ANU looks to the future with realignment

The Australian National University (ANU) is taking steps to ensure the long-term sustainability and financial viability of the University.

As Australia’s national university, ANU serves the nation through transformational research and education. The University has new plans in place to ensure it can carry on this mission into the future.

“The University is currently facing a substantial financial challenge,” Vice-Chancellor Professor Genevieve Bell said.

“This is not a new challenge. Our expenses have climbed steadily since 2019, and our revenue has not kept pace, meaning we have been operating at a deficit for a number of years. Throughout 2024 we have been working to tackle this.”

As part of this plan, the University is proposing a reorganisation of its academic structure. All 42 existing schools, centres, and institutes will be retained, with eight to be moved to different colleges within the University. The realignment will reduce the number of colleges from seven to six.

The College of Health and Medicine (CHM) will be disestablished, and the new College of Science and Medicine (CSM) will host the University’s science and medicine activities. Three colleges will be renamed to reflect new or expanded areas of focus.

Full details of the new academic structure are available here.

“The realignment is one of a series of measures being undertaken by the University to adapt to changing operating conditions,” Professor Bell said.

“We have established an Expenditure Taskforce of leaders from across the University to identify opportunities for financial savings from our operational expenses, including our buildings, travel, software licensing and procurement practices.

“We have also introduced a series of new operational controls this year that are making us more efficient, including to our hiring practices, managing leave balances and reprioritising capital expenditure.

“Like all universities, ANU is facing headwinds in its operating environments. It is not going to be possible to grow our way out of persistent operating deficits by enrolling more students. We need to adapt to a changing policy landscape and broader economic forces by reshaping the way we do things.”

The changes will take effect from January 1 2025.

“The health, wellbeing and safety of our community remains our priority,” Professor Bell said.

“We are committed to consulting with staff on this proposal and will give genuine consideration to their views on solutions that help us return to sustainability.

“We will provide support to staff and students to ensure our community is well placed to continue to deliver research and education activities during this period of transition.”

“This change proposal has not been taken lightly. We will make all attempts to minimise the impact on our community, however some job losses will be unavoidable.

“We recognise this is hard, but these are changes we have to make. Without structural
intervention, the University will not be financially sustainable.”

Further details of the announcement, including FAQs are available here.