Discipline Head Election Procedure

Related Policy: Recruitment Policy

Purpose

Detail the election process for Discipline Head positions.

Scope

This procedure applies to all staff or third parties appointing to a Discipline Head position.

Professors are eligible for election whether or not they are tenured and Professors will usually make themselves available as candidates for election.

General Information

1. Vacancy Preparation: Enterprise Agreement Information (as amended or replaced)

Responsibility: Head of School

• Clause 7.7 - Management of Schools and Disciplines

2. Election Process

The process for appointing a Discipline Head to a School will be an election. The process is outlined below.

Responsibility: Head of School

2.1. Preferably four months prior to the position becoming vacant commence the election process, in consultation with the Executive Dean, by advising all staff within the Discipline (excluding casuals) normally by email, that:

* The position of Discipline Head will fall vacant

* Nominations for the position are being called for from eligible academic staff (normally from tenured members of the Discipline at senior lecturer or above with a fraction of 0.8 or more).

2.2. Ensure the electorate comprises:

* All full time or fractional academic staff within the Discipline, including research only staff, who are employed half-time or more

2.2. Endeavour to ensure the electorate also comprises:

* Two representatives of the professional staff (who are employed half-time or more) who have core support roles in the Discipline

* One postgraduate student member of the Discipline.

2.3. Choose a Returning Officer from senior members of the professional staff within the faculty. The Returning

Officer will not be eligible to vote.

Responsibility: Applicants

2.4. Submit nominations supported by a statement addressing all elements of the role statement.

Responsibility: Discipline Staff

2.5. Exercise the right to nominate eligible academic staff for the role. If this is the case, the Head of School

must consult with the staff member nominated regarding their willingness to perform the role and request that they prepare a statement addressing all elements of the role statement.

Responsibility: Head of School

2.6. When discipline staff nominate eligible academic staff for the role, consult with the staff member nominated

regarding their willingness to perform the role and request that they prepare a statement addressing all elements of the role statement.

2.7. Ensure all nominations are receipted.

2.8. Inform all staff within the Discipline (excluding casuals) of the nomination(s), circulate the application(s) and

seeks views on the suitability of the applicant in line with the principles of the Recruitment policy.

2.9. Conduct the election.

Responsibility: Returning Officer

2.10. Receive formal votes. A nominee for Discipline Head must receive a majority of formal votes cast in an optional preferential ballot together with the approval of two-thirds of those who formally indicate whether the candidate is or is not acceptable.

3. Appointment

Responsibility: Head of School

3.1. Advise the Executive Dean of the preferred candidate and propose a responsibility loading (if applicable).

3.2. If there is no eligible candidate or there is not approval of two-thirds of those who formally indicate the

acceptability of candidates, the Head of School may, in consultation with members of the Discipline, nominate a person to the Executive Dean for appointment as Discipline Head.

Responsibility: Executive Dean

3.3. Approve the Discipline Head's appointment and length of appointment on the advice from the Head of School.

3.4. Approve, at their discretion, a responsibility loading for Discipline Head's classified at Level C. Academic

staff appointed as Discipline Head who are classified at Level D or Level E would not normally receive a responsibility loading.

Responsibility: Head of School

3.5. Contact the preferred candidate to advise them of the outcome, i.e. that they are the preferred candidate.

3.6. Complete Hit the Ground Running and ensure it is authorised by the appropriate delegate and sent to Human

Resources.

Responsibility: Human Resources (recruitment team)

3.7. Ensure correspondence and any supporting documentation is sent to the preferred candidate advising them

that they have been formally appointed as Discipline Head.

3.8. Notify Executive Dean and Head of School upon receipt of an acceptance by the preferred candidate.

Responsibility: Executive Dean

3.9. Withdraw a Discipline Head from the role at any time subject to due reason.

Responsibility: Vice-Chancellor and President

3.10. Has the right to veto the appointment of an elected Discipline Head.

4. Further Information

If you require assistance in understanding any aspect of this document, please contact the Human Resources Service Centre, extension: 31111 or email: hrservicecentre@adelaide.edu.au

Please use the following URL instead of linking to individual documents:
https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/177