13 April 2005

The Board of Trustees met on 13 April 2005, in the Boardroom of Building AD, Werrington North Campus. Matters discussed included:

Review of Board Performance

The Board discussed feedback from the Board of Trustees Performance Review Report including:

• investigating methods of improving the University community's understanding of the Board, its role and its decisions
• quality and risk
• ensuring Board members' skills are appropriate and adequate to fulfil their responsibilities
• terms of reference of Board standing committees
• commercialisation
• wide ranging responsibilities of Board members including the financial and quality wellbeing of the University; needs, aspirations and wellbeing of its staff and students; requirements of Federal, State and Local Government organisations and needs and aspirations of the community they serve.

Update on the Realignment of the Colleges and Schools

The Board resolved:

• to approve the dissolution of the School of Education and Early Childhood Studies and the School of Social Ecology and Lifelong Learning, and the formation of a new 'School of Education' to replace those schools
• to enhance the quality, reach and attractiveness of the UWS postgraduate suite of programs, the Board resolved to establish a Graduate School, to be known as the Sydney Graduate School of Management (SGSM), within the College of Law and Business and that all business and staff of SGSM Ltd be transferred to the University.

HECS and Undergraduate Fees in 2006

The Board reluctantly decided to raise HECS fees by 25% in 2006. A media statement was released by the University on 13 April, immediately following the Board meeting. This increase will apply to all students who commenced University in 2005 and subsequently, except for those in the national priority areas of Education and Nursing. The University will dedicate at least $1m of this amount to equity merit scholarships for enrolling students. The Board will continue its current policy on undergraduate fee-paying places for Australian students in 2006.

Abolition of Compulsory Up-front Student Union Fees

The Board does not favour the government's proposal to abolish all compulsory student services fees. If VSU, as presented by the Minister, becomes a reality, the University will need to consider ways to retain essential services currently provided by student associations and financed by the student services fees.

Proposed New Teaching Building at Parramatta Campus

The Board approved the budget allocation of $21m and an additional contingency allowance of $0.5m.