UTAS’s Controversial Era Under Black Ends… Perhaps?

Professor Rufus Black’s tenure has been plagued by controversy, including a failed relocation project that diverted funds, reports of abysmal staff morale, and a marked decline in student enrolments.

His appointment to an additional paid position is widely considered to be an unacceptable conflict of interest and is a clear sign that his time at the university should come to an end, according to the group SaveUTAS.

Media release – Save UTAS, 31 August 2025

END OF A BLACK ERA FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF TASMANIA?

Tasmanian families will breathe a sigh of relief at news that UTAS Vice Chancellor Rufus Black has been appointed to the board of the big accounting firm Deloitte Australia, a clear sign that he is at long last moving on.

A vice chancellor position is a full-time role, and it is generally agreed that it is not acceptable to have an additional paid position. Vice Chancellor Black will be expected to resign.

Professor Black finished a 5-year term as UTAS Vice Chancellor in 2023 but chose to stay on, earning $1M a year and handing much of his public role to another senior manager.

During Professor Black’s tenure UTAS has been marred by controversies:

· UTAS spent around $250M on its failed city relocation/property development project, diverting funds meant for maintenance and renewal at the Sandy Bay campus

· Last year UTAS planned to raise money by selling off essential buildings used for its own STEM teaching and research

· UTAS staff surveys consistently revealed abysmal morale and lack of confidence in management

· Media reports have highlighted a bullying management style. At one point the highly regarded Law School lost two thirds of its academic staff.

· UTAS Council admits Tasmanian students now prefer the ‘campus experience’ offered by mainland universities . UTAS data confirms that young Tasmanians are leaving to study elsewhere.

A leftover from the failed plan to relocate the Sandy Bay campus is the Forestry building in Melville Street, which has consumed $155M of precious UTAS funds.

Rather than sell the building now the campus is not leaving Sandy Bay, UTAS management plans to install in the building key university faculties which have traditionally been at the Sandy Bay campus.

SaveUTAS co-chair Mike Foster said

“The Forestry building epitomises UTAS management failure during the Black era.

Politicians will be impressed with the grossly expensive architecture but retaining the Forestry building and making faculties go there means UTAS will no longer offer the attraction of a multidisciplinary campus at Sandy Bay.

“Students and staff, for no logical reason, must bus between the city and Sandy Bay. Academic staff say they cannot work in the Forestry buildings open plan offices. UTAS enrolments and the range of courses offered will continue to decline. That is really bad for Tasmanian families.”

Editors Note:

SaveUTAS is referencing this media article published in the Australian Financial Review, 28 August 2025″.

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