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Constutution

1. NAME.

The name of the association shall be "The Australian Council of Deans of Science". The initials ACDS may be used as the short title for the association where abbreviation is appropriate.

2. INTERPRETATIONS.

In this constitution, unless the context otherwise requires:

"COUNCIL" means The Australian Council of Deans of Science.

"DEANS OF SCIENCE" shall include such persons as each member university determines, for example; Deans of Faculty, Heads or Deans of School, Heads of Department, and others who hold senior positions of responsibility for science in Australian universities.

"STATE" includes territory.

"SCIENCE" includes the following, grouped according to DEETYA Field of Research Classification:

010000 Mathematical sciences
020000 Physical sciences
030000 Chemical sciences
040000 Earth sciences
050000 Information, computer and communication technologies
060000 Applied sciences and technologies
080000 Biological sciences
111201- Psychology
111299

3. PURPOSE.

The purpose of the Council is to promote the development of science through study and research in Science Faculties/Schools/Departments in universities throughout Australia by such means as:

  1. identifying and addressing national issues in science, education, research and scientific professions.
  2. promoting science as a beneficial area of study for a wide range of people.
  3. promoting funding, recognition and the conduct of research and research training in science.
  4. contributing to the development of science policy and administration issues with a view to establishing national position statements.
  5. undertaking regular consultation with Commonwealth ministries, associated departments and boards, and national bodies representing state and federal ministers.
  6. improving the public perception of science and the scientific professions.
  7. providing a forum in which the Deans of Science across Australia meet.
  8. collaborating with other organizations with interests in science with a view to providing a widely based representative voice on national matters associated with science.

4. MEMBERSHIP AND MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL.

Members of the Council shall be financial member universities represented by a Dean of Science.

Council will hold one meeting of the Council in each calendar year, called the Annual Conference of the Council, and other meetings as required.

Each member university represented at the Annual Conference may nominate one person as its voting delegate, provided that the university is a current financial member of the Council. Voting at the Annual Conference shall be restricted to voting delegates.

The quorum for voting at the Annual Conference shall be of one half plus one of the member universities of the Council.

5. OFFICE BEARERS OF THE COUNCIL.

The office bearers of the Council shall be:

  1. President
  2. Secretary/Treasurer
  3. The President shall be elected from among the Deans of Science representing financial member universities of the ACDS and by the Council at its Annual Conference.
  4. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected by the Council at its Annual Conference, and shall keep and maintain general records of the Council, including a Register of Council members, and shall maintain communication with member universities through their representatives.

Nominations for office bearers shall be called at least one month prior to the commencement of the Annual Conference. Nominations received shall be declared at the beginning of the first day of the Annual Conference. Further nominations may be received up to noon on the first day of the Annual Conference. The election of office bearers shall be scheduled for the end of the first day of the Annual Conference.

The Executive shall comprise the office bearers, the Immediate Past President ex officio (with his/her concurrence), five other members elected by the Council, and one additional member (optional) who shall be coopted by the Executive from among the current membership of the Council if the Executive so desires.

Office bearers shall hold office for the period of time between Annual Conferences of the Council. Incumbent office bearers of the Council are eligible for renomination and election.

If the office of President or Secretary/Treasurer becomes vacant, the Council shall elect from its members a person to fill the vacancy until the next Annual Conference.

The quorum for conducting elections at the Annual Conference shall be of one half plus one of the member universities of the Council.

6. THE EXECUTIVE OF THE COUNCIL.

There shall be an Executive responsible for the conduct of the affairs of the Council. The Executive shall have the power, subject to this constitution, to regulate its own proceedings.

The Executive shall comprise the office bearers and five other members elected by the Council.

Nominations for Executive membership shall be called at least one month prior to the commencement of the Annual Conference. Nominations received shall be declared at the beginning of the first day of the Annual Conference. Further nominations may be received up to noon on the first day of the Annual Conference. The election of members of the Executive shall be scheduled for the end of the first day of the Annual Conference.

The Annual Meeting of the Executive shall be the meeting following the Annual Conference of the Council. The Annual Meeting of the Executive shall determine the main lines of policy of the Council, shall have the power to direct the management of the Council's affairs and, subject to this constitution, shall regulate the Council's proceedings.

Ordinary meetings of the Executive shall be convened by the Secretary/Treasurer at least four times per year. The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep and maintain general records of the Executive. A schedule of ordinary meetings of the Executive shall be issued no later than one month after the Annual Meeting of the Executive. Ordinary meetings of the Executive may be held by electronic means such as teleconferencing.

The quorum for conducting business at meetings of the Executive shall be any number greater than one half of the members of the Executive.

7. SERVICES.

To fulfill the stated purpose of the Council, the Executive shall also organize:

  1. the Annual Conference of the Council, and
  2. shall provide other services such as newsletters, occasional seminars and symposia.

8. SUBSCRIPTIONS.

The annual subscription fees to be paid by member universities shall be discussed at the Annual Conference and subsequently fixed at the next meeting of the Executive. Annual subscriptions shall be paid on a calendar year (January to December) basis, and must be paid by August 31 for a university to remain a financial member.

9. AFFILIATIONS.

The Council may affiliate with such other bodies (local, State, national or international) as may be desirable in order to further its purposes.

10. FINANCE.

Each member university shall bear the cost of attendance of its nominated representative at Council meetings. Secretarial and administrative costs of the Executive together with the cost of travel of the Office Bearers to Executive meetings shall be met by the Council. The Executive may from time to time make limited and part payments of travel expenses for Executive Members to attend Executive Meetings. Such expenditures are to be reported to the Annual Conference.

All other disbursements of money other than petty cash shall be by cheque on the Council's bankers signed by the Secretary/Treasurer and one other member of the Executive.

An appropriate person who is not a member of the Executive shall be appointed as the Council auditor at the Annual Meeting.

11. TRANSFER OF OFFICE.

All books, records and assets of the Council, with the exception of Council affairs in the process of being finalized, shall be handed over to the incoming Secretary/Treasurer within twenty-one days of the termination of the Annual Meeting of the Executive, and the balance shall be transferred within two months of the same.

12. VOTING RIGHTS.

  1. The President shall have both a deliberative vote and a casting vote at all meetings of the Council and the Executive. In general, it is expected that the President, when exercising the right of placing a casting vote, shall vote in favour of the status quo. When this is not so, the President shall explain to the next Annual Conference of the Council the reasons for the action taken.
  2. Executive members shall have the right to one deliberative vote on each issue/election being decided at an Executive meeting.

13. WINDING UP.

In the event of changed circumstances in which continuation of the Council is no longer of interest or benefit to members, a two-thirds majority of votes taken at the Annual Meeting may recommend to member universities disbandment of the Council. Such recommendation shall be communicated to all member universities and after the lapse of at least one month shall be considered at an Extraordinary Business Meeting of member universities of the Council. If disbandment is endorsed at the Extraordinary Business Meeting the distribution of monies and other assets shall be determined concurrently. The quorum for conducting business at an Extraordinary Business Meeting shall be one half plus one of the member universities.

14. AMENDMENTS.

Amendments to this constitution may be made only by a two-thirds majority of votes cast at the Annual Conference of the Council. The text of proposed amendments must be presented in writing to the Secretary/Treasurer three months before the Annual Conference of the Council so that they maybe sent with recommendations from the Executive Committee to all member universities at least one month before such a meeting.