MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY

'Macquarie University' is an Australian university located in Sydney. It is ranked 7th in Australia and 82nd in the world by the UK's 2006 ''Times Higher Education Supplement''. More than a third of Macquarie University's students are enrolled in postgraduate programs, and just under a third of Macquarie's students are international students. The grounds of the University have creeks, grasslands, a lake, trees, a sculpture park and a marsupial farm. Macquarie University is a member of Innovative Research Universities Australia. The emblem of the university depicts Macquarie Lighthouse, the first and longest operating lighthouse in Australia.

Location

University publications and material indicate that its campus is located in the suburb of North Ryde, although the Geographical Names Board of NSW indicates it is located in the suburb of Macquarie Park. The University has its own postcode: 2109.
The grounds of Macquarie University contain the Macquarie University Research Park. The Research Park is a joint venture between Macquarie University and Baulderstone Hornibrook and is designed to attract high-technology organisations to the area. The University is also located adjacent to Macquarie Centre, a large shopping centre for the district.
Macquarie University is home to a large collection of outdoor sculptures, including 'Joy', alleged to be the only public statue of a prostitute in the world. The statue has a particularly eventful story: it was originally located in Darlinghurst, New South Wales, but was vandalized numerous times, including by a woman who believed that it bore too close a resemblance to her deceased prostitute daughter.^[1]

Macquarie City College

Unlike the majority of universities in Australia, Macquarie University has been a one-campus university (with the exception of a small office in Sydney's CBD for Macquarie Graduate School of Management and one in Manly for few courses) for much of its history. However in July 2007 'Macquarie City College' has been established in Wynyard, Sydney. Offering a number of programs for full-fee paying, mainly international students, the new college is to be operated by IBT Education (which also runs the Sydney Institute of Business and Technology in Macquarie's main campus), with Macquarie University providing quality control and conferring degrees.[1] Some academics have expressed concerns about how this joint venture will maintain its teaching quality, an issue also affecting other universities active in the burgeoning inner-city "shopfront campus" scenes in Sydney and other Australian cities.[2]

History

With the rapid expansion of Sydney's size and population in the 1960s, there arose a need for a third tertiary institution in the Sydney metropolitan area (in addition to the more centrally-located University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney). A future campus location was selected in what was then a semi-rural part of North Ryde, and - after much debate - it was decided that the future university be named after Lachlan Macquarie, an important early governor of the colony of New South Wales.
The Macquarie University was formally established in 1964 with the passage of the Macquarie University Act 1964 by the New South Wales Government, the University first opening to students in 1967. At the time the University was hailed as a "radical, bold experiment", with all students undertaking a single degree with a wide variety of subjects. While this is no longer the case, interdisciplinary study remains a defining feature of Macquarie University.
The Macquarie Graduate School of Management was subsequently established in 1969. In 1990 the University absorbed the Institute of Early Childhood Studies of the Sydney College of Advanced Education, under the terms of the ''Higher Education (Amalgamation) Act 1989''.
Macquarie University founded the Macquarie Trio musical ensemble, described as one of "Australia's top chamber music ensembles", in 1992, but the group was disbanded in August 2006.
In debating, the ''Macquarie University Debating Society'' hosted the Australian Intervarsity Debating Championships in 1993, won the Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships (Australs) in Tasmania in 1994 and the World Universities Debating Championship in Ireland in 1996. The University and the Society will host the Australian Championships again in 2008.
Macquarie University was the only university to offer an actuarial studies program in New South Wales for many years until the University of New South Wales began their program in 1998.
During the late 1990s the Macquarie University campus was used as an outdoor set by the soap opera ''Home and Away'' .

Restructure of student organisations amid fraud allegations

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian newspaper reported on May 4, 2007, that Macquarie University has "called in police after an audit raised serious questions about management of hundreds of thousands of dollars in funds by student organisations" ^[2] At the centre of this investigation is Victor Ma, member of the Liberal Party and president of the Macquarie University Students' Council (MUSC), who had previously been involved in a high-profile case of student election 'fixing' at the University of Sydney ^[3]. He is being investigated for "about $2400 spent on a Liberal Party fundraising dinner and whether there were fictitious employees on the MUSC payroll." Kyle Kutasi, secretary of the Students at Macquarie (SAM) student union, and former President of the Sydney University Liberal Club said he was unaware of movement of money. Sean Garman, a former Macquarie University Liberal Club president who boasted in 2006 that "we have whipped the Left (at Macquarie) like how sadists whip masochists", resigned as vice-chairman of MUSC. "I have been helping the university in some ways with their investigation." ^[4] This was raised previously in New South Wales Parliament by Labor MP Kristina Keneally in 2006.^[5]
Following a meeting of the University Council on on May 4 2007, the Council resolved to immediately remove the President of the student association Students At Macquarie (SAM), Victor Ma, from his position, as well as certain other SAM Directors not appointed by the University or elected by SAM staff. The action was necessary to ensure that student fees collected by SAM were not misused. The Vice Chancellor Professor Schwartz said “The issues that led to the removal of the outgoing SAM President convince me of the urgent need to reform Macquarie’s main student bodies to ensure that they are transparent, accountable and properly represent the needs of students rather than the self-interests of elected officials.” ^[6] Mr Ma responded by saying "I think there's a bit of character assassination going on," and "I can only wonder who's doing it." ^[7]
The Federal Court ordered on May 23 2007 that Macquarie University Union Ltd (MUUL), which traded as Students At Macquarie (SAM), and Venues At Macquarie would be wound up.
The winding up of these bodies paves the way for the establishment of the proposed new student organisation which will be managed by the University to ensure its operations are transparent and accountable. This organisation will be funded partly by membership of the student union and partly by the University and will properly represent the needs of students.
The board for this organisation is currently being established under a new legal entity. There is one student representative who is also the student representative on University Council. All board positions will be unpaid. ^[8]

Academic structure

The central courtyard at the heart of the campus, with the SAM building visible through the trees

College of Commerce

Division of Economic and Financial Studies

The Division of Economic and Financial Studies consists of:

★ Department of Accounting and Finance

★ Graduate Accounting and Commerce Centre

★ Department of Actuarial Studies

★ Department of Business

★ Department of Economics

★ Department of Statistics

★ Applied Finance Centre
The division has enjoyed very strong growth in recent years and is the largest academic division at the University and one of the largest commerce/economics divisions/faculties in Australia. Department of Economics is ranked top 6 among Australian universities' Economic Departments and top 25% around the world.

Macquarie Graduate School of Management

The Macquarie Graduate School of Management is a business school run by the University.

College of Humanities and Social Sciences

Australian Centre for Educational Studies

The Australian Centre for Educational Studies consists of:

★ School of Education

★ Institute of Early Childhood

★ Institute of Higher Education and Research Development

★ Macquarie University Special Education Centre (MUSEC)

Division of Humanities

The Division of Humanities consists of:

★ Department of English

★ Department of Ancient History

★ Department of Modern History

★ Department of Asian Languages

★ Department of Contemporary Music Studies

★ Department of European Languages

★ Department of Politics and International Relations

★ Department of Public Law

Division of Law

The Division of Law consists of:

★ Centre for Comparative Legal History

★ Centre for Environmental Law

★ Department of Business Law

★ Department of Law

★ Law and Property Rights Research Centre

Division of Society, Culture, Media and Philosophy

The Division of Society, Culture, Media and Philosophy consists of:

★ Department of Anthropology

★ Department of Critical and Cultural Studies

★ Warawara - Department of Indigenous Studies

★ Department of International Communication

★ Department of Media

★ Department of Philosophy]

★ Department of Sociology]

★ Institute for Women's Studies

★ Centre for Research on Social Inclusion

College of Science and Technology

Division of Environmental and Life Sciences

The Division of Environmental and Life Sciences consists of:

★ Department of Biological Sciences

★ Australian Proteome Analysis Facility (APAF)

★ National Key Centre for Biodiversity and Bioresources

★ Department of Chemistry and Biomolecular Sciences

★ Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

★ National Key Centre for Geochemical Evolution and Metallogeny of Continents (GEMOC)

★ Department of Health and Chiropractic

★ Department of Human Geography

★ Department of Physical Geography

★ Natural Hazards Research Centre

★ Graduate School of the Environment

Division of Linguistics and Psychology

The Division of Linguistics and Psychology consists of:

★ Department of Linguistics

★ Macquarie Centre for Cognitive Science (MACCS)

★ National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research (NCELTR)

★ Department of Psychology

★ Centre for the Integrative Study of Animal Behaviour

Division of Information and Communication Sciences

The Division of Information and Communication Sciences consists of:

★ Department of Computing

★ Centre for Language Technology

★ Department of Electronics

★ Department of Mathematics

★ Numeracy Centre

★ Department of Physics

★ Special Research Centre for Lasers and Applications

Affiliated organisations

★ 'Sydney Institute of Business and Technology' (SIBT) provides foundation courses and diploma (first-year university-equivalent) courses in economics, information technology and media studies for full fee-paying, mainly international, students. Upon graduation from the 1-year SIBT diploma program, SIBT graduates are eligible to enter Macquarie University degree programs directly at second year level, with full credit given for units completed. The SIBT compound is located in the center of the Macquarie University campus.

★ 'National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research' (NCELTR) provides English language courses for international students. NCELTR is located within the SIBT compound.

★ 'Macquarie Christian Studies Institute' provides theology courses, recognized by the University for the purpose of accumulating credit points towards gaining a university degree.

★ The 'Macquarie Dictionary', Australia's first and national English dictionary, was founded by Macquarie University. In October 2006 its publishing staff moved away from Macquarie University to the University of Sydney Library. However, Macquarie University retains the actual copyright to the Macquarie Dictionary.

★ 'Access Macquarie Limited', which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Macquarie University, and is the University's commercial arm. Access Macquarie has a subdivision: Centre for Policing, Intelligence & Counter Terrorism.

Library

Macquarie University contains several prime examples of the Brutalist architecture prevalent in the 1960-70's, the largest of which is the 'Macquarie University Library'. The Library hosts some intriguing pieces of art, ranging from portraits to depictions of nature.
The Library currently has over one million volumes.

Macquarie University Observatory

The Macquarie University Observatory was founded in 1978. It was originally used as a research facility, but since 1997 it has also been accessible to the public through its public observing program.
Dr. Alan Vaughan established the foundation of astronomy. Professor John Loxton opened the second dome which contains the 16" Meade telescope.

Student life

The university grounds, showing the lake and fountain

The university offers many types of programmes, from Bachelor's degrees through to Doctorate level qualifications. Courses may be offered as full-time, part-time or online.
The students' union 'Students at Macquarie' (SAM) provides its members with services and facilities such as food outlets, the fully licensed SAMbar, entertainment such as live music gigs and themed Bar parties, etc. The 'Macquarie University Students' Council Inc.' (MUSC Inc.) officially represents students, and has Legal Aid Services, Accounting Services and Academic Services, along with other student services. Postgraduate students are represented by the 'Macquarie University Postgraduate Representative Association' (MUPRA), a member of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations.
Macquarie University is nicknamed ''Club Mac'' (an allusion to Club Med), because Macquarie students supposedly have more holidays than their counterparts from the other universities in Sydney. This is only half-true, for while Macquarie students have longer holidays, they do not have pre-exam breaks ("stuvac" or studying vacation) as students from the other universities do. Typically, full-time undergraduate students attend classes for 26 weeks a year, this excludes exam time, which can add 1-4 weeks to each semester (depending on timetabling and individual circumstances).
A one-day alternative music festival was held on the Macquarie University campus in 1997 called ''Equinox'' (as it was held on the Southern Hemisphere Autumn equinox) - which included major international acts including Tool, Skunk Anansie and a then relatively unknown blink-182. Noise complaints were received from neighbouring suburbs including Epping and Beecroft. The cause was apparently the just constructed M2 Motorway as it had "channeled" the sound from university into the neighbouring suburbs , and thus no major rock concerts have been held at Macquarie since besides ''Conception Day''.

Conception Day

The biggest event at the university is ''Conception Day'', an annual festival organised by SAM. Traditionally held on the last day of classes before the September mid-semester break, the day is supposedly named after the day the university's namesake, Lachlan Macquarie, was conceived (although this is in fact impossible, since Lachlan Macquarie's birthday was on January 31). It features many bands, and a lot of sun and alcohol.
Conception Day is actually a celebration held on the anniversary of the day 9 months before the day the University opened.

Transport

Access to the university is primarily by means of bus and car. The nearest railway station is currently at Epping.
However, from 2008, the university will eventually gain its own station when the new Epping to Chatswood Line opens.

Accommodation

While the majority of students reside off-campus, there are several options on-campus for accommodation. Dunmore Lang College and Robert Menzies College are both traditional residential colleges, providing students with individual rooms and fully catered meals. Macquarie University Village provides townhouse style accommodation.

Sport

The University has a large number of sporting clubs and facilities, which are co-ordinated by Macquarie University Sport and Recreation Inc (MUSR). Clubs participate in local competitions and also send teams to the annual Eastern University Games and the Australian University Games. In what has been dubbed one of the most successful performances by a university at the Eastern University Games (2006), Macquarie University has claimed the Champions Trophy from defending champions, the University of Sydney. Macquarie University’s medal haul of 13 Gold, six Silver and two Bronze and is one of the most dominant performances by any university at the annual competition.
The Macquarie University Real Tennis Club is working to build a new court on university grounds to replace the old real tennis court, one of only four in Australia (and the only one in Sydney).
An 50 metre outdoor and 25 metre indoor swimming pool was unveiled in June 2007. There is a golf driving range on campus which is open to the public.

Partnerships

Macquarie University a member of the Consortium of Academic Stewards and the transcripting institution for The Scholar Ship.

References

1. 'White Slaves' & White Australia
2. Uni student fund audit sparks probe
3. SUPRA: Stupid Unaccountable Postgraduate Rip-off Association
4. Police to hunt for missing uni funds
5. Macquarie University Union Use of Student Funds
6. Macquarie University responds to mismanagement within its student organisations
7. Uni sacks student union head
8. New era begins for student organisations at Macquarie

External links

;General

★ Macquarie University

★ Students at Macquarie

★ Macquarie University Students' Council Incorporated

★ Macquarie City College
;History

★ 40 years - a visual history of Macquarie University 1964-2004 (Macquarie University Alumni Office)
;Other links

★ Centre for Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism

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