UCA Mini-conference 2013

The Association's Mini-conference will be held on the Gold Coast, Queensland on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th October 2013.  The conference venue is yet to be confirmed but please mark these dates in your calendar and more information will be forthcoming in future newsletters.
 

Membership Matters

We extend our best wishes to members taking up or relinquishing a post within our sector:

New Heads

• Dr Amanda Bell, The Women’s College, The University of Sydney
• Mr Sean Burke, Newman College, The University of Melbourne
• Mr Thomas Mitchell, St Thomas More College, University of Western Australia - formerly Deputy Head of College at Trinity (UWA)
• Reverend Dr Anita Monro, Grace College, The University of Queensland
• Dr Alasdair Murrie-West, Dunmore Lang College, Macquarie University - formerly in leadership positions at the Kensington Colleges (UNSW), St Mary's College (University of Melbourne), Geelong Student Residences (Deakin University)
• Ms Tamara Sutton (Associate Member), Manager, Resident Life & Learning, UNSW Residential Communities

Members’ retirements & resignations

• Mr Michael  Bongers, Rector of St John’s College, The University of Sydney
• Dr Sue Fairley, Grace College, The University of Queensland
• Mrs Pauline Ibbs, St Thomas More College, University of Western Australia
• Dr Lewis Rushbrook, Dunmore Lang College, Macquarie University
• The Reverend William Uren, SJ, AO,  Newman College, The University of Melbourne
• Dr Jane Williamson, The Women’s College, The University of Sydney

News from Lew Rushbrook
Having retired as Principal & CEO of Dunmore Lang College at the end of 2012, Lew writes: "I am back in Canberra - weekend commuting a thing of the past! - supporting my wife Jennie as she enters her sixth year as Principal of Malkara Specialist School in Garran.  It has been a great adventure being at DLC!  Another now commences in Canberra.  Thank you for your support during the last seven years.  I encourage you to keep supporting the College under its new Principal, Dr Alasdair Murrie-West."  Lew's contact details are lewis.rushbrook@gmail.com

Melbourne Chapter farewells Fr Bill Uren, SJ, AO
Although not the only Head of College to retire at the end of 2012, we suspect that Bill Uren may be only Head whose leadership in residential colleges spans five decades and three states.  "Bill’s role in the residential colleges provides a real sense of history of our unique organisations, the significant and often idiosyncratic people who work in them, the remarkable challenges faced by Heads and the unique nature of our work."  said Barbara Green, Principal of St Hilda’s College, on the occasion of his farewell dinner.

Bill commenced his life of college leadership when he was appointed Dean of Melbourne’s Newman College in 1968.  He remained in that role until 1970 and was Rector from 1987 to 1990.  He was then re-appointed as Rector in 2006 and in 2012 experienced what would have been his 28^th OWeek.  In between these periods there were also interstate appointments.  He was Dean at St Thomas More College at the University of Western Australia from 1977 to 1979 and then Rector of that College from 1979 to 1984.  In 1986 Bill took on the role of Acting Head of St Catherine’s College, a women’s college, also at UWA.  He also served as Rector of St Leo’s College at the University of Queensland from 1998 to 2000.  For this contribution Bill was awarded an honorary life member of our Association.

Bill’s professional life has not been restricted to the College environment.  He is also an eminent and highly respected bioethicist who has published widely on issues such as the law and abortion, stem cell research and euthanasia to name a few. He has been actively involved as a member of government and private clinical and health ethics committees in hospitals, universities and research institutes around the country. In the Australia Day Honours list of 2012, Bill was made an officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia.  The formal citation reads “for distinguished service to education as a philosopher and bioethicist as a commentator on contemporary issues in Australian society, as a scholar and mentor, to the Catholic Church in Australia.”  In a statement prepared for Bill's farewell dinner, Adjunct Professor Iyla Davies, UCA President, congratulated Bill for his long and distinguished service to collegiate education and outstanding leadership to the sector.  

Members' Remuneration Survey Results
In 2012, UCA undertook to gather data about remuneration packages for Heads of Colleges and Halls of Residence via a member survey.  The results of the survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/sr.aspx?sm=pArL65dS5RU0d4noot6CITMgk8kqMh5ns8cC6sCukgc_3d 
The results are password protected and can be accessed by typing: Heads Survey  The content may be useful for Heads newly appointed or those renewing their contracts.  Please contact Deborah Pugh at executiveofficer@universitycollegesaustralia.edu.au should you have difficulty accessing the survey results.

Professional Development for Resident Assitants (RAs), Resident Tutors or Senior Residents
University Colleges Australia wishes to survey our membes to ascertain the scope and level of professional development and training received by this group of residents engaged by their respective College or Hall of Residence.  For ease in the survey only, the term Resident Assistants or RAs will be used but it is meant to include all groups or individuals performing these roles.  If you do not directly manage the Resident Assistants please circulate this request to the 'main' person to whom the RAs report.  The survey is divided into three sections as listed below and will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.  All responses are anonymous.

Section 1: Demographics
Section 2: Employment Status
Section 3: Professional Development/Training

The information gained by our members will be collated and made available to all members and associate members.  Please contact Dr Carla Tromans, Director, International House, Brisbane ihdirector@inthouse.uq.edu.au  Mobile 0401 031 240 for any further information.  The survey can be accessed at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/M6TC3L3

Conference Updates 

AACUHO Conference, Adelaide, 9 to 12 April 2013
The 2013 StarNet StarRez AACUHO Conference at the Hilton Hotel in Adelaide, South Australia from Tuesday 9^th to Friday 12th April.  For information including speakers, associated study tours and registration see http://aomevents.com/aacuho2013/

NAAUC Conference, Brisbane, 14 to 21 July 2013
The National Association of Australian University Colleges (NAAUC Inc) is proud to announce its 45th annual conference is to be hosted by the colleges of the University of Queensland in St Lucia, Brisbane. Held between The Women’s College and St Leo’s College, the conference will run from the 14^th – 21^st July 2013.  As part of the national conference, NAAUC offers a Heads and Residential Coordinators (HRC) Program, providing a unique experience for heads of college, deans and student advisors alike, to learn from and alongside Australian college students. Run by current and past college students, our 2013 conference will add greater focus to the HRC program to broaden and diversify the depth of content we offer our delegates.
 
For more information, or for a copy of the 2013 conference themes and goals, please contact the Conference Directors, Nia Olsen or Thomas Rainger at conference@naauc.edu.au

Membership Benefits

Financial Assistance with Professional Development Activities: Conference Attendance
The Executive Committee will provide a current finanical member with $500 grant to support attendance at a conference or workshop.  Information and an application form can be found under the Programs page at http://www.universitycollegesaustralia.edu.au

Higher Education Updates

Glyn Davis on a smarter Australia
Universities Australia Chair and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne, Prof. Glyn Davis addressed the National Press Club last week to launch the sector's first-ever detailed policy statement: A Smarter Australia.  This step was taken in the hope of influencing national political debate.  

A Smarter Australia advocates:

• continued growth in Australians accessing higher education by maintaining the demand driven system;
• supporting the global engagement through expanding the export of international education;
• sustaining Australia's research effort through support for research infrastructure, and an expanded research workforce;
• increasing investment in teaching over the next five years; and 
• reducing the regulatory burden on universities

To read more, visit the Universities Australia website www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au 

ANU launches $50 million scholarship program
Entrepreneur and philanthropist Graham Tuckwell and his wife Louise have donated $50 million to ANU to help give scholarship students the life-transforming experience they received at university. The partnership with ANU integrates their passion for education with Australia's national university, offering students access to some of the world's greatest minds and what they believe to be  Australia's best on-campus residential experience.  To read more, visit http://tuckwell.anu.edu.au/

UCA Website - Membership Login
Owing to a security breach to the UCA website, all membership login details need to be updated.  At present, membership login details have been reverted to the member's email address for their username.  To update one's login details and regain access to the membership section of our website please login at http://universitycollegesaustralia.edu.au/index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=lostpassword to request a reminder for your lost username and password to be sent to your email address.  Should you experience difficulties with this process please request assistance from Deborah Pugh at executiveofficer@universitycollegesaustralia.edu.au