ACADEMIC SENATE - University of Western Sydney

It was resolved (AS09:02/ 09)That Academic Senate note the minutes of the Research Studies Committee meetingsheld on 3 March, 7 April and 5 May 2009.4.4 EDUCATION COMMITTEEThe Education Committee met on 20 April and 18 May 2009.It was resolved (AS09:02/ 10)That Academic Senate note the report of the Education Committee meetings held on20 April and 18 May 2009.4.5 ACADEMIC PLANNING AND COURSES APPROVALS COMMITTEEThe Academic Planning and Courses Approvals Committee (APCAC) met on 13 May2009. The recommendations contained therein were submitted for consideration byAcademic Senate.Regarding the organisation of the academic year, the Chair of APCAC, ProfessorIngleson, reported that the Committee had considered a preliminary analysis of theoptions for re-structuring the academic year into three sessions, and identified anumber of advantages for the University if this model were to be pursued. Heemphasised that there is currently no firm proposal and that more detailed discussionof the existing models in the sector would be undertaken with interested parties withinthe University, and a further report will be considered at the next meeting of theAPCAC. Although the concept is at an embryonic stage, it was suggested that theExecutive could initiate a dialogue with academic staff through campus based forumsthat are planned for the second half of 2009. He concluded by stating that introductionof such an arrangement would require general agreement across the institution.It was resolved (AS09:02/ 11)That Academic Senate note the report of the Academic Planning and CoursesApprovals Committee meeting held on 13 May 2009, and the recommendationscontained therein be approved, as follows:It was resolved (APCAC09:2/4)That the Academic Planning and Courses Approvals Committee endorses the majorvariation to course 2537 Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws, consisting of the additionof a new Arts Global Studies key program and Religion, Anthropology and Philosophyand Asian Studies and International Relations majors and addition of one more LLBalternate unit 200741 Indigenous Australians and the Law, to commence in 2010 at theParramatta campus, and recommends the proposal to Academic Senate for approval.(Secretariat note: The Head of School of Humanities and Languages advised on 25June 2009 that the Asian Studies and International Relations major area haspreviously been included in 2537 Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws as it has been amajor area within the Bachelor of Arts since 2001. The only change in regard to thismajor area is that it will be on offer at the Parramatta campus where the B Lawsprogram is also on offer.)It was resolved (APCAC09:2/5)That the Academic Planning and Courses Approvals Committee endorses theintroduction of the new course 3654 Bachelor of Information and CommunicationsTechnology / Bachelor of Arts to commence in 2010 at the Parramatta campus, andrecommends the proposal to Academic Senate for approval.Academic Senate meeting held on 29 May 2009: Confirmed minutes Page 9