2019 Southern Cross University Annual Report scu.edu.au CRICOS Provider: 01241G Southern Cross University ABN 41 995 651 524 Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2019 Table of Contents Letter of Management At a Glance 2019 Submission Activities / Major Works 2 3 4 Teaching Research Engagement and Learning 5 6 8 People and Student Feedback Governance Multicultural and Consumer Report Response 10 14 15 Financial Financial Appendices Performance Statements 20 21 128 Southern Cross University Annual Report 2019 - 1 PANTONE 7469 C 7469 PANTONE PANTONE 382C PANTONE PANTONE 116C PANTONE PANTONE 7710C PANTONE 8 April 2020 The Hon Geoff Lee MP Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Parliament House Sydney NSW 2000 Dear Minister The Council of Southern Cross University submits the University’s Annual Report of proceedings for the year ending 31 December 2019 for presentation to Parliament. The Annual Report has been prepared in accordance with the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 (NSW) and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 (NSW). Yours sincerely Mr Nick Burton Taylor AM Chancellor Southern Cross University Professor Adam Shoemaker Vice Chancellor Southern Cross University scu.edu.au Lismore PO Box 157, Lismore NSW 2480 Australia T +61 2 6620 3000 F +61 2 6620 3700 CRICOS Provider 01241G 2 - Southern Cross University Annual Report 2019 Southern Cross University ABN 41 995 651 524 Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2019 Management Activities / Major Works In 2019, Southern Cross against women and their children. in the areas of the Subtropics, University’s continuing operations Transitions and Caring for In May 2019, the University achieved a surplus for the first Country. undertook an external review of time since 2009; student load its founding legislation, policies, Construction of the new $12m grew nine per cent on 2018; and procedures, and Enterprise Health Sciences Building at an ambitious seven-year Strategic Agreement with respect to the Coffs Harbour campus was Plan – The New Southern Cross academic freedom and freedom completed on 16 September – was adopted by University of speech, as contemplated by 2019, including seven specialist Council. the provisions of the Hon Robert health laboratories, an outdoor The University taught 12,228 full French AC’s Model Code. The teaching space, dual signage time equivalent students across University’s review found that in Gumbaynggirr and English its campuses, in Australia at – with limited exceptions that languages, and an Indigenous Lismore, Coffs Harbour, Gold were subsequently remedied – its garden which features local Coast, Sydney, Melbourne and existing legislative and policy medicinal plants. The project Perth, as well as internationally in instruments echoed and in some was completed to schedule and Papua New Guinea and China. In cases exceeded the Model Code budget, with the building officially doing so, the University exceeded protections for academic freedom opened on 20 November 2019 by its capped funding entitlement and freedom of speech. Mr Pat Conaghan MP, Member for for Commonwealth Grant Cowper. On 15 July 2019, the University Scheme (domestic) students, commissioned an independent On 17 September 2019, the and significantly expanded its review of the ‘effectiveness University acknowledged a global international student cohort of the University’s admissions ecological and climate crisis, and compared to prior years. function, with a particular focus its opportunity and willingness In the Excellence in Research for on international and online to play a key role in addressing Australia (ERA) 2018 rankings, student admissions’. The review it. In particular, the University published in 2019, Southern Cross team’s final report was delivered reaffirmed its commitment to University achieved fourteen on 27 September 2019, and sustainability across its disciplines ERA–five results, a dramatic through the Vice Chancellor’s and research in such a climate- increase from nine in ERA 2015. office, implementation of the challenged environment. The ERA–five ‘well above world report’s recommendations has On 15 November 2019, the standard’ rating in earth sciences, commenced, including the University announced the environmental science, ecology structural realignment of the expansion of its operations and forestry sciences reinforced domestic and international into the Brisbane CBD market the University’s standing as admissions teams and revised for the first time by launching a national and international administrative processes. The Hotel School Brisbane research leader in these areas. On 12 September 2019, University with partner Mulpha Australia. The rise of civil engineering Council approved a new seven- Built on a 30-year partnership and resources engineering to a year strategy for the institution. between the parties, The Hotel ERA-five rating was particularly The culmination of 18 months School Brisbane is expected to notable as these were new areas of planning, The New Southern perform strongly, leveraging the of research for the University. Cross 2020 – 2026 outlines the experience and assets of its sister- On 6 February 2019, Southern University’s key aspiration: to schools: The Hotel School Sydney Cross and Universities Australia firmly establish Southern Cross and The Hotel School Melbourne. partnered with Our Watch to lead University among the top 50 a new national program aimed at young universities in the world by driving better gender equality in 2026. It envisages doubling the the higher education sector, and size of the University’s student to drive nation-wide change in the population over the term of the cultures, behaviours and power plan, enhancing teaching and imbalances that lead to violence research quality, and leading Southern Cross University Annual Report 2019 - 3 At a Glance 2019 2019 Total Number of Students Total (Persons) 20,329 Total (EFTSL) 12,228 Persons by Location Lismore Campus 2,413 Gold Coast Campus 5,695 Coffs Harbour Campus 1,167 The Hotel Schools (Sydney & Melbourne) 1,052 Online 4,943 SCU Online 2,094 Other Australian Locations 2,303 Offshore 662 International Students (Persons) 5,936 Onshore 5,210 Offshore 726 Total Staff (FTE)* 872.7 Academic Staff (FTE) 322.4 General Staff (FTE) 550.3 * These Total Staff FTE (full-time equivalent) figures do not include Sessional or Casual FTE Source: 2019 Government Student / Staff Submissions 4 - Southern Cross University Annual Report 2019 Southern Cross University ABN 41 995 651 524 Notes to the Financial Statements For the year ended 31 December 2019 Teaching and Learning Engaging Curriculum and on their scholarship of teaching 2019 Australian Awards for Student Experience in online and blended learning University Teaching Citations With new courses developed environments. The program Dr Mieke Witsel, School of for the National Centre for encouraged contributors to Business and Tourism Naturopathic Medicine, the share their successes as well as For empowering first year Centre for Organics Research and their strategies for overcoming students to succeed with future the Hotel School, among others, the challenges associated with studies and careers by building the University continued to enrich teaching in online and blended competence and confidence its course offerings and student modes. in 21st century communication experience with contemporary Professor Sue Gregory, Head strategies in Business. and innovative approaches. of Education School, University In Engineering, for example, of New England presented a 5-Star Learning / 5-Star Staff immersive 360-degree video keynote on the topic ‘Thinking The 5-Star Learning / 5-Star case-studies were developed outside the online square: Staff program again invited to assist students in tackling Engaging students in their students to nominate staff the complexities of authentic learning’. The Opening Plenary who had provided them with projects and work sites. was rounded out with two- a 5-Star learning experience. minute presentations by School/ With each nomination requiring Teaching Staff Support College Directors of Teaching a description of at least 50 A range of initiatives and and Learning, and a student and words, the initiative provides an workshops supported teaching staff panel facilitated by Dr Raoul opportunity for staff to receive staff to enhance their practice Adam. Staff shared practice in positive feedback from students through effective online delivery, four parallel sessions across the who may be reticent to send authentic assessment design, day. Other activities included a thank you directly. Over 106 peer review and the use of state- tours of the Virtual Reality lab, responses were received in of-the-art learning technologies. a Twitter feed and a technology 2019 for a mix of individuals and These include the Foundations Q&A session accessible either teams from across the University. of University Teaching Practice face-to-face or online. program, evidence-based Collaborations to Support Participant feedback was very support for embedding academic Student Success positive with staff indicating the skills in curricula, and the New day was a valuable and thought- A range of collaborations to Teaching @SCU workshops provoking event. In particular, and partnerships across the aimed at welcoming new staff appreciated the opportunity University strengthened student teaching staff each session with to hear about the work of their support through initiatives support,