CHAT members with an interest in the state of play in Higher Education down under might be interested in this. Sydney University is emerging as an important centre for Contemporary and Historical Archaeological Research in Australia so certainly deserve our support.
Rodney
________________________________________
From: Annie Clarke [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 09 March 2012 23:00
To:
Subject: Academic Staff Redundancies at the University of Sydney
Dear colleagues,
I'm writing to you as alumni and academics with links to the University of Sydney. I don't know whether any of you have been following the stories in the Australian news or have been in contact with former colleagues at Sydney but we are in an environment of industrial turmoil. The Vice Chancellor announced a Change Plan late last year brought about by overspending on buildings and an underestimation of fee income from overseas students. His solution to the budgetary shortfalls has been offer 164 academics voluntary redundancy or a change of contract to Teaching only positions. The Arts Faculty has taken a pretty big hit by all accounts. The Department of Anthropology has three staff affected and the Chair of Department Professor Linda O'Connor has been interviewed in The Australian this week http://www.theaustralian.com.au/higher-education/arbitrary-and-unethical-sydney-academic-slams-retrenchments/story-e6frgcjx-1226288603479 .
The Department of Archaeology is also affected by these changes. One of our colleagues has been offered voluntary redundancy or a change to a Teaching only position. This of course has a huge impact on him and on our capacities for research and teaching. In the period of review designated by the VC the individual in question served as Head of Department and was a co CI on an $800,000 ARC Discovery Grant. His case is currently under review with a decision to be made next week.
There is currently an ipetiton set up on line (see Below). I have been circulating this to as many colleagues as possible and would be grateful if any of you felt moved enough to sign and support staff here.
Regards Annie
>
> Following the well supported public meeting held yesterday in the Quadrangle I
> have teamed up with a number of colleagues to compose an internet petition,
> asking the University Senate to intervene in the matters arising from the
> Change Plan put forward by the Vice Chancellor.
>
> This is a parallel and complementary initiative to the formal dispute being
> pursued by the NTEU.
>
> PLEASE SIGN IT at:
>
> http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/senate-stop-job-cuts/
>
> And do everything you can to spread the word.
>
> (This can be an effective mode of activism. In another context, a half-million
> strong petition against the privatisation of forestry management was
> acknowledged by Ministers of the UKšs new coalition government as having
> prompted them to change their policy).
>
> As you will see from the petition, the situation at the University now raises
> issues that are properly the concerns of the Senate as the governing body.
> This is the moment to show the widespread opposition to the Change Plan.
>
> Please do everything you can think of, to spread the word.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Jake Lynch
Dr Annie Clarke
Senior Lecturer in Heritage Studies
Department of Archaeology
A14, Main Quad
School of Philosophical and Historical Inquiry
The University of Sydney
Sydney 2006
Rm: J409,
p +61 2 9036-9499
f +61 2 9351-3918
--
The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England & Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302).
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