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USC Delegations - Governing Policy
Responsible Officer: Vice-Chancellor and President
Designated Officer: Pro Vice-Chancellor (Corporate Services) and Chief Financial Officer
Approving authority: Council
Approval: C10/89(i), 7 December 2010
Last Amended:
Effective Starting Date: 8 December 2010
Any policies replaced by
this policy: Financial Delegations – Governing Policy, Human Resources Delegations - Governing Policy
Related Policies:
Due date for next review: 7 December 2015
1. Purpose of policy
The following policy is intended to detail the requirements and responsibilities of holding a University delegation necessary in the administration and governance of the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Delegations of authority are intended to achieve the following objectives:
- to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the University’s administrative processes,
- to ensure that the appropriate officers have been provided with the level of authority necessary to discharge their responsibilities, and
- to ensure internal controls are effective.
2. Application of policy
This policy applies to all staff and members of University decision-making or advisory bodies.
3. Policy
3.1 Authorities of power
3.1.1 Under the University of the Sunshine Coast Act 1998 (the Act), USC Council is the University's governing body (section 8(1)) and has been empowered to do anything necessary to perform its functions (section 9(1)).
3.1.2 In particular Council has been given the power to appoint the University's staff, to manage and control the University's affairs and property, and to manage and control the University's finances (section 9(2)).
3.3.3 Under the Act, the Vice-Chancellor and President is the Chief Executive Officer of the University and may exercise the powers and perform the functions conferred by the Act, the Council, or another Act (section 32(4)).
3.2 Authority to delegate
3.2.1 Under the Act, Council may delegate its powers to appropriately qualified members of Council, members of staff, or to committees that include at least one member of Council (section 11(1)).
3.2.2 Council may not delegate its power to make University statutes or rules, to adopt the University's annual budget, or to approve spending of funds available to the University by way of bequest, donation or special grant greater than A$100,000 (section 11(2)).
3.2.3 The Vice-Chancellor and President's powers under the USC Act or another Act may be delegated to an appropriately qualified member of staff (section 32(5)).
3.3 Delegations
3.3.1 Council gives authority to the Vice-Chancellor and President to appoint an appropriately qualified officer to maintain a USC Schedule of Delegations and associated sub-schedules.
3.3.2 Delegation of authority by Council is made by resolution recorded in its minutes. Powers delegated by Council may not be further delegated unless specified in the USC Schedule of Delegations or associated Sub-Schedule(s).
3.3.3 Delegation may be for a specific occasion or on a continuing basis. All continuing delegation of power must be included in the Delegation Schedule or associated sub-schedules.
3.3.4 Continuing delegation of power to a committee must also be included in the constitution of the committee.
3.3.5 Continuing delegations may be withdrawn at any time by the delegating body or person.
3.3.6 A delegate's accountability and reporting requirements must be specified by the delegating body or person at the time the delegation is made.
3.3.7 Any authority delegated by Council or the Vice-Chancellor and President to a particular officer includes any person acting in the position of that officer on a temporary basis, unless otherwise specified at the commencement of the period of acting.
3.3.8 In the event that an officer with a delegated authority is unable to carry out the duties associated with that delegation for any reason, including a conflict of interest or temporary incapacity or absence, the delegated authority evolves to that officer's immediate supervisor.
3.3.9 A delegate may not exercise a delegation that will result, either directly or indirectly, in any tangible benefit to the delegate. If any conflict of interest occurs this must be declared in accordance with the University’s Code of Conduct.
The Schedule of Delegations is available for reference in the Financial Services/Schedules section of the USC Portal.
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