Academic Senate

• Academic Senate and Committee Meeting Papers
• Academic Senate and Committee Elections
• Resources for Committee Secretaries
• Student Academic Misconduct Policy - Information Resources
• Contact Us

Role of the Academic Senate

As stated in the University of Western Sydney Act 1997 no. 117, the Academic Senate:

• is the peak forum of the University for academic debate and discourse
• is the primary custodian of academic values and standards for the University
• is a standing committee of the Board of Trustees.

The Academic Senate plays a very special role in defining, disseminating and supporting academic standards and values in the University.

Academic Senate exercises delegated responsibility from the Board of Trustees for academic policy formulation and decision making in the University, and is the primary custodian of academic values, quality and standards for the University.

Values such as honesty, fairness, equality, respect of law and human dignity underpin much of what the University does. Academic Senate supports standards and values through its policies, opportunities for debate and discussion in its committees, and through quality assurance and continuous improvement processes.

• Academic Senate Workplan 2009-2011
• Academic Governance Policy
• Academic Senate Members Orientation Pack
• 'Growing a Research Culture at UWS' (PDF, 131Kb)

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Academic Governance

The University’s academic governance arrangements aim to facilitate academic decision making that empowers the academic community to discuss academic issues openly, and arrive at decisions by consensus. Academic governance reflects the values of collegiality, participation and ownership.

Contact Us

• Chair of Academic Senate: Associate Professor Paul Wormell
• Deputy Chair of Academic Senate: Dr Elfriede Sangkuhl 
• Executive Officer, Academic Senate: Mr Greg Wheatley