Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Melbourne University Act 1958 - SECT 5

The Council

5. The Council





















(1) The Council is the governing body of the University and has the entire
direction and superintendence of the University.

(1A) The primary responsibilities of the Council include-

   (a)  appointing and monitoring the performance of the Vice-Chancellor and
        Principal as chief executive officer of the University;

   (b)  approving the mission and strategic direction of the University and
        its annual budget and business plan;

   (c)  overseeing and reviewing the management of the University and its
        performance;



   (d)  establishing policy and procedural principles for the operation of the
        University consistent with legal requirements and community
        expectations;

   (e)  approving and monitoring systems of control and accountability of the
        University, including those required to maintain a general overview of
        any entity controlled by the University in accordance with section
        50AA of the Corporations Act;

   (f)  overseeing and monitoring the assessment and management of risk across
        the University, including commercial undertakings;

   (g)  overseeing and monitoring the academic activities of the University;

   (h)  approving any significant commercial activities of the University.

(2) The Council shall consist of-

   (a)  the Chancellor;

   (b)  the person who is the Vice-Chancellor and Principal;

   (c)  the president of the Academic Board;





   (d)  3 persons elected by and from the staff of the University prescribed
        by the Statutes;

   (e)  2 persons elected by and from the students enrolled at the University
        prescribed by the Statutes;

   (f)  6 persons appointed by the Governor in Council;



   (g)  one person appointed by the Minister;

   (h)  6 persons appointed by the Council.

(3) If the Chairperson of the Academic Board is not a professor or an
associate professor, one of the members of staff elected under subsection
(2)(d) must be elected from the staff who are professors or associate
professors.

(4) The Governor in Council, the Minister and the Council must have regard to
appointing members to the Council who have-

   (a)  the knowledge, skills and experience required for the effective
        working of the Council;

   (b)  an appreciation of the values of a University relating to teaching,
        research, independence and academic freedom;

   (c)  the capacity to recognise the needs of the external community served
        by the University.

(4A) Of the persons appointed under subsections (2)(f) and (2)(h)-

   (a)  two must be persons with financial expertise with relevant
        qualifications and experience in financial management at a senior
        level;

   (b)  one must be a person with commercial expertise at a senior level.

(5) Not more than 3 members of the Council appointed under subsection (2)(f)
and (h) may be persons whose normal place of residence is outside Australia.

(6) At least 12 members of the Council must be persons who are neither
enrolled as a student nor employed as a member of staff of the University.

(7) A person who is a member of the Parliament of Victoria or of the
Commonwealth or of any other State or Territory of Australia must not be
elected or appointed to the Council except under subsection (2)(h).