While many Australian universities have transitioned to newer structures such as Alumni Councils, UNE proudly retains this traditional body under the University of New England Act 1993 (NSW) and the UNE By-law 2005 (NSW).
At UNE, Convocation plays a vital role in fostering meaningful engagement across our community. Its primary function is to submit proposals to the University Council that it believes will benefit the University — offering a unique and valuable channel for the collective voice of our broader community to be heard at the highest levels of governance.
Become a Member of Convocation
While most of you are eligible members of Convocation, you must opt in to actively participate. This includes the ability to:
- Nominate as a candidate in Convocation elections
- Vote in Convocation elections
- Receive official communications, including meeting notices and proposal calls
To ensure you're included, please complete the Convocation Membership Form.
For the purposes of elections and formal participation, each member may be included in only one category. Please follow the hierarchy below and select the first category that applies to you. Once you qualify for a category, you are not eligible to participate under a lower one.
Membership Categories (choose the first that applies to you)
- Current or former member of UNE Council
If this applies to you, this is your category — stop here. - Current or former academic staff member
Full-time, part-time or casual. Only select this if you are not a current or former Council member. - Current or former professional staff member
Full-time, part-time or casual. Only select this if you are not a Council member or academic staff. - Graduate of the University (UNE)
Only select this if you do not qualify under any of the above categories (i.e. are not a Council member, academic or professional staff member).
Call for Nominations
The Standing Committee of Convocation, proposed in December 2022 and formally established in July 2023, currently includes 13 elected members whose terms will conclude on 27 July 2025.
Members of Convocation are now invited to submit nominations for the following positions on the Standing Committee:
- One (1) Chair of Convocation
- Six (6) graduates of the University
- Two (2) current or former academic staff of the University
- Two (2) current or former professional staff of the University
- Two (2) current or former members of UNE Council, or a member of Convocation invited by Council to be a member
For more information on each role and to access the nomination form, please visit the Standing Committee of Convocation Election webpage.
Notice of Elections
This email also serves as a notice that elections for the positions will be held following the nomination period, provided the number of candidates exceeds the number of available roles. To participate in this election, you must be registered as a member of Convocation. If you have not yet registered, please complete the Convocation Membership Form.
- Monday, 2 June 2025 – Nominations open
- 5 pm AEST Monday, 23 June 2025 – Nominations close
- 5 pm AEST Monday, 7 July 2025 – Voting opens
- 5 pm AEST Monday, 21 July 2025 – Voting closes
- Tuesday, 22 July 2025 – Election results announced to members
Upcoming Convocation Meeting
The next Meeting of Convocation will be held at 1:00pm AEST Friday, 6 June 2025. All members of Convocation will receive an email with a link to register to attend the meeting.
Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the University of New England. Your engagement in Convocation strengthens our community and contributes to the future of the University.
If you have any questions or require further information, please contact us at convocation@une.edu.au.
