Academic Governance

Leigh Donnelly was a successful engineer who worked in Tasmanian local government and for a number of statutory authorities.  Due to his family’s financial circumstances, Leigh’s engineering qualifications were pursued through evening classes while he worked full-time for a local engineering company.

After his sudden death in April 2003, his mother, Mrs Ivy Winifred Holmes, determined she would endow a bursary in Leigh Donnelly’s memory so that deserving students could be financially supported while undertaking their studies in the field of engineering.

Rules:

1. An amount of $50,000 donated by Ivy Winifred Holmes, together with any additional donations from time to time, and income (by way of interest earned) forms the endowment of the “Leigh Donnelly Memorial Bursary in Engineering”.
2. The bursary is to be awarded to a student with academic potential who is eligible to enter second year in the Bachelor of Engineering course, or a combined degree including Engineering, at the University of Tasmania and who intends to major in civil engineering. 
3. The bursary will be awarded by a selection committee comprising:
   1. The Chair of Academic Senate, or nominee;
   2. The Head of the School of Engineering, or nominee;
   3. James Benson Walker, Ivy Winifred Holmes’ lawyer, or his nominee;
   4. Ivy Winifred Holmes, while she wishes to be involved. 
4. The selection committee will set the detailed selection criteria having regard to the intention of the donor but in determining its selection, the selection committee will take account of the financial circumstances of applicants.   
5. The award is tenable for one year but may be extended by the selection committee for up to two additional years subject to the student:
   1. continuing in full-time study in the Bachelor of Engineering course, or in a combined degree including Engineering, in the civil engineering stream; 
   2. continuing to demonstrate financial need and not having received additional financial support from another scholarship or bursary;
   3. continuing to make, in the opinion of the selection committee in its absolute discretion, satisfactory progress in the engineering course.
6. The selection committee may terminate the student’s award or suspend it for one year if it considers, in its absolute discretion, that the student’s progress is unsatisfactory in any year.  If the bursary is suspended, the selection committee may re-award the bursary to the same student after that year if it considers, in its absolute discretion, that the student’s academic record during the year of suspension justifies that action. 
7. The annual value of the award will be $3000, or any greater amount determined by the selection committee having regard to the income of the fund of the endowment.
8. The selection committee will determine all other matters concerning the bursary, including advertising, application procedures and the method and time of payment.
9. The selection committee will report annually to Academic Senate on offers made and the progress of candidates receiving the bursary.