Campus Review Vol 32. Issue 02 - April - May 2022 | Page 4

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‘ Unacceptable ’

Melbourne University funding ban over male lineup .

Australia ’ s largest non-profit medical research donor has suspended funding to Melbourne University over a lack of gender equity and diversity in their honorary doctorates .

The Snow Medical Research Foundation , which grants three $ 8 million dollar scholarships each year , said Melbourne University ’ s decision to award six of its highest honours to male professors was ‘ unacceptable ’.
“ In the last three years , not a single honorary doctorate has been awarded to women or someone of non-white descent ,” the non profit wrote in a statement .
“ While it appears the policies on gender equality and diversity are in place , the outcomes do not align with the university ’ s stated goals .”
Melbourne University awarded honorary doctorates to six professors , including businessman Leigh Clifford and mathematician Sir Peter Donnelly .
Recipients are chosen by a selection committee , which includes chancellor Allan Myers QC and vice-chancellor Professor Duncan Maskell .
In an amended statement , Melbourne University said it had planned to award three women and one Indigenous man , but they were unable to attend .
“ While we acknowledge the areas where we need to improve , Snow Medical has made their decision on the basis of a single honorary doctorate event ,” the statement read .
“ Since 2019 , five of the six most recent senior leadership appointments within the university ’ s executive team are women .
“ We are in the process of finalising the university ’ s first Gender Equality Action Plan .”
Snow Medical has previously donated $ 24m to the Melbourne University Parkville campus .
Last year , it granted the university two of its Snow Fellowships , totalling $ 16m . ■

Face to face

Union says ACU forced staff onto campus .

The Australian Catholic University has been referred to health and safety regulators after allegedly forcing staff to return to campus .

The National Tertiary Education Union ( NTEU ) said ACU failed to consult its staff on plans to return to face-to-face learning , breaching work and safety obligations .
The union said the university waited four days before the first day of semester to release a COVID-19 risk assessment .
The school also failed to make air ventilation quality data available and provide guidelines on RAT testing , according to NTEU ACU branch president Leah Kaufman .
“ At the end of 2021 , our staff were informed that they would return to campus in January 2022 without regard for their circumstances , concerns , or preferences ,” said Kaufmann .
“ Staff are asking only for what the laws require , the opportunity to understand how ACU will ensure they return to healthy and safe campuses , what their role and responsibilities are , and an assurance that ACU is taking all the reasonably practicable measures to ensure their safety .”
The union has written to health regulators in Victoria , NSW , Queensland and the ACT to assist with the matter .
ACU chief operating officer Dr Stephen Weller denied claims that staff had been forced onto campus .
In a brief statement , he told Campus Review the university followed “ national test and isolate protocols ”.
The report follows similar action from staff at the University of Canberra ( UOC ) and Monash University .
Both universities were referred to health and safety regulators after failing to consult staff about returning to campus . ■
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