The Charles Sturt University Council was established on 1 July 1999, as the governing body of the University, to oversee the resources and development of the University relating to teaching, research, administration and any other activities of the University. (1)

The first meeting of Council was convened on 20 August 1999, after its predecessor, the Board of Governors was disbanded in June 1999 in compliance with the Charles Sturt University Amendment Act of 1998. (2)

The membership of the Council is nineteen, and as stipulated by the abovementioned Act it comprises:

• two Parliamentary members (one member of the Legislative Council elected by that Council, and one member of the Legislative Assembly elected by that Assembly);
• three official members (comprising the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor and the deputy-presiding officer of the Academic Senate);
• eight appointed members (four persons appointed by the Minister and a further four persons appointed by the Minister, being persons nominated by the Council, who are graduates of the University);
• five elected members (two of whom are members of the academic staff of the University, duly elected by the academic staff; one member who is a member of the general staff of the University; and two students of the University who are not staff members); and
• one other person appointed by Council, who is a member of the staff of the University having responsibility for the administration of a major campus. (3)

The functions of the Charles Sturt University Council as outlined by the Act are:

• to act for and on behalf of the University in the exercise of the University’s functions;
• to control and manage the affairs and concerns of the University;
• to act in all matters concerning the University in such a manner as appears to the Council to be acting in the best interests of the University;
• to provide courses, and confer degrees, awards and diplomas as it thinks fit;
• to appoint and terminate the appointment of academic and other staff of the University;
• to invest any funds belonging to or vested in the University;
• to promote, establish or participate in partnerships, trusts, companies, other incorporated bodies or joint ventures;
• to establish and maintain branches and colleges of the University, within the University and elsewhere;
• to make loans and grants to students, and impose fees, charges and fines where applicable. (4)

The Council kept intact the same committee structure that its predecessor, the Board of Governors, had in place. That is:

• the Academic Senate (the principal academic body of the University which advises the Council on all matters relating to teaching, scholarship and research);
• the Standing Committee (an executive body of Council which acts on behalf of the latter in those matters requiring immediate action);
• the Finance Committee (to advise the Council on all matters of a financial nature);
• the Personnel Committee (to make recommendations to the Council concerning policies in relation to personnel);
• the Honorary Awards Committee (to consider all nominations for proposed honorary awards); and
• the Audit Committee (responsible for reviewing both the internal and external auditors). (5)

Notes:
(1) Charles Sturt University Annual Report, 1999, p.39.
(2) ibid., p.39.
(3) Charles Sturt University Amendment Act, 1998, p.5.
(4) ibid., p.7-8.
(5) Charles Sturt University Annual Report, 1999, p.39.

Agency History compiled by Wayne Doubleday (2004).