Learning and Teaching Committee

Terms of Reference

Purpose

The Learning and Teaching Committee advises the Academic Board about resolutions, policy and procedures relating to the effective learning, teaching, examination and assessment processes within the University and works with the faculties and other organisational units in fostering a strong and dynamic learning and teaching culture across the University’s spectrum of undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education courses.

Terms of Reference

1. To develop, recommend to the Academic Board and regularly review resolutions, policy and procedures that support the University’s strategic objectives in relation to learning and teaching and assessment and examination for coursework students.
2. To develop, oversee and monitor processes for the effective implementation of learning and teaching and assessment and examination resolutions, policy and procedures and advise the Academic Board about ways of improving the quality and effectiveness of such processes within the University.
3. To advise the Academic Board about implications of changes in technology on learning and teaching.
4. To advise the Academic Board about measures needed to encourage and assist staff to develop skills in learning and teaching.
5. To monitor issues relating to quality in relation to learning and teaching and assessment and examination, and to make recommendations to the Academic Board as appropriate.
6. To provide advice to, and obtain information or reports from any faculty, school or department or other academic unit on matters relating to learning and teaching.
7. To refer to other committees, as appropriate, comments or recommendations about matters concerning students learning.
8. To receive regular reports from, and provide advice to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) on the development of resolutions, policy and procedures relating to learning and teaching, including the development of policy and initiatives as they relate to the recognition and reward of teaching.
9. To receive regular reports from the Learning Centre, University Library, Centre for Continuing Education and the Institute for Teaching and Learning and advise the Academic Board on the activities of bodies established to support learning and teaching.
10. To provide regular reports on its activities under its terms of reference to the Academic Board.
11. To consider and report on any matter referred to it by the Academic Board, the Vice Chancellor or the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching).
12. To promote collaboration/cooperation across the Faculties and other organisation units in the enhancement of quality learning and teaching.
13. To facilitate informed debate on topics/issues relevant to the role of the L&T Committee in the University's pursuit of its strategic objectives.

Constitution

Ex Officio Members

• the Chair of the Committee, appointed biennially by the Academic Board
• the Chair of the Academic Board, or nominee
• the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), or nominee
• the Chief Information Officer, or nominee
• the University Librarian, or nominee
• the Director, Institute for Teaching and Learning
• the Director, Student Administration and Support
• the Head of the Learning Centre
• the Director, Centre for Continuing Education, or nominee
• the Chair of the Graduate Studies Committee, or nominee
• the Chair of the Undergraduate Studies Committee, or nominee
• the Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching), or equivalent, of each faculty
• the President of the Students' Representative Council, or nominee
• the President of the Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, or nominee

Co-opted Members

• The Committee may co-opt additional members. Co-opted members may be selected from the members of the Academic Board or the wider University community or may express interest directly to the Chair of the Committee, but must have an interest and/or experience in issues considered by the Committee. The term of office of members co-opted by the Committee shall be specified at the time of co option and such members shall have all rights and privileges of other members.

Observers

Members of the Academic Board may attend meetings as observers, and are allowed, with the permission of the Chair of the committee, to address the meeting on issues being considered by the committee.

Frequency of Meetings

The Committee shall meet at least five (5) times a year.

Quorum

A quorum for a meeting of the Committee shall be seven (7) members.

Approved/Revised

Academic Board, 13 November 2002
Last revised, 15 November 2006

Committee Secretary

Ms Louise Young, Executive Governance Office