Tuesday, 5 May 2009
By August this year, the University will be in a position to finalise the timeline for implementing the recommendations of the Review of Course Structures.
My expectation is that we will confirm 2012 as the year in which the new degrees begin. I believe that this date provides sufficient lead time for course preparation and notification of prospective students, and will be manageable within the resources we are likely to have available.
In order to meet the 2012 implementation objective, there are some key milestones to be achieved during 2009. These include:
- Revised academic decision making structures
Subject to the approval of Academic Board, Interim Boards of Studies will be established in May for each of the new undergraduate degrees. They will submit proposals to the new Board of Coursework Studies, also to be established in May.
- Modelling of cost implications
The Resource Implications Working Party is modelling transitional and other costs, on the basis of estimates currently being prepared by faculties and specialist working parties.
- Promotional materials
Information brochures and other material for prospective students, career advisors, principals and parents will be developed in May.
- Development of draft outlines for new majors
Various faculty-level groups are considering the implications of the new structures for their teaching. Faculties will be expected to submit proposed majors, in outline form, to the Interim Boards of Studies by November 2009. These exposure drafts will be considered by Boards of Studies and the Board of Coursework Studies in the first half of 2010 for decision by Academic Council later in 2010.
- Other recommendations
The twelve working parties commissioned by the Future Framework Implementation Committee will be reporting on a range of matters during the May-August period this year. Among other things, they will provide advice on:
- postgraduate programs that do not align with recommendations
- the embedding of research in undergraduate course
- options for managing service learning activities
- statutes, rules and regulations that need revision
- implications for the provision of student advice.
