Description
The New South Wales University of Technology Council was established under the Technical Education & New South Wales University of Technology Act, 1949, which came into effect on 1st July, 1949 (Act No. 11, 1949). The Council was based on the Developmental Council and seventeen members of this developing body became members of the final Council. Six others made up the rest of the inaugural Council membership, bringing the initial number to twenty-three, although under the Act the Council could hold a maximum of thirty (Act No. 11, 1949, 19(2)). Council members were appointed by the Governor (Act No. 11, 1949, 19(2)) and included individuals from Parliament, industry and commerce, trade unions, the University of Sydney, professionals and technical education (Act No. 11, 1949, 19(2)). The Act (No. 11, 1949, 25) also stated that the Council: a) may provide courses in applied science, engineering, technology, commerce, industrial organisation and such other related courses as it deems fit and may, after examination, confer the several degrees of Bachelor, Master and Doctor, and such other degrees and such certificates in the nature of degrees or otherwise as it thinks fit; b) may from time to time appoint deans, professors, lecturers and other officers and employees of the University; c) shall have the entire control and management of the affairs, concerns and property of the University; and d) may act in all matters concerning the University in such manner as appears to it best calculated to promote the objects and interests of the University. As well, the Act affirmed that the titles of the principal officers of Council were President, Vice-President and Director. The inaugural meeting of Council took place on 6th July, 1949, with Wallace Charles Wurth as President and Arthur Denning as Director. At the meeting Dr. R. W. Harman was elected Vice-President of the University (resolution 1). At the second meeting of Council, held on 12th September, 1949, the University by-laws were approved (resolution 5). These determined that Council should meet on the second Monday of March, May, July, September and November in each year, unless a special meeting was called by the President or on a written request by five members (Chapter II, 1-3). The by-laws also established that elections would occur in May, 1950 for the first members of Council to represent the teaching staff (Chapter II, 13), the undergraduates (Chapter II, 22) and the three principal faculties (Chapter II, 8). As well, the by-laws affirmed that the initial member of Council to be chosen by graduates would occur in May, 1953 (Chapter II, 15). Further, the by-laws created the fundamentals for the Professorial Board (Chapter III, 1). The 12th September, 1949 meeting also saw the formulation of three Committees of Council. Under resolution 17 the Executive, Buildings & Equipment and Public Relations Committees were all established, each with six members. A Library Committee was then created on 13th November, 1950 (resolution 89) and a Newcastle University College Advisory Committee on 8th March, 1954 (resolution 391(i)). As well, an Applied Arts Sub-Committee of the Buildings & Equipment Committee was formed on 11th May, 1953 (resolution 316vii). A special Council meeting on 29th March, 1954 passed resolution 405(i) on the Appointed Day, which was approved by the Governor and proclaimed on 1st July, 1954. Under clause 33 of the 1949 Act, after the Appointed Day the Council was invested with powers previously held by the Public Service Board and given its autonomy. As a result, resolution 405(i) also established two new Committees - the Academic Committee and the Appeals Committee, as well as two Sub-Committees of the Executive Committee - Finance and Personnel. Major alterations occurred to Council in 1955, with the passing of the Technical Education & New South Wales University of Technology (Amendment) Act (No. 8, 1955). The names of the President, Vice-President and Director were changed to the Chancellor, Deputy Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor respectively (Act No. 8, 1955, 3(1)). The number and constitution of the Council membership was also varied. The maximum number of members rose from thirty to thirty-nine with the addition of the Chairman of the Professorial Board, two representatives of agricultural, pastoral and rural interests, and an increase in the number of graduate members to a possible seven (Act No. 8, 1955, 4(1)). The name of the New South Wales University of Technology was altered to the University of New South Wales in 1958 under the University of New South Wales Act, 1958 (No. 24, 1958). Consequently the original objectives of Council were altered slightly to allow the approval of non-technological courses and research (Act No. 24, 1958, 2(d)). In 1961 more changes occurred to Council under the University of New South Wales Act, 1961 (No. 49, 1961). Membership numbers of Council increased from thirty-nine to forty, by adding one more member of the professions to Council (Act No. 49, 1961, 2(b)i-ii). Variations to the Council's various Committees also took place. On 12th March, 1962 the Newcastle University College Council was formed in place of the Newcastle University College Advisory Committee (resolution 62/45). The Newcastle University College Council eventually ceased to exist when the University of Newcastle was given its autonomy on 1st January, 1965 and obtained its own independent Council. Similarly, on 11th September, 1961 the Wollongong University College Advisory Committee was established (resolution 61/135), later being replaced by the Wollongong University College Council on 20th January, 1969 (resolution 69/28i), with autonomy occurring on 1st January, 1975. The last meeting of the Council's Library Committee was held on 27th April, 1962, as it was felt that since the Professorial Board also maintained a Committee that supervised the Library in a similar fashion the Council Committee was no longer needed. Then at the 8th July, 1963 meeting of Council a Student Affairs Committee was formed (resolution 63/134). In 1968, the University of New South Wales Act, 1968 (Act No. 37, 1968) was passed. This Act repealed the previous two University Acts and much of the 1949 and 1955 Acts, especially those parts relating to Council. Most of the new Act remained similar to the old, but along with its earlier four terms of reference, Council was given the extra proviso that it may invest any funds belonging to or vested in the University in such securities as may be prescribed by the by-laws (Act No. 37, 1968, 14d). The method of appointing a new Vice-Chancellor was also changed under the 1968 Act, with Council being provided with the power to select both the official and the period of time that the position would be held (Act No. 37, 1968, 15(4-5)). Further, the Act stipulated more precisely those making up the membership of Council, with section 8(2) stating that Council would consist of a) parliamentary members; b) official members; c) elected members; and d) nominated members and only the nominated members were now appointed by the Governor (8(6)). Council numbers also rose to forty-one, as the Act allowed for another member to be nominated from the professions (Act No. 37, 1968, 6a). Only two years later the makeup of Council was altered again, under the University of New South Wales (Amendment) Act, 1970 (Act No. 75, 1970). The number of Council members was increased to forty-three. This occurred through an addition of two more faculties who could elect members (5d) and two more student members (5A), as well as the reduction of those members from the professions (6a) and those nominated by the Minister (6e). The Council's Committees also underwent variations. The Applied Arts Sub-Committee held its last meeting on the 29th June, 1970. It was then re-titled and reformed into the Fine Arts Sub-Committee at the 12th May, 1975 Council meeting (resolution 75/81). The membership of Council was next altered under the University of New South Wales (Amendment) Act, 1978 (Act No. 170, 1978). Council numbers rose to forty-four with the introduction of a member representing the non-academic staff of the University (Act No. 170, 1978, 5e). Under this Act the members classified as nominated became appointed members (section 8(2)d), whilst the official charged with accepting these members was changed from the Governor to the Minister (section 6). The 1978 Act as well defined more distinctly the type of fees and charges that could be formulated by the Council for the University (section 20). New Committees also continued to be formed. On 13th July, 1981 an Honorary Degrees Committee was established (resolution 81/109). Then on 13th September, 1982, a University Union Liaison Committee was created, as a Sub-Committee of the Student Affairs Committee (resolution 82/120). In 1984 and 1985 two University of New South Wales (Amendment) Acts (Act No. 15, 1984 & Act No. 81, 1985) provided for other changes take place in Council. The 1984 Act regulated the type of investments that Council was permitted to undertake for the University (section 14A-E). The 1985 Act greatly modified the makeup of Council. Under this Act the Council was reduced to twenty-nine, with there now being only six graduates, four faculty appointees and eight nominees of the Minister on the Council. The professorial representatives did, however, rise from one to two members. At the 11th May, 1987 meeting the Council passed a resolution (87/55) to change the by-laws to stipulate new times that the Council would meet. As a result of these variations, from 1988 the Council meetings took place in the months February, April, June, August, October and December on a Monday to be determined by the Council (by-laws Chapter II, 1). More alterations occurred to the Council under the University of New South Wales Act 1989 (Act No. 125, 1989). The number of members was decreased to twenty-one. Consequently, Council was then made up of two parliamentary members, three official members, four academic staff representatives, one non-academic staff nominees, one undergraduate student, one postgraduate student, four graduates and one member to be co-opted by Council (Act No. 125, 1989, 9). Under this Act (Act No. 125, 1989, 15(1)), the Council: a) may provide such courses, and may confer such degrees and award such diplomas and other certificates, as it thinks fit; b) may appoint and terminate the appointment of academic and other staff of the University; c) has the control and management of the affairs and concerns of the University and may act in all matters concerning the University in such manner as appears to it to be best calculated to promote the objects and interests of the University; d) may borrow money for the purpose of exercising any of its functions, for the renewal of loans or for the discharge or partial discharge of any indebtedness to the Treasurer or to any bank, within such limits, to such extent and on such conditions as to security or otherwise as the Governor, on the recommendation of the Treasurer, may approve; e) may invest any funds belonging to or vested in the University; f) may establish or participate in such trusts, companies or other incorporated bodies as it considers appropriate to promote the objects and interests of the University; g) may engage in the commercial development of any discovery or invention, or of any intellectual property in which the University has a right or interest; h) may establish and maintain branches and colleges of the University, within the University and elsewhere; i) may make loans and grants to students; and j) may impose fees, charges and fines. As a result of these alterations, changes were made to the Council's Committees. At the 4th June, 1990 Council meeting it was resolved to disestablish all of the current Standing Committees from 1st July, 1990 and form new Committees (CL 90/45). These were the Chancellor's Committee, the Finance Committee, the Planning Committee, the Student Affairs Committee, the Appeals Committee and the Honorary Degrees Committee. Soon afterwards, however, on 4th November, 1991, the necessity of the Appeals Committee was removed (CL 91/69b), although it was not formally disestablished until 26th August, 2002 (CL002/74ai). On 29th June, 1992 an Audit Committee was created by the Council (CL 92/42). Section 28 of the 1989 Act allowed the Council to compose Rules with the same force as by-laws. Accordingly in 1996 when a new By-Law was passed, a set of Rules were also approved by Council. These Rules contained some of the procedural details that had previously been listed in the by-laws. One major change to Council organisation within the Rules was regarding the times of meetings, as Council was now permitted to meet on at least 6 occasions in each year to be determined by the Council and on such other days as may be necessary for the despatch of business (1). Further changes also occurred to Council committees. At the 26th August, 2002 meeting of the Council the Planning Committee was disestablished. At the same time, the Buildings and Grounds Committee was created, with effect from 27th August, 2002. The Risk Management Committee was established at the 14 April 2003 Council meeting, while the Nominations & Remuneration Committee was created at the 26 July 2004 meeting. At the 3 July 2006 meeting of Council, the Building & Grounds and Chancellor's Committees were disestablished. At the 18 April 2011 meeting of Council, the name of the Risk Management Committee was changed to the Risk Committee. The Student Affairs Committee was disestablished by UNSW Council at its meeting on 20 August 2012. In 2013 the Chancellor of the University was Mr David Gonski, the Deputy Chancellor was Ms Jillian Segal and the Vice-Chancellor Professor Fred Hilmer. Subordinate agency: Academic Board - 01/07/1988 The Academic Board [is]...to advise the...Council on matters relating to teaching, scholarship & research within the University. The Council may at any time...review any decision of the Academic Board (UNSW By-law 1996, 49(1c) & 49 (5)). Subordinate agency: Student Affairs Committee (1) of Council - 08/07/1963 - 30/06/1990 Standing Committee of Council Subordinate agency: Executive Committee of Council - 12/09/1949 - 30/06/1990 Subordinate agency: Planning Committee of Council - 01/07/1990 - 26/08/2002 Subordinate agency: Special Committee of Council - 06/07/1949 - 12/09/1949 Subordinate agency: Professorial Board - 12/09/1949 - 30/06/1988 The Council may at any time of its own motion or at the request of a Faculty review any decision of the Board (NSWUT By-laws 1949, Chapter III, 4v) Subordinate agency: Chancellor's Committee of Council - 01/07/1990 - 03/07/2006 Subordinate agency: Finance Committee of Council - 01/07/1990 Subordinate agency: Public Relations Committee of Council - 12/09/1949 - 30/06/1990 Subordinate agency: Buildings & Equipment Committee of Council - 12/09/1949 - 30/06/1990 Subordinate agency: Library Committee of Council - 13/11/1950 - 12/11/1962 Subordinate agency: Academic Committee of Council - 29/03/1954 - 30/06/1990 Subordinate agency: Student Affairs Committee (2) of Council - 01/07/1990 - 20/08/2012 Subordinate agency: Buildings & Grounds Committee of Council - 27/08/2002 - 03/07/2006 Subordinate agency: Honorary Degrees Committee (1) of Council - 13/07/1981 - 30/06/1990 Subordinate agency: Newcastle University College Advisory Committee of Council - 08/03/1954 - 12/03/1962 Subordinate agency: Wollongong University College Advisory Committee of Council - 11/09/1961 - 20/01/1969 Subordinate agency: Wollongong University College Council - 20/01/1969 - 31/12/1974 Subordinate agency: Board of Management of the Institute of Administration - 14/03/1960 - 14/05/1979 [The Board] is under the day-to-day control of the Vice-Chancellor and responsible through him to the University Council (Council resolution 60/20) Subordinate agency: Audit Committee of Council - 29/06/1992 Subordinate agency: Delegations Working Party of Council - 01/08/2002 - 18/05/2006 Subordinate agency: Nominations & Remuneration Committee of Council - 26/07/2004 Subordinate agency: Risk Management (2003 - 2011) / Risk (2011 - ) Committee of Council - 14/04/2003 Subordinate agency: Institute of Nuclear Engineering - 10/05/1954 - 31/12/1985 Subordinate agency: Special Committee of Council Constituted To Report Upon The University Coat of Arms - 13/11/1950 - 31/12/1952 Subordinate agency: Honorary Degrees Committee (2) of Council - 01/07/1990 Controlling Organisation: UNSW - 01/07/1949- The Council is the governing authority of the University (UNSW 1989 Act, 8(2))
