Terms of Reference
- To advise Senate on policy relating to the work of the Committee encompassing all levels of study at the University and to other academic matters deemed relevant by Senate.
- To make recommendations to the Senate on new programmes, changes to programmes, and the deletion of programmes, including proposals requiring approval from the Committee on University Academic Programmes (CUAP).
- To make recommendations to the Senate on new papers and micro-credentials, changes to papers and micro-credentials, and the deletion of papers or micro-credentials.
- To receive notification when the Board of one of the academic Divisions re-instates a suspended paper or approves new content for a special topic paper.
- To receive reports as relevant from the wider tertiary sector, including from CUAP .
- To receive and provide feedback on Annual Programme Reports and on Graduating Year Review reports.
- To refer relevant matters to the Committee for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching (CALT), Graduate Research Committee (GRC), or Quality Advancement Committee (QAC) as they arise and to receive minutes from CALT, GRC and QAC, for noting only.
- To consider, advise, and report on any academic matter referred to the Committee by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), the Senate, or the Vice-Chancellor.
- To consider strategic matters relating to the work of the Committee.
- To establish sub-committees – as necessary –to undertake tasks or projects relating to the work of the Committee, as outlined in the preceding terms.
Membership
| Composition of the Board | Member |
|---|---|
| Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) (Convener) | Professor Emeritus James Maclaurin |
| Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) (or nominee) | Associate Professor Tania Huria |
| Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Pacific) | Professor Dianne Sika-Paotonu |
| OUSA Academic Representative | Hansini Wijekoon |
| OUSA Postgraduate Students’ Representative | Fergus Parks |
| Te Rōpū Māori Āpiha Mātauranga | To be advised |
| Māori postgraduate student representative nominated by Te Rōpū Māori | To be advised |
| Dean, Graduate Research School (or nominee) | Professor Rachel Spronken-Smith / Andrew Lonie (alternative attendance) |
| Dean, Learning and Teaching | Professor Tim Cooper |
| A divisional Associate Dean nominated by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Commerce | Associate Professor Lynnaire Sheridan |
| A divisional Associate Dean nominated by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Humanities | Nicola Cummins |
| A divisional Associate Dean nominated by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Sciences | Professor Brendan McCane |
| Two divisional Associate Deans nominated by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the Division of Health Sciences | Professor Lois Surgenor |
| Professor Chrys Jaye | |
| Principal Adviser, Distance Learning | Vacant |
| Director, International | Jason Cushen |
| Director, Quality Advancement Unit | Margaret Morgan |
| Director, Student Experience (or nominee) | Jennifer Haugh |
Notes
With approval from the Convener:
- Any ex officio member listed in the Composition may nominate another individual to serve as a member on the Committee in their place.
- Additional individuals may be invited to attend without serving as members.
- Additional members may be co-opted as required.
Committee Secretary
Matt Angel
Email academic.committees@otago.ac.nz
Meeting dates for 2026
| Meeting dates, Thursdays at 2:00pm | Deadline for submission |
|---|---|
| 12 February | 29 January |
| 11 March (second Wed of the month, due to venue availability) | 26 February |
| 15 April (third Wed of the month, due to scheduling conflicts) | 2 April |
| 14 May | 30 April |
| 11 June | 28 May |
| 9 July | 25 June |
| 13 August | 30 July |
| 10 September | 27 August |
| 15 October | 1 October |
| 12 November | 29 October |
Proposal templates, resources and deadlines
Download templates for new proposals and access resources and annual proposal deadlines