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Salient. Victoria University Students' Newspaper. Volume 39, Number 25. October 4, 1976

Chancellor Puts Record Straight

Chancellor Puts Record Straight

Sir,

Victorian woman driving an automobile

In your issue of 20 September there is quite lengthy reference by Neil Gray to a pending appointment of a lecturer in Political Science. It seems to me that it displays a lack of knowledge of how academic appointments are finally determined. An even worse lack was shown in an article about the Sociology Department on page 6 of your issue of 5 July last, when there was reference to "rigged appointments" and to the alleged power of one Professor through "appointments and promotion".

I have no intention of breaching the essential confidentiality of appointments procedures by discussing individual cases and departments. However, your readers may acquire a more balanced view of how the system works if I outline the facts as they apply to Lecturers and Senior Lecturers. All appointments are the responsibility of the Council. Council has delegated its authority in the case of various types and grades of appointments. In the case of Lecturers and Senior Lecturers, current practice is that the power to determine the mailer and to offer appointments is delegated to a committee. A separate committee is established for each such appointment.

Many years ago Council also decided how each committee was to be constituted.

That constitution is:

Chancellor or his deputy as Chairman Vice-Chancellor or his nominee.

One non-staff member of Council, nominated by the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor.

The Head or Chairman of the Department in which the appointment is being made.

One other professor nominated by the Vice-Chancellor.

The Dean of the faculty in which the Department is located.

There may be other members in particular cases, (eg, two Deans if the Department is a member of two Faculties or a specially qualified person from outside this university if he or she can assist where an appointment is to be made in a highly specialised or professional area).

I hope this explanation of procedure will remove any unwarranted suspicion that any one person or group of persons, whether present members of staff or otherwise, exercise any overwhelming and/or improper influence in the making of academic appointments.

K.B. O'Brien,

Chancellor.

Mr O'Brien might be quite interested in reading the Political Science Department minutes of 15 September 1976 where it refers to Professor Brookes screening out the applicants for the lecturing position currently being offered in the Department. Perhaps the Chancellor should do some research on why all the persons applying for positions never all come before the selection committee. - Ed.