Australian National University Enterprise Agreement 2005-2008

Part Three — Employment Conditions | Section 2 — Hours of Work and Workloads

31. Workloads

31.1 The parties acknowledge that the University's Staff Workloads Policy, developed by Working Parties formed as a result of the ANU Enterprise Agreement 2000 - 2003, is the basis on which academic and general staff workloads will be managed. The University will ensure that supervisors are aware of their responsibilities under the University's Staff Workloads Policy and that staff are aware of the principles and procedures of the policy to assist the managing of workloads.

31.2 The ordinary hours of work for general staff are given at clause 26, including designated part time fractions.

31.3 It is recognised that academic staff at the ANU frequently work hours well beyond the community standard across most sectors. In line with many professions, academic staff regulate their own hours. This flexibility is an important part of academic life and enables work patterns to match teaching and research requirements.

31.4 Academic workload is a combination of self directed and assigned tasks. The assigned proportion of an academic's work will include, for example, teaching and preparation for teaching, assessment, supervision and the necessary administrative work associated with teaching and research in a collegial environment.

31.5 The remainder of an academic staff member's working time is discretionary in that it is self-directed. It is the time in which staff members conduct research or other scholarly activity as required by their appointment to the University. The amount of discretionary time will vary from one member to another and from one area of the University to another. In some professional schools, for example, the teaching requirements of the University may be greater than in other areas.

31.6 Assigned activities will not be so great as to preclude a reasonable balance with self directed activities in which the staff member is engaged. The supervisor will ensure that the average weekly tasks assigned facilitate that balance.

31.7 The parties recognise that the ratio of students (EFTSU) to non-casual staff (non-casual FTE) with teaching duties is a measure of the demand on staff time. If allowed to increase unreasonably it can compromise the quality of the University's teaching and research training programs. It is recognised, however, that many factors can affect student-staff ratio, including the staffing profile of a faculty, school or centre, and changes in enrolment patterns. Nevertheless, except in those circumstances where the University has an established target for growth (e.g. Medical School), the University will use its best endeavours to:

31.7(a) ensure that current student staff ratios by discipline will not increase from 31 August 2003 when averaged over a 3 year period; and

31.7(b) reduce those ratios wherever possible.

31.8 If, at 31 August 2005, the averaged student staff ratios (referred to in paragraph 31.7(a)), have increased other than as a result of existing growth targets referred to in 31.7, the parties, in consultation with staff of the relevant work area, will then act in accordance with the principles of the Staff Workloads Policy to ameliorate increased demands on staff time.

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