University committees
A vital part of GSA’s representation work is to ensure that graduate students have a direct say in how the University develops and behaves, by nominating graduate students to sit on University committees. Every major decision made at the University will be discussed on a committee at some point, which is why student representation is so important.
GSA relies on our nominated committee members to keep us informed about discussions and decisions made by the University, so that we can continue to support and represent the interests of all graduate students.
GSA Committee Vacancies
GSA is seeking graduate students to volunteer as representatives to University committees. Graduate student committee members are the direct voice for graduate students and share the unique perspective and experiences of graduate students with the academic and professional staff members of the committee.
For more information, click below
List of University Committees with a GSA Representative
Faculty of Arts
School of Languages and Linguistics (SOLL) Research and Research Training Committee
Key purpose: Considers key matters within the School of Languages and Linguistics that affect graduate research students.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: One hour
Graduate student members: Two
Location: Parkville
Arts Graduate Studies Committee
Key purpose: Advises and communicates on graduate coursework programs in the Faculty of Arts, oversees related course changes and policies.
Meets: Approximately nine times a year
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Arts Library Committee
Key purpose: Responsible for maintaining regular contact between the Faculty and the Library, providing a forum for exchange of views on library services and to make recommendations on matters referred to the Committee by library users.
Meets: Approximately four times a year
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Arts Research Training Committee
Key purpose: Provides information and advice to the Faculty Board on policy matters relating to research training. Responsible for monitoring and developing strategies in relation to improving the quality of research training and supervision, support services for graduate research candidates, scholarships and grants schemes, and reviewing and considering proposals for course changes to research degrees.
Meets: Approximately nine times a year
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Arts Teaching and Learning Committee
Key purpose: Responsible for advising the Graduate Studies Committee and Faculty Executive on strategies and initiatives designed to improve teaching and learning in the faculty. Also advises on the development, implementation and evaluation of teaching and learning practices.
Meets: Approximately nine times a year
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Faculty of Fine Arts and Music
FFAM Graduate Research Committee
Key purpose: Fosters collaborative understandings between staff and students about how to best support graduate research students to thrive during their studies and beyond. The meetings will provide adequate time for dialogue in order to identify emerging issues and feed information and ideas into the system.
Meets: Approximately eight times a year
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Southbank
FFAM Student Support Committee
Key purpose: Works with the University system to ensure that barriers to student success are addressed. Focus on academic and professional staff working together to influence decision making at a structural level to create a positive impact on the student experience.
Meets: Approximately six times a year
Meeting length: One hour
Graduate student members: One
Location: Southbank
Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
MDHS Academic Programs Committee
Key purpose: Responsible for monitoring all new and changes to courses and subjects in the Faculty, prior to their progression to the central Academic Programs Committee and Academic Board.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: Two
Location: Parkville
MDHS Graduate Programs and Executive Education Committee
Key purpose: Oversight of medical education and all MMS courses (with the exception of the MD) including courses and programs offered through Melbourne Commercial (award and no- award). Responsible for overseeing curriculum development, assessment, evaluation of, and selection for the MMS’s graduate coursework programs (with the exception of the MD). Serves as the school level approval body for all subject and course changes and policy development applicable to these courses.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
MDHS Learning and Teaching Strategy
Key purpose: Provides oversight for the implementation and monitoring of the MDHS Learning and Teaching strategy, including advising the Faculty Executive Committee on the development of key initiatives providing a forum for schools and units to discuss ideas, and support inter-professional learning in the Faculty.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
MDHS SPAG Committee
Key purpose: The MDHS Student Placement Advisory Group (SPAG) is responsible for discussing current challenges and best practices in student clinical and non-clinical placements across the Faculty. The SPAG is empowered to take collective action to enhance student placement programs in the Faculty and may refer matters to the MDHS Academic Programs Committee and/or MDHS Clinical Education Strategy and Risk Committee as needed. From time to time, either of these committees may request advice from the SPAG on matters related to industry-hosted student activity.
Meets: Approximately 4 times a year
Meeting length: Approximately one hour
Graduate student members: Two
Location: Parkville
Faculty of Science
Science Graduate Academic Programs Committee
Key purpose: Advises and communicates on graduate coursework programs in the Faculty of Science, oversees related course changes and policies.
Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Science Graduate Research Committee
Key purpose: Sub-committee of the Science Graduate Academic Programs Committee that focuses on graduate research issues within the Faculty.
Meets: Twice a year
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Chancellery
Academic Board
Key purpose: Has responsibility for the supervision and development of all academic activities of the University, including the maintenance of high teaching and research standards. The GSA President sits on this committee.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: The GSA President sits on this committee.
Location: Parkville
Academic Consultation and Coordination Committee
Key purpose: A University Executive committee comprised of Pro Vice Chancellors and heads of Faculties and Services, that advises on top-line academic issues.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Academic Programs Committee
Key purpose: Develops policy relating to all courses, including teaching and assessment, and oversees change and development of new courses.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: Two
Location: Parkville
Committee of Graduate Research Associate Deans
Key purpose: Co-ordinates delivery of research training for the University and works with faculties and graduate schools to strengthen research training outcomes.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Elected Representatives Group
Key purpose: Elected representatives of GSA and UMSU who meet regularly with senior University staff to discuss issues pertinent to students.
Graduate student members: GSA Council members attend this committee.
Location: Parkville
Higher Degree Research Committee
Key purpose: Advises on all matters affecting research higher degree courses (doctorates and masters), monitors current courses and advises on change.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: Two
Location: Parkville
Libraries and Scholarly Services Advisory Group
Key purpose: Supervises the quality of services, and advises on policy and resources for the University’s libraries. Advises on emerging opportunities and directions, the experiences of scholars accessing services, the development of information services, and digital and physical learning environments and resources as they relate to service provision to the University community.
Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Lorna Stirling Fund Committee
Key purpose: Makes recommendations on the awarding of Lorna Stirling Fund Scholarships.
Meets: Once a year
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
New Student Precinct Steering Committee
Key purpose: Provides opportunity for student leaders to provide feedback on New Student Precinct developments and initiatives and advise the University on student concerns.
Graduate student members: GSA’s President and General Secretary sit on this committee.
Location: Parkville
Respect in Classroom Working Group (TALQAC)
Key purpose: Sub-committee of the Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance Committee that looks at supporting and ensuring respectful behaviour in the classroom.
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Respect Taskforce
Key purpose: Develops strategies to improve the culture, policies and practices of the University in relation to sexual assault and sexual harassment. Acts as liaison for groups within and external to the University community and advises on relevant strategies, events, programs and communications.
Meets: Four times a year
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: GSA Women’s Office Bearer sits on this committee.
Location: Parkville
Selection Procedures Committee
Key purpose: Advises and makes recommendations on the selection of students into courses, subjects or groups of subjects; ensures quality of selection process and advises on scholarships and prizes.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: Two
Location: Parkville
Summer Semester Working Group (TALQAC)
Key purpose: Sub-committee of the Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance Committee that looks at the factors that contribute to a successful and engaging Summer Term experience, including architectural structure, sequencing and scheduling, and efficient administration processes.
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Supervisor Registration Working Group
Key purpose: Sub-committee of the Committee for Graduate Research Associate Deans, responsible for looking at supervisor registration at the UoM, with a view for improving timely completion rates and developing a workable system for supervisor management, while addressing the power structures between supervisors and graduate researchers.
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Sustainability Executive Committee
Key purpose: Leads implementation of the University’s Sustainability Plan and advises on sustainability-related matters.
Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance Committee
Key purpose: Advises on quality assurance policy and processes for teaching and learning in all award courses and subjects.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: Two
Location: Parkville
University Services
Central Human Research Ethics Committee
Key purpose: Oversees all matters pertaining to ethics review of human research at the University.
Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Childcare Management Advisory Committee
Key purpose: Facilitates cooperation and communication between child care staff, management and parents for the University’s child care centres.
Meets: Monthly
Meeting length: One hour
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Fair Trade Steering Committee
Key purpose: To promote and encourage the adoption of Fair-Trade products at the University and coordinate Fair Trade events.
Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: One hour
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Mental Health Advisory Group
Key purpose: Provides a forum for representatives from the University Community to collaborate on mental health initiatives, to collectively build mental health capacity. Advises on current and emerging issues, trends and themes relating to mental health, and the raising of awareness of these matters across the University.
Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: One and a half hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Occupational Health and Safety Committee
Key purpose: Facilitates cooperation in instigating, developing and implementing health and safety measures across the University. Formulates and reviews health and safety standards, rules and procedures.
Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: One hour
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Research Ethics and Integrity Strategy Committee
Key purpose: Oversees and advises on ethics and integrity programs. Aligns strategic activities across the range of ethics and regulatory requirements for the University.
Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: One
Location: Parkville
Scholarly and Digital Capabilities Working Group
Location: Parkville
Affiliated organisations
UMSU Advocacy and Legal Student Advisory Group
Key purpose: Provides feedback and advice on student experience of UMSU’s Advocacy and Legal services, and provides relevant information on issues for students.
Meets: Quarterly
Meeting length: Two hours
Graduate student members: The GSA Education Officer Bearer sits on this committee.
Location: Parkville