Media Releases 2005

7 October 2005

AVCC Board of Directors

At the scheduled 6 October meeting of the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee’s Board of Directors, AVCC President Di Yerbury put forward a proposal, for discussion at the plenary meeting of AVCC in November, for a full review of AVCC.

She said, “Since its inception in 1920 with six university members, AVCC has reviewed and changed its structure and operations a number of times to reflect changing circumstances, including its growing and increasingly diverse membership base. In 1999, moreover, AVCC discussed protocols to deal with public comment and representations to Government on matters likely to involve redistribution of resources across the sector. It was agreed that, where a range of views existed amongst members, on such matters, it would publicly acknowledge this. I did so when recently releasing AVCC’s response to the Research Quality Framework proposals.

“Last month we received suggestions for a new structure from eight of our members. The Board welcomes, and always gives serious consideration to, views from members. This is a good opportunity to arrange a wide-ranging review of AVCC’s role, membership arrangements, governance, operations, structure, the role of sub-groups, and relationships with associated organisations. The higher education context is constantly changing, and we will bear in mind also that there are likely to be further additions to the composition of the sector.

“The Board agreed to recommend to the November plenary that AVCC invite input from all members. It may be useful too to look at the structures and operations of our counterpart organisations overseas. We will doubtless look at a number of possible models.

“This will be the latest evolution in the long life of this adaptable, resilient and valuable organisation,” Professor Yerbury said.

-ENDS-

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