University of Adelaide Council

The first twenty-member Council was appointed by the Governor-in-Council on 11 November 1874 under the provisions of the Act of Incorporation no. 20 of 1874:

• The Right Reverend Augustus Short, Lord Bishop of Adelaide
• The Right Reverend Christopher Augustine Reynolds, D.D., Roman Catholic Bishop
• The Reverend James Jeferris, LL.B
• The Reverend Willian Poole Wells
• The Honourable Sir Richard Davies Hanson, Knight, Chief Justice of South Australia
• The Honourable Arthur Blyth, M.P., Chief Secretary of South Australia
• The Honourable William Everard, M.L.C, Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration
• The Honourable Sir Henry Ayers, Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, M.L.C.
• The Honourable William Milne, President of the Legislative Council
• The Honourable Alexander Hay, M.L.C.
• Randolph Isham Stow, Esquire, Q.C., M.P.
• William Alexander Erskine West-Erskine, Esquire, M.A., M.P.
• William Robinson Boothby, Esquire, B.A., J.P., Sheriff of South Australia
• Samuel James Way, Esquire, Q.C., M.P.
• Allan Campbell, Esquire, M.R.C.P., Edin, J.P.
• John Michael Gunson, Esquire, M.D.
• John Anderson Hartley, Esquire, B.A., B.Sc., Lon.
• George Charles Hawker, Esquire, M.A., J.P.
• Marshall McDermott, Esquire, J.P.
• Adolph von Treuer, Esquire, J.P.

The Council met on 11 December 1874.  Richard Hanson was elected Chancellor, and Augustus Short the Vice-Chancellor.  A week later William Barlow was appointed the first (part-time) Registrar and Henry Ayers was appointed Treasurer.  A Finance Committee was established in 1887 to take over the function of the Treasurer.

The Council was vested with the entire management of the University including staff appointments and dismissals, subject to the statutes and regulations of the University. Council was empowered to elect a Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor and vacancies in Council were to be filled by election at Senate Meetings called for that purpose (or, prior to the constitution of the Senate, by nomination of the Governor).Council was empowered to make and alter any statutes or regulations with these being binding upon all members of the University and candidates for degrees once allowed by the Senate and Governor. Statutes Chapter I (subsequently Chapter 11) regulated the meetings and proceedings of the Council.

No major changes were made to the constitution of the Council until 1911, when under a revised Act five additional members were elected to Council by Parliament.

In 1971 under the new University of Adelaide Act, the membership was increased to 33, comprising 22 persons elected by the Convocation of Elders, 5 members of Parliament elected by Parliament, 4 members elected by the undergraduates and the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor ex officio.

The University of Adelaide is governed by its Council which is established by the University of Adelaide Act 1971.The University of Adelaide Council has not less than 12 and not more than 16 members; is chaired by the Chancellor; is advised by its 8 Standing Committees; and Council meetings normally occur eight times per year.

The Council's principal responsibilities include appointing the Vice-Chancellor & President as the chief executive officer of the University and monitoring his or her performance; approving the mission and strategic direction of the University, as well as the annual budget and business plan; overseeing and reviewing the management of the University and its performance; establishing policy and procedural principles, consistent with legal requirements and community expectations; approving and monitoring systems of control and accountability, including general overview of any entities controlled by the University (within the meaning of section 50AA of the Corporations Act 2001); overseeing and monitoring the assessment and management of risk across the University, including commercial undertakings; overseeing and monitoring the academic activities of the University; approving significant commercial activities of the University.

The Council must in all matters endeavour to advance the interests of the University.

Taken from:

• UAA Provenance Record UAR-0006
• The University of Adelaide, 1874 to 1974: A Statement of the Case for Supporting the University's Centenary Appeal.  1972.