RMIT University

School of Graduate Research Advisory Board

The School of Graduate Research Advisory Board is a sub committee of the RMIT Research Committee responsible for providing advice and recommendations in relation to:

The School of Graduate Research provides administrative support to the SGR Advisory Board.

Personnel

Meetings

Terms of Reference

Endorsed by School of Graduate Research Advisory Board: 24 January 2012

Approved by Research Committee: 13 February 2012

1. TITLE OF COMMITTEE

School of Graduate Research (SGR) Advisory Board

2. POLICY REFERENCE

The Academic Board under the RMIT Act (1994) Sections 28 and 32 are established for the purposes of:

a) the academic oversight of prescribed academic programs and courses of study of the University; and,

b) to provide advice to the Council on the conduct and content of those programs and courses.

Statute 2.8 “The Academic Board” gives the Academic Board authority ‘to establish and appoint such committees with such membership and for such terms as it considers appropriate’.

The Academic Board has determined to establish and maintain a Research Committee, which in accordance with its Terms of Reference has established an Advisory Board to support the School of Graduate Research.

3. RATIONALE

The SGR Advisory Board is established by the RMIT Research Committee to provide advice and recommendations in relation to:

4. COMMITTEE PRACTICES

4.1 Functions

4.1.1 The School of Graduate Research Advisory Board (“the Advisory Board”) is a sub-committee of the RMIT Research Committee (“the Committee”).

4.1.2 The Committee authorises the Advisory Board to:

i. Monitor and provide strategic advice regarding the HDR Profile;

ii. Review, develop and interpret Statutes, Regulations, Policy and Procedures pertaining to HDR;

iii. Consider proposals from the SGR and Colleges for developing, amending or discontinuing research degree programs;

iv. Seek the recommendation of the Policy and Programs Committee for any discrete coursework component contained in a research higher degree or professional doctorate program;

v. Monitor and provide strategic advice regarding supervisor registration, supervisory capacity and supervision standards;

vi. Monitor and provide strategic advice regarding HDR student satisfaction;

vii. Review the progress of HDR students annually and monitor candidature outcomes;

viii. Approve the examiners and examination processes of HDR theses and projects;

ix. Approve the admission of HDR candidates to higher degree awards, and report to the Research Committee on candidates admitted;

x. Report to the Committee regularly on research training practices.

4.2 Membership

4.2.1 Membership of Advisory Board shall include:

a. Dean, School of Graduate Research, or nominee;

b. Deputy PVC (Research and Innovation) of each College, or their nominees;

c. A School HDR Coordinator/Deputy Dean/Head R&I from each of the Academic Colleges (nominated by Deputy PVCs R&I);

d. the Academic Registrar, or nominee

e. DVC International & Development, or nominee

f. One higher degree by research student of the University, at doctoral level (elected by and from the candidates enrolled in a doctoral program of the University);

g. Senior Manager, School of Graduate Research (Ex Officio)

4.2.2 The Dean, School of Graduate Research will be the Chair of the Advisory Board;

4.2.3 The Advisory Board shall elect a Deputy Chair annually;

4.2.4 The Advisory Board may choose to co-opt additional advisors to assist with deliberations on specific matters.

4.2.5 The Dean, School of Graduate Research, shall appoint a secretary to provide administrative and policy support to the Advisory Board.

4.3 Executive

4.3.1 The Advisory Board may authorise a meeting of an Executive of the Advisory Board (including virtual meetings) to facilitate business matters. This will usually be for matters:

(i) that may require resolution within timeframes outside normal Advisory Board schedules,

(i) that the Advisory Board has endorsed for action pending resolution of operational issues by the Executive.

4.3.2 The Executive shall comprise the Chair or Deputy Chair plus three members, one from each College (approved by the Advisory Board).

4.3.3 Outcomes of Executive meetings shall be included in the agenda of the next meeting of the Advisory Board for ratification.

4.4 Duration and Equity

4.4.1 The term of membership shall be for two years.

4.4.2 Members shall be eligible for reappointment for a second consecutive term. They may be reappointed following a term away from the Board.

4.4.3 Membership of the Advisory Board shall comprise both women and men.

4.5 Quorum

The quorum for a meeting shall be a majority of the membership of the Advisory Board. In the absence of both the Chair and Deputy Chair a member elected by the members present shall preside.

The quorum for a meeting of the Advisory Board Executive shall be three.

4.6 Meetings

4.6.1 Meetings of the Advisory Board shall normally be held at least ten times a year between January and December, inclusive.

4.6.2 Five workings days notice in writing will be given of a forthcoming meeting. Such notice should include the time, place, agenda and papers for the meeting.

4.6.3 The Advisory Board may also use information technologies to conduct its business.

4.6.4 Proxies may attend meetings when they are acting in the role of an absent member.

4.6.5 A member shall not be represented by a proxy at more than two meetings in a calendar year.

4.6.6 A proxy may not be a current member of the Advisory Board.

4.6.7 Observers are not required to provide a formal apology when unable to attend.

5. REVIEW AND IMPROVEMENT

The Advisory Board will report annually through its Chair to the Committee against its rationale, operations and continuous quality improvement processes.