University of Newcastle

University of Newcastle

University of Newcastle
The earliest origins of the present-day University of Newcastle can be traced to the Newcastle Teachers College (est. 1949) and Newcastle University College , est. 1951).[7] was created as an offshoot of the New South Wales University of Technology (now known as the University of New South Wales) and was co-located with the Newcastle Technical College at  Hill.[8] At the time of its establishment, had just five full-time students and study was restricted to engineering, mathematics and science.[9] Throughout t, Newcastle residents campaigned for  to be re-constituted as a university in its own right. The campaign was ultimately successful, with the University of Newcastle being established as an autonomous institution on 1 January 1965 by gubernatorial proclamation under the. The new university was granted a heraldic coat of arms by the College of Arms in London, an event seen by many in the community as signifying the new institution's independence.[7] In 1966, the University relocated from Hill to a largely undeveloped  site in . As  grew, the University embarked on a major building program and redeveloped the  site into the Callaghan campus, named for Sir Bede Callaghan, foundation member of the University council and chancellor from 1977 to 1988.[10]Students at the university celebrate Autonomy Day on 1 July of each year. According to unverified sources, official autonomy was marked on 1 January 1965 with a "symbolic ceremonial bonfire held at the site of the Great Hall".[7] This celebration is said to have been officiated by Professor is said to have poured wine libations onto the ground as to "sanctify the land upon which the University rests".[7] Since the university technically became autonomous on 1 January 1965 autonomy day should be held on 1 January. 1 July actually coincided with the New South Wales University of Technology’s autonomy from the Public Service Board’s authority on 1 July 1954.[7] According to Don Wright, students interpreted Autonomy Day as celebrating the autonomy of the University of Newcastle from the University of New South Wales. The students were entitled to give the celebration whatever meaning they chose. The fact that they called it ‘autonomy day’ heightened the students’ sense of the importance of autonomy and their need to defend it against outside interference.[11]In 1989, the Dawkins reforms amalgamated the Hunter Institute of Higher Education with the University of Newcastle.[12] Newcastle Teachers College had been established in 1949 and was later renamed the Newcastle College of Advanced Education and finally the Hunter Institute of Higher Education as it had expanded its educational offerings beyond teacher education to nursing, other allied health professions, business, and fine arts. The Hunter Institute was located in a series of buildings on land immediately adjacent to the University at Callaghan and amalgamation expanded the campus to some 140 hectares. Under the reforms, the University also gained the Newcastle branch of the of Music located in the city's central business district.[13]In 1998, the university established a partnership with the, a Malaysian private business school. In 2002, Ian Firms, a lecturer, failed a large number of student papers from for academic dishonesty, but his actions were reversed by the Newcastle administration and he was discharged. He then appealed to the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption, which made a finding of corruption against Dr Paul Ryder, a failure by Vice Chancellor Roger Holmes in the execution of his duty and recommended disciplining the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Professor Brian English.[14][15]In 2003, the University of Newcastle, together with five other Australian universities, Griffith and Murdoch) established Innovative Research Universities Australia (.Forty years after obtaining autonomy, the University of Newcastle has developed a reputable position in national and international university standings; ranked in the 10–14 range of the 38 universities in Australia by the Shanghai  Tong University and 215th in the world by the Times Higher Education Supplement in 2007.[16]The Callaghan campus is the university’s main and largest campus. It is located in the Newcastle suburb of Callaghan situated approximately  (7 mi) from Newcastle. The campus is placed on 140 hectares (346 acres) of natural  within which the university’s numerous buildings are located.[20] The land is traditionally owned by the  Clan of the  people,[21] a connection which has been developed by the University and is seen as a selling point for academics.[22]Many of the university's operations are run out of the Callaghan campus, including student administration, course and degree program planning, and the university's Teaching and Learning division. All the major faculties are based on the campus. The campus also has access to the  and Huxley libraries. Various other facilities are available on the campus, including several sporting fields, a sports and aquatic  and four on-campus residential colleges (Edwards Hall, International House,  House and .[20][23]The University of Newcastle library consists of numerous libraries across a number of the university’s campuses. They include The  library, The Huxley library, The  library and the City Precinct library. The largest of these is The  Library on the Callaghan campus, which holds a significant traditional collection, including rare books and archives. In addition, the Callaghan campus has a smaller secondary library known as The Huxley library. This primarily supports a collection for a number of schools, including education, nursing, and fine arts. The  library on the Central Coast campus holds a collection of both university and  texts to facilitate the needs of the joint campus. An information common, similar to the one located in the  library, is also available. The City Precinct library is also part of The University of Newcastle library.[36]The whole  of the University library is available across any of its constituent libraries. The library is a member of the Council of Australian University Librarians. It also keeps New South Wales state archives that have been held by the university since 1975. The state archives reside within the University Archives, and consist of a university offers access to a number of sporting facilities across its campuses. The Callaghan campus has the majority of these facilities; this includes six sporting ovals,[38] squash & tennis courts, and a sports and aquatic manages these facilities through an organisation known as "The Forum".[39] "The Forum Sports & Aquatic , University" boasts an swimming pool, the second highest climbing wall in the southern hemisphere and various other sporting facilities.[40] It is also the site of training for sport teams including the Newcastle Knights from National Rugby League, the Newcastle Jets from the A-League and the Hunter Hurricanes National League Water Polo team. The Forum also has a near the Newcastle known as "The Forum, Health and Wellness.