Appointments Board

Senate had selected Brigadier-General Mackay, C.M.G., D.S.O., B.A., to act, for at least a term of twelve months, as Student Adviser and Appointments Board Secretary. This was a new office, which was in the nature of an experiment, and while not yet permanently created, it was intended to ensure closer co-operation of the University authorities with the undergraduate body in the establishing of a wider public spirit within the University, and in the resuscitation of old traditions that had been become inactive during the stress of war. [Senate report 1922 in 1923 Calendar p 782]The Appointments Board, constituted in 1922, met for the first time in April 1923. The Board was established to assist undergraduates and recent graduates in obtaining appointments and to deal with such other matter as the Senate may refer to the Board. It was established as official channel of communication between employers and Sydney University members who were seeking positions.The Board was constituted of university members appointed annually by Senate and of co-opted members who were to be representatives of business or professions. The co-opted members to the first Board were the Presidents of the Incorporated Law Institute of NSW, of the Sydney Chambers of Commerce, of the NSW Chamber of Manufacturers, of the Master Builders' Association of NSW and of the Retail Trades' Association of NSW. Sir Henry Braddon was elected first chairman of the Board. The By-Laws (Chapter XXXIII) in regard to the constitution of the Appointments Board were approved on the 8/10/1923. Work of the Board was carried out on a part-time basis until 1932 when operations lapsed temporarily. The Board was reconstituted in 1935 and became firmly established with two full-time staff members by 1936 and a permanent office in the city. In 1952 the office was moved to premises on the University campus. The service experienced rapid growth from the 1950s. By the late 1960s the Board assisted graduates and undergraduates to obtain suitable employment and it conducted Careers counselling interviews advising students on employment opportunities in relation to the courses they were pursuing or planning to pursue. Its services covered two main sections, permanent and casual employment. It also maintained a Careers Library which contained general information on career opportunities and files on private companies, government departments, research organizations, scholarships, cadetships, etc. Its expanding operations included  collecting statistics, changing the format of Employers' interviews and in August 1967 it conducted its first Careers Week.Early in 1972 Senate agreed that provision should be made for a postgraduate student to become a member of the Appointments Board and an appropriate amendment to the By-law be prepared. An ad hoc committee was established to clarify some aspects of the existing By-law and as a result a set of Resolutions of Senate was developed to replace the existing By-law. The main features were: constitution of the Appointments Board by Resolutions of the Senate instead of By-laws; a restatement of the functions of the Appointments Board and the recognition of a "Careers and Appointments Service" and of a position of "Director of the Careers and Appointments Board who shall be the Secretary of the Board"; an increase in the size of the Board from 13 to 17 by additionally including the Director of Careers and Appointments Service, one postgraduate student and two extra members chosen from business, administration or the professions and from the full time academic staff; and a change in the method of appointment from 6 Senate appointees & 7 co-opted members to 14 Senate appointees. Senate adopted the new By-laws and Resolutions relating to the constitution of the Appointments Board on 16 July 1973, item 73/145 (6) specifying 1. There shall be a Careers and Appointments Service which shall provide careers information and advice to undergraduates and recent graduates and assist them in obtaining suitable appointments.2. There shall be an Appointments Board which shall supervise and advise the Careers and Appointments Service and deal with such other matters as the Senate may refer to the Board.3. There shall be a Director of the Careers and Appointments Service who shall be Secretary of the Board. Providing information and advice on careers and obtaining suitable appointments became the role of the Careers and Appointments Service, while it became the responsibility of the Board to supervise and advise the Careers and Appointments Service. The Board's membership consisting of representatives from industry, commerce and government as well as University staff and student nominees provided an important forum for discussion between the University and employers of its students and graduates. In 1999 the By-laws of the University were repealed and the University of Sydney By-law 1999 was passed. The new By-law commenced on 6 August 1999. [1999 Calendar, p.39] The Resolution of Senate establishing the 'Careers and Appointments Service and Appointments Boards' was no longer included and the Board would no longer have been in existence from the date of commencement of the new By-law.