The Integration Project Committee (IPC) continues to meet monthly and it is pleasing to report that integration issues are progressing well.

An Implementation Plan Framework has been approved by IPC. This applies to the Period of Transition and identifies the actions required under the Heads of Agreement.

Protocols for the Period of Transition have also been approved. These recognise that both parties will be working closely together during the period of transition and wish the negotiations to be concluded in good faith and with mutual respect to build on the trust and goodwill that already exists between them.

Academic Issues:

The Academic Working Party is progressing discussions in regard to academic issues. An investment plan for the allocation of Commonwealth funding in support of integration initiatives has been developed and approved by both AMC and UTAS Councils.

Administration Issues:

Significant progress is being made by the Administration Working Party in regard to the integration of administrative areas:

A number of joint appointments have been made to facilitate integration of staff under a common management structure.

• Student Services
  Three AMC student counselling/student support staff, Cheryl Jones, Andrea Edwards and Merran Thurley have been provided with Joint Appointments with UTAS, which took effect from 15 February 2007. They are physically located in the UTAS Student Services building.
• Library
  AMC Library staff Andrew Parsons, Michelle Stevens, Halina Rybczyk, Leonie Alis and Maria Soroka have been provided with Joint Appointments, which took effect on 5 March 2007.

A number of other joint appointments are currently being considered.

Redeployment of Jenny Swaffield to UTAS Payroll Officer position
Jennifer Swaffield, from AMC, has accepted an offer of redeployment to the position of Payroll Officer within Financial and Business Services, based in Launceston. She took up her appointment on 2 March 2007.

Appointment of Change Management and Workforce Planning Adviser
Kellie Peart, UTAS Manager Workforce Planning and Change will provide advisory services to AMC staff in respect to these important issues.

Appointment of Human Resources Adviser (AMC)
Christene Sytsma has been appointed to the position of HR Adviser - AMC. Christene and Kellie will be visiting AMC shortly to meet relevant people face-to-face. Christene will also have a work space in Human Resources at AMC.

Project Office

Kelli Roach from AMC Human Resources has accepted a role as Unity Project Support Officer from 19 March 2007.

Working groups:

Working groups have been established for a number of areas including Staffing matters/Human Resources, ICT, Library, Student Services, Academic and Related Services, Accommodation Services, Academic Asset Management/Property Services, Financial Services, Marketing and Communications and UBEs. These groups will be charged with reviewing services, systems, processes and general University cost items and preparing an integration implementation plan to unify services for approval by IPC, through the Administrative Working Party.

ICT:

A high level Business Plan for the integration of ICT Business Services has been endorsed by IPC. The agreed priorities are:

Integration of the telecommunication networks
Re-alignment of AMC’s business processes and functions to those of the University around:

• Identity management
• Student services
• Human resource management
• Financial management

Identification of further activities that may form part of a subsequent project to further integrate the ICT infrastructure and business services of both institutions

Library:

A detailed implementation plan has been endorsed by IPC for the integration of library services. The plan has four main phases:

Phase One will see the establishment of working groups to oversee the integration of library services, collections and infrastructure. These groups will develop integration models and implementation plans that include timelines and budget requirements. Phase One will be completed by 30 September 2007.

Phase Two involves the implementation of integrated client services and collections, application of the UTAS branch library model to the AMC Library services and job roles, and integration of a range of infrastructure services. Phase Two aims to be completed by 1 January 2008; however implementation timelines are highly dependant on the outputs and timelines of administrative working groups in the areas of human resources, information technology services, and student enrolment.

Phase Three will provide for further integration of infrastructure services, refinement of job roles for staff, and de-commissioning of any AMC library systems that are initially run in parallel with UTAS library systems. Phase Three will proceed throughout 2008.

Phase Four will involve the delivery of a fully integrated Library service once a new library has been built for the Newnham campus, as identified in the Launceston Blueprint and the UTAS Capital Master Plan.

Communication Plan

A Communication Plan has been developed and additional project support to focus on this important issue is being arranged. The President of AMC has scheduled a number of meetings with AMC staff to discuss integration issues. AMC held an Industry Forum on 5 February at which attendees received an update on integration issues.

Progress reports on integration are made to each AMC and UTAS Council meeting.

AMC's Director Corporate Services and Registrar is issuing staff bulletins to AMC staff on a regular basis. Fortnightly meetings of AMC management are focusing on integration issues.

The University's Senior Management team is being briefed regularly on integration progress.

Articles are currently being prepared for UniTas to publicise within UTAS a number of integration issues, including an interview with Professor Pourzanjani.

Back to Updates Page