Academic Senate Project Officer Ainslee Harvey pays tribute to outgoing Chair Dominic Verity and welcomes incoming chair Mariella Heberstein, who takes the Academic Senate reins from 1 May.
After 13 years of service and leadership in the academic governance of the University, this week marks Professor Dominic Verity’s last week in his role as the Chair of Academic Senate.
His apprenticeship in academic governance began in 2002 when he was appointed to the then Academic Program Committee, the precursor to our Academic Standards and Quality Committee (ASQC). He then continued as a highly valued and respected member of Academic Senate, evidenced by the fact that he was appointed to Chair the Senate Learning and Teaching Committee for three years, before being first as a Faculty representative and then as the Chair of Academic Senate.
Passionate about learning and teaching, and well known for his commitment to students, it is no surprise that Dominic has initiated and led several student-centric projects, including:
- a top-to-bottom overhaul of student discipline which resulted in the establishment of Faculty-based hearing committees, penalties aligned with best practice, and a more equitable way to investigate discipline cases;
- a new approach to Disruption to Studies with a clear separation between wellbeing and academic decision making;
- a review of assessment practice and the development of the new Assessment Policy supporting the Learning and Teaching Strategy;
- the first institution-wide approach to student progression including a graduated model to identify and support those students at risk; and
- a rethink in the university’s approach to academic integrity to encourage both student and staff understanding and ownership of academic integrity principles and good practice.
Dominic’s leadership has championed the importance of academic governance to the long-standing viability of the University, ensuring that it evolves to meet its challenges by reinvigorating Senate as the key debating chamber for academic principles.
Dominic is now returning to what he calls “a life of an itinerant mathematical scribbler” in his field of pure mathematics, which is thriving at Macquarie.
Professor Mariella Herberstein, from the Faculty of Science and Engineering, has been nominated as incoming Chair and begins her term on 1 May 2016.
As a respected researcher, teacher, and member of Academic Senate, she brings a wealth of experience to the role. Mariella will continue to update the University community on Senate’s priorities and activities during her tenure.
We invite staff to contribute stories – in their own voice – to help celebrate the diversity, passion and collaborative spirit of Macquarie staff.
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Thanks to Ainslee for bringing Dom’s withdrawal from the Senate President role and giving us the opportunity to reflect on the valuable contribution made by Dom over many years to leadership and governance of the University.
It’s never easy for colleagues to take time out of their individual professional activities to contribute to the collective good, but Dom has done quite simply an amazing job. I’ve worked most closely with Dom on University Council and on issues of academic freedom, and I’ve always been impressed by his integrity, insights and humility and the clarity of his thinking about accountability and responsibility in the work we do as public intellectuals.
So, a warm thanks to Dom and best wishes for the return to itinerant scribbling and diligent mentoring.
And a similarly warm thanks to Mariella for taking up this important role. I’m looking forward to working with her in strengthening integrity, accountability and governance across our scholarly community.
Richie Howitt
Elected Academic Member of University Council