General Election Information

Q1. What does the role of UNE Council member entail?

  • Duties and Responsibilities: The role of Council member carries a high level of responsibility for the governance of the University and the achievement of its object, which is "the promotion, within the limits of the University’s resources, of scholarship, research, free inquiry, the interaction of research and teaching, and academic excellence" (UNE Act 1993, Part 2, Section 6). The specific functions of the Council are outlined in the UNE Council Charter and are also found in the UNE Act 1993, Part 4, Divison 1, Section 16. The Duties of Council members are outlined in Schedule 2A of the UNE Act 1993 and include the:
    • Duty to act in best interests of University
    • Duty to exercise care and diligence
    • Duty not to improperly use position
    • Duty not to improperly use information
    • Disclosure of material interests by Council members
  • Additional Roles: The Student elected to UNE Council is an ex officio member of the UNE Council Standing Committee and will be the ex officio Chair of the UNE Student Consultative Committee.
  • Skills and Experience: The role of Council member requires an interest in supporting the object, values, functions and activities of the University, of governance matters generally, and an understanding of the University's commitment and obligation to comply with all applicable laws, regulations, standards and internal policies. This includes, but is not limited to, the University's obligations under work place health and safety and privacy legislation; public and financial reporting; compliance with the conditions of University registration under the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021; and with the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act). The University's compliance obligations are detailed in the University's compliance system. If you would like to know more about the Council structure, please refer to the UNE Act 1993.
  • Conduct of Council members: Council members are required to follow the UNE Council Charter, and to observe in meetings, those meeting protocols as outlined in the Council Standing Orders.
  • Attendance: UNE Council members are expected to attend Council meetings and retreats (typically seven events per year). Council meetings are usually held in-person at various locations including Armidale, Tamworth and Sydney but members may attend via Zoom when required. Travel bookings and costs associated with travel to and from meetings are covered by the University.
  • Preparation & Reports: Reports or papers are circulated prior to meetings and are assumed to be “read” before the meeting. Meetings focus on respectful debate and discussions of any issues arising from the report, points of clarification, and confirmation or otherwise of the proposed resolution. All meeting papers are provided electronically.
  • Minutes and Email: Regular attention to University Council related emails is important for all Council members. Members are expected to review Minutes from previous meetings for accuracy. Urgent matters for decision may be distributed via email for consideration and/or decision.
  • Support, Induction and Professional Development: The UNE Council and its Committees are supported by the University Secretary and the University Secretariat. The University Secretariat organises Council Member induction (to get to know Council and the University) and professional development opportunities (to improve skills and knowledge to assist their role on Council). The University Secretariat assists Council Members with administration matters including with meeting papers and minutes, travel, accommodation and approved incidental expenses.
  • Remuneration: External Council members receive a modest payment from the University.
  • Events and Networking: Council Members have the opportunity to attend UNE’s Graduation Ceremonies and are invited to other key UNE Events or networking opportunities – generally in Armidale, Tamworth or Sydney, but sometimes interstate. As part of the leadership of the University, Council Members may be invited to speak at an event.

Q2. What do you need to do to nominate for election to the Council?

  • Find out more about UNE Council, the object of the University, UNE's compliance commitments and understand, as outlined in brief above, the role and duties of Council members. You are welcome to discuss the role, in the first instance, with the Deputy Returning Officer, Jenny Croaker, who is contactable via email at: returning_officer@une.edu.au or on 02 6773 4359. Alternatively, you may contact the Returning Officer, Kate McNarn via email at: returning_officer@une.edu.au or on 02 6773 1241.
  • Check the eligibility criteria (see below) for the relevant election. This criteria has also been outlined within the call for nominations email.
  • Consider the meeting schedule and term of membership to which you would be committing. Please note, should you be elected to UNE Council and subsequently cease to meet the eligibility criteria for the position to which you were elected (e.g. you are no longer employed as an academic/professional staff member at UNE working half time or more, or you conclude your studies at UNE) then your role on the UNE Council would also conclude at that point in time.
  • If you are eligible and wish to nominate, follow the instructions you will receive in an email from BigPulse. You will be asked to answer a number of questions, to make a number of declarations and to provide a short candidate statement (of 200 words or less) outlining your relevant experience and/or qualifications. You can also upload a photograph as part of your candidacy.
  • Identify two persons from the relevant election role (e.g. eligible fellow academic staff, eligible fellow non-academic staff, eligible fellow undergraduate/postgraduate students) to support your nomination. You will need to input a name, email address and telephone number for your chosen nominators and they will be automatically sent an email requesting that they confirm they are happy to nominate you.
  • Please be aware that:

Q3. Eligibility criteria for election to the Council?

  • Nominees for election must meet the eligibility requirements as detailed in Part 3, Clause 10 the UNE By-Law 2005 regarding electoral Rolls, including:
    • for the Roll of Academic Staff, persons are academic staff members of UNE, employed half-time or greater than half-time, with at least 12 months service at the University as at the date of the Roll (22 April 2024);
    • for the Roll of Professional Staff, persons are members of the non-academic or professional staff of the University, employed half-time or greater than half time, have had at least 12 months service at the University, and are not eligible to nominate as an academic staff member on UNE Council as at the date of the Roll (22 April 2024); and
    • for the Roll of Students, persons are UNE students, enrolled as a candidate proceeding to either a bachelor’s degree (including bachelor’s honours), or diploma or certificate of the University, or a postgraduate award or graduate diploma or graduate certificate, and are not eligible to nominate as an academic or non-academic (professional) staff member on UNE Council as at the date of the Roll (22 April 2024).

  • Please contact returning_officer@une.edu.au if you have any questions.

Q4. Can I nominate as a candidate or vote in more than one election?

No. You are only eligible to nominate or vote in one of the Council elections. As per the UNE By-laws you can only be eligible to be on one electoral roll. The order of eligibility is academic staff, then non-academic staff, then student.

This means for example that you can only be eligible to be on the student electoral roll if you are not an eligible academic staff member or an eligible non-academic/professional staff member.

Q5. Can anyone second my nomination or do nominators also have to be eligible to nominate or vote in the election?

Your nomination can only be supported by two (2) persons (nominators) who also meet the eligibility criteria for the specific election. For example:

  • if you wish to nominate as an Academic Staff member, you should seek two nominators from eligible Academic Staff members;
  • if you wish to nominate as a Professional Staff member, you should seek two nominators from eligible Professional staff members; and
  • if you wish to nominate as a Student member, you should seek two nominators from persons who are eligible students and who are not also UNE staff.

For clarity, your 'nominators' must also meet the eligibility criteria for the specific election as defined in the UNE By-Law 2005.

Q6. Who can I contact if I have further questions?

In the first instance, please contact the Deputy Returning Officer, Jenny Croaker via email at: returning_officer@une.edu.au or on 02 6773 4359. Alternatively, you may contact the Returning Officer, Kate McNarn via email at: returning_officer@une.edu.au or on 02 6773 1241.

Q7. Where do I get a copy of the Nomination Form?

The electronic Nomination Form is accessed via a link in an email from the University's election provider BigPulse. This email will be received by eligible staff and students from 30 April 2024. The Nomination Form consists of the Nomination Form and the responses from two eligible nominators. If you have not been sent an invitation to nominate - please contact the Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Officer via returning_officer@une.edu.au.

Q8. How can I campaign for election?

The Returning Officer will advise when campaigning may commence.

All campaign information is to be authorised by the Returning Officer, as outlined in the Code of Conduct for UNE Council Elections.

Those candidates whose nominations are declared eligible for election by the Returning Officer, will have their candidate information statements (which are provided as part of their nomination) published on the UNE website under the relevant election.

Nominees for election are encouraged to provide a photograph of themselves to augment their campaign. Nominees who have a photograph can upload this as part of their nomination. If you have any issues, please contact the Returning Officer or Deputy Returning Officer via returning_officer@une.edu.au.

The "Invitation to Vote" email will be sent to eligible staff and students by the University's election provider BigPulse on or around the 28 May 2024. This email will include a link to the relevant election webpage, so that potential voters may view candidate details.

Approved

Kate McNarn

Returning Officer