ACT Senator David Pocock (left) has been very vocal about the redundancies and course cuts at the ANU. Photo: James Coleman.
The Australian National University is expecting to save $5.5 million in salary costs if its change management proposal for the Academic Portfolio is adopted.
But it would be at the expense of 27 jobs.
The Academic Portfolio is responsible for establishing academic standards for the institution, including for the delivery of education and student experiences. It will be renamed the Education Portfolio.
Under the plan, 44 vacant positions would also be axed and 22 positions disestablished through the voluntary separation scheme.
There are 20 new roles proposed in the plan (including three fixed-term), 41 positions being realigned from colleges to new central teams, and 69 student administration roles being realigned “via a placement process”.
Academic deputy vice chancellor Professor Joan Leach said it was about centralising the model.
“We have pockets of excellence in this university … [but] it is fragmented. We have uneven delivery,” she said.
“What we want to do is take those pockets of excellence and make sure, if a student is getting something fabulous [in one area], they can get it [in another].
“It’s that sharing and scaling … it’s a challenge, but I think you’ll also see it as an opportunity.”
The portfolio includes the University Experience Division (including the Student Safety and Wellbeing team and Student Life), which is being renamed Experience, Wellbeing and Inclusion. The Student Life team would be disbanded and functions redistributed across the portfolio.
Professor Leach stressed student-facing supports and services wouldn’t degrade under the proposal.
“We have not skimped on the student experience in this proposal,” she said.
“In fact, I think we have elevated it.”
The Academic Portfolio underwent a restructuring in 2024, resulting in the elimination of 51 positions (45 occupied, six vacant).
National Tertiary Education Union ACT division secretary Dr Lachlan Clohesy likened the latest proposed job cuts to a “real-life Squid Game”.
“Sixty-nine people are competing for 42 jobs. There is no satisfaction in ‘succeeding’ in this process at the expense of dear colleagues you work alongside. This process undermines collegiality, teamwork, cooperation, trust, and pits staff against one another,” he said.
It comes as ACT independent Senator David Pocock filed several notices of motion in the Federal Parliament today (31 July) calling on the Senate to order the ANU to stop “forced redundancies or other terminations” until the inquiry into university governance is complete.
He’ll also call for all documents, internal memoranda, meeting minutes and correspondence from April to October of 2024 relating to the new budgets allocated to ANU colleges, plus all related budget documents and financial statements, and anything regarding discussions about how the budget cuts would impact “core and discretionary services” of the colleges.
Complete and unredacted copies of the March 2023 and September 2024 staff surveys are also on his list, as well as any 2023 documents relating to ANU budget forecasts for 2024-2027.
Mr Pocock also wants a copy of any email correspondence sent by the Vice-Chancellor to any Council Members relating to a “purported breach of Council confidentiality“.
He told Region he felt “far more transparency” was needed from the national university.
“The Renew ANU process has caused enormous harm and distress to a much loved institution and the people who have built it,” Mr Pocock said.
“A reset is needed before the damage becomes irreparable.”
Mr Pocock’s motions will be moved on 25 August, and they would need to be passed by the Senate before the university could be compelled to do anything.
He wants the documents to be tabled by 9:30 am on 28 August.
Dr Clohesy said it was time for Renew ANU to stop.
“We need some clear air to be able to evaluate properly the impact of job losses which have already occurred. These have been forced redundancies, voluntary separations, fixed-term contracts not renewed, casuals not re-engaged, and resignations due to the current environment at the ANU,” he said.
“It’s time ANU leadership listened or left.”
The Academic Portfolio change management proposal consultation period will last four weeks.
Consultation used to take two weeks, but community feedback has seen the university extend that timeline.
ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Genevieve Bell again noted the institution was facing an “incredibly challenging period” and that “difficult choices” were needed to make sure the ANU was operating within its financial means.
“Through the hard work of our community, we’re making good progress towards meeting our cost base reductions,” she said.
“There is no easy fix to address the challenges faced by ANU, but living outside our means is not a responsible financial position, and we continue to be grateful for the ongoing engagement of the University and broader community to help support us through this period.
“We welcome and encourage a diversity of views to shape the final plans and the future of the national university.”
Consultation on the Academic Portfolio change management plan is open until 12 pm, Thursday, 28 August.
