserved to Council outlines these items. The Matters to be Reserved to Council is amended by Council from time to time. The University also has an appropriate system of delegations in place to ensure the effective discharge of other responsibilities.

The Matters to be Reserved to Council may be found at the following: http://www.ecu.edu.au/GPPS/council/matters_reserved_to_council.html

Council Standing Orders

Under the powers conferred on it by the Edith Cowan University Act 1984, the Edith Cowan University Statutes and any other enabling powers, the Council of Edith Cowan Univeristy resolved on 16 October 2004 to make Standing Orders to regulate the conduct of meetings of the Council and Committees.

These Standing Orders are intended to result in:

• better decision making by the Council and Committees;
• the orderly and efficient conduct of meetings dealing with the University's business; and
• greater understanding of the rules governing the conduct of meetings.

A copy of the Council Standing Orders may be found at: http://www.ecu.edu.au/GPPS/governance_services/uni_rules.html

Contacts

Chancellor: The Hon Hendy Cowan (h.cowan@ecu.edu.au)

Pro-Chancellor: Mr Steve Abbott (contact via j.tracey@ecu.edu.au)

University Secretary: Mrs Janice Tracey (j.tracey@ecu.edu.au) Tel: (08) 6304-2453

Reference

Edith Cowan University Act 1984

Statute No.5 The Council.