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Under review
Changes to leadership , advocacy on the cards for UA .
Universities Australia ( UA ) might look a little different in the coming months , as the peak picks through a review into whether it is fit for purpose in 2021 .
Among the recommendations from the PhllipsKPA review , which UA ’ s board commissioned late last year , was that the group extends its advocacy to include “ matters of broader national significance ”.
While the full findings of the review have not been publicly released , UA detailed other recommendations in a statement , including that it considers the appointment of independent board members and a nonexecutive independent chair , and enhances the role of the chief executive .
Chair Professor Deborah Terry said UA members will now have an opportunity to engage in formal consultations on the details .
“ The review provides a robust and very useful framework for Universities Australia members to consider ,” Terry said .
“ We look forward to commencing a full consultation process with members in order to carefully consider the recommendations and next steps .”
Stephen Gerlach , chair of the University Chancellors ’ Committee ( UCC ), said members had an initial briefing with Terry in regards to the review .
It was reported that UCC last year called for the review and Gerlack later spoke to The Australian about “ disquiet among members of the UCC … about the deterioration in the relationship with the federal government ”.
Speaking after UCC ’ s meeting with Terry , Gerlach said : “ Chancellors appreciate the enhanced engagement between us and … look forward to further consulting with UA and vice-chancellors in that regard in due course .” ■
Comms confusion
US university mistakenly sends out 500,000 acceptance letters .
Thousands of high schoolers in the US have received a letter of acceptance to attend an institution they never applied to .
The University of Kentucky ’ s ( UK ) College of Health Science typically admits around 35 to 40 students a year but a “ technical issue ” saw acceptance letters sent via email to 500,000 prospective students , the NBCaffiliated Lex 18 reported .
In March , seniors received the following email : “ We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the selective Clinical and Management program in the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences for the Fall 2021 .”
Within 24 hours , they received a follow up email from Scott McDonald , the university ’ s dean of undergraduate admission . It explained that a technical issue meant the message was sent in error .
“… when we make mistakes , we own them . This is one of those times ,” the letter read .
“ We sincerely apologise for any confusion that the message may have caused .”
McDonald also seized the opportunity to add he hoped prospective students would “ explore what ’ s wildly possible ” for them at UK .
University spokesperson Jay Blanton told Lex 18 that “ only a handful of those on the prospect list had been admitted to UK . The vast majority had not , nor had the vast majority of these students expressed an interest in the program . Nevertheless , we regret the communication error ...”
Last year , New York ’ s Syracuse University sent out dozens of acceptance letters to students who were not offered a place at the university . Syracuse also cited technological issues as the culprit .
Similarly , Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania mistakenly sent acceptance letters to 800 applicants to its master ’ s program in computer science and rejected them soon after .
In a blunder with less potentially harmful consequences , the University of Sydney in 2014 accidentally sent out acceptance notifications 12 hours before they were intended to be released . ■
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