Responsibilities of Responsible Academic Officers

Responsible Academic Officers (RAOs) are appointed by the Vice-Chancellor or Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) on advice from the Dean. Responsible Academic Officers usually include Associate Deans, Heads of School and Heads of Department.

The term Responsible Academic Officer is used extensively in the Student and Related Rules. The Student and Related Rules are also published in Chapter 11 of the UTS:Calendar).

RAOs are responsible for:

1. nominating Subject Coordinators and Assessors for each subject offered within their administration. Nominations are submitted to the Faculty Board for approval;
2. recommending to the Registrar that external staff be appointed Subject Coordinators and Assessors in cases where non-casual academic staff are unavailable;
3. resolving cases where Subject Coordinators or Assessors declare a relationship with a candidate that might affect their role;
4. resolving significant differences of opinion between Subject Coordinators and Assessors about the form and content of examination papers;
5. resolving significant differences of opinion between original markers and second markers of assessment items (usually Subject Coordinators and Assessors) in cases where assessment items have been submitted for re-marking;
6. determining requests from Subject Coordinators to change assessment criteria for a subject after Week 1 of the semester. Note: such requests should be made only in the most exceptional circumstances. Any changes might constitute grounds for an appeal by students who have been disadvantaged by the changes;
7. determining requests from Subject Coordinators to conduct centrally conducted examinations for subjects with fewer than ten students or where the examination is of less than 1.5 hours duration (not including reading time). Student Administration will not normally conduct a centrally conducted examination in these circumstances;
8. appointing a nominee for any Subject Coordinator who is not available to answer questions from supervisors or students during centrally conducted examinations.
9. resolving appeals from academic staff against decisions by Academic Liaison Officers on special arrangements / arrangements for students with disabilities;
10. providing recommendations to the Registrar on grades for all students, including those required to complete a supplementary centrally conducted examination;
11. approving Withheld (W) results;
12. considering recommendations from Student Assessment Review Committee about students who have appealed against their final assessment grade;
13. requesting extensions of time from the Registrar for all T and W results not resolved within the prescribed period;
14. considering reports from Subject Coordinators about students' academic misconduct and determining whether allegations should be referred to the Dean;
15. determining requests from students to re-enrol in a subject which they have failed at least twice;
16. appointing academic advisers for students who are on academic caution.
17. appointing Academic Liaison Officers;
18. ensuring that staff within their administration comply with University policy regarding students who request special arrangements;
19. determining cases where students, who do not satisfy the prescribed attendance requirements for a subject, may be refused permission to be considered for assessment, to attempt an assessment task, or to sit for examination in a subject.

Responsible Academic Officers

The Responsible Academic Officers for 2008 are:

Faculty of Business

Professor Ian Palmer, Associate Dean (Research)

Professor Tracy Taylor, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning)

Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building

Dr Louise McWhinney, acting Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) (coursework students)

Professor Kees Dorst, Associate Dean (Research) (research students)

Faculty of Education

Associate Professor Geoffrey Riordan, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) (coursework degrees) (City Campus)

Associate Professor Clive Chappell, Associate Dean (Research) (research and research degrees)

Faculty of Engineering

Dr Tim Aubrey alternating with Dr Rob Jarman (undergraduate students) and Ms Mary Walmsley (postgraduate students)

Professor Hung Nguyen alternating with Dr Phuoc Huynh (research students)

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Ms Katherine Gordon, Acting Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) (coursework programs)

Dr Katrina Schlunke, Research Coordinator (research degrees)

Faculty of Information Technology

Dr Wayne Brookes, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning)

Associate Professor Didar Zowghi, Associate Dean (Research, Policy and Planning)

Faculty of Law

Professor Jill McKeough, Dean

Professor Philip Griffith, Associate Dean (Research)

Ms Bronwyn Olliffe, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning)

Mr Ian Dobinson, Director of Students

Ms Susan Carr-Gregg, Director of Courses

Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Health

Ms Suzanne Rochester, acting Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) (coursework students)

Professor Denise Dignam, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) (coursework students)

Professor Doug Elliott, Director of Research (research students)

Faculty of Science

Professor Greg Skilbeck, Associate Dean (Research and Development) (research)

Associate Professor Anita Piper, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) (teaching)

Institute for International Studies

Dr Elaine Jeffreys, Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning) (undergraduate programs). First alternate: Professor Stephanie Donald. Second alternate: Dr Yingjie Guo

Dr Maja Mikula (Graduate Studies) (postgraduate programs). First alternate: Dr Ilaria Vanni. Second alternate: Professor Louise Edwards

Professor Louise Edwards (Chinese postgraduate programs – LOTE). First alternate: Associate Professor Feng Chongyi. Second alternate: Dr Yang Jingqing

(As at 28 February 2008)