THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY was incorporated by an Act of the Legislature of New South Wales, which received the Royal Assent on the 1st of October, 1850. This Act was amended by subsequent Acts, enlarging the scope of the University, and the whole were consolidated in the University and University Colleges Act, 1900, followed by Amending Acts in 1902 and 1912. By a Royal Charter issued 7th February, 1858, the same rank, style, and precedence are granted to Graduates of the University of Sydney as are enjoyed by Graduates of Universities within the United Kingdom. By the University and University Colleges Act of 1900, and the subsequent Act of 1912, the University of Sydney is declared to be a body politic and corporate, consisting of a Senate constituted of four Fellows appointed by the Governor, one Fellow elected by the members of the Legislative Council, one Fellow elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly, five Fellows representative of the teaching staff of the University, ten Fellows elected by the graduates of the University, and three Fellows elected by the aforesaid Fellows. The Act of 1912 provided that in addition to the ten Fellows elected by the graduates, The Honorable Sir Normand MacLaurin and His Honor Judge Backhouse should each during his life be a Fellow of the Senate. The term of office of a Fellow is fixed by statute at five years, and at two years in the case of Fellows representative of the teaching staff. The term of the office of Chancellor is fixed by by-law at three years; that of the Vice-Chancellor is limited by statute to one year. In both cases the retiring officer is eligible for re-election. The Senate has power to appoint all Professors and other officers, and has the entire management and superintendence over the affairs of the University, with power to make by-laws governing the discipline, curriculum and other matters, which by-laws, however, must be submitted or the approval of the Governor. Elections of Fellows by the graduates of the University are conducted by means of a convocation of electors, consisting of the Fellows of the Senate, Professors, Public Teachers and Examiners in the Schools of the University, Principals of Incorporated Colleges within the University, Superior Officers declared by By-law to be such, and Masters, Doctors and Bachelors in any Faculty over the age of 21 years. Provision is made by statute for the transmission of votes by post. The Senate is empowered to give such instruction, and to grant such degrees and certificates in the nature of degrees as it thinks fit, in all branches of knowledge except Theology and Divinity. Women are admitted to all University privileges equally with men. The University has a statutory annual endowment of £30,000 from the Government of New South Wales, and it also receives special Parliamentary appropriations for specific purposes, including Evening and University Extension Lectures; Departments of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, of Botany, Organic Chemistry (Pure and Applied); Economics and Commerce; and Mechanical Engineering; the maintenance of Science Research Scholarships; Tutorial Classes and other purposes, Provision has been made by statute for a Chair of Architecture. The University also derives income from the Challis Fund for general purposes; from the Peter Nicol Russell Fund for the School of Engineering; the Fisher Fund for the Library, and the Fees of Students. There are ten Faculties in the University, viz., Arts, Law, Medicine, Science, Engineering, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Agriculture, Economics and Architecture. In the Faculty of Arts two Degrees are given-namely Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts. The curriculum of study for the Degree of B.A. extends over a period of not less than three years, during which students are required to attend lectures and pass examinations. The subjects of study are the English, Latin, Greek, French and German Languages, Ancient and Modern History, Oriental History, Mental Philosophy and Logic, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Geology and Palæontology, Botany, Zoology, Physiology, &c. |