2018 Annual Report scu.edu.au CRICOS Provider: 01241G Table of Contents Management Letter of and Activities / At a Submission Major Works Glance 2018 1 2 3 Teaching Research Engagement and Learning 4 6 8 Student People Feedback and Governance Consumer Response 12 15 16 Financial Financial Appendices Performance Statements 22 23 117 17 April 2019 The Hon Rob Stokes MP Minister for 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 2018 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 www.scu.edu.au Lismore PO Box 157, Lismore NSW 2480 Australia T +61 2 6620 3000 F +61 2 6620 3700 CRICOS Provider 01241G Southern Cross University Annual Report 2018 1 Management and Activities/ Major Works The University reviewed key elements of its performance and recommitted to its long-term strategy at the annual Senior Staff Conference in February 2018. The senior leadership group continued to focus University efforts on a set of short, medium and long-term actions geared towards maximising sustainable growth. In December 2017 the The University’s Gold Coast Commission for ratification – an government effectively ended the campus environs were outcome which is expected to demand driven funding system significantly expanded with occur in the first quarter of 2019. by capping CGS funding at 2017 the official opening of Building The National Centre for levels for the 2018-20 triennium. C – and its adjacent 500-space Naturopathic Medicine was Despite this, Southern Cross carpark – in December 2018. The launched in November with enrolments exceeded 11,000 visual amenity of the campus the University’s largest ever equivalent full-time students for benefited dramatically from the philanthropic donation of $10 the first time. This was largely due completion of internationally- million received from one of to a 49% increase in commencing renowned artist and Southern Australia’s leading figures in and continuing international Cross University alumnus, Guido naturopathic medicine, Marcus onshore load at main campuses, van Helten’s 10 storey-high Blackmore AM, together with his as well as strong performance by exterior artwork on Building B. wife Caroline. The Centre will The Hotel School and education The University continued its be an internationally-recognised collaboration partners EduCo engagement with leading centre of excellence in and Keypath. student accommodation experts naturopathic medicine education Southern Cross University rose in relation to developing new and associated research, to 98th in the world in the 2018 student accommodation facilities providing the highest quality Times Higher Education (THE) at the Gold Coast campus – of postgraduate naturopathic Young University Rankings. anticipated for completion by education. Session 1, 2021. Flood research continued to be an At its November 2018 important area for Southern Cross At the University’s Coffs meeting, University Council and its community. The Inaugural Harbour campus, construction formally restated foundational Symposium of the National Centre commenced mid-year on the commitment to Academic for Flood Research was held in new allied health building. This Freedom. Also in late 2018, a October at Lismore. The event important development will strategic planning process was was well attended by participants enable a suite of new allied health commenced by Management, from across Australia, including courses to be delivered from the with a view to refreshing the industry partners, government, Coffs Harbour campus. University’s strategies and plans other university collaborators and for the period 2019-2024. After seven months of cordial not-for-profit organisations. and in-depth negotiation, the Also in October, the University University reached agreement hosted the Regional Universities with the Community and Public Network/Higher Education Sector Union and the National Services conference entitled Tertiary Education Union on a ‘Regional Universities as Anchor new Enterprise Agreement. The Institutions’, drawing experts agreement was subsequently from New Zealand, the United voted upon and endorsed by staff, Kingdom, Canada and the USA. and submitted to the Fair Work 2 Southern Cross University Annual Report 2018 At a Glance 2018 2018 Total Number of Students Total (Persons) 18,931 Total (EFTSL) 11,309.9 Persons by Location Lismore Campus 2,501 Gold Coast Campus 4,970 Coffs Harbour Campus 1,074 Other Australian Locations 2,852 Online 6,790 Offshore 739 International Students (Persons) 5,131 Onshore 4,341 Offshore 790 Total Staff (FTE)* 837.5 Academic Staff (FTE) 301.0 General Staff (FTE) 536.5 EFTSL – Equivalent Full-Time Student Load FTE – Full-Time Equivalent * The total FTE figure does not include Sessional or Casual FTE Source: MIS Government Student Statistics Cube and MIS Government Staff Cube Southern Cross University Annual Report 2018 3 Teaching and Learning Two new student TEACHING STAFF SUPPORT Associate Professor Sally Sargeant, School of Health and leadership programs A number of initiatives support, recognise and reward excellence Human Sciences, presented a launched this year: Peer in teaching at the University. keynote on the topic ‘Immersion, diversion, conversion: Support and Study Buddi. These include the Foundations of University Teaching program, Appreciating cultural difference professional development within the context of health workshops and support to embed professions education’. Equally academic skills in curricula. appreciated was a student panel Support is also available to chaired by Janine Dunleavy. The increase awareness of academic students included a domestic, integrity issues and university international and online student – learning and teaching policies who participated via Zoom. and procedures. Teachers are Four parallel sessions addressed assisted to transform their the four Symposium sub- teaching through the use themes, each incorporating staff of innovative learning and presentations and a yarning assessment design, and the circle through which discussions use of state-of-the-art learning occurred. Participant feedback technologies. was positive and noted that the An annual teaching symposium format and content provided a provides an avenue for staff to thought-provoking and intriguing share and learn from one another event. about the scholarship of learning STUDENT SUPPORT and teaching. Students are also supported in Excellence in teaching is their learning journey through recognised through the Australian a range of initiatives offered by Awards for University Teaching, our Academic Skills team. The the Vice Chancellor’s Citations focus is on supporting student for Outstanding Contributions to development based on self- Student Learning, and our 5-Star management, language, learning Staff/ 5-Star Learning initiative. and critical thinking skills as well as the development of academic Teaching Symposium literacy, numeracy and academic The annual Scholarship of integrity skills. The Academic Teaching Symposium was held Skills team embeds academic on Tuesday 16 October 2018 at literacy and numeracy resources Lismore campus. The theme, in curricula, delivers assignment- Culturally Inclusive Teaching and specific and study skill tutorials in Learning provided an opportunity lectures and online, and consults for staff to learn about culturally with individual and small groups inclusive pedagogies. Indigenous of students. The team has created and multicultural representation a suite of online resources on the Steering Group guided including Quick Guides, ‘How to planning and helped to ensure …’ videos, numeracy modules, a truly inclusive event. Studying in the Sciences, 4 Southern Cross University Annual Report 2018 Teaching and Learning workshop recordings, as well as Academic Integrity clips and Teaching Awards Quick Guides. Student support 2018 Australian Awards for Marketing Principles Teaching strategies also include an online University Teaching Citations Team: Tania von der Heidt assignment review service, an Amanda Reichelt-Brushett, (Team Leader), Joanne Phythian, Academic English Screening School of Environment, Science David Spriggs, Kirstie McClean, Test and after-hours online and Engineering Maxine Hawker, Evi Lanasier, study support. Noel Agustin, Emmanuel For innovative chemistry Two new student leadership Aquino, Julie Francis, Janne teaching that uses scientific programs launched this year: Palthe, Sevasti Tsipidis, Vicki enquiry and creative thinking to Peer Support and Study Buddi. Hetherington, Peter Reynolds, motivate students to develop Peer Support is aimed at first Constantin Alba, Pauline Allin, multifaceted problem-solving year students with peer-led Sarah Keast, Kenneth Yap, skills. study groups run by students, for School of Business and Tourism students. The study groups offer 2018 Vice Chancellor’s For cultivating innovative new students a place to connect Citations for Outstanding learning and practice of with peers, develop study skills Contributions to Student creativity in a large, multi- and gain study confidence. The Learning location, diverse first year second program, Study Buddi, Peter Cook,