Elizabeth Cookson Memorial Bursary at James Cook University

Background: 

The Elizabeth Cookson Memorial Bursary was established by The Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences. The bursary is offered by the Cookson Family in memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Cookson, a student at the Cairns Campus who, sadly passed away before completing her course. The family would like to see their mother remembered in a positive and proactive way that expresses her belief in the value of academic research supporting the Indigenous peoples of Australia.

Nature of the Scholarship:

The value of the scholarship shall be $500 or such amount as the Selection Committee determine from time to time.

Eligibility Criteria:

The Elizabeth Cookson Memorial Bursary shall be open to competition among candidates who:

·         are domestic students, ie Australian citizens; and

·         are Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or Australian South Sea Islander students entering the Honours year in one of the following fields of study: Anthropology, History, Indigenous Australian Studies or Literature; and

·         examine an issue of relevance to Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or South Sea Islander culture.

(A certified copy of your birth certificate or passport must be attached.)
(A certified copy of evidence of receiving ABSTUDY payments or an Aboriginality from signed by a recognized organization under its common seal must be attached.)

Selection Criteria:

The Selection Committee will in the exercise of their absolute discretion, afford consideration to the following criteria:

·         academic merit or potential;

·         the character of the candidate for the award; and

·         any other criteria that the Selection Committee deems appropriate, including whether the candidate has, or will receive any other scholarship assistance during their studies.

Application Procedures:

Applications must be submitted on the official form no later than the date set by the Selection Committee for the year in which the award is to be made.

Applicants will attach to the official form, where appropriate:

·         A certified copy of their academic record from James Cook University and any other academic institution; and

·         no more than three references attesting to the applicant's good character and/or suitability to receive the scholarship; and

·         their curriculum vitae; and

·         any other supporting documentation that would assist the Selection Committee in developing an opinion as to the merit of the application.

Applications submitted without the relevant documentation will not be considered.

The applicant authorises the Selection Committee to make such enquiries as to the applicant's good character and suitability to receive the scholarship, which includes authorisation for the Selection Committee to examine the applicant's academic record, and seek opinions from relevant members of the academic staff of this University or any other academic institution.

Closing date: 15 March each year

Application Form

Selection Process:

The award of the scholarship shall be made in the absolute discretion of the Selection committee, which shall comprise:

·         The Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Faculty of Arts, Education and Social Sciences (Chair), or nominee;

·         The head of School of Indigenous Australian Studies, or nominee;

·         Any other relevant Heads of Schools, or nominee; and

·         Other members deemed appropriate, as determined by the Chair.

The Selection Committee reserves the right:

·         not to award a Scholarship in any year if, in the opinion of the Selection Committee, there is no candidate of sufficient merit to warrant an award;

·         to award a Scholarship for a period of one or more years; and

·         to extend a Scholarship for the existing recipient.

The Selection committee may require applicants to undertake an interview as part of their application.

The Selection committee will determine all matters relating to the Scholarship.

Conditions of the Scholarship:

·         If the holder of an award fails to comply with any of these provisions or any provision relating to a particular award or with any conditions imposed under these provisions or the provisions relating to a particular award, the Council may terminate the award or withhold any further emoluments or take such action as it may deem necessary to enforce compliance with the provision or performance of the condition by the holder.

·         The recipient of the scholarship shall continue to receive the award on condition that in the opinion of the Selection Committee, and on advice from the head of the school in which the recipient is undertaking a course of study, that the recipient maintains a satisfactory level of performance. Where it is determined that the level of academic performance is unsatisfactory the Selection Committee may in its absolute discretion cancel the award or suspend the award for such time as it may determine and/or until academic performance is considered satisfactory. Where an award is cancelled pursuant to the provisions to this clause it may, for the remainder of the term for which the original holder would have been entitled to it, be awarded to another suitable candidate.

·         In the event the Selection Committee cancels or suspends the student's scholarship, at the request of the student within 14 days, a review of the decision shall be undertaken by an Appeal Panel. The scholarship shall not be awarded to another suitable candidate before the Appeal Panel makes a final decision on the review. The Appeal Panel shall comprise the Deputy Vice-Chancellor or nominee (Chair); two staff members of the appropriate Faculty appointed by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor; and either the Student Association Academic Support Services Coordinator or the Student Association Welfare Coordinator. The staff members appointed by the Pro Vice Chancellor shall have no association with the teaching of the subject(s) in which the unsatisfactory academic performance is alleged. Unless the circumstances are exceptional, the Appeal Panel shall consider only: the student's grounds for requesting the review; any documents relevant to the finding of unsatisfactory academic performance; and the reasons for the decision by the Selection Committee.

·         The requirements of the scholarship shall not make the awarding of the scholarship conditional upon the recipient providing unremunerated services or products to the donor.

·         In the event that the recipient suspends their study, the scholarship shall be suspended.

Administration of the Scholarship:

·         ‘The scholarship shall be administered by the Scholarships officer, on behalf of the Selection Committee.

·         The funds of the scholarship shall be held in an account in the name of the University and shall be administered by the officer of the University charged with administering the scholarship.

·         Where there is a fund maintaining the award, the annual value of the award shall be approximately equal to the annual income from the fund.

·         Income from a fund not expended on the award which it maintains, shall be added to and become part of the fund.

·         Moneys payable in any year to the holder of an award shall be paid at such times and in such amounts as the Registrar deems appropriate to the circumstance of each case.

·         Where a special provision relating to an award provides for the award to be paid in cash, the Vice Chancellor may direct that in lieu of cash the award to be made in whole or in part in the form of books, instruments or equipment necessary to the awardee's course to a value approximately equal to the stated amount of the award, unless the terms of any trust or the conditions laid down by the donor of the award expressly provide otherwise.

·         Where an award provides some benefit to the recipient from a body external to the University, or an obligation upon a body external to the University, the University, its servants and agents, shall not be liable for that benefit or obligation.

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