Deakin to appoint staff and student members to its Council

Deakin University will appoint a staff and a student representative to its Council in early 2013, following the changes to its Act passed by State Parliament this month.

The changes to all Victorian University Acts remove the elected staff and student members from university Councils, but provide for individual universities to appoint staff and student members.

Deakin University Council last week unanimously agreed to exercise the option to appoint a staff and a student representative and will also prepare applications for two new Government appointments to its Council, as required under the legislation in order to match the number of Government and Council appointed members.

Deakin Chancellor, David Morgan, said that the Deakin University Council has always valued the positive contribution made by its elected staff and student representatives.

"Universities have distinctive cultures, built around a collaborative community of scholarship and the involvement of staff and students in decision-making is a key element of this culture," he said.

"I am determined to maintain the involvement and the contribution of staff and students in University decision-making so that our decisions are informed and relevant to the communities we serve."

The student representative will be an elected office bearer of the Deakin University Student Association (DUSA), nominated by DUSA's Committee of Management, with appropriate skills in governance.

To fill the staff position, Deakin will call for expressions of interest from suitably qualified staff members and will run an election among staff to elect one of the candidates who has lodged an expression of interest for appointment by Council.

As a result of the changes, from 2013, Deakin University Council will comprise 19 members :

* Three official members – the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and the Chair of the Academic Board
* Eight government-appointed members
* Eight Council-appointed members

The staff and student representatives will be invited to attend Council meetings as observers until the required Government appointments are made.