Regulation 6.1.R7 - Departments and Schools
The following provisions are applicable to the departments listed below.
Architecture, Building and Planning
Asia Institute
Culture and Communication
Historical Studies
Languages and Linguistics
Philosophy, Anthropology and Social Inquiry
Social and Political Sciences
Accounting and Business Information Systems
Economics
Finance
Management
Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Computer Science and Software Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Geomatics
Mechanical Engineering
Agriculture and Food Systems
Forest and Ecosystem Science
Resource Management and Geography
school of Vocational Education and Training
Lawschool of Behavioural Science Psychology school of Dental Science Dental Science school of Medicine
Anatomy and Cell Biology
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Medical Biology
Microbiology and Immunology
Pathology
Pharmacology
Physiology
Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Barwon Health
General Practice
Medicine (Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre/Northern Health)
Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital and Western Hospital)
Medicine (St. Vincent's Hospital)
Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Royal Women's Hospital, Mercy Hospital for Women and Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre)
Ophthalmology
Otolaryngology
Paediatrics
Psychiatry
Radiology
Surgery (Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre/Northern Health)
Surgery (Royal Melbourne Hospital and Western Hospital)
Surgery (St. Vincent's Hospital)
school of Physiotherapy Physiotherapy school of Population Health Public Health school of Nursing and Social Work Nursing Social Work school of Rural Health Rural Health school of Music Music Botany
school of Chemistry
school of Earth Sciences
Genetics
Information Systems
Mathematics and Statistics
Optometry and Vision Sciences
school of Physics
Zoology
Veterinary Science
NOTE:
The regulation does not apply to those departments and schools established by statute, viz:
The Melbourne Business school (Regulation 6.1.R4))
Veterinary Clinic and Hospital of the school of Veterinary Science (Regulation 6.1.R6)
Academic departments and Schools.
Except where the provisions of Statute 6.1.8 apply or the process of the appointment of a head is determined by another statute or affected by an agreement between the University and another organization, or where Council has determined that an incoming professor should have an initial period as head, the following regulation applies to the appointment of head and deputy head and is otherwise applicable to the departments-
- Eligibility for Appointment as head
- The vice-chancellor must appoint as head of a department a senior member of the academic staff who is able to provide leadership in, and to support the teaching and research of the department and to carry out the administrative requirements of the office.
- It is expected that professors are prepared to serve as head and that professors will regularly be appointed in that role.
- Notwithstanding (1)(b) above, the Council acknowledges that it may be essential or desirable to appoint as head an associate professor or senior lecturer of the department.
- If in the vice-chancellor's opinion there
exist extraordinary or special circumstances affecting a department,
the vice-chancellor, after consultation with the dean, may recommend
to the Council a variation from the above provisions.
- Process of Appointment of head
The dean should establish a collegial consultation process which will result in a recommendation to the vice-chancellor regarding the appointment of a head. After appropriate departmental consultation, the dean must recommend to the vice-chancellor the appointment as head, a member of the academic staff as specified in sub-section (1), paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above. The dean must include a description of the consultative process in the recommendation to the vice-chancellor.
The views of the dean and, if they are different, the views of the department, are to be conveyed by the dean to the vice-chancellor who will take account of the advice in making the decision to appoint a head.
The dean should inform the department of the recommendation he/she is making to the vice-chancellor.
- Term of Office of head
A head is generally appointed for an initial period of not less than 3 and not more than 5 years. A subsequent appointment which immediately follows an initial appointment may be for a period of less than 3 years.
It is expected that a head will generally serve for the full period for which he or she is appointed.
- Duties
The head of a department is, according to Statute 6.1.2 'the executive officer of the department' and is responsible to the Council through the faculty or Board of Studies for the execution of his or her duties in accordance with the statutes and regulations of the University. Regulations concerning the specific responsibilities of a head may not diminish this general responsibility.
The head of a department is obliged in particular to give effect to the policies of the relevant faculty and of the Academic Board. He or she is responsible for ensuring that administrative procedures within his or her department conform to the requirements of the University and the appropriate faculty or board of studies.
- Deputy head
- Eligibility for Appointment
- Process of Appointment
- Period of Office
- Duties
Eligibility for appointment as deputy head is the same as that for head and it is recognised that the provisions in sections (1)(c) and (d) above may often be invoked in the appointment of deputy head1.
The process of nomination of the deputy head is determined by the departmental committee. Its recommendation is forwarded through the dean to the vice-chancellor.
The deputy head is appointed for a period of not more than five years.
The deputy head acts in the absence of the head in accordance with Statute 6.1.3 and shares the administrative tasks and responsibilities of the headship.
- Departmental committee
- Membership
- Procedures
The faculty must approve the procedures of the departmental committee which are to be as simple as possible.
- Function
Subject to the policies of the relevant faculty and of the Academic Board, and unless the faculty determines that the departmental committee has different responsibilities, the departmental committee is the principal body for assisting and advising the head in the determination and implementation of policy within the department. Its functions include-
- assisting and advising the head in the implementation of existing University, faculty and departmental policies;
- preparing and commenting on proposals for changes in policies for discussion within the department;
- preparing and commenting on proposals for changes in policies for submission to the faculty or University. It should meet at least three times per year.
The faculty approves the process for the determination of the membership of the departmental committee which, where possible, consists predominantly of academic staff of the rank of senior lecturer and above.
- Departmental Meeting
- Membership
The departmental Meeting comprises all full-time and fractional full-time academic staff of the department and, where the departmental committee so determines, representatives of part-time academic staff, students or professional staff.
- Procedures
The departmental committee approves the procedures of the departmental meeting.
- Function
The departmental meeting is a consultative body.
The function of the departmental meeting is to facilitate communication and discussion of matters affecting the department.
The departmental committee determines the frequency of departmental meetings but it is expected to meet at least once a year.
- Membership
1 In the department of Medical Biology the deputy head is appointed from those full-time staff members of the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research who hold a University appointment of Professorial Associate or Senior Associate.