Governing body backs Sydney University boss Mark Scott amid resignation calls

The newest member of Sydney University’s senate has publicly backed under-fire vice chancellor Mark Scott as a group of professors continues to push for his resignation.

The University of Sydney Association of Professors, led by Professor Manuel Graeber, who is suing the institution after he was sacked last year due to allegations of serious misconduct, which he denies, has released a statement calling on new leadership at the university.

Sydney University vice chancellor Mark Scott.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

It said the association was “deeply concerned” and claimed a change in leadership was necessary to restore trust.

“We urge the university senate to consider selecting a new vice chancellor from among senior academics in agreement with staff, with a focus on restoring the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, staff well-being, student success and community service,” the statement read.

The move follows intense political pressure on Scott stemming from the pro-Palestinian encampment and allegations of antisemitism, which has included a call by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton for the vice chancellor to resign.

Last month, Scott apologised to Jewish students and admitted that he “failed them” in the university’s handling of the protests.

Contacted by the Herald, senate member Tom Calma, who was appointed in June, confirmed that he and others backed the vice chancellor.

“As a senate, we are behind what the vice chancellor does and he clears things with the senate,” he said.

The senate is the governing authority of the university and oversees all major decisions.

Professor Ian Hickie, co-director of health and policy at The University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre, also supported the vice chancellor and said USAP was a “narrow and isolated” group.

Tom Calma is backing the vice chancellor.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“It has a very small number of academics and mostly disgruntled professors,” he said. “A number of whom have their own specific HR and industrial issues with the universities.”

Hickie said the university had underperformed and Scott’s changes to the management structure were necessary.

“What this vice chancellor has done is create a much more cohesive leadership group of around 200 senior academics and related professional staff,” he said.

“He has worked closely with that group on really hard issues around the future of the higher education sector, social licence to operate, funding mechanisms, student experience and quality research.

“We have to get our own house in order. There are individuals who don’t want to hear that.”

Scott, a former ABC managing director and NSW Education Department secretary, was appointed vice chancellor in 2021 amid resistance from some staff who believed the role should be filled by an academic.

A Sydney University spokeswoman dismissed the new call for the vice chancellor’s resignation, saying the association was small and did not represent the views of most staff.

However, honorary professor Hans Zoellner, a member of USAP and former head of Oral Pathology at the institution, claimed poor management was a problem.

“I was so proud to serve the university,” he said. “It breaks my heart to see it going backwards in this way.”

Graeber said the characterisation of USAP as a fringe organisation with a small group of academics was factually incorrect, but he did not provide the number of members.

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