Recent media reporting has mischaracterised the status and nature of James Cook University's governance arrangements in relation to its institutional name.
The University is not currently reviewing, proposing, or pursuing a change to its name. No proposal has been developed, considered, or put to government.
As part of responsible and effective governance, the University Council has established a reference committee to develop high-level principles and process guidance that would apply if, at some future point, Council were ever to consider such a matter.
It does not involve examining alternatives, recommending any change, or undertaking consultation, and it does not constitute a review of the University's name.
This governance work was commissioned by Council to ensure clarity and rigour in decision-making on complex institutional matters. It does not arise from any complaint, campaign, or proposal, and there is no active process underway.
Any future consideration of this nature would require a separate and explicit Council decision and would involve appropriate engagement with government and stakeholders at that time. Stakeholders would include current staff and students, alumni and members of the communities we serve, including the government of the day. That circumstance does not currently exist.
JCU recognises that, in modern Australia, questions about history, identity and place are periodically raised in many public and academic forums, including in relation to institutional names.
At all times, JCU remains focused on its core mission of education, research and engagement for northern Queensland and the broader Tropics. The University is — and will continue to be — defined by its place, its people, and its contribution to the region.
