University releases final restructuring plan
Published by the Communications
and Development Department
21 October 2003
The University of Canterbury today released its Restructuring
Implementation Plan outlining how it will achieve its new structure.
The new structure comprises four colleges — Arts, Business and
Economics, Engineering, and Science — and the School of Law. The
aim is to have the new structure in place for the beginning of 2004.
The plan is a result of an extensive consultation process.
This concluded with the release last month of a Restructuring Implementation
Design Proposal. There were 144 submissions in 554 pages received on
the proposal.
The plan released today, by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Bob Kirk
and Restructuring Project Leader Dr John Vargo, outlines:
• The composition of the offices of the four colleges
and the School of Law
• Academic processes and reporting lines
• A review of committees, some of which will remain,
others dissolved
• Updated business processes, such as provision
of IT, HR, and financial services
• The impact on staffing: changed roles, disestablished
roles, new roles
• Staffing selection procedures
In a joint statement Professor Kirk and Dr Vargo said there were very
clear, key reasons for making changes.
"We need to have a strong senior leadership structure to take the
University into the future, and an efficient and effective administrative
structure which enables us to put our resources and efforts into the
core business of teaching and research.
" We also have to move decision-making closer to where decisions
will actually be implemented and to establish a management structure
where all staff have clear responsibilities and accountabilities."
Of the 960 continuing (permanent) general (non-academic) staff at the
University, 350 were identified earlier in the process as potentially
being affected by the restructuring. The Final Restructuring Plan will
see 34 of these positions disestablished, while introducing 46 new positions
in College offices and departments.
Affected staff have a number of options open to them including applying
for positions in the new college offices and in some departments.
The complete plan can be viewed at Final
Plan.
For further information and comment contact:
Dr John Vargo
Restructuring Project Leader
University of Canterbury
Ph 03 364 2627
Email restructure@canterbury.ac.nz
