About the University Chancellors Council
Since 2004, the University Chancellors Council (UCC) has supported best practice governance of Australia’s university sector through ongoing engagement with our members and with stakeholders across the sector.
History of the UCC
In 2004, the UCC was established as the University Chancellors Conference. It was renamed in 2007 to the University Chancellors Council at the same time as the Australian Vice-Chancellors Committee (AVVC) formally moved to what it is known as today: Universities Australia.
Since its inception as the University Chancellors Conference in 2004, the UCC’s membership has been composed of Chancellors of Australian university members. The UCC exists as a means to Chancellors — and their governing bodies, and universities more broadly — to discuss, debate, and progress relevant areas of governance for Australian universities.
The UCC is supportive of best practice sharing across the sector, and supports Australian universities being well-equipped to carry out their missions of education and research in their local settings — recognising that there is a range of diversity across Australia’s higher education sector.
UCC Constitution
Constitutions are a legal requirement for not-for-profit organisations - sometimes referred to as rules or articles of an organisation or association. While the UCC is not an incorporated entity, our constitution ensures our members understand our purpose, composition, and governance arrangements.
The University Chancellors Council Constitution was formally adopted in 2007. It was amended on 6 May 2014 and ratified on the 19 October 2014 meeting.
The full constitution can be accessed below.
UCC Governance
The UCC recognises the imperative role of governance in both corporate and university setting — governing bodies are integral for the universities’ mission, outcomes, integrity, and risk management.
The UCC is governed by a voluntary group: the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is led by the UCC Convenor, who is nominated for a 3-year duration. The Convenor’s role is the Chair of the UCC and the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee is made up of ten Chancellors across Australia, representative of a range of university regions, localities, and groupings. They meet up to six times per year to review key areas for universities and their governance, and to advance focus areas for the UCC.