The University of New England has demonstrated its commitment to environmental sustainability by becoming a signatory to the Talloires Declaration, an international agreement for the promotion of environmental education and ecological sustainability in higher education.

In order to further this commitment a competition has been launched for students to “Design a UNE Sustainability Spyder”.

It is open to all students and there is $2,000 in prize money.

The competition details are as follows:

• Open to all UNE students, individuals or in groups, undergraduates and postgraduates, with a limit of one entry per student/group.
• Entries must be no more than a single A4 page and contain the student’s design for a promotional spyder (portable vertical display banner).

First place will receive $1,000, second place $500 and third place $250.

• In addition there will be a Best College entry prize of $250.
• Entries should be in Word doc format and sent as email attachments to the Chair of the UNE Talloires Committee, Robyn Bartel rbartel@une.edu.au with name, student number, college if applicable, and contact details clearly identified in the email.
• Entries may be used to promote sustainability at UNE.
• Entries close COB 21 August 2009.
• Entries will be assessed by an expert judging panel whose decision will be final and the winners announced on Open Day, 4 September 2009.

So, if you are a UNE student, get your creativity to work and see if the prize money can be yours!

I am pleased to welcome the new University Librarian, Barbara Paton, who took up her appointment on Monday May 18^th. Barbara joins UNE from La Trobe University where she was Deputy University Librarian.

The La Trobe library system operates across seven campuses. Barbara had strategic leadership for client services and information technology across the library system. Barbara has an extensive background of professional involvement including her role as the Director of AARLIN (Australian Academic Research Library Network) of which UNE is a member, the International Network of Universities (INU) Libraries Group, the Innovative Research Universities Australia Libraries Group, the VDX Users Group of Australia and New Zealand, and CAVAL Collaborative Solutions.

Please update email and mailing lists by adding Barbara’s contact details in place of former Acting Librarian Jack Bedson.

As you are no doubt aware, swine flu is currently a major global health issue. A number of suspected cases have been reported in New England, and UNE is taking advice from NSW Health on how to prepare for an outbreak. An isolation room has been established at the UNE Medical Centre, and the University is in regular contact with the Local Area Emergency Management Committee.

We suggest all staff and students take precautions recommended on the following website, especially if travelling or returning from overseas:

http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/infectious/swine_flu_schools.html

Further information about influenza and swine flu is available at:

http://www.healthemergency.gov.au/internet/healthemergency/publishing.nsf/Content/health-swine_influenza-index.htm

http://www.une.edu.au/finance/finance/forms/Booklet%20Influenza%20Pandemic.pdf

This is the first of several updates UNE will be issuing on this topic.

Vice-Chancellor welcomes Federal Budget ‘09 initiatives

The Vice-Chancellor has welcomed the initiatives announced by the Treasurer in the Budget this year for the next four years. The recognition by the Government of the importance of education and innovation to the economic health is a particularly important ‘up front’ principle stated in the Budget papers.  The recognition by the Government of the important recommendations in the Bradley and Cutler reviews of higher education and innovation respectively also needs to be applauded, particularly in the context of the current economic circumstances.

 
The commitment to expand the number of places supported by the Government is consistent with the commitment to see an increase in the number of graduates who will drive the economy in the future. Importantly, the Government will improve mechanisms for supporting students while they study, including the introduction of relocation scholarships for those students who need to move to their place of study. This is of particular importance to UNE as we move to increase our on campus enrolments. The government is to introduce increased funding to support the attainment of low SES participation. UNE performs above the norm in this area, so there may be particular benefit to us in this new funding. Added to this, the Government has committed to improving the indexation of Government funding provided for teaching places from 2012. This will provide welcome funding for provision of modern education as well as better conditions for staff.

 
The Government has made significant adjustment to the funding arrangements for student places in the fields of education and nursing. These changes are aimed at making these courses more attractive and more sustainable for Universities to offer these important programs. This will be important for UNE. The Deputy Prime Minister also indicated that the cluster funding model and the level of funding per discipline cluster will be subject to a detailed audit as part of the up-coming consultation with the higher education sector.

 
In research, the Government has announced significant funding increases through a number of mechanisms. There will be significant increases in the support for research infrastructure and the formulae used for allocation of funds will be varied to both provide and incentive for and to reward the attraction of funds from a wider variety of sources other than the ARC and the NHMRC. These changes are likely to be particularly relevant to UNE where the level of non-ARC and non-NHMRC funding is already strong. There is also increased support for research collaborations between institutions and industry and increased support for postgraduate students.

 
On a broader scale, the government is to introduce new elements into the operational funding mix for universities, including performance measures and ‘compacts’ that will set new incentive-based structures to government funding. Support for infrastructure development over the next few years will come from different sources, including the Education Investment Fund and other transition measures prior to the new operational environment in 2012. The number of Universities supported through Round 2 of the EIF announced in the budget is relatively small, but a further general round and a new specialist round of applications will be called this year for announcement early in 2010. The government will also introduce a new Quality Assurance and Accreditation Agency which will have a significant role in assessing and reporting on quality issues at all institutions in the sector.

 
Finally, the Government has committed to a review of the funding of regional universities for both their teaching and research functions. The importance of universities such as UNE to the local community and economy is recognised, especially in the context of student access and the provision of skill sets in regional communities. The Government wishes to fully assess how best to support these types of institutions in the context of the other changes to the system that are being introduced, particularly through the new student demand system. Funding of $402M is to be provided over the next four years to assist structural adjustment as Universities adapt to the new funding environment set for 2012. 

 
Understandably, many of the budget initiatives are to be phased over the next few years as the University system is changed to one based on student demand. Structural adjustments have been allowed for over the next few years leading up to the introduction of the new system in 2012. The package announced in the budget is a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach to improving higher education and innovation in Australia, and is a welcome step forward that provides many opportunities for UNE.

 
Alan Pettigrew
12 May 2009

The University is in the process of developing a Work- Health program designed to improve the wellness of UNE staff.

The launch of the Prevent Bullying at UNE Awareness Campaign on 1  May 2009, was the first initiative to improve the physical and psychological well-being of staff.

The next initiative will be a free flu vaccination program, to be held on the 12^th and 13^th of May.

Statistical analyses of sick leave patterns across the UNE campus in recent years and 2008, in particular, show significant levels of absenteeism during the flu season. 

Australia-wide the influenza vaccine is considered to be 70-90% effective in preventing influenza in healthy adults, if there is a good match between the vaccine virus and the virus strain causing the illness. 

Generally, within two weeks, the person receiving the vaccination is protected by antibodies that are formed by the immune system’s response to the vaccine.

The University has selected  Provax Pty Ltd,  a company specialising in workplace vaccination, immunisation and health assessment programs, to deliver the vaccination program.  Provax has state-of-the-art booking software and staff who would like to take advantage of the flu vaccination program are invited to use the on-line booking system une.flu.org.au or call 1300 367 434 this week to book an appointment for 12^th or 13^th May 2009.  

Details:

Venue:                 First aid room (adjacent to foyer) in the School of Education

Date:                    Tuesday 12^th and Wednesday 13^th May 2009

If you would like more information about the vaccine and the vaccination process, please go to the Provax booking site une.flu.org.au.  There you will find Question and Answer information, vaccination tips and the opportunity to win a movie pass in the Winter Wellness Quiz.

If you require further information about the flu vaccination program please contact Daphne McCurdy on extension 3232 or email ohs@une.edu.au or consult your OHS representative. 

A list of OHS representatives is available on UNE OHS webpage at http://www.une.edu.au/ohs/representativesworkinggroups.php “

Dear Colleagues

I will be on annual leave from Monday 4 May 2009 - Friday 8 May 2009

inclusive.

All phone calls, correspondence and emails relating/addressed to the

Vice-Chancellor should continue to be directed through my Office for action

by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Graham Webb, for appropriate

distribution.

Regards

Alan Pettigrew

Professor Alan Pettigrew

Vice-Chancellor and CEO

University of New England

Armidale NSW 2351

Tel:  02 6773 2004

Fax:  02 6773 3710

The university has received a letter from the Premier of Victoria, thanking us for our condolences for the victims of the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Crisis. You can view this letter on the Vice-Chancellor’s website:

http://www.une.edu.au/vc/vcoffice/premierletter2009.pdf

The Chancellor, Dr Richard Torbay MP, wishes to advise the UNE community that he has accepted an approach from the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew, to retire from the University.

The Chancellor, and the Council, wishes to acknowledge the considerable contribution that Professor Pettigrew has made to the University since the beginning of 2006 and through a subsequent period of considerable challenges. The Chancellor also wishes to acknowledge the efforts and support that Mrs Pettigrew has provided to the University and the Vice-Chancellor.

The Vice-Chancellor wishes to acknowledge the very strong support of the staff of the University, his executive colleagues, members of the University Council and the wider community during his appointment. There are many things that have been achieved by all for the good of the institution and its future development. The University’s management team and staff are well placed to continue the development of UNE and build on its strong traditions as a University of repute under the guidance of the Chancellor and the University Council.

Professor Pettigrew will cease his duties as Vice-Chancellor at the end of October this year.

A press release is available at: http://www.une.edu.au/mpa/communications/news-files/090416_Pettigrew_Retires.pdf

Thank you to all staff who donated to the UNE bushfire relief fund. We raised a total of $2264.40, which I will be sending to the Australian Red Cross next week, along with a letter to the Victorian Premier and signed messages of sympathy expressing our condolences to all those affected by the Victorian bushfires. I’m sure your generosity will be very much appreciated.

Dear colleagues,

UNE has given its response to the Federal government’s Bradley Review of Higher Education. Thank you to everyone who contributed their feedback. You can read the full response online at:

http://www.une.edu.au/vc/vcoffice/response_bradley_review.pdf