THE National Tertiary Education Union has filed a freedom of information application about the appointment of University of New England chief operating officer David Cushway.
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NTEU branch president Tim Battin announced the application at a public meeting addressing concerns about the appointment of a new chancellor for the university.
The union has requested a list of the appointment committee members, copies of the report, selection criteria for the position, the number of applicants and shortlisted candidates.
It has also requested figures showing how much recruitment agencies were paid as part of the process.
Tim Battin said the university’s response to media reports about Mr Cushway’s relationship with former chancellor Ricard Torbay required some scrutiny.
“It said he was appointed following a national search; a national search that turned up someone at Guyra,” he said.
“How much money did we spend on this national search?”
The meeting, comprised mainly of university academics, passed a motion calling for a more inclusive process when appointing the next chancellor.
Former UNE Council member Jeanne Madison said the academics, students and Armidale residents needed to have a greater say in the appointment of the chancellor.
“We need a broad and inclusive nomination process involving a shortlisting committee which is representative of the university community,” she said.
The UNE Council will determine a replacement for Mr Torbay at its business meeting next week.
Vice-chancellor Jim Barber sent an email to all university staff members last week reaffirming senior management’s support for Mr Cushway.
“If David is ever formally charged with or found guilty of anything, I will of course reconsider my position, but until then I have no right to act as his judge and jury,” he said.
