The Academic Board has been established as the peak academic governance body within the University and which reports to the Council as a delegate on academic matters.
It is tasked with ensuring the University maintains quality learning, teaching, scholarship and research. As well as reviewing academic policy recommendations and approving and accrediting degrees and other awards, it provides a forum for debate within the University and between the academic community and senior executive officers.
Academic Board's Terms of Reference should be read in conjunction with the Academic Board Regulations 2021.
Nominations are open for staff vacancies on the Research and Research Training Committee, and Academic Board. We're accepting nominations from Monday 8 September 9am until Friday 19 September at 4pm.
Learn more about the vacancies and how to submit your nomination. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected] .
The Academic Board is the principal academic advisory body in the University, reporting to and advising the Council.
This is an opportunity to be involved in University decision-making in the interest of the whole University. Staff experience and input is highly valued on the Academic Board.
The Academic Board traditionally meets seven times a year on the first Wednesday in the month between 9am—12noon.
The vacancies to be filled at this election are:
The terms of office will start from 1 January 2026 and end on 31 December 2027.
To be eligible to nominate for the staff positions on the Academic Board, you must be a member of staff of the University who is currently employed at a minimum of 0.5 fraction of full-time employment and is based at a Victorian campus of the University.
You must also meet one of the below criteria:
You can send your nomination using the online form by Friday 19 September, 4pm. You have the opportunity to include a policy statement of up to 200 words in support of the nomination.
Alternatively. you can download the nomination form and send it to [email protected] by Friday 19 September, 4pm.
A ballot will be required if the number of nominations received exceed the number of vacant positions for each category.
The election will run from Monday 6 October 9am—Friday 17 October 4pm.
The Research and Research Training Committee is the body responsible for monitoring, reporting and advising the Academic Board on quality and standards against internal and external quality indicators, and advising the Academic Board on relevant proposed regulations, policies and procedures.
The Research and Research Training Committee traditionally meets six times a year on the third Wednesday in the month between 10am—12noon.
The vacancies to be filled at this election are
The terms of office will start from 1 January 2026 and end on 31 December 2027.
To be eligible to nominate for the staff positions on the Research and Research Training Committee, you must be a member of staff of the University who is currently employed at a minimum of 0.5 fraction of full-time employment and is based at a Victorian campus of the University
You must also meet one of the below criteria:
Please complete all parts of the nomination form
You also have the opportunity to write a policy statement of up to 200 words in support of the nomination.
Send the completed form and policy statement to [email protected] by Friday 19 September 4pm AEST. Nominations after this time will not be accepted.
A ballot will be required if the number of nominations received exceed the number of vacant positions for each category.
The election will run from Monday 6 October 9am—Friday 17 October 4pm.
As the peak academic governance body within the University and accountable to the University in its own right and as a delegate, the Academic Board's functions are to (but not limited to):
All members on the Academic Board and its Committees will:
All members on the Academic Board and its Committees will also:
The Academic Board traditionally meets 7 times a year on the first Wednesday in the Month between 9am—12noon.
The Research and Research Training Committee traditionally meets six times a year, on the third Wednesday in the month between 10am—12noon.
No, these positions have not changed since the 2023 elections.
As stated in the Election Regulations 2016, a person is entitled to be nominated for election as a staff member of the Academic Board if the person:
Candidates must have two VU staff members from the same category nominate them, as outlined in the nomination form.
Nomination forms, including an online nomination form for Academic Board nominees, will be made available on the VU Governance website upon the opening of the nominations period on Monday, 8 September 2025.
Incomplete nominations will be deemed invalid. Candidates will receive an email advising that their nominations have been received, and, time permitting, candidates will be advised whether they have completed the Nominations form as required.
Candidates are encouraged to lodge their nominations as soon as possible to enable sufficient time to resubmit in the event the nomination is invalid.
The nominations open on Monday 8 September 2025 at 9am AEST and close Friday 19 September 2025 at 4.00pm AEST.
Nominations received after the deadline will not be accepted.
An election to each category will be called if the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies for the relevant category.
If an election is required, it will open on Monday 6 October 2025 at 9am AEST and close on Friday 17 October 2025 at 4pm AEST.
Until nominations close, we will not be able to know whether some, if any, staff will be invited to vote.
All eligible staff will receive an electronic voting ballot with instructions on how to vote if required.
If you believe that you should be on an electoral roll for one of the election categories, and you have not received an email from Big Pulse, please email us at [email protected] .
We can clarify your eligibility on the electoral roll with People and Culture.
Please refer to the Creating a New Digital Signature guide for step-by-step instructions.
You should refer to the Governance webpages or you can email [email protected] .
The Academic Board is composed of ex-officio members and internal members including teaching and research staff, professional staff and students.
Chairperson: Professor Tom Clark
Phone: +61 3 9919 2196
Email:
[email protected]
a) Three members elected by and from Teaching and Research staff from each HE College and VU TAFE:
College of Sport, Health and Engineering
College of Arts, Business, Law, Education and IT
First Year College
VU TAFE
b) One member elected by and from Teaching and Research staff from:
Research and Impact
VU Online
TNE / Partnerships
An area not included in the seven categories above (ie a1 to b3)
c) One member elected by and from Indigenous staff
d) Two member elected by and from professional staff
e) One Executive Dean, nominated by the Vice-Chancellor in consultation with the Executive Deans
f) Four Ex-officio student members comprising:
g) Five Ex-officio members, comprising:
h) There will be a maximum of three co-opted members.
Nil
Purpose and responsibilities of the Academic Board.
The Academic Board meetings commence at 9am and are held at the Footscray Park Campus.
Supporting the Academic Board, and established under delegations, are the following committees of the Academic Board:
Chair: Professor Tom Clark
Phone: +61 3 9919 2196
Email:
[email protected]
Composition & membership
The Courses Committee is responsible for monitoring, reporting and advising the Academic Board on the quality and standards of courses in accordance with University legislation and policies on courses against internal and external quality indicators; advising on related policies and monitoring their implementation.
Chair: Dr Joshua Johnson
Phone: +61 3 9919 8279
Email:
[email protected]
The Courses Committee is composed of:
A. One person elected as Chair from the elected members of the Academic Board
Dr Joshua Johnson (Sport, Health and Engineering)
B. Chair of Academic Board Ex-officio
Professor Tom Clark
C. Chair of the Learning and Teaching Quality Committee Ex-officio
Associate Professor Jeannie Rea
D. Director of Academic Quality and Standards Ex-officio
Deb Tyler
E. Each Executive Dean and equivalent for VU TAFE appoints two members with leadership responsibilities for teaching and learning. (Note: For the HE colleges, this will normally include the Associate Dean Learning and Teaching and the Deputy Associate Dean Learning and Teaching)
F. One Teaching and Research staff will be appointed by the relevant Senior Officer from:
1. Research and Impact
Professor Dianne Hall
2. Moondani Balluk
Tracey Cooper
3. TNE/Partnerships
Raquel Licciardi
4. VU Online
Professor Chris Walsh
G. There will be a maximum of three co-opted members.
Nil.
The Learning and Teaching Quality Committee is responsible for:
Chair: Associate Professor Jeannie Rea
Phone: +61 3 9919 4049
Email:
[email protected]
The Learning and Teaching Quality Committee is composed of:
The Research and Research Training Committee is responsible for monitoring, reporting and advising the Academic Board on quality and standards against internal and external quality indicators, and advising the Academic Board on relevant proposed regulations, policies and procedures. [Reg 9(2)(a)].
Chair: Professor Itamar Levinger
Phone: +61 3 9919 5343
Email:
[email protected]
The Research and Research Training Committee is composed of:
A. 1 person elected as Chair from the membership of the Academic Board
Professor Itamar Levinger
B. Chair of Academic Board (Ex-officio)
Professor Tom Clark
C. Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Impact (Ex-officio)
Professor Andy Hill
D. Dean of Graduate Studies (Ex-officio)
Professor John Price
E. Executive Director Research Services (Ex-officio)
Bev Baugh
F. President of VUPA or nominee (Ex-officio)
Elsa Mangan
G. Each Executive Dean appoints one Teaching and Research staff from their HE College:
H. Executive Director, Moondani Balluk appoints one Teaching and Research staff from Moondani Balluk
Dr Clare Land
I. Two Teaching and Research staff, who are VU Research Fellows, Conducting Research and / or HDR Supervision or Research Only Academic staff elected by and from each of the Flagship Research Institutes (IHES, ISILC)
J. Two members elected by and from staff of the Research and Impact Portfolio
K. There will be a maximum of three co-opted members
Nil.
Academic Board legislation and important documents provide additional information: