Equity Advisory Committee

Overview

The Vice-Chancellor established the Equity Advisory Committee in late 2013 to develop an over-arching understanding of equity matters arising within the University community, identify associated issues and opportunities, and report on these to the Senior Leadership Team.

Terms of Reference

• To act as an approved conduit for receiving and reviewing information and initiating next appropriate steps. The purpose of this would be threefold:
  • to propose/identify pathways for interested groups, staff and students to raise matters pertaining to equity to the highest levels of the institution without constraint or fear of reprisal;
  • for University management to refer equity related audit findings or questions of concern that require further information gathering;
  • to support compliance with legislative obligations.
• To raise awareness across the University, form communication channels and document existing equity groups.
• To report annually to the Senior Leadership Team. Report to document matters brought to the attention of the equity committee, referral actions/response; trend analysis to be developed if themes present regularly.
• To meet a minimum of three times per year for a two year period. At the end of the two year period a review to be undertaken to ascertain the number and type of enquiries received and to produce a discussion document for SLT regarding value and possible structure for an equity committee moving forward.

Membership

• Convener
• Division of Commerce representative (nominee of PVC Commerce)
• Division of Health Sciences representative (nominee of PVC Health Sciences)
• Division of Humanities representative (nominee of PVC Humanities)
• Division of Sciences representative (nominee of PVC Sciences)
• Human Resources representative (nominee of HR Director)
• Up to 3 nominees of the Vice-Chancellor and/or Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International)
• 1 nominee from the Maori community nominated by the Vice Chancellor and/or Deputy Vice-Chancellor
• Representatives co-opted by the Committee to address specific equity issues

Meeting schedule

Meetings are held approximately four times a year.