[IMCnetwork] Petition to the DVC (Academic) regarding learning and teaching at the ANU

[Nick Cheesman]

Dear IMC listserv

I apologise that this is another important message outside the usual terms for this listserv regarding the urgent situation at the Australian National University precipitated by a series of decisions from senior management to sack staff that they consider surplus to University requirements.

Among the latest group of staff to be targeted is the entire cohort of the Centre for Learning and Teaching, which is responsible for educational research, training and support services across the ANU: https://learningandteaching.anu.edu.au/.

Under the proposal, of the 55 staff currently at the CLT, ANU management will sack 37; the remaining 18 will be formed as a new “team” under the Pro Vice Chancellor (Learning and Teaching).

As you know, at the IMC we take the importance of high quality instruction and engagement with students extremely seriously, through undergraduate and graduate coursework, and research student supervision. In this we have benefited from the part that the CLT has played, including, in my own case, through the Educational Fellowship Scheme.

The forwarded petition, below, is addressed to fellows in that Scheme. If you are a fellow and employed at the ANU I urge you to sign the petition to oppose the proposal to disestablish the CLT.

If you are not a fellow but at the ANU, you can still write to org.change at anu.edu.au<mailto:org.change at anu.edu.au> to voice your opposition to the proposed sacking of these staff and disestablishment of their Centre.

If you are not at the ANU you can write directly to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) to do the same: dvc.academic at anu.edu.au<mailto:dvc.academic at anu.edu.au>

Please note that the CartoGIS team (https://cartogis.anu.edu.au/) has also put out a call for people to write to the same addresses regarding the disestablishment of their unit and sacking of two out of their three staff. If you have benefited from their services (and if you have ever read a publication with maps produced at the ANU then you have), then please consider doing the same for them.

Thank you,
Nick

(This email is sent in accordance with Clause 58.3 of the ANU Enterprise Agreement that gives ANU staff members the right to to communicate with their colleagues in relation to union business, including via University communication systems: https://services.anu.edu.au/human-resources/enterprise-agreement/58-union-and-staff-representatives)


Begin forwarded message:

From: CLT <clt at anu.edu.au>
Subject: EFS - Please complete this petition to the DVC (Academic)
Date: 23 October 2024 at 4:24:02 pm AEDT
To: CLT <clt at anu.edu.au>

Dear EFS Fellows

On behalf of the EFS Co-Chairs,<https://www.anu.edu.au/about/governance/committees/educational-fellowship-scheme-efs-committee> we are forwarding you a request to complete a petition to the DVC (Academic).<https://forms.office.com/r/6dbDFZZcU4>

For more information about how the EFS is affected by the Organisational Change Proposal<https://d1zkbwgd2iyy9p.cloudfront.net/files/2024-10/Organisational%20Change%20Proposal%20Academic%20Portfolio.pdf>, please see below. Feedback on the Proposal is due 31 October 2024, with the petition closing on 29 October 2024 to allow us time to collate the responses and send them on.

We are hoping to demonstrate the strong support that we know the EFS has at ANU. Thank you for considering this request.

Kind regards
Penny & Melde

P.S. In addition to completing the petition, please consider providing an individual response to the Proposal by emailing org.change at anu.edu.au<mailto:org.change at anu.edu.au>.

[image004.png]<https://teaching.weblogs.anu.edu.au/about/about-the-anu-efs/>
The EFS Team | Centre for Learning and Teaching (CLT)
10T1 Building, Ellery Crescent | Canberra ACT 2600
The Australian National University | CRICOS Provider 00120C
clt at anu.edu.au<mailto:clt at anu.edu.au> | learningandteaching.anu.edu.au/development/efs/<https://learningandteaching.anu.edu.au/development/efs/>




The DVC (Academic) portfolio has presented an Organisational Change Proposal<https://d1zkbwgd2iyy9p.cloudfront.net/files/2024-10/Organisational%20Change%20Proposal%20Academic%20Portfolio.pdf> that does not detail how critical functions that support a collegial teaching and learning environment will be facilitated going forward.

We consider that the loss of core functions implied by the present Change Proposal will irreparably damage the University’s capacity to provide staff who teach and support learning access to appropriate staff development opportunities, including access to recognition and progression opportunities, such as Fellowship through the Educational Fellowship Scheme (EFS), and activities and awards that support promotion.

We respectfully request that the University provide details of how staff professional development and reward and recognition opportunities will be supported at a University level, and that a forward plan be developed and provided for consultation prior to implementation of the current Organisational Change proposal, to ensure that staff and students will continue to have access to these opportunities.

Complete the petition<https://forms.office.com/r/6dbDFZZcU4>

Petition organisers: The EFS Co-Chairs
Contact: clt at anu.edu.au<mailto:clt at anu.edu.au>
https://learningandteaching.anu.edu.au/development/efs/

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