Keeping up with new structure and strategy

 

Once Council had accepted the NWU’s new strategy, a new Statute was needed to support it. “If the university wanted to continue to function to its full potential it needed a Statute to support the new structure and strategy.”

 

Marlene says although the previous Statute was widely regarded as very good, the changes in strategy and structure necessitated a new one.

 

Statute addresses changes

 

The Statute provides the foundation to facilitate all the important changes contained in the management model. These include changes in the composition of Council, the role of executive deans across campuses and the functions of deputy deans, among others.

 

The NWU will also have five deputy vice-chancellors, consisting of a deputy vice-chancellor for teaching and learning, a deputy vice-chancellor for research and innovation and three deputy vice-chancellors heading the three campuses.

 

Focus on important roles

 

Marlene says an important amendment to the Statute is the focus on the crucial role and composition of the Institutional Forum. The forum’s role is to advise Council on important matters, including the selection of candidates for appointment in senior management, policy on equity, codes of conduct and dispute resolution processes and procedures.

 

The role of the Senate in the appointment of all academic staff is also re-emphasised in the new Statute. According to the Statute, academic employees must be appointed after consultation with the Senate.

 

Other significant changes include establishing one Student Representative Council consisting of 15 members with proportional representation of students, and the election of a Student Campus Council on each campus.

 

The Statute also makes provision for the revoking of degrees.  Particular attention was paid to the most appropriate definition of a student.