Staff call for no more job cuts after ANU chief quits
Jacob Shteyman and Zac de Silva |
Angry Australian National University staff say the institution must “heal” after a year-long public relations saga culminated with the resignation of embattled vice-chancellor Genevieve Bell.
Professor Bell is stepping down after widespread pushback over a $250 million cost-cutting program that raised the ire of academics and students.
ANU academic and long-term critic of Prof Bell’s management, Dr Liz Allen, said there were “huge emotions” across the university community.
“The ANU has copped a beating reputation-wise,” the demographer told AAP.
“There must be significant repair now to rebuild and restore faith in the national university.”
Earlier this year, Dr Allen used an emotional address at a parliamentary hearing to accuse the Canberra institution’s Chancellor Julie Bishop of bullying, allegations she denies.
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare wished the outgoing vice-chancellor well.
“The resignation of the vice-chancellor and the appointment of her successor are matters for the ANU Council,” he said in a statement.
“Significant governance concerns at ANU have been raised with me.
“That’s why I’ve referred ANU’s governance to (education standards agency) TEQSA for assessment.”
Prof Bell, a former anthropologist, was appointed vice-chancellor at the beginning of 2024 and soon after instigated plans for widespread job cuts as part of a mission to reduce costs by $250 million.
Management argued the university’s financial situation was unsustainable and widespread change was needed to arrest its slide down the international rankings.
Prof Bell said her resignation was not an easy decision.
“Like the rest of our community, I believe firmly in our delivering on our national mission – to create and transmit knowledge through research and teaching of the highest quality,” she said.
“And know that doing this requires a solid financial, cultural and operational foundation.
“Achieving such a foundation has been difficult and this has been a very hard time for our community.”
The restructure caused widespread anger on campus, and in March hundreds of ANU staff members passed a vote of no confidence in Ms Bishop, a former minister in the previous coalition government.
Student protests spread across the university in August as tensions escalated.
“Distinguished Professor Bell will be undertaking a period of leave, and will return to the ANU School of Cybernetics in due course,” Ms Bishop said in a statement.
“On behalf of the ANU Council, I thank Distinguished Professor Bell for her service as Vice-Chancellor and President of our University.”
The resignation was welcomed by the National Tertiary Education Union, which met with Ms Bishop earlier on Thursday morning.
“The announcement of the vice-chancellor’s departure must also be accompanied by an announcement that all forced redundancies will now cease,” ACT Division Secretary Lachlan Clohesy said.
“Nobody takes delight in the situation of the Australian National University at the moment.
“We welcome this development. But we also need to recognise the incredible toll the last two years have taken on the ANU community, and that will take time to heal.”
ANU Provost Rebekah Brown will take the reins as interim vice-chancellor.
AAP
