Academic Board Terms of Reference

Reporting Arrangements

The Academic Board is accountable to and reports to the Board of Directors (BOD).

Purpose and Scope

1. The Academic Board (AB) is the peak academic body of Albion Business School (Albion) and has been delegated authority for all higher education academic matters by the BOD. The AB’s primary role is to exercise authority over all matters relating to the quality of courses, teaching, scholarship, and research, and to operate independently of corporate governance.
2. It provides advice and reports to the BOD and to the President on all academic matters, as well as on the academic aspects of the Strategic and Development Plans.

Responsibilities

1. Monitor and regularly report to the BOD on the quality of courses, teaching, learning, research and research ethics. Delegate academic functions to sub-committees as authorised by the BOD, and monitor reports received from sub-committees.
2. Approve and recommend to the BOD all new degree courses developed by the School.
3. Oversee course review processes, internally monitor current courses, and monitor external review processes including those required by regulatory authorities.
4. Appoint external examiners.
5. Review graduand lists and recommend conferral to the BOD
6. Oversee benchmarking of courses and outcomes against professional standards and other higher education providers.
7. Oversee academic leadership, qualifications, staff development and scholarship.
8. Approve, monitor and review academic policies and their effectiveness.
9. Identify, monitor and develop preventative actions in relation to academic risks, risks to students or graduate outcomes, including student retention and completion data.
10. Monitor the academic performance of the School against key performance measures as stated in the Learning and Teaching Enhancement Plan.
11. Provide critical assessment of new educational or pedagogical practices and evaluate the effectiveness of educational innovations.
12. Establish academic oversight, processes, structures and responsibilities as the AB deems fit
13. Conduct appeals on academic matters, where necessary.
14. Conduct reviews of the Board’s own performance and that of its sub-committees.
15. Other responsibilities as delegated by the BOD

Membership

The AB shall consist of not more than ten (10) persons comprising:

1. Two persons nominated by the BOD and chosen from persons who are not members of the staff but who are deemed by the BOD to be persons of high standing in the academic, business or professional fields relevant to the courses offered.
2. The AB Chair will be a senior academic.
3. Ex officio members are the Dean, Registrar and Director of Operations.
4. Up to three internal members of the academic staff invited by the Chair of the BOD and endorsed by the AB.
5. Two (2) student representatives.

All members must meet the ‘Fit and Proper Persons Requirements’ as required by the Office for Students. Should an appointed member no longer be a ‘fit and proper person’ they must notify the School immediately.

Term of Office

1. The AB Chair, in the first instance, may serve up to a period of three (3) years. Thereafter, the AB may elect one of its external members to be Chair for up to a period of three years for each term, or seek a new external Chair appointed by the BOD.
2. The ex officio members will serve while they hold their respective roles.
3. Nominated staff members may serve a two to three (2 to 3) year term, as decided by the AB.
4. External members of the AB shall serve for three (3) years in the first instance and be eligible for reappointment, as determined by the AB for up to three (3) years.
5. Casual vacancies shall be filled by invitation of the AB and shall serve only the remaining period of the member they replace and be eligible for reappointment.

Resignations and Removal from Office

1. The AB may remove a member from office for breach of a duty set out above in the Responsibilities section.
2. The removal from office may be affected only if the motion for removal is supported by a majority of AB members.
3. The motion for removal must not be put to the vote of the meeting unless the AB member concerned has been given a reasonable opportunity to reply to the motion prior to the meeting in writing and may be given an opportunity to respond in person at the meeting if deemed necessary.
4. If the member to whom the motion for removal refers does not attend the meeting, a reasonable opportunity to reply to the motion is taken to have been given if notice of the meeting has been duly given.

Meeting Frequency and Quorum

1. The AB will meet at least three (3) times a year, and usually four (4) times. Meetings may be face- to-face, electronic or a combination of face- to- face and electronic meetings.
2. No business may be transacted unless there is a quorum of half the membership (not including casual vacancies) with a minimum of one (1) external member (not including casual vacancies)

Secretary of the Academic Board

1. The Chair in consultation with the Director of Operations shall appoint a member of administrative staff to be the Secretary of the AB.