Council Minutes Part A
(Open Minutes)
09.10.2024
Online via Zoom
4:00pm
Ms Tarrant (Chair), Professor Freshwater (Vice-Chancellor), Professor Tolmie, Ms Kinser, Mr Mason, Mr Paitai, Ms Barakat, and Ms
PRESENT:
Skipper, Ms Quinn
IN ATTENDANCE:
Mrs Cleland, Professors Linton, Kool and Bloomfield F, Ms Moss, Mr Bluett, Ms Catanach, Mr Thomas, Mr Brandon, Mr Rose, and Ms
Verschaeren
COUNCIL BRIEFINGS
The briefings took place prior to the meeting
KARAKIA
The meeting started with a karakia.
1. APOLOGIES
Ms Arnott-Neenee and Mr McDonald
2. DISCLOSURES OF
The attention of Members was drawn to the Conflicts of Interest Policy and the need
RESOLVED (Chancellor/ Ms Skipper): That the
INTEREST BY
to disclose any interest in an item on the Agenda of the meeting as set out in
disclosures be noted, and the action taken be
MEMBERS
Schedule 11, Clause 8 of the Education and Training Act 2020.
endorsed.
With regard to item 5.1.2
Domestic Student Fees 2025 and International
Student Fees 2026, Professor Tolmie,
Ms Barakat, and Ms Kinser
disclosed that they were students or had family members who were studying at the
University.
It was agreed that these declared conflicts would not preclude the members
participating in the discussions and voting.
3. COUNCIL MEETINGS 3.1
Council, Draft Minutes (Part A), 26.08.2024
RESOLVED (Chancellor/ Vice-Chancellor): that
the Minutes (Part A),
26.08.2024 be taken as
read and
confirmed.
3.2
Matters arising from the Minutes (Part A), 26.08.2024 not elsewhere on the Agenda
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4. VICE-CHANCELLOR’S The Report was taken as read.
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Ms Quinn):
that the
REPORT
Vice-Chancellor’s Report be
noted.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Freshwater, presented this item.
She provided the following supplementing information:
•
The Blues awards ceremony took place recently in Building 210 and the Vice-
Chancellor acknowledged the achievements of the Blues Award winners and
thanked the Chancellor for attending that ceremony.
•
She advised Council that today the embargo on the Times Higher Education
World University Rankings 2025 had been lifted, and it was pleasing to see
that the University of Auckland was able to maintain its strong position. In an
increasingly competitive landscape, with more than 300 additional
universities being ranked, the University was ranked at 152 compared to 150
last year which meant that the University was sitting in the top 7.3 percent of
universities in the world, up slightly from being in the top 7.9 percent in
2024. The University of Auckland remained No 1 in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The Vice-Chancellor added that this achievement needed to be acknowledged
in the community, as it was the work of all staff and students that had made
this possible. The Vice-Chancellor also commented that in December, the
University’s rankings strategy would be presented to Council in the briefings.
•
A second round of meetings of the Universities with the University Advisory
Group led by Sir Peter Gluckman had been planned for November-December.
•
Council would have noted that concerns raised at Senate regarding CFT were
on the agenda for today’s meeting.
In the discussion that followed, the Chancellor commented that the Blues Award
Ceremony was a splendid event. On that occasion, the University also acknowledged
Alan Shaker who had been the President of AUSA for the last two years.
Council noted that feedback loops back to all staff would be in place for the newly
developed engagement survey tool.
In addition, Council thanked the Vice-Chancellor and all staff on achieving high
results in the recent rankings.
5. REPORTS OF
5.1
FINANCE COMMITTEE
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Ms Barakat): that the
COUNCIL
Finance Committee Minutes (Part A)
COMMITTEES
5.1.1
Minutes, (Part A), 18.09.2024
18.09.2024 be
received.
5.1.2
Domestic Student Fees 2025 and International Student Fees 2026
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Ms Kinser): that
This item was introduced by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Corporate
i) The Report on Domestic Student Fees 2025
Services, Mr Bluett. The paper was taken as read.
and International Student Fees 2026 be
received and noted; and
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He started by describing the context in which the fees were being proposed, THAT Council:
recognising that the economy remained tight in New Zealand while trying to
i)
Approve the attached Domestic Fees
bring inflation under control. The financial sustainability considerations for
Schedule for 2025
the University and the tertiary sector were very important, noting also the
ii)
Approve the attached International Fees
uncertainty while waiting for the outcome of the reviews undertaken by the
Schedule for 2026 including the ELA Fee
University Advisory Group. It was also important to acknowledge the
Schedule;
increased cost of living.
iii)
Authorise the Vice-Chancellor to assign any
The paper addressed the component of domestic fees that the students would
new programmes, including Government
have to pay which was governed by the AMFM (Annual Maximum Fee
(DQ7+) funded micro-credentials, or
Movement), set by the Government which, since the Finance Committee
programmes becoming newly available to
meeting of 18.09.2024 had been confirmed at 6% for 2025 while the
international students in 2026, to an
Government tuition subsidy (previously SAC) was confirmed at 2.5%. Those
appropriate band to enable offers to be
two components had not retained parity with inflation since 2020.
made during the recruitment cycle, and
The paper recommended the full maximum increase of 6%, also
report these decisions back to Council;
recommending the same increase to the micro-credential courses.
iv)
Approve the Compulsory Student Services
For international fees a 5% increase was proposed for 2026 and a 4% study
Fee at $9.24 per point (GST inclusive) a 4%
abroad increase.
increase and the associated changes to the
The Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF) required consultation with
student fee schedule A; and
students which took place around the maximum fee increase of 4%. This
v)
Approve the attached Other Fees Schedule
included funding for the increasing demand for advocacy services provided by
for 2025.
AUSA.
During the discussion that followed, Council noted that:
•
Finance Committee had discussed the University’s financial
environment to better understand where the need for the proposed
6% increase originated from, and it was important to be transparent
in communicating the decision making to students.
•
International students would look at world rankings when making a
decision about studying overseas but they also considered other
factors that would determine where they want to go. (e.g. proximity
to family, safety etc)
•
The consultation with students about the CSSF included the provision
of additional funding to AUSA.
•
The University’s hardship funds remained often underspent and the
information about the availability of these funds needed to be made
widely available to the student communities.
Council voted unanimously in favour of the resolution.
5.2
AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Mr Mason): that the
Audit and Risk Committee Minutes (Part A)
5.2.1
Minutes, (Part A), 13.09.2024
13.09.2024 be
received.
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6. SENATE MATTERS
was discussed together with item 8.2
7. CORRESPONDENCE
None
REFERRED BY THE
CHANCELLOR
8. OTHER MATTERS
8.1
SEAL
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Ms Skipper): that the
FOR DECISION OR
affixing of the seal to the listed document be
NOTING
Since the Council meeting on 26.08.2024 the seal had been applied to the
noted.
following documents in accordance with the Council resolution of 18.02.1991:
•
Deed of Rent Review - 49-51 Symonds Street, Auckland - University
of Auckland (Landlord) & Wilson Car Parking New Zealand Ltd
(Tenant)
•
Deed of Covenant on Transfer of Lease - Apartment 63 Shed 24,
Princes Wharf, Auckland - Dockland Apartment Leases Ltd (Lessor) &
the University of Auckland (Covenantor)
•
Storage Unit License - Locker 204 Level 3 Shed 23, Princes Wharf,
Auckland (Relating to Apartment 63 Shed 24) - Dockland Storage
Ltd (Licensor) & the University of Auckland (Licensee)
6. SENATE MATTERS
6.1
REPORT OF SENATE, SPECIAL MEETING 27.08.2024:
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Vice-Chancellor):
that
(discussed together
Council to consider the advice from Senate
the Report of the Senate special meeting
with item 8.2 below)
27.08.2024 be
received and the in Part A of the
Report of Senate, 16.09.2024 be
adopted and
Part C be
noted.
6.2
REPORT OF SENATE MEETING 16.09.2024
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Ms Quinn): that
Part A1
Policy and other matters requiring to be considered/received Council:
by Council
•
Note the motion submitted by Senate on
Part A2, 1-2:
Policy and other matters requiring Council
approval
27 August 2024;
Part B, 1-3
Items to note by Council
•
Note that the CFT has been discussed by
Part C, 1-3:
Matters handled under Delegated Authority
Council during the briefings;
•
Note that, as confirmed at the Senate
The Vice-Chancellor advised Council that on 16.09.2024 there had been an
meeting on September 16, the course
extensive discussion about the Freedom of Expression (FoE) and Academic
optimisation process run by the PDDC
Freedom (AF) Policy. The University had been working on its stance on FoE and
has been stopped and the decisions
Academic Freedom since 2019 including via a Senate working group led by
about courses and programmes were
Professor Sir Peter Hunter in 2022/2023. The draft policy considered by Senate
now continuing through the normal
considered the broader legal context as well as other internal policies. A wide
faculty process;
consultation took place about the Policy. Senate, however, voted not to
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recommend the Policy to Council for adoption. Accordingly further work would need
•
Acknowledge the concerns raised by
to be undertaken on this to determine a way forward..
Senate about the PDDC coordinated course
optimisation process and the overall
With regard to CFT, a special meeting took place on 27 August 2024, and it was
programme of implementing CFT and
further discussed at the subsequent meeting of 16 September 2024. In addition,
encouraged management to continue to
there was the paper submitted for item 8.2 further down the agenda.
engage with all areas of the university on
the CFT;
The Chancellor summarised the discussion about CFT that took place during
•
Note, however,
that it is important that the
today’s Council briefings and invited further discussion. The items discussed
courses and programmes at the University
during the briefings included:
be reviewed regularly to maintain a
• Acknowledging that Senate had expressed concern at the special meeting
contemporary suite of offerings for students
of 27.08.2024 about the course optimisation process that took place
and to ensure coherence and relevance of
through the Provost, Deans and Directors Committee (PDDC) in addition
the qualifications being offered by the
to concerns about other aspects of CFT.
University and to ensure the continued
• Noting that the course optimisation process through PDDC had been
financial viability of the University,
stopped and the normal process would continue within faculties.
•
Request that Council receive at its March
• Discussing the Waipapa Taumata Rau (WTR) and Transdisciplinary (TD)
meeting in 2025 a report on the reviews of
courses, enabling Council to understand the content and process.
the piloted WTR and TD courses that ran in
• Noting there was a WTR course piloted this year and would be reviewed
2024;
when the pilot would finish. Next year there would be a WTR course in
•
Request that a review be conducted on the
all faculties except Law.
WTR courses at the end of 2025 and a
There were two TD courses piloted this year and six scheduled for 2025
report of that review be presented to
as part of the General Education schedule. The shift away from General
Council at its meeting in March 2026;
Education and the formal inclusion of 12 TD courses is planned for 2026. •
Request that Council receive a report on
the review that will be conducted on the TD
In the subsequent discussion, Council noted the following:
courses at the end of 2025;
• To date, the student feedback related to the pilot 2024 WTR course and
That, following the discussion, the
TD courses is positive.
implementation of the
CFT should continue
• Whilst the University had well-developed top-down processes for
in the manner set out in the paper presented
developing strategies like the CFT, the same ground-up processes were
to Council
on the CFT under item 8.2.
not as robust. This could mean that there might need to be broader
consultation processes built in to consult with the levels below faculty
Heads or Associate Deans about projects like the CFT.
• Although there had been workshops about CFT in the faculties that had
been attended by many staff members, the way that CFT was submitted
to Senate remained challenging for some academic staff and care would
be taken to signal the CFT processes more clearly to Senate.
• Since concern had been raised about the CFT processes, changes had
been implemented by management to remediate this and the
collaboration between academic and professional staff to make all the
taumata of CFT happen was acknowledged.
• Regulations relating to TD courses are being drafted and would be
submitted to Senate through Education Committee in due course.
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8.2
CURRICULUM FRAMEWORK TRANSFORMATION (Discussed together
RESOLVED (Pro Chancellor/Ms Quinn): that
with Item 6 Senate Matters)
Council:
•
NOTE the Curriculum Framework
The Chancellor thanked management for the work undertaken as part of
Transformation (CFT) programme is a
the CFT and also thanked academic and professional staff, and students for
framework comprising several elements.
their feedback to Council.
•
NOTE that the course optimisation process
coordinated via the Provost, Deans and
Directors Committee has been stopped and
that any ongoing changes to course portfolios
will be
undertaken by Faculties through the normal
academic processes.
•
NOTE that Senate has already endorsed,
and Council has subsequently approved,
policies and regulations relating to elements of
the CFT, including the Graduate Profile and
the Waipapa Taumata Rau courses with the
latter now effective for 2025 undergraduate
degree enrolments.
•
NOTE that
implementation work continues
on the approved CFT elements coming into
effect in 2025.
•
NOTE that regulations pertaining to 2026
changes, including the Transdisciplinary (TD)-
related course and programme-specific TD
course-related regulations, are in
development.
•
REQUEST management, Senate and Faculty
sub-committees to provide further advice on
the direction and benefits of the remaining
CFT elements at its March 2025 meeting
through the normal channels. Noting that
whilst preparatory work may continue in the
meantime, such advice to be received prior to
further policy and regulatory decisions being
made.
9. ELECTIONS -
9.1
APPOINTMENT OF THE ALUMNI REPRESENTATIVE ON COUNCIL
RESOLVED (Pro Chancellor/Ms Kinser): that
APPOINTMENTS
Council
re-appoint Cecilia Tarrant for a four
The Chancellor yielded the chair to Ms Quinn for this item and left the
year term commencing 01 January 2025 to 31
meeting.
December 2028, to fill the position on Council
Ms Tarrant was the alumni representative on Council and was appointed
provided for in s.3(g) of the Constitution of the
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though an expression of interest process from 01.01.2017 and re-appointed
University of Auckland for one person being an
on 01.01.2021.
alumnus of the University of Auckland.
The UoA Constitution from 19.02.2019 stated under s 5:
With the exception of the Vice-Chancellor, each person may be appointed,
elected or co‑opted as a member of the Council under the foregoing
provisions for any period of not more than four years, and for no more than
three such periods. In such cases where a person is a member of the
Council on 31 December 2015, and has not completed their current term,
they may serve up to four periods of no more than four years each.
Ms Tarrant was a member of Council on 31.12.2015 but had at that time,
not completed her term on Council allowing her to serve another term of
four years on Council.
In accordance with s 11 of the
Council Appointments Procedures it was
decided not to seek expressions of interest and proposed to reappoint the
current Alumni member.
9.2
ELECTION OF THE CHANCELLOR AND PRO CHANCELLOR
The Registrar, Mrs Cleland took the Chair for the first part of this item.
9.2.1
ELECTION OF CHANCELLOR FOR 2025
Nominations were called for the position of Chancellor until 31.12.2025 date.
One nomination only was received, for Ms Cecilia Tarrant (Ms Quinn/Ms Kinser)
There being no other nominations, the Registrar declared
Ms Tarrant re-elected as Chancellor for a term starting on
01.01.2025 and ending 31.12.2025.
Carried by acclamation.
The Chancellor returned to the meeting.
9.2.2
ELECTION OF PRO-CHANCELLOR FOR 2025
The Chancellor resumed the Chair for this part of the item.
Nominations were called for the position of Pro-Chancellor.
One nomination only was received, for Ms Cathy Quinn (Chancellor/Mr Paitai).
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There being no other nominations, the Chancellor declared
Ms Quinn re-elected as Pro-Chancellor for a term starting
on 01.01.2025 and ending 31.12.2025.
Carried by acclamation.
The Vice-Chancellor thanked Ms Tarrant and Mas Quinn for standing again for this election.
10. GENERAL
None
BUSINESS
11. LEAVE OF ABSENCE
(for the meeting of 09.12.2024)
Professor Tolmie requested leave.
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PUBLIC EXCLUSIONS
RESOLVED (Chancellor/Ms Barakat): that the public be excluded from Part B of this meeting.
The general subject of each matter to be considered while the public is excluded, the reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter, and the specific
grounds under section 48(1) of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 for the passing of this resolution are as follows:
General subject of each matter to be considered:
Item No. 1.1
Council Minutes Part B 26.08.2024
Item No. 2.1.1
University of Auckland Human Participants Ethics Committee – Membership
Item No. 2.2.1
Finance Committee – Minutes Part B, 18.09.2024
Item No. 2.2.2
Financial Performance 2024 to 2026
Item No. 2.3.1
Audit and Risk Committee Minutes Part B 13.09.2024
Item No. 2.3.2
Audit and Risk Committee Minutes Part B 26.09.2024 (circular resolution)
Item No. 2.4.1
Honours Committee – Professor Emeritus proposal
Reason for passing this resolution in relation to each matter:
The protection of the interests mentioned below.
Grounds under section 48(1) for the passing of this resolution:
Those in Section 9 of the Official Information Act 1982 namely:
i)
To protect the privacy of the persons referred to in the recommendations and to maintain the confidentiality of those recommendations;
ii)
To enable the University to carry on without prejudice or disadvantage negotiations; and
iii)
To prevent the disclosure or use of Official Information for improper gain or advantage.
AND THAT Adrienne Cleland, Professors Linton and Bloomfield F, Andrew Phipps, Tim Bluett, Pamela Moss, Helen Cattanach, Anthony Brandon, Andrew Rose,
and Wendy Verschaeren be permitted to remain for this part of the meeting, after the public has been excluded, because of their knowledge of, or need to be
briefed about, the matters to be discussed. This knowledge, which will be of assistance in relation to the matters to be discussed, is relevant to those matters
because they relate to aspects of the administration of The University of Auckland for which those persons are responsible.
The meeting closed at 6.15pm
The meeting went into Public Excluded session at 5.55pm
Approved as a true and correct record.
Cecilia Tarrant, Chancellor
Date
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