NTEU calls for ACT Legislative Assembly Review into University of Canberra governance

Whether you're at UC or elsewhere, university governance is important to all of us. Sign the NTEU petition here and share with your colleagues!

On 18 September, NTEU ACT Division Secretary Dr Lachlan Clohesy sent the following letter to all ACT parties and candidates ahead of the 2024 ACT Legislative Assembly election

Dear candidates,

I am writing on behalf of the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), which represents university staff in ACT universities, including the University of Canberra (UC). This letter is being sent to all candidates in the upcoming ACT Legislative Assembly elections, to ask you to commit to a comprehensive and transparent review of UC governance.

UC is a great university. UC’s staff and students ensure that UC balances world-leading research with high quality scholarship and teaching, which provide benefits to the Canberra region and beyond. However, in recent times, questionable management processes and decision-making have compromised UC’s ability to deliver on its core mission. A summary is attached to this letter.

The University of Canberra is governed under the University of Canberra Act 1989 (ACT). UC is the only university for which the ACT Legislative Assembly has responsibility.

University governance is also a key feature of the Federal Government’s Australian Universities Accord.

We therefore urge you to commit to an urgent review of UC governance by the ACT Legislative Assembly should you be elected in the upcoming elections. We will circulate responses of candidates to our membership and social media channels across all ACT universities.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions in relation to this correspondence.

 

Kind regards

  

Dr Lachlan Clohesy 

ACT Division Secretary

National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU)           

Phone (M): 0418 493 355           

Email: [email protected] 


SUMMARY: UC GOVERNANCE ISSUES AND THEIR IMPACTS

NTEU members have serious concerns about UC governance issues and their impacts, including:

Vice Chancellor resignation

  • The sudden resignation of the former Vice Chancellor, Professor Paddy Nixon, which was announced on 17 January 2024 (but which UC’s Annual Report 2023 states occurred on 15 December 2023) (The Canberra Times, Times Higher Education, University of Canberra).
    • While UC and Professor Nixon have stated that the resignation was for “personal reasons”, media reporting suggests Professor Nixon was told his services were no longer required during a university leadership retreat late last year (Times Higher Education).

     

     Vice Chancellor remuneration

  • The $1,780,000-$1,789,999 remuneration package listed in the UC Annual Report 2023 in relation to Professor Nixon. The remuneration package is the highest remuneration earned by any Vice Chancellor in any Australian university for 2023. This figure represents a 71% increase on the 2022 figure and raises questions about whether there was a significant payout attached to Professor Nixon’s departure (UC Annual Report 2023 (p. 115), The Canberra Times, Times Higher Education).


Course and unit cuts

  • Widespread course and unit cuts in accordance with the UC strategy ‘Curriculum Catalyst: Streamlining and Enhancing Academic (Teaching and Research) Offerings’ announced to staff in UC Town Hall in May 2024 (The Canberra Times).


Significant budget deficit

  • Budget deficit approved by UC Council of $26.3 million has blown out by another $10.4 million to $36.6 million, according to figures announced to staff in UC Town Hall in August 2024 (The Canberra Times, Times Higher Education).
    • Meanwhile, the UC Annual Report 2023 shows that spending on consultants increased by $9.5 million in 2023, representing a 130.1% increase from 2022 (from $7.3 million to $16.7 million) (UC Annual Report 2023 (p. 89)).
    • UC indicated to the UC Town Hall meeting in August 2024 that, on their current trajectory, during the next year UC would arrive at a “point at which we stop being able to pay the bills” and “the point at which we can’t meet payroll” (Interim Vice Chancellor Professor Lucy Johnston).

 

Related Posts