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Learning and Teaching Committee Terms of Reference

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Section 1 - Establishment

(1) The Learning and Teaching Committee (LTC) is established as a sub-committee of the Academic Board established under the Academic Board Terms of Reference.

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Section 2 - Functions and Responsibilities

(2) The Learning and Teaching Committee will:

  1. develop, implement and monitor plans to support the University’s strategies for learning and teaching in line with the University’s Strategic Plan;
  2. provide reports, as required, to Academic Board on the implementation of the University’s strategies for learning and teaching;
  3. provide advice to Academic Board on the achievement of best practice interaction, including pathways, between Vocational Education and Training and Higher Education activities;
  4. provide advice to Academic Board and the University community on developments and innovations in learning and teaching, including the implications of changes in technology for the University’s learning and teaching enterprise;
  5. provide advice to the Academic Board on assessment strategies and types, and the reduction and detection of academic misconduct in assessment and examinations;
  6. monitor, review and make recommendations to Academic Board in regard to all governance documents relating to learning and teaching;
  7. liaise with the Academic Programs Committee (APC) as required on governance documents relating to course development, approval, amendment and review (For the absence of doubt, the LTC recommends all policy changes related to matters other than course and unit development, approval, amendment and review to the Academic Board, after appropriate consultation with APC);
  8. provide advice and guidance to the College Higher Education Assessment Review Panels;
  9. Quality Assurance:
    1. advise and make recommendations to Academic Board on the University’s approach to, and processes for, quality assurance of learning and teaching including the articulation, implementation and monitoring of academic standards in accordance with the requirements of external regulatory and professional bodies;
    2. establish institutional benchmarks for quality, outcomes and satisfaction in relation to learning and teaching and initiate action to improve performance;
    3. monitor regular reports of quality and outcomes for students by cohort, including but not limited to: domestic students, international students, vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students, pathway students and students at risk, and report on these to Academic Board;
    4. monitor regular reports of students by cohort in relation to participation, progress and completion by identified sub-groups, including First Nations peoples;
    5. receive and consider regular reports on academic risks and provide advice on risks relating to learning and teaching and student cohorts to the Academic Board for integration with the University’s overarching Risk Register;
    6. consider and report on feedback from students and staff;
    7. receive, consider and report on instances of academic misconduct, grievances, complaints and appeals and initiate action to address systemic issues;
  10. Monitor:
    1. review and report to Academic Board on trends indicated by survey instruments and identify strategies to improve outcomes, and overall student and stakeholder satisfaction;
    2. consider the learning and teaching aspects of external reviews of academic units and courses and report to Academic Board on the adoption of recommendations deriving from such reviews;
  11. Communication and Interface:
    1. provide minutes and reports from the LTC meetings to Academic Board and the broader University;
    2. plan, implement and report on professional development activities related to learning and teaching, including blended learning and use of technologies;
  12. Operations:
    1. develop an annual plan;
    2. establish working parties and advisory groups, receive their reports, and determine and/or recommend actions within the functions of the LTC in response to such reports;
    3. disestablish working parties and advisory groups when they are no longer required;
    4. review its own performance against its Terms of Reference at least annually; and
    5. consider and report on any matter referred by Academic Board or the Vice-Chancellor.
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Section 3 - Membership

(3) Membership of the LTAC will comprise:

  1. Chair: Director, Learning Futures and Lead Architect;
  2. Deputy Chair: Pro Vice-Chancellor Education Strategy;
  3. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, First Nations Leadership;
  4. Director Student Engagement;
  5. Director ITMS;
  6. Director Library Services;
  7. Director Education Quality and Excellence;
  8. Director VET Strategy and Growth;
  9. Associate Deans Learning and Teaching;
  10. Associate Deans VET, or equivalent;
  11. Manager Quality Assurance and Enhancement;
  12. Chair Academic Integrity Advisory Group;
  13. Head of CDU International College;
  14. One HE academic from each College;
  15. One VET academic from each College;
  16. One (1) HE coursework student; and
  17. One (1) VET student.

(4) Ex officio members may nominate a standing nominee.

(5) Academics mentioned in (o) and (p) will be appointed by the Chair after calling for expression of interest from College academic staff.

(6) Students mentioned in (q) and (r) will be appointed after calling for expressions of interest from the CDU Students’ Council (CDUSC).

(7) The Chair may invite additional non-voting attendees but may not co-opt additional members.

Members Attendances

(8) Attendance by members will be monitored by the Secretary. If a member has three consecutive unexplained absences from Learning and Teaching Committee meetings the Chair will discuss with the Vice-President Governance and University Secretary their future participation as a member of the committee.

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Section 4 - Chair

(9) The Director, Learning Futures and Lead Education Architect will be Chair of the LTC.

(10) The Pro Vice-Chancellor Education Strategy will be the Deputy Chair of LTC.

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Section 5 - Secretary

(11) The Pro Vice-Chancellor Education Strategy (or nominee) will act as secretary to LTC.

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Section 6 - Terms of Office

(12) Staff members will hold office for the term of their appointment in their designated role.

(13) Appointed staff members will serve for a period of two (2) years from the date of their appointment and are eligible for re-appointment.

(14) Appointed student members will serve for a period of one (1) year from the date of their appointment.

(15) An appointed member may resign from their position on the Committee by notifying the Chair in writing.

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Section 7 - Quorum

(16) At a meeting of the LTC a quorum is constituted as 50% plus one member of the LTC.

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Section 8 - Meetings

(17) The LTC will meet on at least four (4) occasions in a year with provision for in-person and technology mediated meetings. The Chair may call additional meetings if necessary.

(18) Matters requiring a resolution or recommendation by the Committee are to be determined by simple majority. In the event of a tied vote the Chair will have a casting vote.

Member Conduct

(19) Professional conduct of members is expected at all times. The Chair may call members to order as required.

(20) Items of discussion must be treated with confidentiality as appropriate by members.

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Section 9 - Agenda

(21) The agenda is to be distributed with supporting documentation normally at least three (3) days prior to the meeting date.

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Section 10 - Minutes

(22) Meeting minutes and action items will be made available within two weeks of the meeting.

(23) The minutes will detail the items under discussion, the main points of the discussion, the resolution reached and the primary reasons for reaching that determination.

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Section 11 - Reporting

(24) The minutes and action items from the meeting of the LTC will be provided to the next meeting of the Academic Board.

(25) Information relating to matters under consideration and issues resolved will be disseminated to the University.

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Section 12 - Conflicts of Interest

(26) Where a member has an actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest regarding an agenda item, they must declare this to the Chair at the commencement of discussion of the item, and be prepared to excuse themselves from the discussion, or the room, if required, as per the terms of the Conflicts of Interest Policy.

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Section 13 - Non-compliance

(27) Non-compliance with Governance Documents is considered a breach of the Code of Conduct-Staff or the Code of Conduct-Students, as applicable, and is treated seriously by the University. Reports of concerns about non-compliance will be managed in accordance with the applicable disciplinary procedures.

(28) All staff members have an individual responsibility to raise any suspicion, allegation or report of fraud or corruption in accordance with the  Fraud and Corruption Control Policy and Whistleblower reporting (Improper Conduct) Procedures.