Transition to new faculty arrangements

Thu May 15 2025 12:00:00 GMT+1200 (New Zealand Standard Time)

Transition to new faculty arrangements

Updated 8 January 2025

On this page:

7 January 2025 update

The new Faculty of Arts and Education and the expanded Faculty of Engineering and Design were established on 1 January 2025.

Confirmed academic leadership and professional staff structures for each of these faculties were established after extensive staff consultation in December 2024 and have also come into effect.

Professor Nuala Gregory is the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Education
Associate Professor Richard Clarke is the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Design.

Operational continuity guides

New intranet space

The new intranet section Arts and Education space has been created for Faculty of Arts and Education staff (findable through Search, and via the 'Faculty and other spaces' menu).

Operational support drop-in sessions

Operational support drop-in sessions are available every Monday and Thursday during transition, commencing Monday 6 January, until the end of March.

If you have a query or would like to join, email strategicinitiative@auckland.ac.nz.

Transition timelines

Arts and Education

1 January to 3 April 2025

Continuation of existing processes, most workflows continue unchanged
Professional staff structures for Student Support and Engagement Teams (SSE) and Academic Services Teams (AS) will run parallel to existing structures
Existing associate deans in roles that carry into the Faculty of Arts and Education will remain in place until 28 March 2025 to support handover and ease of decision-making

From 4 April 2025

Full implementation of new professional staff structures
SSE and AS Teams transition fully into the new faculty arrangements
Identify known processes likely to change over time and establish a process for gathering and managing feedback on transition challenges

Faculty of Engineering and Design

January to 3 April 2025

CAI programme directors, associate deans academic, associate deans learning and teaching, and Student Support and Engagement, and Academic Services staff continue in legacy roles to ensure admission, enrolment and concessions continuity
Orientation and semester one readiness
Consolidation of existing business continuity plans led by Risk Office

4 April 2025

Full transition to new professional staff structures

Faculty names

Following the Senate meeting on 11 November 2024, the Vice-Chancellor has confirmed that:

The new faculty will be known as the Faculty of Arts and Education
The expanded Faculty of Engineering will be known as the Faculty of Engineering and Design

Thank you to the staff and students who shared their feedback and helped shape these important decisions.

In partnership with the Office of Pro Vice-Chancellor Māori, a te reo Māori name was also gifted to the Faculty of Arts and Education: Te Pūtahi Mātauranga, which means “the confluence of knowledges/disciplines and of knowing.”

The Faculty of Engineering and Design is currently undergoing a similar process to determine its te reo Māori name, which will be announced shortly.

Committee structures

A review of the existing committee structures and faculty meetings from the (previous) four faculties has been completed and a proposed new structure has been drafted for consideration.

The approach is currently being reviewed by key senior academics across the faculties concerned, whose experience is crucial in shaping a governance model.

2024 milestones

August to December – implementation of transition plans
30 August to late October – consultation and review of professional staff and academic leadership structures
August to September – consultation on new faculty name and proposed new faculty structures
5 August – Nuala Gregory commenced as new dean
July – transition leadership teams formed, brand and identity work including staff engagement commences
June – University Council approval of new faculty arrangements after consultation

Transition and new faculty leadership

The transition is being managed through a structured framework consisting of three groups.

Transition Oversight Group

Purpose

Provides guidance and strategic direction to the deans, and overall transition governance to transitioning faculties and professional services leaders
Manages transition risk
Coordinates activities to ensure overall alignment and integration

Members

Frank Bloomfield
Te Kawehau Hoskins
Jemaima Tiatia-Siau
Adrienne Cleland
Valerie Linton
Andrew Phipps
Erik Lithander
Nuala Gregory
Richard Clarke
Greg Booth
Paola Boarin
Mark Barrow

Faculty transition leadership teams (FTLT)

Two teams have been established and are chaired by the appropriate dean, with membership drawn from the constituent faculties.

FTLT Arts and Education, chaired by Nuala Gregory
FTLT Engineering and Design, chaired by Richard Clarke

The two teams report to the Transition Oversight Group, and work with the Enabling Steering Group.

Enabling Steering Group and enabling teams

These will work with service divisions, the transitioning faculties, and the FTLTs to ensure the transition to the new arrangements is successful. They will focus on operational and logistical needs and will comprise a number of topic-specific enabling/risk management workstreams. The Enabling Steering Group reports to the Transition Oversight Group.

They are composed of:

Organisation design team: Lead, Kerryn Patten
Content management team: Leads, Kiri Coughlan and Mark Howard
Finance, data and reporting team: Leads, Pamela Moss and Helen Cattenach
Operational continuity team: Lead, Sharon Peace

Background

In March 2024, Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland proposed a change to its faculty arrangements for four faculties to enhance collaboration, interdisciplinary work, and research opportunities, positioning the institution for the evolving tertiary education environment.

The Arts, Creative Arts, Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences have been integral to the University's commitment to academic comprehensiveness and societal impact. These disciplines offer diverse programmes, research initiatives, and engagement activities that have prominence across the country. Despite their vital roles, they faced declining student demand over the past decade, leading to funding and resource allocation challenges, aligning with trends observed in universities nationally and internationally.

In response to the volatile tertiary education landscape, it is imperative that we adapt and evolve. To stay ahead, we need to be agile, innovative, and responsive while delivering high-quality education and impactful research. By realigning our faculties, we aimed to proactively shape our academic landscape, ensuring resilience to challenges and making strategic decisions that benefit students, staff, and the broader community.

Drivers for change

Enhance collaboration across and within faculties
Strengthen resilience in our areas of excellence
Enable increased strategic capacity for future success
Enhance inter- and trans-disciplinary research
Broaden career development opportunities for academic, professional and technical staff

Contact us

Have a question? Email strategicinitiative@auckland.ac.nz.