16 June 2017

The Board of Trustees met on 16 June 2017 in the Boardroom, Building EB, Parramatta South campus.  A summary of matters discussed in the open session is provided below.

The minutes (PDF, 1617.25 KB) of the previous Board meeting held on 5 April 2017 were confirmed.

Main Items Considered by the Board

Queen's Birthday Honours
Chancellor's Report
Vice-Chancellor's Report
Changes to Titles and Reporting Lines
School Performance Report – School of Science, Computing, Engineering and Mathematics (SCEM)
Board and Committee Membership
Annual Strategy Day 

Queen's Birthday Honours

The Board warmly congratulated Board member Gabrielle Trainor AO on being recognised as an Officer of the Order of Australia for her "distinguished service to the community through consultancy roles, particularly in the field of transport and infrastructure planning and design, and as a contributor to social welfare, sporting, and cultural institutions".

Chancellor's Report

The Chancellor advised the Board about a number of issues including his role as the Chair of the Forum for Western Sydney Airport, plans to establish an ethical framework for the University and the launch of the Bequest Society for Western Sydney University.

Vice-Chancellor's Report

The Acting Vice-Chancellor provided an update on the Federal Government's higher education reform package and noted that Parliament's decision was imminent.

Changes to Titles and Reporting Lines

The Board resolved that, at this time, the following resolutions passed at its April 2017 meeting should be rescinded as these changes are no longer proceeding:

(1)    the change in title for the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic to Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic with effect from 1 July 2017

(2)    the transfer of the reporting lines of the Deans of Schools from the Vice-Chancellor to the Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic with effect from 1 July 2017

School Performance Report – School of Science, Computing, Engineering and Mathematics (SCEM)

Professor Simeon Simoff, Dean of the School, presented to the Board on the School's: mission and philosophy; staffing profile; disciplines and their performance nationally and internationally; research and student success, and regional leadership and engagement.

Board and Committee Membership

The Board noted the election of Alexandra Coleman to the position of postgraduate student member for the term 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2019. The Board resolved to appoint Ms Carmel Hourigan as the new Graduate member of the Board from 1 July 2017, and also passed resolutions to appoint new members to the University Infrastructure Committee and the Foundation Council, and to confer a number of honorary awards.

Annual Strategy Day

The Board's annual strategy day, which was attended by Board and Committee members, was held on 15 June 2017.  Attendees were provided with insights into the roles and priorities of the Board's standing committees and also discussed how the University's strengths and challenges could be applied in an increasingly dynamic higher education sector.

Helen Fleming
University Secretary and General Counsel