Students of the Australian National University (ANU) have given a “formal legal ultimatum” to their own university – reverse the proposed cuts to its School of Music, or face Federal Court.

The notice, delivered yesterday to Chancellor Julie Bishop, Vice-Chancellor Genevieve Bell and ANU’s senior executive team, alleges that ANU is in “breach of the Federal legislation which underpins the existence of ANU itself” with the proposals laid out in the Renew ANU restructure announced on 3 July.

ANU has been given until 4pm on 3 September to respond, or else further legal action may be sought.

ANU School of Music. Photo @ Martin Ollman Photography

Under Renew ANU, the proposed changes would see the School of Music folded into a new School of Creative and Cultural Practice, the loss of seven academic positions, the removal of one-on-one instrumental lessons and a shift from a conservatorium model toward an interdisciplinary and technology-focused approach.

Calling these proposal “deeply personal and profoundly damaging”, the signatory students allege that these changes are in violation of the ANU Act, which dictates that the university must “provide facilities and courses at higher education level in the visual and...