The University of Western Australia
Faculty Governance Arrangements –
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Governance Document
The Faculty, and all its Committees and boards contained within the governance arrangement as set out in this document operate in accordance with the University Principles and Rules for the Operation of Committees. Members must act in accordance with the University Committee Members' Code of Conduct. The Faculty is established within the University in accordance with Statute 8.
Faculty of / Health and Medical Sciences (HMS)1. Faculty Membership
(1) The membership of the Faculty is as prescribed inClause 4of Statute 8, which reads as follows:
'4.(1) Each faculty comprises:
(a) the academic staff1in all schools, centres and institutes funded by the faculty;
(b) as many academic staff1from other schools, centres and institutes which teach in the faculty's courses as theAcademic Boarddetermines;
(c) members in any other categories which theAcademic Boardapproves; and
(d) any other persons whom the members in paragraphs (a) to (c) appoint for specific periods.
(2) The following are ex-officio members of all faculties but are not counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at a meeting—
· the Chancellor
· the Pro-Chancellor;
· the Vice-Chancellor and all other members of theExecutive;
· the Chair of theAcademic Board; and
· any other officers of the University as determined by theAcademic Board.
(3) A faculty is properly constituted even if any of the members required by its constitution to be elected or nominated have not as yet been elected or nominated.'
1'academic staff' means those staff members holding academic appointments on a full-time or 50 per cent or greater fractional basis other than those holding emeritus, visiting, adjunct, clinical or honorary appointments. / (1) The Faculty comprises:
(a) the Executive Dean;
(b) ex-officio members of the University (as per Clause 4 (2) of Statute 8);
(c) the Associate Deans;
(d) all academic staff, as defined in Clause 1 of Statute 8, in all schools, centres and institutes within the Faculty, who hold full-time or 50 per cent or greater fractional appointments;
(e) all professional and general staff of the Faculty and Faculty Service Delivery Centre who hold full-time or 50 per cent or greater fractional appointments as defined by the UWA Professional and General Staff Agreement;
(f) the President(s) of relevant Student Societies and/or Organisations affiliated with the Faculty, or the Guild, or nominee appointed for a period of one year; and
(g) one postgraduate research student of the Faculty and one postgraduate coursework student of the Faculty to be appointed for a period of one year by the Postgraduate Students’ Association.
1.1 Powers
'6.(1) A faculty, subject to theStatutesand regulations and to resolutions of theSenate, and within the constraints of University policies, has power to determine the administration of courses under its governance.'
(2) In accordance withClause 6(2) of Statute 8, the Faculty may—
(a) advise the Dean, as appropriate, on all policy issues relating to the Faculty's resources;
(b) make recommendations to theAcademic Board, through the Dean, as appropriate, on any matter related to research or the teaching of its courses; and
(c) advise other university bodies or officers, through the Dean, as appropriate, on any matter referred to it for consideration.
(3)Clause 9of Statute 8 states that with the approval of theAcademic Board, a faculty may delegate any of its powers to the Dean, the heads of school or Committees of the faculty. / The powers of the Faculty are set out in Clause 6 of Statute 8.
1.2 Meetings
'7.(1) Meetings of a faculty are held—
(a) at least once in each academic year;
(b) within 10 working days of the service on its dean, of a requisition signed by at least six members of the faculty and containing a statement of the matters to be discussed; and
(c) whenever its dean sees fit.
(2) The dean must ensure that, as far as is practicable, all members receive the agenda for a meeting of the faculty at least three working days before the meeting.
(3) The meetings of the faculty are chaired by the dean but in the absence of the dean, the members present determine which one of them will take the chair.
(4) All questions which are before a faculty are decided by a majority of the members present and voting unless the faculty determines otherwise in its governance document.
(5) The chair of the meeting has an ordinary vote and a casting vote.
(6) Subject to theStatutesand regulations and to resolutions of theSenate, a faculty has the power to regulate its own procedures but if a dispute arises, the standing orders of theSenate apply.' / Meetings are held at least once in each year and conducted in accordance with Clause 7 of Statute 8.
1.3 Quorum
4(2) The following are ex officio members of all faculties but are not counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at a meeting—
· theChancellor;
· the Pro-Chancellor;
· the Vice-Chancellorand all other members of theExecutive;
· the Pro-Chancellor;
· theChair of the Academic Board; and
· any other officers of the University as determined by theAcademic Board / (1) The quorum is the lesser of:
(i) 25 per cent of the total Faculty membership; or
(ii) 50 members of the Faculty.
(2) If a quorum is not present at a meeting of the Faculty, matters remaining on the agenda are to be referred to the Faculty Board.
1.4 Decisions
'7.(4) All questions which are before a faculty are decided by a majority of the members present and voting unless the faculty determines otherwise in its governance document.
(5) The chair of the meeting has an ordinary vote and a casting vote.
(6) Subject to theStatutesand regulations and to resolutions of theSenate, a faculty has the power to regulate its own procedures, but if a dispute arises, the standing orders of theSenateapply.' / (1) Subject to the terms of Clause 7 of Statute 8:
(a) all decision items which come before the Faculty are to be decided by a majority of the members present and voting;
(b) each member present has one ordinary vote; and
(c) the Chair of the meeting has one ordinary vote and a casting vote.
1.5 Notice of Meetings
'7.(2) The dean must ensure that, as far as is practicable, all members receive the agenda for a meeting of the faculty at least three working days before the meeting.' / Notice of meetings is prescribed inClause 7(2) of Statute 8.
2. Role of Faculty Officers
2.1 Dean
‘to approve that resolution R102(ii)/93(i) be amended to read:‘that the Executive Deans have:
(a) a Faculty executive role such that they will be bound by Faculty resolutions on matters of Faculty Business under section 6(1) of Statute 8; and
(b) delegated authority from the Vice-Chancellor to manage University resources and to implement Faculty plans, University policies and priorities.'
2.1.1 Reporting procedures
By Senate Resolution 102(iii)/93:
'the . . . Deans [are] required to report biennially to theSenatethrough theAcademic Council, on the Faculty's achievements against the Faculty plan and . . . that these reports [must] be presented to the Faculty whose comments will be transmitted toAcademic Councilat the same time as the . . . Dean's report.'
2.2 Deputy Dean
Clause 11of Statute 8 states that:'the Vice-Chancellor, after taking appropriate advice, appoints for a specified period a deputy dean who performs the duties of the dean during the dean's absence.'
2.3 Associate Deans
In accordance with Clause 2.1, the Dean hasappointed the associate deans with delegated authority. / (1) The Executive Dean:(a) leads the Faculty and is a member of the University Executive;
(b) is bound by such Faculty resolutions as is provided in Senate Resolution R9/17; and
(c) has delegated authority from the Vice-Chancellor to manage University resources and to implement Faculty strategic plans, outcomes of the Integrated Planning Exercise, University policies and priorities.
(d) reports to the University on Faculty's achievements against the Faculty strategic plan.
(2) Associate Deans:
2.1. Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) has delegated authority from the Executive Dean to provide leadership in matters relating to curriculum development and management, teaching and learning and student related matters.
2.2. Associate Dean (Research) has delegated authority from the Executive Dean to provide leadership in matters relating to research, research impact and research training including HDR student related matters.
2.3. Associate Dean (Community & Engagement) has delegated authority from the Executive Dean to provide leadership in matters relating to Faculty’s community and engagement strategy, including Business Development, Alumni and Relations, Marketing and Recruitment, and Communication.
2.4. Associate Dean (International) has delegated authority from the Executive Dean to lead and manage the development of International Strategy across the faculty in line with its Integrated Planning and the University’s internationalisation strategy and strategic plan
(3) Head of Faculty Service Delivery Centre has delegated authority from the Executive Dean for the overall administration of the Faculty, including academic and student related matters.
3. Faculty Board
3.1 Role
Senate Resolution 9/17:
‘to approve that resolution R47/12 be amended to read:
(i) that Faculties shall have Faculty Boards which, subject to clauses 2 to 4 (inclusive) of this Resolution, shall exercise the powers and functions conferred on the Faculty under section 6 of Statue 8 (‘Faculty Business’);
(ii) that Faculty Boards shall be responsible to the Faculty for the conduct of all Faculty Business;
(iii) that resolutions of the Faculty Board on matters of Faculty Business under section 6(1) of Statute8 shall be binding on the Executive Dean, save that the Faculty Board may advise but not bind the Executive Dean on resource matters; and
(iv) that the composition of the Faculty Board be determined by Academic Board on the recommendation of the Faculty..’ / (1) The role of the Faculty Board, as set out in Senate Resolution R9/17, is to:
(a) provide a forum for discipline-informed discussion and consultation on academic matters;
(b) consider and make recommendations to the relevant University Committee on proposed amendments to its governance document and related Committee constitutions;
(c) consider issues relating to education, including admission matters, research and research training in the Faculty, and refer, as appropriate, to the relevant University Committee in accordance with University Policies; and
(d) recommend directly to the University’s Curriculum Committee on new offerings or major changes to cycle 1, cycle 2 and cycle 3 courses.
3.2 Membership
4(2) The following are ex officio members of all faculties but are not counted for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present at a meeting—
· theChancellor;
· the Pro-Chancellor;
· the Vice-Chancellorand all other members of theExecutive;
· the Pro-Chancellor;
· theChair of the Academic Board; and
· any other officers of the University as determined by theAcademic Board / (1) The Faculty Board comprises:
(a) the Executive Dean as Chair;
(b) the Associate Deans;
(c) the Heads of Schools;
(d) the Heads of Divisions within each School;
(e) the Heads of Centres affiliated with Institutes hosted by the Faculty;
(f) the Head of Faculty Service Delivery Centre;
(g) up to two students appointed annually by the Faculty’s Student-Staff Consultative Committee; and
(h) up to six members co-opted by the Chair to provide specialist knowledge, representation of an area/discipline or research and gender diversity.
3.3 Terms of Office / Co-opted members are appointed for two years and may be reappointed for a maximum of two consecutive terms.
3.4 Meetings / (1) There are at least two meetings scheduled in each academic year.
(2) Where there is insufficient business to be transacted a meeting may be cancelled or if there are items which could be considered without the need to convene a meeting such items may be considered via a Circular.
(3) Meetings will also be held—
(a) within 10 working days of the service on its Executive Dean of a requisition signed by at least three members of the Faculty Board and containing a statement of the matters to be discussed; and
(b) whenever theExecutive Dean sees fit.
(4) The agenda for a meeting is to be made available to members, as far as practicable, at least three full working days before the meeting date.
(5) The Executive Dean, in absence, may appoint a delegate to chair meetings of the Faculty Board.
(6) The Faculty Board has the power to adjourn a meeting of the Faculty Board for such a period as it determines.
(7) Subject to theStatutesand regulations and to resolutions of theSenate, the Faculty Board has the power to regulate its own procedures, but where a dispute arises, the standing orders of the Senatewill apply.
3.5 Quorum / (1) The quorum for the Faculty Board is half the current membership plus one.
(2) Where a quorum is not present, the business to be transacted by the Faculty Board may, at the Chair's discretion, be:
(a) subsequently circularised to members for resolution; or
(b) included in the agenda for the next meeting of the Faculty Board or the Faculty.
3.6 Decisions / (1) All questions which come before the Board are to be decided by a majority of the members present and voting.
(2) Each member present has one ordinary vote.
(3) The Chair of the meeting has one ordinary vote and a casting vote.
3.7 Standing Committees of Faculty Board / The standing committees of the Faculty Board are the:
(1) Learning and Teaching Committee;
(2) Board of Examiners; and
(3) Research Committee
3.8 Decision making map / A decision-making map illustrating where the Faculty Board's business comes from and where its recommendations or decisions go is available on the web.
3.9 Communication map / A communications map illustrating where information comes to the Faculty Board from and which committees or groups need to be informed of the Faculty Board's decisions is available on the web.
Approving Body / Academic Board
Date of Approval / 5 December 2017
Faculty Board Standing Committees:
Faculty Committees operate in accordance with the University Principles and Rules for the Operation of Committees. Members must act in accordance with the University Committee Members' Code of Conduct.