Overview
The Academic Council (AC) structure is depicted in the following diagram:
The Academic Council is a body comprising all tenure-track faculty of the University, i.e. all faculty members who are tenured to age 65 and those who are eligible for nomination or re-nomination to be tenured to age 65. The Council provides input on academic matters through its elected Senate and its various standing committees. Meetings for the Council will be held once a year and at these annual meetings, President, NTU (Chairman of the Academic Council) would deliver the State of the University address. Any head of College, School, National Institute of Education (NIE) or S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) who is not otherwise a member of the Academic Council will be an ex-officio member of the Council. The other ex-officio members are Secretary to the University, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Human Resource Officer, Chief Planning Officer/Registrar and Chief University Advancement Officer.
The Academic Council Meeting was held on 27 August 2009 at the Nanyang Auditorium.
A Senate, which is the core representative body of the Academic Council, is formed by 50 Academic Council members elected from the various Colleges. President, Provost, Senior Associate Provost, Associate Provost, College Deans, School Chairs, Director NIE, Dean RSIS, as well as Secretary to the University, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Human Resource Officer, Chief Planning Officer/Registrar and Chief University Advancement Officer are ex-officio members of the Senate.
The first Senate of the Academic Council was elected from among members of the newly formed Academic Council during the election held in May 2008.
Essentially, the Senate acts on behalf of the Academic Council as its elected representative body. Its key role is to receive recommendations from Academic Council standing committees on matters that they review, for further consideration. The Senate, in turn, elects a Senate Steering Committee from among its members to facilitate its work. The President and the Provost are ex-officio members of the Senate Steering Committee. The key role of the Steering Committee is to plan subjects for study and discussion by the Senate, i.e. it sets the meeting agenda for Senate meetings. Other than the Senate Steering Committee, there are three standing committees of the Senate: the Committee on Committees, the Committee of Tellers and the Planning and Policy Committee. Each elected senator serves a 2-year term. Senators may serve up to 2 consecutive terms following which they may stand for re-election in the 2nd year after their second term.
The Advisory Board comprises nine members to be elected from among members of the Academic Council who are tenured full professors. It will provide advice on matters that President or Provost may refer to it. Such matters may include faculty appointments, promotions and tenure review, as well as the creation of new academic programmes.
The Election of Advisory Board 2009 was held on 6 May 2009 at Nanyang Auditorium’s Foyer between 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m
Other standing or ad hoc committees of the Academic Council may be set up to look into matters in various areas of interest to the faculty.
*Academic Council standing committees comprise Academic Council members, at least one of whom should be a senator. Relevant University administrative staff may be appointed as ex officio members.