Management has “a discipline positioning proposal” out for staff consultation
Specific changes proposed include,
* teach-out courses in radio, theatre, drama and Indonesian
* “non-viable” courses in engineering suspended for first semester 2021
* Academics in chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, economics, “will be responsible for the teaching of key units into courses and majors across the university but will not deliver their own courses or majors.”
Under the proposal there would be no student intake for chemistry, physics and nanotechnology majors for next semester. “These disciplines would become teaching focused and provide foundational learning for all undergraduate and postgraduate courses.”
Provost Romy Lawson tells staff, “an unavoidable consequence of these changes is that regrettably some academic positions may no longer be required or will undergo a restructure.” A university representative also told CMM last night, “Where voluntary redundancy expressions of interest have been declined in these foundational discipline areas, it is because these members of staff are equipped with the relevant qualifications and important to the delivery of our teaching requirements in moving forward.”
Murdoch observers suggest that in the case of academics in targeted disciplines who now teach and research, “restructure” will likely mean 80 per cent teaching and 20 per cent service (with whatever time they can find for research coming from the latter).
Vice Chancellor Eeva Leinonen signalled change to “unit, course and discipline offerings” was coming (CMM November 3). Consultation runs to Friday week.
“Our proposed changes will see STEM made available across the university to provide opportunities for all students to develop STEM skills and knowledge. With the changes we are proposing, our HASS students will be able to augment their learning and career opportunities, by building their STEM knowledge as part of their degree, and we are doing this by moving towards a ‘STEM everywhere’ model,” the university representative told CMM.