Joint Committee for Tutorial Classes

The University and Colleges Act 1900 as Amended 1912 provided for the University to supply tutorial classes: 

14A. The Senate shall provide for the establishment Evening classes in science economics, ancient and modern history and sociology, and may provide for evening tutorial classes in other subjects [Act No. 52, of 1912, subjects. sect. 5 (i).] Such classes shall be open to students whether they have or have not matriculated within the University. The Senate may issue diplomas in respect of students who have in such classes studied for at least one year in any one subject. [1914 Calendar p.11]

Senate in its report for 1913 noted that in May the “question of establishing Tutorial classes as provided in section 5 of the University Amendment Act, was referred for report to the Professorial Board. It was understood that the Tutorial classes contemplated by the Act were similar to those which had been established by the Universities of Great Britain in connection with the Workers Educational Association. The Professorial Board had the advantage of consultation with Mr. Albert Mansbridge, Hon. M.A. (Oxon.), the secretary of the Workers' Educational Association in England, then visiting Australia. The Board recommended that Tutorial classes should be established in particular branches of study, upon the receipt of specific requisitions from members of the Workers Educational Association ; and that a standing committee should be appointed, consisting of the chairman and three persons nominated by the University Extension Board, together with three representatives of the Workers Educational Association, which should be charged with the duties of framing regulations for the conduct of the classes, and of supervising the Tutorial teaching generally. An application haying been received for the establishment of a class in Industrial History, as it appeared that there was no prospect of obtaining the services of a teacher locally, the Senate, acting on the recommendation of Mr. Mansbridge, supported by officers of the Board of Education in London, appointed Mr. Meredith Atkinson, B.A. (Oxon.), at present in charge of Tutorial classes in the University of Durham. Mr. Atkinson entered upon his duties in March next. The Government has generously undertaken to provide a sum of £1,000 to meet the expenses of the first year's work, including the lecturer's salary, travelling expenses, provision of library facilities and incidental expenses.” [Report of the Senate for 1913 in 1914 Calendar, p 528]

The Committee had taken up its work by 1915. In its Report for 1915 Senate noted that "The Committee has continued its policy of developing Tutorial Classes mainly from Study Circles. It is probable that in 1916 there will arise from this source many new classes in the city, on the South Coast, and in the Bathurst district. Though the war has somewhat affected the essays of the students, their written work generally has proved most commendable. The Workers' Educational Association has again given valuable assistance in the organisation of Classes and the provision of facilities for more collective effort." It is first formally established in the University By laws XXVIIA in the 1918 Calendar, p. 97 and revised in the 1919 Calendar, p.100:

"There shall be a Committee to be called the Joint Committee for Tutorial Classes , to undertake under the Senate, the organisation, supervision and control of tutorial classes, and of such study circles as may be deemed advisable. The Committee shall consist of (a) the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor, the Warden and the Director of Tutorial Classes, ex officio; (b) five members appointed by the Senate from among the Fellows of the Senate or the members of the Teaching staff; and (c) four members appointed by the Senate on the nomination of the Worker's Educational Association of New South Wales. The Committee shall be constituted annually by the Senate at its monthly meeting in May."

Classes were run by the Department of Tutorial Studies until 1964 when the Department of Adult Education was established. The new Department was under the direction of the Joint Committee of Tutorial Classes and the University Extension Board.

By Law XXX defined the role of the Committee as

4. The Joint Committee for Tutorial Classes shall (a) supervise the courses and review the policies and operations of the Department of Adult Education in relation to the functions of the Joint Committee, (b) make recommendations to the Senate on the appointment of part-time teaching staff, and (c) make such other recommendations and conduct such other business as it thinks fit and consider and report on all matters referred to it by the Senate, the Professorial Board or the Vice-Chancellor. [1965 Calendar]

In 1963 Senate appointed a Committee to consider the future relations of the Department of Tutorial Classes and the Extension Board. The Committee suggested that it would be advantageous to integrate the work of the Extension Board and the Joint Committee of Tutorial Classes; it recommended that a Department of Adult Education be established and a Director be appointed; it also recommended that there should be no substantial reduction in the scale of the education programme then undertaken in either department. Draft By-Laws for the new Department of Adult Education were tabled. Senate adopted the recommendations of the report. [Senate Minutes 8 October 1963, p.107]. 

The new By Laws XXX were first published in the 1965 University Calendar:
1. There shall be a Department of Adult Education, whose work shall be supervised by two committees appointed by the Senate, namely, the Joint Committee for Tutorial Classes and the Extension Board whose functions shall be determined from time to time by the Senate.
The By Law also defined the roles of the Joint Committee for Tutorial Classes and the University Extension Board in relation to the Department. 

4. The Joint Committee for Tutorial Classes shall 

(a) supervise the courses and review the policies and operations of the Department of Adult Education in relation to the functions of the Joint Committee, (b) make recommendations to the Senate on the appointment of part-time teaching staff, and (c) make such
other recommendations and conduct such other business as it thinks fit and consider and report on all matters referred to it by the Senate, the Professorial Board or the Vice-Chancellor.

The Committee was abolished in 1977 when the Board of Adult Education was established by Senate Resolution and By Laws Chapter XXX was repealed. It became the new Board's function to review the work of the Department of Adult Education.