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GUIDELINES RELATING TO COLLEGIALITY

Council Resolution 27 August 1993

1. In the interests of broadening the base of participation in collegial processes

(a)persons and bodies responsible for membership of particular collegial processes should take care to consider as wide a range of potential participants as possible, to share both the workload and the opportunities;

(b)members of the University community should be encouraged to put their names forward if they would like to be considered for involvement in collegial processes;

(c)information about the many opportunities for individuals and groups to participate in collegial processes should be made readily available to members of the University community;

(d)students and staff should be actively encouraged to take up the channels and opportunities which currently are not fully utilised.

2.To assist effective participation, consideration should be given to providing further briefing and induction (within the limits of available resources) for new participants in particular collegial processes.

3.Where a matter is declared in collegial processes to be confidential, this must be honoured by those engaging in the process.

4.Conflict of interest, frequently unavoidable, should be dealt with openly and honestly so that it does not compromise the integrity of proceedings. Where necessary, the matter should be declared for the record, the advice of the Chair should be sought, and the person affected should not ordinarily take part in debate or decision, save for the provision of relevant information.

5.Those involved in collegial processes and representation have a responsibility to check the accuracy of any statements they make to the University community or the media about those processes, and/or arising out of their roles in those processes.

6.Those involved as representatives in collegial processes should seek to honour in good faith any collegial undertakings about the process given by the organisations or groups which they represent.

7.Those involved in collegial processes have a responsibility to conduct themselves civilly, both within meetings and in relation to those meetings.



8.It should be recognised that violence, forcible occupations and intimidation are not acceptable modes of expression on the campus and undermine collegiality. The normal laws governing behaviour must be observed on campus.

9.It should be recognised that smear tactics and anonymous attacks on individuals and groups, vilification of the individuals and groups, sexist, racist and other expressions of prejudice, and innuendo about individuals and groups are not acceptable modes of expression on the campus and that they undermine collegiality. Those involved should respect human dignity and worth in their interactions and other persons involved in the collegial processes.

10.Where appropriate (e.g. on Council), members should be provided with a copy of the decision in Bennetts v Board of the Fire Commissioners of NSW (See 24.01B) and made aware of their legal responsibility to act in the best interests of the University.

11.Support for collegial processes necessarily involves a willingness to use established collegial processes rather than inappropriate tactics.

It also necessarily involves a readiness to observe the outcomes of such processes by all groups concerned. Any review of collegial decisions should also be through established collegial processes rather than through resort to illegitimate tactics as discussed above.