• Skip to navigation
• Skip to content
• University home page

University Secretary's Department Statutes and Regulation

Statutes and Regulations

• Chapter 1 - General Provisions
• Chapter 2 - The Council, Chancellor and Deputy Chancellors, Vice-Chancellor and Senior Executive Staff
• Chapter 3 - Alumni Council
• Chapter 4 - The Academic Board
• Chapter 5 - Academic Structure
• Chapter 6 - No Legislation Remaining
• Chapter 7 - Academic Titles And Honorary Appointments
• Chapter 8 - Semi-Autonomous Bodies and University Services and Facilities
• Chapter 9 - Affiliated Colleges and Other Affiliated and Recognised Bodies
• Chapter 10 - Fees and Charges, Non-Trust Awards and Trusts Governance
• Chapter 11 - Admission, Enrolment, Assessment and Conferring of Awards
• Chapter 12 - No Legislation Remaining
• Chapter 13 - Student Discipline
• Chapter 14 - Intellectual Property
• Chapter 15 - Student Organisations
• Chapter 16 - No Legislation Remaining
• Chapter 17 - Management and Good Governance
• Regulations R3 - Requirements for Degrees and Diplomas
• University trust records
• Legislation Updates
  • December 2012 Updates
  • October 2012 Updates
  • January 2011 Statutes Updates
• Revoked Statutes & Regulations

Statute 1.7 - University Governance

 

View/Print PDF (18 KB)

 

Constitution and government

1.7.1 (1) The University is constituted in accordance with the terms of the Act, and statutes and regulations of the University made thereunder.

(2)  Policies made or approved by Council, the vice-chancellor, the Board, or a faculty which are within the powers of the relevant body or officer, as the case may be, and which are consistent with the statutes and regulations, also form part of the governance framework of the University, but do not constitute delegated legislation of the University

Objects of the University

1.7.2 The objects of the University include those which are set out in section 5 of the Act.

Values of the University

1.7.3 All members of the University should adhere to the values of the University in all dealings at or related to the University, consistent with and to the extent required by virtue of their positions in the University, and doing so in a way which is consistent with the principles of justice, equity and the pursuit of excellence.  These values are –

1. maintaining the highest international standards of ethics and quality in research, teaching and administration;
2. advancing the intellectual, cultural, economic and social welfare of the Melbourne, Victorian and Australian communities, and recognising the particular needs and aspirations of indigenous Australians;
3. working with other universities to extend educational opportunity and enrich intellectual discourse, educational quality and research activity around the world;
4. advocating and upholding fundamental human rights, in particular the principle of equal opportunity, as the only just, sustainable basis for a humane civilisation and challenging all staff and students to understand and accept their moral responsibilities as educated, informed, tolerant citizens of their own societies and of the wider international community;
5. preserving, defending and promoting the traditional principles of academic freedom in the conduct of its affairs, so that all scholars at the University are free to engage in critical inquiry, scholarly endeavour and public discourse without fear or favour;
6. sustaining a diverse, harmonious scholarly community committed to equity and merit as the fundamental principles encouraging and assisting staff and students to realise their full potential; and
7. maintaining a safe, rewarding, environmentally sustainable learning and working environment for the University community.

Strategic planning

1.7.4 The strategic planning of the University must reflect the objects of the University as set out in the Act and the values of the University as set out in this statute.

Powers and responsibilities of Council

1.7.5 (1) Council is the governing body of the University and has the entire direction and superintendence of the University.

(2) The primary responsibilities of Council comprise those matters set out in section 8(3) of the Act, and the following:

1. ensuring that the University is managed lawfully, ethically and prudently;
2. approving the University’s strategic and business plans, and specifically the strategic goals and financial objectives contained therein;
3. deciding the expenditure authorisation limits to be delegated to the vice-chancellor and other senior officers of the University, and approving expenditure above those levels;
4. approving any significant changes to the organisational structure of the University;
5. determining what academic authorities are to be delegated to the Board;
6. overseeing the establishment of University charitable trusts and the proper discharge of University trust obligations;
7. approving investments and strategic commitments that may have a material effect on the assets, financial performance or operations of the University and any material change in the nature of the business or role of the University;
8. monitoring the decisions and actions of the vice-chancellor and the performance of the University to ensure satisfactory progress is being made towards the vision, strategic goals and financial objectives of the University as reflected in approved plans;
9. approving the University master plan;
10. monitoring relations between the University, governments and the external community;
11. approving the appointment of the vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellors (including provost), deans, senior vice-principal and other members of the professional staff as specified from time to time;
12. determining any matters referred to it by the vice-chancellor or the Board; and
13. ensuring that all external accountabilities are met.

(3) Council may delegate any of its powers, authorities, duties and functions (other than this power of delegation and as set out in the Act) to the vice-chancellor and otherwise as set out in section 18 of the Act.

(4) Council must appoint a chancellor as the senior officeholder of the University, as well as at least one deputy chancellor, with such powers and responsibilities as provided in the Act and in any statutes or regulations of the University made thereunder.

(5) Subject to the Act and any statutes or regulations of the University, the chancellor by virtue of the office, is a member of all bodies of the University but has no executive function in the management or administration of the University

Powers and responsibilities of the vice-chancellor

1.7.6 (1) The vice-chancellor is the chief executive officer of the University, accountable to Council for all powers and responsibilities vested in the vice-chancellor.

(2) Subject to the powers and responsibilities of Council as set out in section 1.7.5, the vice-chancellor is accountable to Council for:

1. the management and administration of the University;
2. reporting systematically to Council on progress being made by the University towards achievement of any strategic plans approved by Council from time to time; and
3. supplying Council and its committees with adequate, appropriate and timely information to enable Council and its committees to conduct inquiries, to make assessments and judgments, and to gain assurance that the decisions and actions of the vice-chancellor are appropriate to the objects and values of the University, and remain within the limitations set out in sub-section (3).

(3) Subject to sub-section (4), the vice-chancellor must :

1. promote commonly accepted standards of business practice and ethics;
2. encourage integrity, respect and dignity in relationships amongst those involved in or affected by the University’s activities;
3. assess the likely impact of any change in the financial and academic position of the University and in the achievement of its objects and values arising from any planned and material allocation of the University’s resources;
4. assess the likely health, safety and environmental consequences, and the impact on the achievement of the objects and values of the University, of any planned decisions or actions of the University;
5. assess the likely effect on the reputation of the University and the impact on the achievement of the objects and values of the University of any planned decisions or actions of the University; and
6. ensure that the University has a system of controls for identifying and managing the risks that are material to the achievement of the objects and values of the University, its strategy and plans.

(4) The vice-chancellor is entitled and expected to use any reasonable interpretation of the nature and scope of the powers and responsibilities vested in the vice-chancellor, together with applicable limitations as set out in this section.

(5) Subject to the Act, University statutes and regulations, the vice-chancellor may delegate any of his or her functions, powers and duties to-

1. any appropriately qualified member of staff; or
2. any committee established from appropriately qualified members of staff.

Other powers and responsibilities

1.7.7  (1)  The powers and responsibilities of the Board are set out in Statute 4.1 and any regulations made thereunder, but do not derogate from the overall power and responsibilities of the vice-chancellor for the management and administration of the University, subject to the direction and superintendence of Council.
(2)  The powers and responsibilities of the faculties (including those graduate schools established as faculties) are set out in Statute 5.1, with deans of faculties being the accountable officers in each case, with the powers and responsibilities as set out therein.
(3)  The powers and responsibilities of other academic units of the University are set out in the governance arrangements approved by Council or the vice-chancellor for those academic units which Council or the vice-chancellor establishes from time to time as provided in Statute 5.1.

 

• Comment on this web site
• Contact the University
• Course Enquiries