Southern Cross University

Southern Cross University

Southern Cross University Coat of Arms

Motto	None
Established	1994
Chancellor	The Honourable Justice John Dowd AO, LLB (Sydney)
Vice-Chancellor	Professor Paul Clark
Location	Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Tweed Heads, Australia
Students	12,107 total (2,258 graduate)
Homepage	http://www.scu.edu.au

Southern Cross University is an independent University located primarily on the far north coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is a well-established regional University consisting of around 12,000 students, half of them studying at the University's primary campus in Lismore, NSW. Aside from these traditional "internal" students, a great deal of the University's student body comprises offshore International students, and "external" students studying from a variety of locations around Australia.

Its international programme comprises a variety of students enrolled from more than 30 countries. Approximately 400 international students are enrolled on-campus in Australia, with a further 1280 enrolled in overseas programmes. The University has a number of alliances with overseas organisations and universities. These alliances have been established with institutions in the USA, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Finland, France, Japan, Peoples Republic of China, Germany, Sweden and Canada.

Some of the university's more notable areas of expertise include the Tourism Industry, the Law, and unusual areas of study such as Naturopathy.

History

The University has its roots in the former Teachers College of Lismore, NSW. This particular college commenced its first year on Monday the 23rd of February 1970, after a number of years of planning that began in 1959. With a student body of just 151, it was a single purpose college.

On the 1st of September, 1971 the Teachers College became a "College of Advanced Education" under the Higher Education Act 1969. At this time student numbers increased dramatically, as did a demand for a wider variety of courses. As such, the institution was renamed the "Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education" and in 1973 became a multidisciplinary college within the Ministry of Education.

Although only a regional college, the institution became well-known for its successful placement of graduates and achieved a high reputation in the educational field.

In 1988 the Australian Government released a White Paper on Higher Education, placing an emphasis on the development of larger educational institutions. At this time, the College of Advanced Education agreed to an association with the University of New England ("UNE") and formally became a network member of the newly constituted regional University.

In 1992, the Board of Governors of The University issued a submission to state and Commonwealth Ministers recommending the establishment of an advisory group to consider the implications of the proposal that the Network University of New England be dismantled.

This advisory group recommended that a new university be established in the north-coast region of New South Wales, incorporating the existing UNE network centres at the Northern Rivers and Coffs Harbour, with the potential to establish additional sites at other sites as required. It also recommended that this new University develop under the sponsorship of a major metropolitan university for its first three years, while still operating under its own name and Council, and awarding its own degrees.

The Ministers appointed an "Implementation Advisory Panel" to suggest strategies necessary to give effect to proposed new structures, and announced that the successor institutions to the UNE Network would be established in time for the 1994 academic year.

On the 29th of June, 1993 - the Commonwealth minister for Employment, Education and Training - and the State Minister for Education and Youth Affairs - announced that a new university would be established on the North Coast of New South Wales. This University was to consist of campuses at Lismore,NSW (formerly UNE-Northern Rivers) and Coffs Habour (formerly UNE-Coffs Habour Centre). It was also announced that the new institution would be named "Southern Cross University". A barrage of legislation, such as the "Southern Cross University Act 1993", and the "University of New England Act 1993" was passed by both houses of the NSW Parliament in October of the same year. These acts received Royal Assent on the 19th of November 1993, and Southern Cross University was established on the 1st of January 1994.

As of 2004, a new Vice Chancellor has as assumed office as the University celebrates it's tenth anniversary.

Campuses

Lismore

The Lismore campus is the largest and central campus of the University. It occupies 60 hectares in the north-coast area. The Campus is roughly 3km away from Lismore City's CBD. Much of the north-coast area is known for it's liberal and alternative "way of life" and the Lismore campus reflects this. Being only young, it's architectural appearance is quite modern, and a great deal of natural aesthetic encompass it's surroundings.

Being the central institution, Lismore Campus houses the majority of the University's academic facilities, including electronic information services and a library.

Coffs Harbour

The Coffs Harbour campus of the University is a partnership between SCU and a senior High School of the NSW Department of School Education, and the New South Wales Technical & Further Education Commission (TAFE).

Four Schools operate at this campus, including; Business, Human Services, Multimedia & Information Technology and Tourism & Hospitality Management.

Tweed Gold Coast

The newest campus of the University, was opened on Tuesday, the 16th of April, 2002. Currently, this particular campus emphasises largely Business degrees, including a Doctor of Business Administration programme.

Learning Access Centres

The University operates a number of Learning Access Centres, established throughout the north-coast region, specialising in certain fields of study. Tourism students located in Sydney, for example, operate out of the five-star hotel, InterContinental studying "in the field". Marine science students also utilise the Marine Science Centre at Coffs Harbour.

Structure

Governance

The University is governed by a Council, to whom the Vice-Chancellor and President reports. This Council is responsible for the management of the University's affairs. An Academic Board provides advice to the Council & Vice-Chancellor on academic affairs.

The Council is chaired by the Chancellor, and is comprised of 18 members, including the Vice-Chancellor, the Chair of the Academic Board, members appointed by the Minister, three elected staff and one student.

A number of sub-committees serve below the council, including:

• The Chancellor's Committee
• The Academic Board
• The Academic Promotion Appeals Committee
• The Audit Committee
• The Business Precinct Committee
• The Disciplinary Appeals Committee
• The Finance Committee
• The Honorary Awards Committee
• The Remuneration Committee
• The Student Affairs Committee

The Vice-Chancellor is responsible for implementing the strategic direction of the University and it's overall day-to-day management as guided by the Council. A number of Pro Vice Chancellors / Vice Presidents assist the Vice Chancellor in particular areas.

Academic Structure

The institution is divided into three divisions, and a number of Schools and Colleges included within those divisions.

• Division of Arts
  • School of Arts
  • School of Education
  • School of Law and Justice
  • School of Multimedia and Information Technology
  • School of Psychology

• Division of Business
  • School of Commerce and Management
  • School of Social Science
  • School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
  • Graduate College of Management

• Division of Health and Applied Sciences
  • School of Environmental Science and Management
  • School of Exercise Science and Sport Management
  • School of Natural and Complementary Medicine
  • School of Nursing and Health Care Practices
  • College of Indigenous Australian Peoples

Executive Deans are responsible for the Divisions, while a number of Heads and Directors are in charge of Schools and Colleges.

Principal Officers

As of 2004, the current holders of offices within the University include;

Principal Officers

Office	Name	Academic Merits
Chancellor & Chair of Council	The Honourable Justice John Dowd, AO	QSJM, LLB (Syd)
Deputy Chancellor & Deputy Chair of Council	Mrs. Elizabeth Rummery, AM
Vice Chancellor & President	Professor Paul Clark	B.Sc (Hons) (Exe), PhD (Exe), DipEd (Tert) (Monash), FAIP, FIICA
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Quality)	Professor Zbys Klich	B.Ed (Hons) (Nott), PhD (NE)
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research)	Professor Peter Baverstock	B.Sc (Hons) (Adel), DSc (Adel), PhD (WAust)
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise & International)	Professor Angela Delves	B.Sc (Hons), DipEd (Bath), PhD (Hull)
Executive Dean (Arts)	Professor Paul Thom	BA (Hons) (Syd), MA (Syd), BPhil (Oxford)
Executive Dean (Business)	Professor Lawson Savery	MSc (Aston), PHD (WAust)
Executive Dean (Health & Applied Sciences)	Professor Jenny Graham	DipTeach (Trinity College of Music), DipOccThpy (NSWCollege of Occupational Therapy), MSc (Bradford)
Executive Director & Vice President (Corporate Services)	Mr. Malcom Marshall	BA (CCAE), MBA (CQU)