• Section 1 - Preliminary
• Name of Rules
• Commencement
• Purpose
• Authority
• Definitions
• Section 2 - Rules
• Student consultation
• Student representation
• Consultation regarding compulsory student services and amenities fees
• Section 3 - Schedules and Associated Information

Section 1 - Preliminary

Name of Rules

(1) These Rules will be cited as the Student Consultation Rules.

Commencement

(2) These Rules commence on 1 January 2022 under resolution CNL 21/49.

Purpose

(3) The purpose of these Rules is to provide for student input to decision making at Macquarie University (the University) regarding teaching, learning, research, amenities, and support through the provision of clear consultative arrangements, including student representation and student organisations.

(4) These Rules take into account the Student Services, Amenities, Representation and Advocacy Guidelines National Student Representation Protocols made under section 238-10 of the Higher Education Support Act 2003.

(5) These Rules address the requirement for the University to establish and maintain a clearly defined and effective process by which students enrolled at the University are consulted regarding the specific uses of proceeds from any compulsory student services and amenities fees levied by the institution in accordance with the Higher Education Support Act 2003 subsection 19-37(5).

Authority

(6) The Macquarie University Council (the Council) makes the following rules under section 29 of the Macquarie University Act 1989 and Part 10 of the Macquarie University By-law 2005.

Definitions

(7) Nil.

Section 2 - Rules

Student consultation

(8) The arrangements for student consultation at the University will include:

1. broad engagement at the individual and collective student-institutional interface;
2. democratically-elected student representatives; and
3. independent student organisations whose representatives are wholly and/or in-part democratically-elected enrolled students.

(9) In addition, arrangements for student consultation at the University may include:

1. independent student organisations whose representatives are appointed rather than elected;
2. bodies that have members other than students of the University; and
3. additional mechanisms for student consultation as deemed appropriate by the Vice-Chancellor.

(10) These Rules will be reviewed annually, and any amendments approved by Council. The process for annual review and approval of these Rules will include a mechanism for comment by students enrolled at the University.

(11) The consultative arrangements will be published on the University’s website, including the mechanism for comment by enrolled students on the annual review and approval of these Rules.

Student representation

(12) Consultation with democratically-elected enrolled students of the University is the primary mechanism by which students may provide input to decision making regarding teaching, learning, research, amenities and support.

(13) The University will establish and maintain a student representative committee. The committee will be called the Student Representative Committee (SRC).

(14) The terms of reference for the SRC will be approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). Review of the Terms of Reference will include a mechanism for comment by enrolled students of the University.

(15) The University will meet the necessary and reasonable costs of conducting democratic, valid, and transparent polls for election of SRC members. Polls will be undertaken in accordance with the Terms of Reference of the Committee.

(16) The University will provide adequate and reasonable support, resources, and infrastructure so that the SRC can effectively represent enrolled students including, but not limited to, administrative and secretariat support, information and communication technology, and assistance with messaging, promotion, and awareness.

(17) The SRC will consult with student organisations that the University recognises so as to enable student organisations to provide input to decision making regarding teaching, learning, research, amenities, and support as appropriate and reasonable.

Consultation regarding compulsory student services and amenities fees

(18) The University’s consultation regarding the specific uses of proceeds from any compulsory student services and amenities fee must:

1. be undertaken through a formal process of engagement with students, including their representatives and organisations;
2. form part of the University’s annual financial planning process; and
3. include the provision of information to enrolled students, including the purpose of the fee, the amount of revenue anticipated from the fee, the mechanisms to establish priorities for expenditure of the fee and the timing and mechanisms available for enrolled students to comment on the proposed prioritisation of expenditure.

(19) Once consultation with enrolled students has been undertaken and the University has determined how the revenue from any compulsory student services and amenities fees levied by the institution in accordance with the Higher Education Support Act 2003 subsection 19-37(5) will be expended, the University will make publicly available to enrolled students:

1. information on the established priorities;
2. how the revenue is to be spent; and
3. information on the projects to be funded.

(20) At the completion of the annual financial reporting cycle the University will provide a publicly available report on actual expenditure for the year from any compulsory student services and amenities fees levied by the institution in accordance with the Higher Education Support Act 2003 subsection 19-37(5).

Section 3 - Schedules and Associated Information

(21) Student Organisation Rules