Three Australian universities have announced they will have to slash jobs and pay after reviewing yearly finances, with one even reducing the pay of its vice-chancellor. The Australian National University (ANU) is facing a projected $200m deficit this year and ...
More »JCU finds more underpaid staff
James Cook University (JCU) has launched a review into its payroll system amid concerns thousands of staff have been underpaid. The “historical compliance concerns” relate to casual employee payments across the north Queensland university, which has staff mainly based in Cairns ...
More »JCU professor allegedly threatens staff member to meet targets
A senior female worker alleges a leading professor at James Cook University (JCU) said he would “spear her” if she failed to dramatically increase Indigenous enrolments, which he later claimed was just a "joke". The 65-year-old woman, who wishes to ...
More »From student to chancellor: JCU appoints Indigenous leader to top position
James Cook University has elected its first Indigenous female chancellor who aims to solidify the North Queensland-based university as a top choice for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander students. Professor Ngiare Brown, one of the first Aboriginal medical graduates in ...
More »How JCU improved student engagement with online learning materials – podcast
When the pandemic hit Australian university campuses in March 2020, institutions were scrambling to transition to online learning. However, as luck would have it, in the first months of 2020, educational designer Frances Cochrane was in the early stages of ...
More »Former JCU academic Peter Ridd loses High Court case, but academic freedom gets a win
The High Court has upheld the sacking of controversial academic Dr Peter Ridd by James Cook University, putting an end to a near four-year battle. On Wednesday, the five justices of the High Court unanimously dismissed Dr Ridd’s appeal, but ...
More »Finding the best of times in the worst of times – opinion
The scenario for universities in 2013 appeared uncertain. Foreshadowed budget cuts to higher education suggested the worst of times may be on the near horizon. But who could have foreseen the “challenging” and “unprecedented” times that would follow just seven ...
More »HEDx Podcast – The best of times, the worst of times – Episode 35
Sandra Harding, as Australia's current longest serving VC of a single Australian university at JCU in Townsville, joins the HEDx team. She reflects on how the sector's leaders and staff are feeling and of the culture change that is needed for ...
More »Ridd gets green light to fight dismissal case in High Court
The High Court will hear former James Cook University professor Peter Ridd's unfair dismissal case. In a message sent yesterday to contributors to his crowdsourced legal fund, Ridd said he was “naturally relieved and happy that the highest court in ...
More »Research refutes belief that ADHD is just bad behaviour
Evidence shows that ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disability and its symptoms shouldn’t be simply put down as bad behaviour. That’s something Associate Professor Helen Boon from James Cook University wants cleared up in schools. Boon said there was still some ...
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