James Cook University Course and Subject Handbook - 2005

INTRODUCTION TO THE UNIVERSITY

James Cook University was established by an Act of the Queensland Parliament which was proclaimed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at a ceremony at the University on 20 April 1970, making JCU the second oldest university in Queensland.

JCU was formerly the University College of Townsville and enrolled its first students in 1961. Its formation was inspired by the then Vice-Chancellor of the University of Queensland, Mr JD Story, who advocated the establishment of a regional university institution outside the Brisbane metropolitan area. Local citizens in Townsville had shown keen interest in the establishment of a university college and the Townsville and District University Society worked actively to achieve this goal. On 18 May 1959 the Queensland State Cabinet announced that it would proceed with the establishment of a university college in Townsville. The foundation stone was laid on 21 May 1960 by Education Minister, Mr JCA Pizzey and the University College of Townsville was officially opened by the Premier of Queensland, the Honourable GFR Nicklin, on 27 February 1961.

The first Warden of the University College was Professor FJ Olsen. The initial enrolment was 92 full-time students and 88 part-time students. Dr KJC Back succeeded Dr Olsen as Warden in January 1963 and in 1970 became the first Vice-Chancellor of the autonomous James Cook University.

On 7 November 1964, construction commenced on the permanent campus of JCU at Douglas, where the first buildings were occupied in 1967. By 1972, Administration, the Computer Centre, the Library and 12 academic departments had been transferred from the original Pimlico Campus to Douglas. The remaining departments were moved to Douglas between 1975 and 1980.

Townsville College of Advanced Education amalgamated with JCU on 1 January 1982.

JCU Cairns began in 1987 sharing teaching facilities with the Cairns College of TAFE. In 1995 JCU Cairns officially opened its own campus at Smithfield, with 900 students and 50 staff.

JCU has grown rapidly since the mid-1980s, more than doubling in size since then and has increasingly earned a global reputation for research and advisory work, particularly in disciplines relevant to the tropics. Today JCU has teaching facilities in Mackay, Mount Isa, Thursday Island, Sydney, Melbourne and Singapore as well as Townsville and Cairns.

There has been continuing expansion of existing activities as well as initiation of new projects. In 2003, a new Health Sciences precinct at JCU Cairns was officially opened, enabling JCU Cairns to play an increasing role in activities associated with the development of JCU’s medical school, as well as expand its science offerings.

New programs of study have been introduced, many with greater flexibility for students.

The University has also cemented numerous agreements with partner institutions around the world, providing greater international educational opportunities for both students and staff alike. One of these is JCU Singapore, which enrolled its first students in the middle of the year.

A significant boost to JCU’s bandwidth has put the University on the cutting edge of new endeavours in teaching and research.

JCU’s Medical School is one of only 11 in Australia, and was the first new School in Australia for 25 years. It is strategically positioned adjacent to Townsville’s new $200 million hospital.

JCU has been involved in the establishment of eight major Cooperative Research Centres as part of an initiative fostering close links between research and industry. These CRCs specialise in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area; Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management; Sustainable Aquaculture of Finfish; Sustainable Sugar Production; Sustainable Development of Tropical Savannas; Sustainable Tourism; Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management; and Predictive Mineral Discovery.

JCU continues its guarantee of high-quality research as evidenced by its international reputation in areas such as the marine sciences and earth sciences. The University’s particular focus on research relating to the tropics also sets it apart as an academic institution making a tangible contribution to its community.

About 80 percent of JCU’s students come from northern Queensland, with the main campuses at Townsville and Cairns.

JCU also continues to strengthen its international ties with over 2000 overseas students enrolled in 2004.

Enrolments

In 2004, the total number of students at all campuses was 14,414 consisting of:

The number of postgraduate students included in the total was 2335 (697 research, 1638 coursework).

The number of students enrolled at the Cairns Campus was 3236 consisting of: