Office of the Chancellor
The position of Chancellor originally was named Provost in the Act to Incorporate and Endow the University of Sydney, 14 Vict. No. 31, assented to 1 October 1850.
The position titles for the chief officers, Provost and Deputy-Provost, subsequently were changed to Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor in the Incorporation Amendment Act of 1861. "The Chief Officers of the University now called Provost and Vice Provost respectively shall hereafter be and be styled Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of the University: Provided that the present Provost and Vice Provost shall be the first Chancellor and Vice Chancellor respectively And that all the provisions of the said Act of Incorporation now applicable to the Provost and Vice Provost and to their respective offices shall apply to the Chancellor and the Vice Chancellor and their offices respectively" (assented to 26 April 1861).
The Incorporation Act provided for the Chancellor to be 'elected by the Fellows of Senate out of their own body, for such a period as the Senate may from time to time appoint. The period is at present limited by a By-law to Three years: but the retiring Chancellor is declared eligible for reelection'. (1862 Calendar)1862 By-Law: I. Chancellor
- The election to the office of Chancellor shall take place at a duly convened meeting of the Senate, to be held in the first week in Lent term.
- The Chancellor shall be elected for a period of three years, (except as hereafter provided), to be computed from the date of election; but shall be eligible for re-election.
- In the event of the Office of Chancellor becoming vacant by death, resignation, or otherwise, before the expiration of the full term of office herein prescribed, the election of a successor shall be proceeded with at the next ensuing regular meeting of the Senate; and the Chancellor so appointed shall hold office until the first regular meeting of the Senate in the Lent term next after the expiration of three years from the date of such election.
In 2019 the Chancellor:
- is the Chair of Senate, presides over Senate meetings and exercises procedural control over meetings
- ensures that Senate functions effectively, with a paramount fiduciary duty of loyalty to act in the best interests of the University
- presides on important ceremonial occasions
- works co-operatively with the Vice-Chancellor, and is available to give counsel and encourage communication on all issues concerning the well-being of the University
- in consultation with the Vice-Chancellor, provides a high-level bridge to members of the wider community.
The statutory powers and responsibilities of the Chancellor are defined by section 10 of the University of Sydney Act 1989 (NSW). [http://sydney.edu.au/secretariat/senate-committees/senate/chair.shtml viewed 24/7/2019]