ANU council endorses music school cuts

The future of the Australian National University’s music school is now being decided, with submissions on plans to cut staff and restructure the degree program closing last Friday. The National Tertiary Education Union has expressed disappointment at the university council’s decision to endorse the plan even though the submission period has only just ended. The council has given its full support to the current plan, which would mean 32 jobs at the school are reduced to 20, with all current staff having to reapply for their positions, and the Bachelor of Music redesigned reflect the contemporary music industry. Among the more controversial changes would be a reduction in one-on-one musical instrument lessons, which are expensive to provide, although the university has said it is looking at ways to give more access to such classes. In a statement, university chancellor Gareth Evans said that the council supported the plan as the present curriculum and staffing arrangements were financially and academically unsustainable. “Council was strongly of the view that the school of music has been a wonderful resource not only for ANU, but for the Canberra community and indeed the whole nation, and that it was particularly important in this context that its performance teaching stream remained credible and viable,” Evans said. “Council acknowledged that Canberra was clearly underdone in terms of support for music performance, especially for the Canberra Symphony Orchestra, by comparison with other capitals. While ANU was prepared to continue contributing significantly to meeting this need, it was crucial that the ACT and federal governments as well as the philanthropic community, all played their part.” But the NTEU has said the council has missed an opportunity to confront the “increasingly disastrous” situation at the music school, saying the plan will result in huge reputation damage alongside causing the loss of many jobs. “The council had the benefit of knowing the enormous human and reputational damage the vice-chancellor’s proposal for the school has generated,” said ACT division secretary Stephen Darwin. “Yet they failed to act and, worse still, they have effectively endorsed this ill-conceived proposal. “Today’s decision by the ANU council appears to give the green light to the mass sackings of school staff and the irreversible loss of the enormous musical teaching talent and support staff. It is conspicuous that no support at all was offered by council to school staff or students.” A university spokeswoman said it would now consider the submissions it has received, before making a final decision on the future of the school in the coming weeks.

ANU council endorses music school cuts

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Australian Signals Directorate

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