ACU, Strathfield

The Australian Catholic University is a national public university. It has seven campuses and offers programs in four faculties throughout Australia.

History

The Australian Catholic University was opened on 1 January 1991 following the amalgamation of four Catholic tertiary institutions in eastern Australia - the Catholic College of Education Sydney in New South Wales, the Institute of Catholic Education in Victoria, McAuley College of Queensland, and Signadou College of Education in the Australian Capital Territory.

The institutions that merged to form the university had their origins in the mid-19th century, when religious orders and institutes became involved in preparing teachers for Catholic schools and, later, nurses for Catholic hospitals. Through a series of amalgamations, relocations, transfers of responsibilities and diocesan initiatives, more than 20 historical entities have contributed to the creation of the university.

The university operates as a company limited by guarantee, under the Companies (Victoria) Code and has a constitution which identifies its objects in education, scholarship and research as part of the mission of the Catholic Church.

The university is a member of the publicly funded national system of Australian universities, the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the International Federation of Catholic Universities. The university's Vice-Chancellor is a member of the Universities Australia and its Board of Directors.

Organisational structure

The Vice-Chancellor is the chief executive officer of ACU and is responsible for representing the University both nationally and internationally and for providing strategic leadership and management of the University.

Deputy Vice-Chancellors have delegated responsibility for assigned areas of policy. These areas are Academic; Administration and Resources; Research and Students, Learning and Teaching. Associate Vice-Chancellors are based in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. They act as the Vice-Chancellor's representative in their local region, as do the Campus Deans at Ballarat and Canberra. The Vice-Chancellor is also assisted by the Faculty Executive Deans, the Academic Registrar and Directors with national portfolios.