From 2025, the Academic Committee replaces the Board of Undergraduate Studies (BUGS) and the Board of Graduate Studies (BoGS). Any business for BUGS and/or BoGS should instead be directed to the Academic Committee.
For any questions, please contact Academic Committees and Services.
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 Stuart Brock |
| Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Māori) | Professor Jacinta Ruru |
| Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Pacific) | Professor Dianne Sika-Paotonu |
| OUSA Academic Representative | Stella Lynch |
| OUSA Postgraduate Students’ Representative | Josh Stewart |
| Te Rōpū Māori Āpiha Mātauranga | Sami Harrison Dunn |
| Māori postgraduate student representative nominated by Te Rōpū Māori | Porourangi Templeton-Reedy |
| Dean, Graduate Research School (or nominee) | Professor Rachel Spronken-Smith / Bronwen Stephens (alternate 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 | Associate Professor Melanie Beres |
| 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 Advisor, Distance Learning | Dr Sarah Stein |
| 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 2025
| Meeting dates, Wednesdays at 2:00pm | Deadline for submission |
|---|---|
| 12 February | 30 January |
| 12 March | 27 February |
| 9 April | 27 March |
| 14 May | 1 May |
| 11 June | 29 May |
| 9 July | 26 June |
| 13 August | 31 July |
| 10 September | 28 August |
| 8 October | 25 September |
| 12 November | 30 October |
Proposal templates, resources and deadlines
Download templates for new proposals and access resources and annual proposal deadlines