STATEMENT ON SCHOOL GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT

Background

The School of Aerospace, Civil and Mechanical Engineering (ACME) through its activities has responsibility for five undergraduate degree programs, a number of postgraduate programs (both coursework and research) and a varied and growing number of research and entrepreneurial interests.

The technology support team (TST) covering mechanical and electronic workshops, IT, laboratories and professional engineering services can be thought of as a fully owned subsidiary of the School of Aerospace, Civil and Mechanical Engineering (ACME) and the School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (ITEE). Within the ACME context, governance issues in part reflect the cooperative partnership inherent in the TST across the two Schools of ACME and ITEE. The operation of the TST is covered by a "Service Level Agreement for Technology Services between School of Aerospace, Civil and Mechanical Engineering and School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering ".

Key Administrative Roles and Responsibilities

HEAD OF SCHOOL

The responsibilities of the Head of School are clearly documented at http://www.hr.unsw.edu.au/poldoc/hos.htm

ACADEMIC

Key School appointments are the:

• Undergraduate Coordinator,
• Postgraduate Coursework Coordinator, and
• Research Coordinator.

The research coordinator as well as overseeing postgraduate research students generally provides line management functions of the School's Research Officers.

Other administrative roles covered by academic staff include: program advisors, year coordinators, flying coordinator, work experience coordinator, workshop practice coordinator, thesis/project coordinators, timetable coordinator, exam coordinator and results coordinator.

PROFESSIONAL & TECHNICAL STAFF

Key staff members with management responsibilities are as follows.

Executive Officer - has overall responsibility for administration activities within the School and provides executive assistance to Head of School on policies and procedures, budgets and other issues.

Laboratory Manager - has overall responsibility for the ACME laboratory activities and is a member of the TST. The duties also include School building management and responsibility as the School's Occupational Health and Safety Officer.

Mechanical Workshop Supervisor - has overall responsibility for running all mechanical workshops within the two Schools and is a member of the TST.

Senior Engineer - has overall responsibility for the running of the professional engineering staff and the electronics workshops within the two Schools and is a member of the TST.

Manager, Information Systems - has overall responsibility for the management of all IT systems in the two Schools and is a member of the TST.

Other key roles within the School include: emergency response personnel (wardens and first aid) and OH&S representatives.

Head of School's Means of Communication

In representing and leading the School, the Head and other appointed and elected staff attend a range of meetings and functions externally. These include but are not limited to the Senior Management Committee (SMC), the Academic Board, the Academic Board Executive, and the three (3) standing committees of the Academic Board. Information flowing from these is disseminated within the School through formal meetings, publication of minutes, discussions and email as appropriate.

A number of formal School meetings are held as required throughout the year. Some are tied directly to assessment activities, grant cycles, the financial year and others are called as necessary to deal with policy and planning issues. The School also meets weekly for a seminar and this gathering is used as another means of communication. Regular social functions (e.g. afternoon teas) offer further group communication opportunities.

Email is used as a primary means of communication between the Head of School, staff and students. In addition, a web-based bulletin board is also used for student announcements. Formal consultative communication with the undergraduate and postgraduate student body is achieved through the regular "Student Forums".

At an informal level, the Head of School has an "open door" policy for all staff and students. If immediately unavailable, appointments for consultation can be readily made. The Head also endeavors to walk around the School regularly providing the opportunity to casually engage staff and students.

School Committees / Groups

The following table lists the academic and management committees and groups that meet within the School. The list does not include organizational work groups within academic or general staff streams in the School.

Committee / Group	Role & Responsibility	Membership	Communication
ACADEMIC
ACME Undergraduate Committee	Oversee undergraduate affairs of School Meetings typically held one week prior to the UNSW@ADFA Undergraduate Committee meetings and as otherwise required.	HoS ACME UG Coordinator AB UEC Elected Member 1 AB UEC Elected Member 2 Program Advisors Year Coordinators Thesis/Project Coordinators Lab Coordinators UG Student Administrator	Minutes Email
ACME Postgraduate Coursework Committee	Oversee postgraduate coursework affairs of School Meetings typically held one week prior to the UNSW@ADFA Postgraduate Coursework Committee meetings and as otherwise required.	HoS ACME PGC Coordinator AB PCEC Elected Member 1 AB PCEC Elected Member 2 PG Student Administrator	Minutes Email
ACME Research Committee	Oversee research affairs of School Meetings typically held one week prior to the UNSW@ADFA Research Committee meetings and as otherwise required.	HoS ACME Research Coordinator AB RC Elected Member PG Student Rep Executive Officer	Minutes Email
ACME UG Student Forum	Capture and respond to UG student feedback (at least once per session)	ACME UG Committee + Prog & Year Student Reps Executive Officer	Minutes
ACME Curriculum Committee	Oversee curriculum development processes for ACME degrees (at least once per session)	HoS ACME UG Coordinator Program Advisors Mathematics Rep Physics Rep Chemistry Rep Electrical Eng Rep Information Technology Rep	Minutes Email
Aeronautical Visiting Advisory Committee	Advise on program Assist with benchmarking Provide customer input (annually)	HoS ACME UG Coordinator Aeronautical Prog Advisor "Other" University Rep(s) Defence Rep(s) Industry Rep(s)	Minutes
Civil Visiting Advisory Committee	Advise on program Assist with benchmarking Provide customer input (annually)	HoS ACME UG Coordinator Civil Program Advisor "Other" University Rep(s) Defence Rep(s) Industry Rep(s)	Minutes
Mechanical Visiting Advisory Committee	Advise on program Assist with benchmarking Provide customer input (annually)	HoS ACME UG Coordinator Mechanical Prog Advisor "Other" University Rep(s) Defence Rep(s) Industry Rep(s)	Minutes
Aviation Visiting Advisory Committee	Advise on program Assist with benchmarking Provide customer input (annually)	HoS ACME UG Coordinator Aviation Program Advisor "Other" University Rep(s) Defence Rep(s) Industry Rep(s)	Minutes
MANAGEMENT
ACME Administration	Briefing and coordination (Weekly)	HoS ACME Executive Officer Student Services Officer Financial Officer School Secretary	Email
TST Management Committee	Briefing and coordination (weekly) Strategic planning and service level monitoring (at least quarterly)	HoS ACME HoS ITEE Laboratory Manager Mech Workshop Manager Senior Engineer Manager Info Sys	Email
ACME Risk Management Committee	Management of ACME OH&S Issues (Monthly)	HoS ACME Academic Rep (appointed) Lab Manager / Man Rep Deputy Management Rep Additional as required	Minutes Email Notice Boards
Laboratory Users Group	Provide user strategic input and feedback - teaching and research fluids/thermo acoustics/noise/vibration metals/composites/structures concrete/geotechnical	Laboratory Manager Lab Tech Specialist(s) Lab Group Leaders (3) Academic Reps	Minutes Email
IT Users Group	Provide user strategic input - teaching and research hardware software	Manager Info Systems Academic Reps	Minutes Email

Other key organizational committees and groups external to the School in which the School is represented follow.

Committee / Group	Role & Responsibility	ACME Representation	Communication
Senior Management Committee		HoS ACME (and currently - Associate Deans)	Minutes
Academic Board		All Academics	Minutes
Academic Board Executive		HoS ACME Professors PM AB, PM's ABCs	Minutes
UNSW @ ADFA Undergraduate Committee		HoS ACME UG Coordinator Elected Member 1 Elected Member 2	Minutes
UNSW @ ADFA Postgraduate Coursework Committee		HoS ACME PGC Coordinator Elected Member 1 Elected Member 2	Minutes
UNSW @ ADFA Research Committee		HoS ACME Research Coordinator Elected Member	Minutes
Engineering Group	Engineers Australia Accreditation General liaison ACED AAEE (quarterly)	Presiding Member HoS ACME HoS ITEE BE Aero Rep BE Civil Rep BE Electrical Rep BE Mechanical Rep BTech Aeronautical Rep BTech Aviation Rep (reps appointed by HoS)	Minutes Email
Local Safety Committee	OH&S Issues	DWG ACME Members H&S Rep (elect) Deputy (elect) Man Rep (app) Deputy (app)	Minutes Email Notice Boards

 

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