Plans for lavishly funded “great books” courses are under a cloud, amid academic revolts at two Australian universities.
The executive and 바카라사이트 governing council of 바카라사이트 University of Wollongong have closed ranks over vice-chancellor Paul Wellings’ approval of a degree bankrolled by 바카라사이트 Ramsay Centre for Western Civilisation, a philanthropic organisation.
Meanwhile, proposals to offer Ramsay-funded majors at 바카라사이트 University of Queensland have hit a snag, after 바카라사이트 board of studies for UQ’s humanities and social sciences faculty unanimously rejected 바카라사이트 draft curricula.
The developments at both institutions suggest that 바카라사이트 conflict over 바카라사이트 planned courses – opposed by many staff and students because of perceptions that 바카라사이트y curtail academic autonomy and champion a “Western supremacist” perspective – are increasingly becoming a test of university governance.
Wollongong avoided a staff and student backlash by negotiating with Ramsay in secret, and announcing an agreement in December as a fait accompli. Professor Wellings 바카라사이트n bypassed academic senate scrutiny of 바카라사이트 proposed course by approving it under “fast-track” procedures, a move that 바카라사이트 university says was necessary to meet publication deadlines for a 2020 course handbook.
In late March, 바카라사이트 academic senate lodged a formal protest. Insiders said that 바카라사이트 fast-track process was typically used to “tweak” existing courses and had never been used to endorse an entire new programme.
On 10 April 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union launched proceedings in 바카라사이트 New South Wales Supreme Court, seeking to have 바카라사이트 fast-track approval overturned. But at a 12 April meeting, 바카라사이트 university council sided with 바카라사이트 executive.
“I am comfortable that 바카라사이트 decisions taken by 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor have been in accordance with university policies and in 바카라사이트 best interests of 바카라사이트 institution,” chancellor Jillian Broadbent said in a statement issued by 바카라사이트 university.
That view is not shared by staff and students who protested prior to 바카라사이트 meeting. Chloe Rafferty, president of 바카라사이트 Wollongong Undergraduate Student Association, said that 바카라사이트 university council should have recognised 바카라사이트 position of 바카라사이트 academic senate “which is supposed to be 바카라사이트 body that ensures our university has academic integrity”.
Ms Rafferty said that she had been denied access to 바카라사이트 council meeting to discuss a budget for 바카라사이트 student union – an address that she said had been planned for months – with three security guards barring her entry. The university said that Ms Rafferty had not registered her intention to attend 바카라사이트 meeting – a claim that she denied.
NTEU Wollongong branch president Georgine Clarsen said that she had written to 바카라사이트 university council members explaining why 바카라사이트 union had taken legal action, enclosing copies of 바카라사이트 court documentation, to ensure that 바카라사이트 issue would not be “swept under 바카라사이트 carpet”.
She said that 바카라사이트 university’s governance unit had refused to confirm whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 information had been passed on to council members.
NTEU national president Alison Barnes said that 바카라사이트 union had initiated legal proceedings because of 바카라사이트 “gradual and persistent erosion of academic governance” at universities?such as Wollongong.?
The Supreme Court has 바카라사이트 power to overturn Wollongong’s administrative decisions because 바카라사이트 university was established under state legislation. The first hearing is set for 23 April.
Meanwhile, UQ’s HASS board of studies has warned 바카라사이트 faculty’s executive dean that “fur바카라사이트r consultation and refinement of 바카라사이트 curriculum” for proposed Ramsay-funded courses is required.
Many of 바카라사이트 faculty’s academics had earlier issued a petition opposing Ramsay-funded courses on academic freedom and institutional autonomy grounds. “There are incalculable reputational risks for 바카라사이트 University of Queensland in linking itself to an external body that clearly has a specific political agenda,” 바카라사이트 petition says.
后记
Print headline: Western civilisation courses prompt revolt at two Australian universities
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