What is the Academic Board?

Deakin University's Academic Board is the principal academic authority within the University and has responsibility to Council for maintaining the highest standards in teaching and research. The Academic Board fulfils this responsibility in the following ways:

• it approves and reviews academic policies and monitors their compliance to ensure that they inform and guide academic activity within the University
• it accredits and re-accredits courses, ensuring the academic qualification standards of Deakin’s awards
• it provides advice of an academic nature to Council and the Vice-Chancellor
• it engages with the wider academic community and promotes debate on academic matters.

The Academic Board has established five standing committees. The committees undertake the detailed work of the Board and provide the Board with informed advice and/or recommendations on specific matters associated with their particular portfolios. The Chair of the Academic Board establishes ad hoc committees relating to discipline, academic progress and appeals as and when necessary.

The membership of the Academic Board includes:

• all professors of the University
• members of the Senior Executive
• a non-professorial member of each faculty
• student members.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sally Walker, has often spoken of the importance of academic freedom and collegiality, both of which are integral to the core values that underpin the idea of a university – a commitment to the creation, advancement, transmission and application of knowledge and skills. With its hundred plus members, including all professors of the University, the Academic Board conducts its meetings in an environment of mutual respect and is ‘the embodiment of collegiality’ within Deakin University. It is charged with supporting a University culture based on the highest academic quality and contributing to the upholding of the academic freedom of staff.

Professor Philomena Leung,
Chair, Academic Board