The College of Law Academic Board
The College of Law Academic Board (COLAB) was created on 16 August 2005 to oversee academic governance.
Main Accountabilities
The COLAB’s main accountabilities are:
- to oversee academic policy
- to assure the quality of the College’s programs, and
- to report and make recommendations on matters of academic policy and quality to the Board of Governors of TCOL Ltd.
Quality assurance of the College’s programs includes, but is not limited to:
- review of new course proposals
- periodic review of existing courses
- promotion of a high standard of teaching and learning in all programs
- monitoring the development, improvement and maintenance of curriculum, including assessment and documentation
- monitoring student progress, including graduation
- monitoring course evaluations
- monitoring continuous improvement processes
- oversight of academic committees
- oversight of academic appeals process
- oversight of scholarship and research
- oversight of academic staff development
- responding to requirements and recommendations of external accreditors, regulators and auditors
Functions and Terms of Reference
In making any decision or recommendation to the Board of Governors, the COLAB is guided by the following terms of reference:
The COLAB will also have regard to:
Structure and Membership
The Chair of the COLAB is appointed by the Board of Governors and the agenda (and any determinations of the COLAB) are managed and implemented by the General Manager, Education and/or the COLAB Secretary. The internal members are ex officio members with the exception of the senior member of academic staff who is elected for a two year term. The external members are appointed by the Board of Directors; there should always be a minimum of two external members.
The COLAB is currently constituted by:
- the Chair the General Manager, Education - Lewis Patrick
- the Deputy Chair (an external member) - Justice Robert Benjamin
- the Academic Principal - Neville Carter
- a senior member of academic staff (elected) - Judy Bourke
- an external education academic - Professor Robert Meyenn (CSU)
- an external law academic - Professor Ross Grantham (UQ)
- an external law firm member - Lisa Gaddie (Partner, Lander and Rogers)
- the Director, Academic Policy and Quality (Secretary) - Adrian Deans
The COLAB meets quarterly.
Subcommittees
Committees Reporting to The College of Law Academic Board (COLAB)
In order to give effect to its various functions, the COLAB operates via some specialist committees with specific terms of reference and which report as required to the COLAB:
Academic and General Grievance Committees Reporting to The College of Law Academic Board (COLAB) via the Group Course Committee (GCC) or the Board of Governors
The following committees are convened on an ad hoc basis and submit reports to the COLAB as required:
In August 2007, the COLAB determined to create a new sub-committee with the role of considering new course proposals and evaluating existing courses. More 
The Research and Scholarship Committee co-ordinates and drives research activities at the College with the aims of developing knowledge in support of the College's Principles in Research and Scholarship. More
The College's Curriculum Advisory Committees have been established to advise course leaders and the COLAB about the impact of local conditions on program curriculum and to recommend changes. More
The Group Course Committee deals with the day-to-day administration of the curriculum and attendant policies. More
The Assessment Review Committee convenes at the end of every course and endorses lists of graduands for completion/graduation. More
The Academic Appeals Committee (AAC) reviews student appeals from any decision of the Assessment Review Committee (ARC) or from any decision of the General Manager, Education in respect of a finding or investigation of academic misconduct. More
The External Appeals Panel reviews student appeals from any decision of the Assessment Appeals Committee (AAC) in respect of a finding or investigation of academic misconduct. More
The Work Experience Committee (WEC) is an administrative delegation which ensures compliance with the Work Experience Component Rules. More
Pursuant to the Work Experience Component Rules, where the Work Experience Committee (WEC) makes a determination with which a student wishes to take issue, an appeal lies to the Work Experience Appeals Committee. More
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