Southern Cross University

The initial predecessor institution to Southern Cross University was the Lismore Teachers' College, which commenced operation on 23 February 1970, at what is now the Northern Rivers Conservatorium site.[3][4] On 1 September 1971, the Lismore Teachers College became a College of Advanced Education, under the Higher Education Act 1969, with the institution soon renamed Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education in 1973.[3] Dr (later Professor) Rod Treyvaud was appointed principal in 1984, and oversaw an extensive building programme and the introduction of six new degree courses.[4]

Following the publication of the Commonwealth Government's White Paper on Higher Education in 1988 and its emphasis on the development of larger tertiary education institutions in Australia, Northern Rivers College of Advanced Education agreed to an association with the University of New England (UNE).[5] On 17 July 1989 the Northern Rivers CAE thus became part of network University of New England, with some 1800 staff and some 9500 EFTSU (effective full-time student units).[6]

There was however dissatisfaction with the new network university,[7] and on 29 June 1993 the federal and state ministers for education jointly announced that a new university would be established in the North Coast of NSW, which would consist of campuses at Lismore (formerly UNE - Northern Rivers) and Coffs Harbour (formerly UNE - Coffs Harbour Centre).[7] It was subsequently announced that the new institution would be called Southern Cross University. Appropriate legislation was passed by both houses of the New South Wales Parliament in October 1993, and received the Royal Assent on 9 November 1993. Southern Cross University was formally established on 1 January 1994.[7]

In 2010, Southern Cross University opened a new campus in the southern Gold Coast area of Queensland, at Coolangatta just 400 metres from North Kirra Beach and adjacent to the Gold Coast International Airport. Views of the Pacific Ocean can be seen from many vantage points in the campus' buildings. The Foundation Building was opened in 2010 and a second 10-story building opened in February 2013.[8]

In 2019 a new health sciences building was opened at the Coffs Harbour campus funded from the Australian Government’s Community Development Grants program. Degrees in nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy and sport exercise science are offered in the new space.[9]

The University is governed by a Council, to which the Chief Executive Officer (the Vice-Chancellor) reports. The Council is responsible for the management of the University's affairs. The major academic body providing advice to Council on academic matter is the Academic Board. The Council has 15 members, including the Chancellor, the Vice Chancellor, the Chair of the Academic Board, two members appointed by the Minister, six members appointed by Council, three elected staff members and one elected student member.

The University offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate academic programs, and is organised into six schools, two colleges and nine research centres:

• School of Arts and Social Sciences
• School of Business and Tourism
• School of Education
• School of Environment, Science and Engineering
• School of Health and Human Sciences
• School of Law and Justice

• Gnibi College of Indigenous Australian Peoples
• SCU College

The research centres provide the research and solutions that allow students to gain the knowledge and learn alongside people making history in a wide range of research fields.

• Centre for Children and Young People
• Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry
• Centre for Organics Research
• Centre for Peace and Social Justice
• Forest Research Centre
• National Centre for Flood Research
• Marine Ecology Research Centre
• National Marine Science Centre
• Southern Cross GeoScience

Southern Cross University is ranked 33rd in Australia according to the QS World University Rankings, falling the bottom 15% among the included Australian public universities.[19]

The university has been ranked at the 101-110th best universities in the Asia-Pacific region for 2019 by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings.[20] Southern Cross University is rated 'at world standard' or above in 24 research areas by Excellence in Research for Australia 2015,[21] and ranked number one in Australia for International student support for the third consecutive year. SCU was ranked number two in Australia for overall learning experience by the International Student Barometer 2015.[22]

The Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is rated 4 out of 5 stars by the Graduate Management Association of Australia (GMAA) [23]

Staff and students at Southern Cross University undertake research in a wide range of areas, including civil engineering, crop and pasture production, complementary and alternative medicine, ecology, education, environmental science and management,[24] fisheries sciences, forestry sciences, geochemistry, human movement and sports science, human rights research, information technology, nursing, oceanography, policy and administration, philosophy and ethics, resources engineering and extractive metallurgy, tourism, and zoology.

A priority for SCU is community engagement. For example, SCU has played a leading role in the development of a regional strategy to improve freight and supply chain services across the Northern Rivers, under the title From Roots to Routes A ground up approach to freight and supply chain planning for the Northern Rivers NSW.[26][27]

The current and fourth Chancellor of the University since September 2014 is Nick Burton Taylor, a company director, company chairman, registered accountant, food industry and agribusiness specialist.[28] The current Vice-Chancellor and President of the University since September 2020 is Professor Tyrone Carlin.[29]

• List of universities in Australia
• Kenvale College of Tourism & Hospitality Management, an institution with an articulation agreement with the Hotel School in partnership with Southern Cross University

• Official website