Academic Governance

Margaret’s McDonald’s mother, Stella Honey, was an accomplished violinist and had played for a number of years with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.  In her memory, Dawson and Margaret agreed to establish in their estate a scholarship at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music to enable a talented music student to pursue excellence in stringed instruments.

The Academic Senate of the University has agreed to the foundation of a scholarship in the terms declared in these rules.

Rules

1. An amount of $750,000 from the estate of the late Dawson McDonald, together with any income (by way of interest earned) from time to time, forms the endowment of a scholarship to be called the “D & MV McDonald Scholarship in Music”.
2. The scholarship is to be awarded to a student who is enrolled in a course at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music at the University of Tasmania and whose principal instrument is violin or viola or cello.
3. The scholarship will be awarded by a selection committee comprising:
   • the Chair of Academic Senate, or nominee;
   • the Head of the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music or nominee;
   • the Head of Strings, the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, or nominee;
   • the Director, Student & Academic Services, or nominee.
4. The selection committee will award the scholarship to a talented student who is entering the final year of an undergraduate course, or an honours course, or to a student at another level in a course at the Conservatorium of Music which the committee, in its absolute discretion, deems appropriate.
5. The scholarship will be used to fund the student’s costs while studying at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music or to undertake tuition with a master musician affiliated with an institution of international standing in the United Kingdom.  Currently these institutions include the Royal College of Music in London, the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall College of Music but other institutions of international standing in music education may be approved by the selection committee from time to time in its absolute discretion.
6. The scholarship is tenable for one year but may be extended for a further year at the discretion of the selection committee,  provided the student studies full-time, or part-time if approved by the selection committee and continues to make, in the opinion of the selection committee, in its absolute discretion, satisfactory progress in the course.
7. The selection committee may terminate the student’s scholarship or suspend it for one year if it considers, in its absolute discretion, that the student’s progress is unsatisfactory.  If the scholarship is suspended, the selection committee may re-award the scholarship 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.
8. The Scholarships Management Committee will set the annual value of the scholarship having regard to the income of the fund of the endowment.
9. The Scholarships Management Committee will determine all other matters concerning the scholarship, including advertising, application procedures and the method and time of payment.
10. The selection committee will report annually to Academic Senate on offers made and the progress of candidates receiving the scholarship.

Made by Academic Senate on 31 October 2008