Academic Council [Cumberland College of Health Sciences (CCHS)]

The Interim Council of the New South Wales College of Paramedical Studies sought to provide an academic structure which recognised the academic autonomy of each School, involved the academic staff in policy making and course development and provided a machinery whereby the College could develop as a unified tertiary institution. This included an Academic Council. The Academic Council was presided over by the Principal and included the permanent teaching staff of the College. It was responsible for furthering and co-ordinating the various programs of the schools, encouraging scholarship and research and considering the discipline of the College.The Council had an Executive Board of the Council consisted of senior members of College staff: the Principal and Assistant Principal, Heads of Schools, the Registrar and Directors of Departments. The Board provided advice/suggestions to the Principal and the Interim Council of the College on behalf of the Academic Council. Discussions and advice related to all aspects of the new College. The role of the Academic Council was more seen as advisory than as a decision making. Discussions throughout April 1974 focussed on the role of the Academic Council and it was stressed that academic matters were of importance and non-academic matters were not included, issues relating o these were to go through the normal administrative channels or the Executive Board of the Academic Council. The Executive Board defined the matters raised at Academic Council that were brought forward to the Interim Council. Day to day operations were the responsibility of the College, any substantial decisions had to go to Interim Council. The College had also established a number of Standing Committees of the Academic Council to advise the Executive Board. They had the responsibility of considering all matters referred to them by the Executive Board or the Academic Council. The committees had the power to co-opt members from within the College staff to facilitate the discharge of their responsibilities. The Committees included:Admissions Committee, Clinical Education Committee, Education Committee, Examinations and Progressions Committee, Resource Committee, Research Committee, Personnel Committee, Student Affairs Committee, Time table and Calendar Committee. [New South Wales College of Paramedical Studies, 1974 Calendar]The Academic Council continued to meet after the College first became a Corporate College on 1 October 1974, its Executive Board, however, no longer had a role with the Academic Board taking on the functions of the Board. The title for the group changed from Academic Council to Academic Assembly to Staff Assembly. The membership consisted of all full-time academic staff with the Principal of the College as Chair. Its function was to provide the widest context in which academic policies and procedures could be discussed by all staff of the College. The Assembly was convened once each semester.