University of Sydney / Faculty of Arts / About the Faculty / Faculty Committees

Faculty Committees

Dean's Executive Committee

Chair: Associate Professor Anne Dunn

Meeting Frequency: Fortnightly

Servicing: Faculty Secretariat

Terms of Reference:

  • Provide the Dean with Executive advice.
  • Overview the development and implementation of the Faculty Strategic Plan.
  • Consider policy matters as referred from the Dean, Heads of School and Committees of Faculty.
  • Identify policy and practice issues and refer to Committees of Faculty as appropriate.
  • Receive reports from Associate Deans and Chairs of Committees.
  • Make recommendations to Faculty Board.

Administration Committee

Chair: Mr Mark Leary, Faculty Executive Director

Meeting Frequency: Monthly

Servicing: Faculty Secretariat

Terms of Reference:

  • Regularly review the Faculty’s administrative structure, processes and resourcing and identify and make recommendations for improvements.
  • Oversee the development of online processes and central information stores (Strategic Plan IF3.1).
  • Develop and make recommendations pertaining to Faculty communication strategies (Strategic Plan CA7).
  • Oversee Faculty infrastructure projects.
  • Develop policies to ensure a best practice, client focused culture in the Faculty (strategic Plan CA2).
  • Consider issues related to Human Resources as advised by HR Advisor.
  • Receive reports from sub committees and groups ie web steering group, BPM coordination team and administration review team.
  • Ensure the Committee aligns its activities with the Faculty Strategic Plan.
  • Report regularly to DEC on progress and advise on related policy and operational issues.
  • Members of the Committee report regularly on Committee business and policies to the School that they represent and bring to the Committee's attention any School issues.

Finance Committee

Chair: Associate Professor Anne Dunn

Meeting Frequency: Monthly

Servicing: Faculty Office (Associate Director of Finance)

Terms of Reference:

  • Advise the Dean and Heads of School on the management of Faculty and School budgets.
  • Evaluate the resource implications of proposals forwarded by Committees.
  • Conduct compliance activities.

Honours Committee

Chair: Dr Chris Hilliard

Meeting Frequency: Monthly

Servicing: Faculty Secretariat

Terms of Reference:

  • Consider and oversee policy and curriculum initiatives and reviews concerning the development and administration of Honours programs.
  • Develop policies, procedures and guidelines concerning assessment and research training at Honours level.
  • Improve the consistency of the Honours Program and develop strategies to increase numbers of Honours enrolments (Strategic Plan R3.4).
  • Ensure the Committee aligns its activities with the Faculty Strategic Plan.
  • Report regularly to DEC on progress and advise on related policy and operational issues.
  • Members of the Committee report regularly on Committee business and policies to the School that they represent and bring to the Committee's attention any School issues.

Library Committee

Chair: Dr Anthony Dracopoulos

Meeting Frequency: To be decided by the committee

Servicing: Chair

Terms of Reference:

  • Consider matters related to the Faculty’s use of the University Library.
  • Verify and oversee the annual distribution of funds from the Faculty of Arts monograph budget to departments and programs.
  • Take initiatives in the area of electronic access to information and advise Faculty of the positive possibilities in such developments.
  • Ensure the Committee aligns its activities with the Faculty Strategic Plan.
  • Report regularly to DEC on progress and advise on related policy and operational issues.
  • Members of the Committee report regularly on Committee business and policies to the School that they represent and bring to the Committee's attention any School issues.

Postgraduate Coursework Committee

Chair: Dr Fiona Giles

Meeting Frequency: Monthly

Servicing: Faculty Office (Postgraduate Manager)

Terms of Reference:

  • Maintain oversight of, and shape policies and strategie relating to Postgraduate curriculum, including, where appropriate, curriculum reform.
  • Consider the academic merit of proposals for new and amended units of study and ensure their consistency with University and Faculty policy.
  • Consider curriculum initiatives, such as proposals for new and amended coursework programs, ensure these are consistent with the Strategic Plan and that resource implications are fully costed.
  • Maintain, where possible, a strong link between Postgraduate Coursework programs and the Faculty's broader Postgraduate Research culture.
  • Implement and assist in developing current and future Faculty Strategic Plans, including:
    + monitoring trends in and market demand for Postgraduate Coursework offerings, their links to industry and other relevant external connections (Strategic Plan LT3.1)
    + developing a 5 year plan for Postgraduate Coursework programs with a review of their impact on resources, academic and administrative staff requirements, and facilities and services for international students. (Strategic Plan CA1.3)
    + liaising with Teaching and Learning A/Deans (Strategic Plan CA3.2)
    + developing strategies to enhance the student experience (Strategic Plan SE4).
  • Report regularly to DEC on progress and advise on related policy and operational issues.
  • Members of the Committee report regularly on Committee business and policies to the School that they represent and bring to the Committee's attention any School issues.

Postgraduate Research Committee

Chair: Associate Professor Judith Keene

Meeting Frequency: Monthly February – November inclusive

Servicing: Faculty Office (Postgraduate Manager)

Terms of Reference:

  • Maintain oversight of all policies relating to Postgraduate Research candidature.
  • Assess recommendations of Examiners for completions of Research Degrees.
  • Ensure procedures and practices are in place to promote excellence and best practice in Postgraduate Research supervision and mentoring (Strategic Plan R2).
  • Identify and develop opportunities to better integrate Postgraduate Research students into the research and teaching culture of the Faculty including induction, training and ongoing support.
  • Collaborate with PGARC Director to ensure the PGARC resource meets the needs of its research students.
  • Ensure Faculty representation on relevant Academic Board Committees as required.
  • Ensure the Committee aligns its activities with the Faculty Strategic Plan.
  • Report regularly to DEC on progress and advise on related policy and operational issues.
  • Members of the Committee report regularly on Committee business and policies to the School they represent and bring to the Committee's attention any School issues.

Research Committee

Chair: Professor Richard Waterhouse

Meeting Frequency: Monthly from February to November

Servicing: Faculty Secretariat

Terms of Reference:

  • Assess and report on research performance in the Faculty.
  • Make recommendations to DEC about initiatives to improve research performance.
  • Identify and articulate the Faculty's research strengths and their desired strategic development; ensure that academics are well positioned to support this direction (Strategic Plan R4).
  • Develop and initiate opportunities for staff to increase high quality research output (Strategic Plan R1).
  • Raise the research profile of the Faculty through conferences, visitors schemes and teaching relief.
  • Administer faculty research support schemes including FARSS and SSP.
  • Develop strategies to improve the Faculty's research funding base.
  • Ensure Faculty representation on relevant central Univeristy Committees as required.
  • Liaise closely with the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS).
  • Ensure the Committee aligns its activities with the Faculty Strategic Plan.
  • Report regularly to DEC on progress and advise on related policy and operational issues.
  • Members of the Committee report regularly on Committee business and policies to the School that they represent and bring to the Committee's attention any School issues.

Student Advisory Committee

Chair: Associate Professor Anne Dunn

Meeting Frequency: Twice per Semester

Servicing: Faculty Secretariat

Terms of Reference:

  • Provide advice on issues of interest and concern relating to students in the Faculty.
  • Receive advice from the Dean regarding developments in the Faculty relating to students.
  • Provide timely input on the development and appraisal of new initiatives.
  • Ensure effective liaison with the Student Support Unit of the Faculty Teaching and Learning Network.
  • Identify opportunities to build and develop the relationship between students and staff in the Faculty.

Teaching and Learning Committee

Chair: Associate Professor Ian Maxwell

Meeting Frequency: To be decided by the committee

Servicing: Executive Officer, Teaching and Learning Network

Terms of Reference:

  • Initiate, develop, monitor and review policies, procedures and guidelines relating to teaching, learning and assessment in the Faculty (Strategic Plan LT2).
  • Administer schemes designed to support improvements in teaching quality and the learning experience (Strategic Plan LT2).
  • Develop the Faculty Teaching and Learning Plan and prepare related submissions.
  • Ensure Faculty representation on relevant central Univeristy Committees as required.
  • Ensure the Committee aligns its activities with the Faculty Strategic Plan.
  • Supervise staff in the Teaching and Learning Network.
  • Report regularly to DEC on progress and advise on related policy and operational issues.
  • Members of the Committee report regularly on Committee business and policies to the School that they represent and bring to the Committee's attention any School issues.

Undergraduate Committee

Chair: Dr Frances Clarke

Deputy Chair: Associate Professor Carole Cusack

Meeting Frequency: To be determined by the committee

Servicing: Faculty Office (Undergraduate Manager)

Terms of Reference:

  • Maintain development and oversight of all policies relating to both the undergraduate curriculum and undergraduate candidatures.
  • Consider the academic merit of proposals for new and amended degree programs, including combined degrees involving other Faculties, against any Faculty guidelines or plan, and including oversight of appropriate timelines as agreed between chairs of UGC, PGRC, PGCWC, Honours Committee and Faculty Executive Director, and appropriate consultation processes according to Faculty policy on consultation.
  • Consider the academic merit of proposals for new subject areas and majors, new and amended units of study, and other curriculum initiatives, including cross listings, against any Faculty guidelines or plan, including oversight of appropriate consultation processes according to FAculty policy on consultation.
  • Periodically review Unit of Study outlines to ensure consistency with published information and Faculty guidelines.
  • Monitor and manage the reporting to Faculty of curriculum reviews to be undertaken at least every five years by Departments.
  • Initiate developments in areas of potential growth or need.
  • Ensure Faculty representation on relevant central University Committees as required and Academic Board Undergradaute Studies Committee, including bringing to that Committee's attention matters of concern to this Faculty, and ensuring that Academic Board policies and initiatives on undergraduate matters are translated into Faculty policy and procedures.
  • Ensure the Committee aligns its activities with the Faculty Strategic Plan.
  • Report regularly to DEC on progress and advise on related policy and operational issues.
  • Members of the Committee report regularly on Committee business and policies to the School they represent and bring to the Committee's attention any School issues.
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