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Course External Advisory Committee Policy

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Section 1 - Purpose and Context

(1) An External Advisory Committee (EAC) will be established for each award or suite of awards, both undergraduate and postgraduate, offered or to be offered by the University. The approval of the Courses Approvals and Articulations Committee (CAAC) is required where an EAC covers a suite of awards, particularly at the undergraduate level. Where an award covers a number of 'key programs', a request may be made to form a number of external advisory committees.

(2) The objectives of the EAC will be to:

  1. Regularly review the units and programs offered by the University and advise on possible improvements and initiatives.
  2. Promote the recruitment and retention of well-qualified undergraduate and postgraduate students and assist in their subsequent employment after graduation.
  3. Advise on opportunities for research development and collaboration
  4. Assist in developing links between the University, the community, industry, and the relevant professions
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Section 2 - Definitions

(3) Nil.

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Section 3 - Policy Statement

Part A - Terms of Reference

(4) The External Advisory Committee (EAC) will advise the Head of Program (HOP) regarding:

  1. relevance and presentation of each award and possible future developments
  2. The direction and scope of the research and development, consulting, continuing education and other community related activities associated with the program area, including identifying emerging needs and opportunities
  3. Relationships between the discipline and relevant professional, community groups and employers.

Part B - Membership

(5) The membership of the External Advisory Committee (EAC) should comprise of the following. Persons may be added to the committee. However, the ratio of 60:40 (external:internal) members should be maintained. Nominations should be approved by the Associate Dean Academic in conjunction with the relevant Head of Program (HOP).

  1. Relevant Head of Program
  2. Associate Dean Academic or nominee
  3. Member of the academic staff teaching in the award area
  4. Student in the award/one of the awards
  5. Minimum of six members drawn from the:
  6. Community
  7. Industry
  8. Relevant profession, which may include members of academic staff of other institutions
  9. Alumni

(6) The Chair must be an external member of the Committee.

Part C - Duration of appointment

(7) The term of office will be two years. Consecutive terms will be permitted.

Part D - Meeting frequency

(8) The External Advisory Committee (EAC) will meet at least once a year face-to-face. Other meetings should take place as required and may be conducted in a manner most suitable to the external membership.

Part E - Reporting

(9) An agenda should be provided and minutes must be taken for each meeting.

(10) A quorum comprises of 50% of the membership, with the further requirement that the external members are in the majority

(11) There are two types of reporting required:

  1. for the initial course approval; and
  2. for the continuing review of the course.

(12) For each course approval submission reviewed by the Committee, the following aspects should be considered and reported (see External Advisory Committee Report template in the EAC checklist document)

  1. The demand and need for the proposed course or revised course.
  2. Suitability of proposed learning objectives and student outcomes.
  3. Suitability of proposed curriculum.
  4. Adequacy of resources available for the course.
  5. Compliance with professional and/or industry requirements.

(13) An annual report should be provided to the College Education Assessment and Progression Committee and subsequently to the Courses Approvals and Articulations Committee (CAAC), no later than February of the following year. The report from these regular meeting should address the matters detailed in the Objectives and the Terms of Reference.

Part F - Administrative support

(14) Administrative support for the External Advisory Committee will be provided by the School.

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Section 4 - Procedures

(15) Nil.

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Section 5 - Guidelines

Document Format
MS Word PDF
A Guide for Head of Program on Course External Advisory Committees 31KB 30KB
External Advisory Committee Report on New or Substantially Revised Courses 41KB 52KB
Response to External Advisory Committee Report 33KB 56KB