2 June 2015

The Board of Trustees met on 2 June 2015 at The Langham, Sydney. A summary of matters discussed in the open session of the Board meeting is provided below.

The confirmed minutes of the 8 April 2015 (PDF, 274.27 KB) (opens in a new window) meeting are also now available. 

Main Items Considered by the Board

The Board held its annual Strategy Day on 3 June and discussions covered a broad range of topics including:

  • Higher Education and the Digital Environment
  • UWS and the Future of Learning
  • Rebranding UWS
  • Reconceptualising UWS - Internationally and in GWS

Helen Fleming
University Secretary

Chancellor's Report

The Acting Chancellor, Gillian Shadwick, spoke briefly to her report, noting her attendance at the University Chancellors' dinner and University Chancellors' Council meeting. The Pro Chancellor, Elizabeth Dibbs, recently attended on behalf of the Chancellor, the Ethnic Communities' Council NSW 40th anniversary gala dinner. The University hosted a table at the dinner and received very positive acknowledgment for its continuing engagement with a range of Western Sydney communities.

Vice-Chancellor's Report

The Vice-Chancellor briefed the Board on the status of the proposed higher education reforms. The reforms are likely to be defeated in the Senate and it is anticipated that funding arrangements for 2016 will be similar to 2015.

The Vice-Chancellor noted recent media reports regarding a Muslim Students' Association event at the Bankstown campus, and advised the Board that a number of initiatives are in place to continue to engage with Muslim students across the University to enhance social connectedness.

Streamlined Visa Processing arrangements continue to be monitored and managed closely, and the September risk rating is expected to show an improvement.

School of Nursing and Midwifery: Presentation from the Dean

As part of the regular scheduling of School presentations, the Dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery attended the Board meeting to outline the School's academic profile, successes and challenges. The securing of clinical placements is an ongoing challenge and a range of management strategies have been put in place to ensure students have access to the placements required to complete their courses.

Response to the ICAC report on International student recruitment

The Board noted the report regarding international student recruitment and the University's response to the management of streamlined visa processing risks.

Board Performance Review

The Board discussed the final report on the external performance review of the Board of Trustees and its committees. The Board accepted the recommendations contained in the review and requested that the Vice-Chancellor implement the recommendations in accordance with the draft implementation plan. The external reviewer thanked the Board members for their time throughout the process and noted the collegiality and enthusiasm of the Board under the highly effective leadership of the Chancellor. The Board's strong commitment to Western Sydney arose as a recurring theme throughout the review process.

Election of the Postgraduate Student Member of the Board

The Acting Chancellor congratulated Sophie Kobuch on her election as the postgraduate student member on the Board for a two-year term commencing 1 July 2015. Sophie is studying her PhD at the School of Medicine in the area of neurophysiology.

Code of Conduct

The Board resolved to amend the Code of Conduct to prevent staff using University funds to make donations to political parties or political associations.