Dear UWAASA Members & Colleagues,
Well, one semester down (not counting deferred and supplementary exams) and about to begin the next. Time flies! In this newsletter, I provide a heads-up on the upcoming Philippa Maddern Award event, touch on parking (of course), on administrative creep into the academic’s workload, and on the appointment of a new Chancellor of the University by the Senate.
Before going on, we want to notify members that we have been required to change appointed auditors for the 2023-24 fiscal year. The previous organisation no longer satisfied State registration requirements for an organisation like UWAASA. The new auditor is David Makowa DM Advisory Services.
First of all, a heads-up for the upcoming Philippa Maddern Award celebration on August 14th at the UniClub. The Philippa Maddern Award is UWAASA’s recognition of the “academic’s academic” as evidenced through positive influences on colleagues, University processes, students, and the wider community. These are not “research” or “teaching” awards (though those elements come into play) but recognition of the collegiality and positive influence over academic life that some of our colleagues so amply display. The biennial award celebration is also an opportunity for us to connect and be inspired while celebrating those who exemplify the best of academicians. You will receive a link to TryBooking to register your attendance – in the meantime, put UWAASA into your calendar for 5–7pm on August 14. The event is catered and provides a great opportunity to produce some collective energy as we embark in the new semester.
Parking continues to be a problem – and will be for the future. The best way to get a red bay in the Reid Library parking lot is to start work prior to 0830, or to be a tradesman. One of our members posed a series of questions to the UWA parking management via the Academic Consultative Committee and received some answers:
Our general perception that parking was not being enforced early in the calendar year was due, perhaps, to a “soft approach” at enforcement at least through March. The vast majority of infringements from March to May of this year were for “no valid permit” which we are told includes the wrong type of permit for the bay. However, one of our committee members parked with a red permit in student bays from the end of final exams until present and has not yet received an infringement. Heading into the semester, demand will once again vastly exceed supply. Contracting with the local Yacht club for special parking will give a slight respite, but parking is clearly a problem in search of creative thinking to solve.
Last year, we solicited your examples of administrative creep on to academic workloads and we were inundated. When administrative duties are transferred from Professional staff to Academics, the cost in time and money seems to disappear. However, UWA ASA believes that the tariffs assigned to unit coordination should better reflect the additional LMS requirements, the monitoring of disengaged students, the increased numbers of special considerations and deferred exams, monitoring of tutors’ hours and assignments, etc etc etc. but those revisions lag the actual incremental expansion of work – if they occur at all. We remain unconvinced that many of these tasks are good value for academic salaries, but since shifting them to academics can make them look like they disappear from the cost sheets, the reduction in supports associated with these shifts can look good from the perspective of university level budgets. These additional tasks that have been quietly allocated to academics were presented to the Executive via the Academic Consultative Committee. There is now a special task force headed by Jill Benn looking into service provision. Several of us have met with her and she is open and receptive to our input. What will come of this remains to be seen, but we should not remain silent about the actual costs – reduced time for the academic aspects of teaching and reduced time for research and research output. But I will stop here as I need to run empty my rubbish into the outside bin.
As you all will be aware, the Senate has chosen our new Chancellor who will begin her tenure in 2025. We were a bit surprised by the choice, but the process is secretive, so any surprise is unwarranted by any expectations. While we were invited (and did) make suggestions regarding the search for a new Chancellor, suggestions are merely that – suggestions that are acknowledged with a “thank you for your contribution” type of email. The attributes of a Chancellor (as determined by the Senate and additional to the limited requirements set forth in the Act) was attached to the request for suggestions and is provided here:
“1. is a prominent and respected member of the general community, ideally with extensive links with the business sector, the professions and government, but without obvious political affiliation;
2. has extensive experience, and a reputation for effective performance, as chair of senior bodies, preferably some of those with membership drawn from a diversity of backgrounds, and a clear
understanding of, and record of adherence to, appropriate governance principles;
3. has the capacity, interpersonal and high-level communication skills and presence to represent the University in all areas of public life and enhance the standing of the University in the community, in the State, nationally and internationally;
4. preferably, has an association with, understanding of and a passion for the issues facing the University and a commitment to the higher education sector;
5. has strong interpersonal skills to build consensus in the development of the University’s future, including the willingness and ability to work with the entire University community;
6. has collaborative leadership skills, specifically to promote the participation of the Senate membership in setting the aims and strategies of the University and overseeing its management
and operations;
7. has experience on boards, specifically as chair, and understands the separate functions of governance and executive leadership; and
8. has the time available to attend Senate and other University meetings, and internal and external functions and forums.”
We understand that a Senate sub-committee vets possible appointees, then presents at least one to the whole Senate for approval. We do not know whether multiple candidates are presented and discussed in Senate. It would be good if these processes were better known and understood. That said, we regularly apply for observer status at the meetings of the Senate. Attendance is limited to “Open Senate” which tends to comprise somewhere between 10 and 30 minutes of the 3-hour schedule. This is just a reminder of “how things work” and is a follow up to the forum on University governance that UWAASA provided to members and colleagues in 2021.
None of the above is meant to express any opinion regarding the incoming Chancellor; when she takes up office, we shall see the extent to which she fulfills the requirements of the position and is seen as a credit to the institution.
I wish to thank Assoc Prof Nin Kirkham for her many years of careful and considered contributions to UWAASA, as President from 2017 to 2023, and for taking on VP in 2023. She was an excellent leader for UWAASA (and in the University) during difficult times. We are pleased she will remain on the committee. I want to thank exiting governance committee member, Prof Zach Aman for his work on the Committee. We welcome incoming committee member, Assoc Prof Allison Imrie (BMS). It is great to have a broad representation of dedicated members from across the various Schools and with a broad array of perspectives and insights.
As of next week, I turn over the Presidency of UWAASA to Assoc Prof Marco Rizzi (Law) and step back into the role of a general committee member. Assoc Prof Emily Brink (Design) takes up VP, Dr Natasha Pauli (SAGE) serves as Secretary, and Prof Shane Maloney (SHS) continues as Treasurer.
I urge each of you to reach out to your colleagues and encourage them to join UWAASA – the strength of UWAASA’s voice for UWA academics is a direct reflection of the numbers and engagement of our membership. I wish you all well in the coming semester and going forward. I remain available for communications from our members.
Kind regards,
Debra Judge, Out-going President