HDR COMMITTEE

1. PURPOSE

The Crawford Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Committee oversees, manages, and implements ANU policy on higher degree by research, and leads on non-routine HDR-issues of school-wide significance as appropriate to promote a high quality and supportive environment for PhD students. It advises and/or seeks approval from the Director and Executive group on all relevant HDR-related issues and other relevant tasks assigned by the School Director.

2. RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review and provide feedback to the College and University on HDR-related matters as representative of the School 


• Review and align School HDR requirements with college- and university-wide HDR policies and changes 


• Disseminate information regarding relevant University and broader policy developments 


• Oversee the PhD student experience at the School, including academic skills provision 


• Promote HDR student academic welfare through regular PhD student seminars, workshops, and other development events 


• Promote quality and rigor of PhD programs through planning and review of coursework requirements 


• Promote quality and rigor of PhD programs through review of all HDR milestones, coordination of PhD student presentations, proposals, outcomes, and examination reports 


• Advise on academic matters relating to the PhD 


• Advise on administrative matters relating to the PhD

• Advise the Executive on issues relating to PhD 


• Advise on other matters referred to it by the Crawford Executive 


• Review, evaluate, deliberate, and where relevant, endorse applications, scholarships, and research funding (via a sub-committee that excludes the student representatives on the grounds of privacy and confidentiality considerations)

3. MEMBERSHIP

• Director, HDR (Chair), appointed for a period of two-to-three years with the possibility of having tenure extended with approval from the Director, Crawford School. Must have experience in PhD completions at Crawford

• Program Convenors for ACDE, POGO, READ, and National Security, each appointed for a period of two-to-three years with the possibility of having tenure extended with approval from the HDR Director. Where possible, they should have experience in PhD completions at Crawford

• PhD Academic and Research Skills Advisor, ongoing appointment

• CAP-HDR Student Administrator, ongoing appointment

• Two student representatives, at least one of whom is female, appointed for one year. Students may be re-appointed if there are no nominees for an election

4. MEETINGS

• Meetings held every second month 


• Members who cannot attend send apologies and, where possible, a proxy

• A quorum will consist of the Chair, and a majority of total committee members 


• Secretarial support is provided by the CAP HDR Student Administrator, and meeting proceedings are formally minuted

• Minutes are provided for distribution to the School Executive 


• Outside of the regular meetings, the Chair may lead electronic consultations on HDR-related matters, such as review and evaluation of Crawford funding requests

All committee members

• May attend and speak at the committee meetings

• Have their attendance minuted when minutes are being taken

• May request that the Chair invites an additional person or persons to attend a particular session

• May propose items for the agenda to the Chair

• Are provided with the agenda papers

• Are expected to read the agenda papers and minutes when available

• May be assigned action items by the committee