Freedom of Information Act 1982 Statement

This statement has been prepared in compliance with Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 and is correct to 31 December 1997.

1.  Functions of the University’s decision-making Council and Boards are as follows:

Council

In accordance with section 18 of The Australian National University Act 1991 the Council is the governing authority of the University. Section 9 of the Act provides that, subject to this Act and the Statutes, the Council has the entire control and management of the University and is to act in all matters concerning the University in such manner as appears to be best calculated to promote the interests of the University.

The membership of the Council is set out in section 10 of the Act. It is chaired by the Chancellor and comprises 22 members which include elected officers of the University and other ex-officio members, representatives of both Houses of Parliament, persons appointed by the Governor-General, persons appointed by the Chief Minister of the ACT, representatives of various groups of the University’s academic staff, representatives of the general staff, graduate and undergraduate students as well as convocation, and one other person at the discretion of Council.

Committees of the Council

Council is assisted by the following committees:

• The Standing Committee considers any matter relating to the University referred to it by the Council or, if Council is not sitting, transacts the business of the University except for matters solely within the competence of the Council.
• The Finance Committee makes recommendations and decisions concerning financial and accounting matters of the University.
• Other continuing committees of Council are Appeals Committee, Audit Committee, Buildings and Grounds Committee, Committee Against Sexual Harassment, Committee on Child Care, Committee on Conditions and Appointment of the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Emergency Appointment (Vice-Chancellor) Committee, Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, General Services Fee Committee, Honorary Degrees Committee, University Fellowships Committee and Public Affairs Committee.

Board of the Institute of Advanced Studies

The function of the Board is to advise the Council on any matter relating to education, learning, research and other academic work of the University; it makes recommendations on the establishment of additional research schools in the Institute; the abolition, combination or sub-division of those research schools or departments of the research schools; the promotion of persons to academic offices in the Institute; the enrolment of students for courses of study or research in the Institute; the requirements of courses of study in the Institute; the granting of degrees, diplomas, certificates, honours and scholarships; and on academic matters pertaining to the Institute.

The Board of the Institute of Advanced Studies comprises a chairperson appointed by the Council from among the professors in the Institute, the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, the head of each research school, four heads of departments in each research school chosen by the respective faculty board, one member chosen by the faculty of each research school, the Chairperson and one other member of the Board of The Faculties, two members elected by and from the graduate students of the Institute and such other persons as the Council appoints. The Institute of Advanced Studies comprises the John Curtin School of Medical Research and the Research Schools of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Pacific Studies, Physical Sciences and Engineering, and Social Sciences. It incorporates the Mount Stromlo and Siding Spring Observatories, the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health and a number of mainly multidisciplinary academic centres.

The Board is assisted by the following committees:

• Committee on General Policy
• Promotions Committee
• Strategic Developments Committee.

Board of The Faculties

The function of the Board is to make recommendations to the Council on the academic development of the University; the establishment, abolition, combination and subdivision of faculties and of departments and other bodies within The Faculties (other than the Institute of the Arts); the promotion of persons to academic positions in The Faculties; the assigning of any staff (academic and non-academic) to a department or faculty or to another body within The Faculties; the admission of students to the University and and to courses and parts of courses; examinations; scholarships for courses of study and research; the granting of degrees, diplomas, certificates and honours; the discipline of students; and other academic and related matters.

The Board of The Faculties comprises a chairperson appointed by the Council from among the professors in The Faculties, the Vice-Chancellor, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the Dean of each faculty within The Faculties, the Dean of Students, the President of The Australian National University Students Association, the Chairperson and one other member of the Board of the Institute of Advanced Studies, heads of departments and divisions, heads of centres in the Faculty of Asian Studies, three professors of law, other representatives of academic staff and students and such other persons as the Council appoints from time to time. The Faculties offer undergraduate and graduate courses in arts, Asian studies, economics and commerce, engineering and information technology, law, and science.

The Board is assisted by the following committees:

• Steering Committee
• Resources Committee
• The Faculties Research Grants Committee
• Academic Progress Appeals Committee
• Admissions Committee
• Committee on Consultation
• Faculties Computing Committee
• electoral committees for academic posts
• Postgraduate Scholarships Committee
• Promotions Committee
• Standing Committee of Tenure Committee
• Prospective Students Liaison Committee
• Undergraduate Awards Committee

Joint Committees of the Academic Boards

The two academic boards have the following three major joint committees:

• Graduate Degrees Committee
• Joint Committee on Postgraduate Awards
• Board of Management, Centre for Continuing Education

2.  The functions of the University’s statutory officers are as follows:

Chancellor

The Chancellor presides at all meetings of Council and on all ceremonial occasions when available to do so. The Chancellor signs the Annual Report of the University to the Governor-General.

Pro-Chancellor

The Pro-Chancellor chairs meetings of the Standing Committee and, in the absence of the Chancellor, presides at meetings of the Council and on ceremonial occasions.

Vice-Chancellor

The Vice-Chancellor is the Chief Executive Officer of the University and has such powers and duties as the Statutes prescribe or, subject to the Statutes as the Council determines. The Vice-Chancellor’s role is to control and manage the affairs and concerns of the University including the control and management of real and personal property vested in or acquired by the University. The Vice-Chancellor has, and may exercise, such powers as are necessary or desirable to discharge those duties. The Vice-Chancellor also represents and acts for the University in its relations with the Commonwealth Government and other bodies.

Deputy Vice-Chancellors

The two Deputy Vice-Chancellors generally assist in all aspects of the Vice-Chancellor’s work, but particularly advise on the academic affairs of the University and deputise for the Vice-Chancellor in that officer’s absence. One Deputy Vice-Chancellor is also Director of the Institute of Advanced Studies.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Finance and Development)

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Finance and Development) is responsible to the Vice-Chancellor for the management of the University’s financial and physical resource operations.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Administration)

The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Planning and Administration) advises the Vice-Chancellor on the effective administration of the University, on matters of concern to students and staff and on the University’s relationship with the community.

3.  Powers of the University

The University’s powers are based on The Australian National University Act 1991. Under this legislation the University has made statutes, rules and orders.

Statutes

Council has made 30 statutes under section 27(1) which are valid at present ¾

Board of The Faculties Statute

Board of the Institute of Advanced Studies Statute

Chancellorship Statute

Convocation Statute

Courses and Degrees Statute

Default Certificate Statute

Deputy Vice-Chancellorship Statute

Discipline Statute

Endowment Statute

Faculties and Faculty Boards (Institute of Advanced Studies) Statute

Faculties (The Faculties) Statute

Fees Statute

Halls of Residence Statute

Information Technology Services Statute

Institute of the Arts Statute

Institute of the Arts Liquor Statute

Interpretation Statute

Library Statute

Liquor (Affiliated Colleges) Statute

Liquor (Halls of Residence and University Union) Statute

Liquor (University Arts Centre) Statute

Liquor (University House) Statute

Membership of the Council Statute

Parking and Traffic Statute

Pro-Chancellorship Statute

Residential Colleges (Affiliation) Statute

Staff Superannuation Statute

Superannuation Funds (Investment and Management) Statute

University House Statute

University Seal Statute

Vice-Chancellorship Statute

Institute of the Arts Statutes preserved under Section 57 ¾

Academic Progress Statute

Admission Statute

Affiliation (ANU) Statute

Courses and Awards Statute

Elected Members of Council Statute

Fees Statute

Granting of Advanced Standing Statute

Interpretation Statute

Library Statute

Scholarship Statute

Student Conduct Statute

Traffic Statute

Rules

Rules have been made under the above statutes relating to admissions, examinations, fees, discipline, courses and degrees, courses of study, student academic progress, University House, halls of residence, affiliated colleges, membership of Council, the Library, and faculties and faculty boards.

Orders

Orders have been made under the above statutes relating to bachelor degrees, professional training in law, research schools, University House discipline, the Library, liquor, and Fee paying overseas students.

4.  Documents or publications produced by the University

Documents available for purchase by the public or otherwise accessible in terms of the Freedom of Information Act 1982 are ¾

Council statutes, rules and orders

Annual Report of the ANU to Parliament

Annual reports of schools, faculties, centres and units to the Council

Undergraduate Handbook

Graduate School Handbook

Institute of the Arts Annual Report

Institute of the Arts Handbook

Institute of the Arts Prospectus

Undergraduate Prospectus

Statistical Handbook

Purchasing Policy and Procedures

University Mail

Accounting Manual

Radiation Safety Handbook

Ionizing Radiation Safety

Occupational Health and Safety Unit Information Manual

Documents which are customarily made available to the public otherwise than under the Freedom of Information Act, free of charge, upon request are ANU Reporter, National Graduate, information pamphlets and booklets on courses and academic requirements in various disciplines, leaflets on academic appointments in the Institute of Advanced Studies and in The Faculties, Library Guides, and an accommodation brochure.

Internal working documents include internal user manuals, Financial Authorisations, Personnel and Payroll (General), Stores and Purchasing Systems Manuals and other policy and procedural documents.

Facilities for access

Limited facilities for the perusal of documents applicable to individual areas are available at the Personnel Office and/or Student Administration.

FOI procedures and initial contact points

Applications for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 should be lodged in writing with the University Legal Office. Applications should include the application fee or a request for its remission, an address to which notices may be sent and, to facilitate contact with the applicant, a telephone number effective during normal business hours. Properly lodged applications for access to documents will be acknowledged and a decision notified to the applicant as quickly as possible.

Inquiries regarding freedom of information and access to documents may be made at¾

University Legal Office
Chancelry Building
East Road

Tel: (02) 6279 8489