• Section 1 - Introduction
• Name of Rule
• Commencement
• Purpose
• Authority
• Section 2 - Committee
• Establishment of committees
• Terms of reference
• Membership
• Term of office
• Chair and deputy chair
• Vacation of office
• Filling of vacancy in office of member
• Meetings
• Conduct of meetings
• Quorum
• Voting
• Section 3 - Glossary and interpretation

Section 1 - Introduction

Name of Rule

(1) This Rule is the Governance (Regional Consultative Committees) Rule 2023.

(2) This Rule may be referred to as the Terms of Reference - Regional Consultative Committees.

Commencement

(3) This Rule originally commenced on 8 September 2006 under resolution CNL06/73. The current version commenced on 15 December 2023.

Purpose

(4) This Rule is enacted for the purpose of defining the terms of reference and composition of the Regional Consultative Committees under the Charles Sturt University Act 1989 (the Act).

Authority

(5) This Rule is made pursuant to authority granted to the University Council (Council) under sections 17, 20 and 32 of the Act.

Section 2 - Committee

Establishment of committees

(6) There will be an advisory committee of the University for the following regions (connected with the campuses indicated in brackets):

1. Murray-Hume Regional Consultative Committee (Albury-Wodonga Campus)
2. Macquarie Regional Consultative Committee (Bathurst Campus)
3. Orana and Far Western Regional Consultative Committee (Dubbo Campus)
4. Central Tablelands Regional Consultative Committee (Orange Campus)
5. Mid-North Coast and Hinterland Regional Consultative Committee (Port Macquarie Campus)
6. Riverina Regional Consultative Committee (Wagga Wagga Campus)

(7) The Vice-Chancellor may establish additional regional consultative committees as may be required.

Terms of reference

(8) The functions of the committees are to:

1. provide advice to the University about the higher education and research priorities of the region
2. provide input from a community, industry and government perspective on strategic and campus planning, and campus culture
3. provide feedback to the University on opportunities and issues that may advance, or limit, the achievement of the University or region's strategies and priorities
4. engage in activities that assist in building community and industry understanding of the role of the University in the region, and which help promote the work and impact of the University in the region, and in rural and regional Australia more generally
5. engage in activities that assist in promoting how the University and community can work together to support the development of the region
6. engage in activities that assist in advocating for the interests of the University within the member's regional networks including government, business and the community, and
7. provide advice on any other matter referred to the committee by the University.

Membership

(9) Each Regional Consultative Committee will be comprised of:

1. the Director, External Engagement for the region, as determined by the Vice-Chancellor, and
2. a minimum of five and a maximum of 16 members.

(10) The Vice-Chancellor may vary the membership of a committee or the term of office of a member of a committee, at any time.

Term of office

(11) Except where a person is appointed by virtue of an office held by the member:

1. a member may only be appointed for a term of up to four years by the Vice-Chancellor on the recommendation of the responsible position within the Office of Engagement and Enterprise
2. a person must not be appointed to serve on the committee for more than eight years (unless the Vice-Chancellor otherwise resolves in relation to the person).

Chair and deputy chair

(12) The Director, External Engagement for the relevant region will chair meetings of the committee.

(13) The Director, External Engagement will preside at each meeting of the committee at which the Director, External Engagement is present.

(14) The committee will elect a deputy chair of the committee for a term not exceeding two years.

(15) At any meeting of the committee at which the Director, External Engagement is not present, the Director, External Engagement may request that the deputy chair presides at that meeting.

Vacation of office

(16) In addition to any other provision of this Rule, the position of a member of a committee becomes vacant if the member:

1. resigns their membership in writing to the Director, External Engagement
2. is absent from three consecutive meetings of which reasonable notice has been given and is not excused by the Committee for their absence
3. if the member ceases to be qualified for appointment, or
4. is removed from the membership by the Vice-Chancellor.

Filling of vacancy in office of member

(17) If the office of an appointed member of the committee becomes vacant, a person may be appointed to fill the vacancy in the same manner as provided for the appointment of members.

Meetings

(18) Meetings of the committee will be held at least once each year at a time, date and location decided by the Director, External Engagement, in consultation with the committee.

(19) The Director, External Engagement may cancel and reschedule meetings as may be convenient or necessary.

(20) Up to an additional four invitees may also attend a meeting, at the discretion of the relevant Director, External Engagement. 

Conduct of meetings

(21) The procedure for the calling of meetings of a committee and for the conduct of business at those meetings will be as determined by the Director, External Engagement (subject to any rules of the Council).

Quorum

(22) There is no quorum required for meetings of the committee, however, the Director, External Engagement will seek to ensure that meetings are held to facilitate the participation of the majority of members.

Voting

(23) The committees are advisory to the University and do not have delegated authority under the Act to make decisions binding on the University.

(24) Advice and input of the committees should be decided by consensus of the meeting.

Section 3 - Glossary and interpretation

(25) In this Rule:

1. Act – means the Charles Sturt University Act 1989.
2. Committee – means a Regional Consultative Committee established under this Rule.
3. Council – means the University Council established under Part 3 of the Act.
4. Director, External Engagement – means a person appointed to hold the office of Director, External Engagement of a campus.
5. Vice-Chancellor – means the Vice-Chancellor of the University appointed under section 12 of the Act.

(26) In this Rule, unless the contrary intention appears:

1. a word or term that has not been defined in this Rule has the same meaning attributed to that word or term in the Act or By-law
2. a reference to an officer of the University includes any person acting in that position, and
3. headings and notes do not form part of this Rule.