The Council of Central Queensland University will remodel CQU Academic Board following a Council-directed external  review which concluded the current format would benefit from better resources, a different approach to academic leadership and new committee structures already common at other Australian universities, it was announced today.

More than a hundred people including CQU Council members, staff and students informed the review, commissioned by Council in July 2007.

"This a comprehensive rethink of how academic governance is managed," said Vice Chancellor and President John Rickard, commenting to Council on the review.

The University has already begun to act on recommendations made in the review regarding Board membership, operation and delegation, secretarial support, staff development and quality management reporting.

CQU Council has resolved to appoint (until the end of 2009) a new Academic Board President and 2 Deputy Presidents of Academic Board - Deputy Vice-Chancellor Angela Delves and Pro-Vice-Chancellors Alex Radloff (Academic Services) and Jennelle Kyd (Research and Innovation) respectively.

The new Board will facilitate more robust academic debate on matters relating to policy and standards and overhaul the methods used to develop and approve new courses and programs, according to Professor Delves.

"The current way is cumbersome and not entirely transparent. We need to be more holistic and acknowledge the requirements placed on the entire organisation when new products are introduced," Professor Delves said.

Outgoing Academic Board President Bob Miles agrees.

"If the Academic Board is to deliver in today's environment it must be strengthened and be at the core of sound academic governance, as well as providing leadership and quality assurance," said the past President, Professor Miles, who was an active driver of the need for change.

 "We are making improvements all over the University, administratively and academically, to improve service, raise our standards and ensure that we're fit for purpose. The remodelling of the Board demonstrates, significantly, our determination to better serve students and other customers and pull together the University as a collegiate whole," added Professor Rickard.

CQU Academic Board is the senior academic governance body within the University with respect to teaching, scholarship and research, established under the Central Queensland University Act (1998). Academic Board reports to the University Council on its activities.