UniSQ leadership under pressure as Vice-Chancellor announced sudden retirement

The poor opinion UniSQ staff have for the institution’s leadership has been revealed after the Vice-Chancellor announced her sudden retirement, days before she was due to address her employees about looming job cuts.

University of Southern Queensland Vice-Chancellor Geraldine Mackenzie. Picture: Celeste Humphrey

Leaked documents show morale at the University of Southern Queensland is at a low.

The results of an internal survey from June show only 30 per cent of staff thought the executive kept employees informed, while only 34 per cent said the executive behaved in a way that was consistent with UniSQ’s values.

And only 51 per cent of staff said the university was ethical.

The revelations come as the university’s current Vice-Chancellor Geraldine Mackenzie announced her sudden retirement via an email to staff on Monday.

Professor Mackenzie has held the position for seven years, reportedly earning salary of about $700,000.

She was due to retire in 2025.

The results of a UniSQ staff survey founds employees had a poor opinion of the university executive.

Her last official duty was to host a graduation ceremony on Wednesday and left the job just one day before she was due to address all staff about looming job cuts.

At a National Tertiary Education Union meeting on October 23, 170 staff voted to pass a no-confidence motion in Prof Mackenzie’s leadership.

Provost Karen Nelson taking on the role of Acting Vice Chancellor, effective immediately and It is understood the executive will go ahead with Thursday’s meeting.

Professor Mackenzie will remain employed by the university and on leave until February next year.

The university, along with the broader Australia tertiary education section, is grappling with financial pressure from reduced international student enrolments.

Australian National University, Canberra University and James Cook University have together signalled they will lay off about 1000 staff.

UniSQ has indicated up to 60 staff could go from its Toowoomba, Ipswich and Springfield campuses, of which 17 have already been offered pre-retirement payout to leave their jobs early.

The Chronicle did arrange an interview with Prof Mackenzie on her final day to ask her about the job cuts, the survey results and the staff discontent, but she cancelled at the last minute.

A UniSQ spokesman did not respond when asked if Prof Mackenzie would address staff in any form other than an email prior to her departure.