Service to the University, Discipline and Community

1
Service to the University, Discipline and
Community

• Academic Promotions Briefing Session
• Professor Bruce Sutton
• Chair, Academic Board

2
University of Sydney Act 1989 (as amended)

• 6 Object and functions of University
• (1) The object of the University 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.
• (2) The University has the following principal
  functions for the promotion of its object
• (b) the encouragement of the dissemination,
  advancement, development and application of
  knowledge informed by free inquiry,
• (d) the participation in public discourse,
• (3) The University has other functions as
  follows
• (b) the University may develop and provide
  cultural, sporting, professional, technical and
  vocational services to the community,

3
What does Service include?

• The University considers teaching and
  research/scholarship/creative/professional work
  as its core activities
• Other elements of the objects of the University
  (e.g., public discourse, application of
  knowledge) may be service to the community and
  your discipline
• The contribution that all staff are expected to
  make towards the overall work of their Faculty,
  Department/School is also service.

4
Your Service Portfolio

• A brief statement of 500 to 1000 words that
  highlights areas of greatest strength and
  supports applicant's claims regarding performance
• assessed in terms of amount of activity, degree
  of responsibility carried, and quality of the
  service rendered

5
Your Service Portfolio (contd)

• evidence of sustained efforts individually or
  as member of team
• constructive achievements in useful (and possibly
  innovative) directions
• continuity of involvement, the result of
  sustained efforts over some considerable period
  of time
• major responsibility for the outcome of some of
  the achievements

6
Definitions

• Service to the University refers to contributions
  to institutional planning, governance, line
  management or contributions to the University
  community.
• Service to the Discipline refers to service to
  the relevant profession or academic discipline,
  including clinical work, consultancy activities,
  service on local and national professional/discipl
  ine bodies.
• Service to the Community refers to
  discipline/profession related contributions to
  the wider community which enhance the reputation
  of the University.

7
Service to the University

• Department / School / Faculty / University policy
  committees (eg, Head of School Advisory, Dean's
  Advisory, Faculty Executive, Library Advisory,
  Academic Board, Senate)
• Committees of the Academic Board and/or working
  parties (eg, Undergraduate Studies Committee,
  Assessment Working Party), etc.
• Administrative service of substantial
  significance to the governance of the University
  and its units (eg. Head of Department, Head of
  School, School Grievance Officer, Higher Degrees
  Committee, Faculty Promotions Committee, Central
  Promotions Committee, Research Committee,
  Coordinator of First-Year Classes in large
  schools, etc.)

8
Service to the Discipline

• Editor, associate editor, advisory board member
  or referee of a scholarly journal
• Service on ARC, NHMRC and similar reviewing and
  funding panels
• Responsibility as organiser of national and/or
  international conferences
• Office-bearer of, or other actively-involved
  contributor to, a professional society
• Membership of professional accreditation panel
• Liaison service on committees of related
  professional groups, etc.

9
Consultancy

• Listed in Service to the Discipline but may
  also be considered as service to the community
• Must be University consulting, with appropriate
  approvals
• Several Schools have explicit consulting
  operations, eg, CASE
• Should place your University expertise at the
  service of the discipline or community

10
Service to the Community

• Explicit statement at UQ Community Service
  Policy
• Community service can take the form of
  intellectual, educational, cultural, scientific
  and other services, and contributes to the social
  progress, economic growth or cultural development
  of individuals, groups or organisations, or the
  community as a whole.

11
Some Examples of Service to the Community

• Service on, or on behalf of, Government Statutory
  Authorities or Commissions of Inquiry
• Liaison between secondary and tertiary education
  institutions (eg. HSC syllabus committee,
  resource person for school visits to talk with
  senior students, etc.)
• Liaison between academia and industry (eg,
  technical standards committee, consortium
  steering committee)
• Honorary professional work (eg. Community centre,
  state council, national advisory council)
• Public advocacy in your professional area