Service to the University, Discipline
and Community
Academic Promotions Career Development Session
Peter McCallum
Chair, Academic Board
University of Sydney Act 1989 (as amended)
6 Object and functions of University
(1) The object of the University is the promotion, within the limits of the University's
resources, of scholarship, research, free inquiry, the interaction of research and
teaching, and academic excellence.
(2) The University has the following principal functions for the promotion of its object:
- (b) the encouragement of the dissemination, advancement, development and
application of knowledge informed by free inquiry,
- (d) the participation in public discourse,
(3) The University has other functions as follows:
- (b) the University may develop and provide cultural, sporting, professional,
technical and vocational services to the community,
What does “Service” include?
› The University considers teaching and
research/scholarship/creative/professional work as its
core activities
› Other elements of the objects of the University (e.g.,
public discourse, application of knowledge) may be
service to the community and your discipline;
› The contribution that all staff are expected to make
towards the overall work of their Faculty,
Department/School is also service.
Your Service Portfolio
› A brief statement of 500 to 1000 words that highlights areas of greatest
strength and supports applicant's claims regarding performance
› assessed in terms of amount of activity, degree of responsibility carried,
and quality of the service rendered
Your Service Portfolio (cont’d)
› evidence of sustained efforts – individually or as
member of team
› constructive achievements in useful (and possibly
innovative) directions
› continuity of involvement, the result of sustained
efforts over some considerable period of time
› major responsibility for the outcome of some of the
achievements
Definitions
› Service to the University refers to contributions to
institutional planning, governance, line management or
contributions to the University community.
› Service to the Discipline refers to service to the relevant
profession or academic discipline, including clinical work,
consultancy activities, service on local and national
professional/discipline bodies.
› Service to the Community refers to discipline/profession
related contributions to the wider community which enhance
the reputation of the University.
Service to the University
› Department / School / Faculty / University policy
committees (eg, Head of School Advisory, Dean's Advisory, Faculty
Executive, Library Advisory, Academic Board, Senate)
› Committees of the Academic Board and/or working
parties (eg, Undergraduate Studies Committee, Assessment Working
Party), etc.
› Administrative service of substantial significance to the
governance of the University and its units (eg. Head of
Department, Head of School, School Grievance Officer, Higher Degrees
Committee, Faculty Promotions Committee, Central Promotions Committee,
Research Committee, Coordinator of First-Year Classes in large schools,
etc.)
Service to the Discipline
› Editor, associate editor, advisory board member or referee
of a scholarly journal
› Service on ARC, NH&MRC and similar reviewing and
funding panels
› Responsibility as organiser of national and/or international
conferences
› Office-bearer of, or other actively-involved contributor to, a
professional society
› Membership of professional accreditation panel
› Liaison service on committees of related professional
groups, etc.
Consultancy
› Listed in “Service to the Discipline” but may also be
considered as service to the community
› Must be University consulting, with appropriate
approvals
› Several Schools have explicit consulting operations,
eg, CASE
› Should place your University expertise at the service
of the discipline or community
Service to the Community
› Explicit statement at UQ: “Community Service Policy”
› “Community service can take the form of intellectual,
educational, cultural, scientific and other services,
and contributes to the social progress, economic
growth or cultural development of individuals, groups
or organisations, or the community as a whole.”
Some Examples of Service to the
Community
› Service on, or on behalf of, Government Statutory Authorities
or Commissions of Inquiry
› Liaison between secondary and tertiary education institutions
(eg. HSC syllabus committee, resource person for school
visits to talk with senior students, etc.)
› Liaison between academia and industry (eg, technical
standards committee, consortium steering committee)
› Honorary professional work (eg. Community centre, state
council, national advisory council)
› Public advocacy in your professional area