UCOL council loses 5 seats

UCOL stripped its council from 13 to eight members yesterday, removing guaranteed seats for a student, staff members and a labour representative.

The changes follow the Education (Polytechnics) Amendment Bill, which was passed in December. It requires polytechnics to appoint four council seats and the Government four more.

Previously, nine members were elected by the council and places were reserved for a student, academic, staff, and iwi representatives. The four remaining places were ministerial appointments.

Councillors unanimously agreed that an iwi-elected representative and the UCOL chief executive will retain their guaranteed seats on future councils, leaving only two seats on offer.

Association of students @ UCOL president Jo Hymers told councillors that losing the student's seat would harm the institute.

"Good governance is about strong relationships with diverse stakeholder groups," she wrote in her appeal. "The student works closely with UCOL students, will facilitate assorted student meetings and has the ability to utilise ... around 300 [student representatives]."

Following her comments, the council decided to consider creating a committee to represent students. Students can also be elected to the two empty seats.

The council also agreed on a new statute which outlined the skills nominees required.

UCOL chief executive Paul McElroy said the statute aimed to create a balance of representatives.

Applicants' gender, ethnicity, and location will be considered, as well as skills such as tertiary knowledge, governance experience, business background and leadership qualities.

Mr McElroy said he "broadly supported" the council's downsizing, but it was too early to tell what effects it would have.

During the transition period, starting on May 1, chairman Duncan Milne, iwi representative Wiremu Te Awe Awe, finance and resourcing chairman Malcolm Pettman and Mr McElroy will represent UCOL, along with the Government's four pending nominees.

The transitional period ends on April 30 2011, at which time the council will elect new representatives. Appointments made by the Government will be held for up to four years.

- © Fairfax NZ News