Coronavirus: Mystery over University of Adelaide leaders’ walkout

The University of Adelaide has said that the unexpected loss of its two most senior officers was not related to its ­financial health or the COVID-19 crisis.

University of Adelaide vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen has taken indefinite leave.

The University of Adelaide said on Wednesday that the unexpected loss of its two most senior officers this week was not related to its ­financial health or the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

But the university has still not explained why its chancellor, former­ South Australian governor Kevin Scarce, resigned with immediat­e effect on Monday afternoon, and its vice-chancellor, Peter Rathjen, went on indefinite leave on Tuesday morning.

It is understood that a legal issue constrains the university from commenting further.

“There is no suggestion of finan­cial impropriety,” a statement from the university said. The university acknowledged it was facing a budget shortfall due to the impact of COVID-19, which has cut the number of international students studying in all Australian universities this year.

But the university said it was “in a sound financial position and is expecting a strong recovery after the pandemic has ended”.

“There is no risk of the univer­sity becoming insolvent,” it said.

“The university is continuing with its world-class education and research under the leadership of the acting vice-chancellor and the deputy chancellor.

“The university is not in a ­position to comment further.”

The institution’s inability to say more leaves unexplained the week’s highly unusual events, which have neutralised its two top leaders. Matters are now in the hands of deputy chancellor Catherine Branson and provost Mike Brooks, who has been appointed acting vice-chancellor.

The unprecedented leadership turmoil comes at the worst time for the university as it battles the impact of losing large numbers of the international students on whom it relies for a quarter of its income. If Australia’s borders are not opened by the end of the year, and the 2021 commencing stud­ents cannot enrol, then next year’s financial hit will be even worse than this year’s.

Unlike most other Group of Eight universities, Adelaide has not yet announced its estimated budget shortfall this year, or laid out any plan to deal with the financial crisis.

National Tertiary Education Union SA branch president Nick Warner told Adelaide newspaper The Advertiser the departures had “come as a shock to staff” and the lack of explanation had added to “anxiety levels already heightened by the COVID-19 crisis”.

“University of Adelaide staff desperately need clarity from the university council and the remaining senior management on why the chancellor has resigned and why the vice-chancellor is taking indefinite leave,” Mr Warner said.