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Academic Board Meeting 2-2009 Report to Council

Under Statute 2.2, Academic Board is responsible to Council for, inter alia, the supervision and direction of the academic affairs of the university, including the maintenance of high standards in teaching and research.

1.    Receipt of Report

Recommendation

That Council receive and note the Report of Meeting 2 of 2009 of the Academic Board held on Wednesday 22 April 2009.

A.     ITEMS FOR DECISION BY COUNCIL

2.    Monash University Ethics Statement (Attachment 1)

Noting that:

  • the draft Monash University Ethics Statement was a foundation document, empowering staff to apply its principles in their own locations and contexts and to develop appropriate codes of conduct; and
  • further development of appropriate tools and resources to support ethical conduct would be undertaken.

Academic Board endorsed the draft Monash University Ethics Statement for transmission to Council and noted the recommendations for its implementation.

Recommendation

That Council approve the Monash University Ethics Statement.

B     ITEMS FOR INFORMATION OF COUNCIL

3.    President’s Report

Professor Godfrey addressed Academic Board on a range of issues, including:

  • Participation in the Ancora Imparo student leadership program in February.
  • Commencement of the processes of election of staff and student members to the Board pursuant to the revised membership structure and the faculty-based Head of Academic Unit appointment process.
  • The cooperation by the faculties in developing an annual reporting template for Faculty Discipline Committees, which would facilitate better analysis of data and cross-faculty comparisons.
  • The need to bring the examination period forward for Monash South Africa students in order to cater for the 2010 World Cup. Monash South Africa would communicate with relevant faculties on this issue.

During the President’s Report, Academic Board also noted approval of the TAC/WorkSafe Research Institute, a collaboration between the TAC, WorkSafe and Monash University.

4.    Direction of Academic Affairs

4.1   Presentation – Chief Information Officer

The Chief Information Officer, Mr Alan McMeekin, presented to Academic Board on the contribution of information technology to the University’s academic endeavours, with a particular emphasis on initiatives and projects. Matters highlighted during the presentation included:

  • The importance of developing ICT policies and pathways to support innovation on research and education.
  • The technological aspects of innovation should be considered in the context of process and cultural change.
  • Progress towards development of the draft ICT Strategy 2009-2011.
  • The high overall satisfaction rate achieved in the recent survey of the quality of Monash ICT services.
  • Developments in the roll-out of Lotus Notes, including the current software upgrade.
  • Development of high-level videoconferencing technology, development of the Geosciences Learning Space and the leading role being taken by Monash in research data management.

4.2   Environmental Scan

Academic Board received and noted the analysis of recent Federal Government announcements regarding policy changes in the tertiary education sector.

5.    Supervision of Academic Affairs

5.1   The use of information technology in assessment

Noting a previous request to the Assessment Working Party to consider and develop procedures around the appropriate use of technology in assessment, Academic Board received a briefing paper outlining proposed policy directions. Following discussion, the Board recommended that the Working Party explore a range of additional issues and requested Education Committee to further consider the pedagogical aspects of the use of information technology.

5.2   Admissions and Load Report

Academic Board received and noted the VTAC Admissions and Student Load 2009 Report.

5.3   Academic Program Development and Review – PhD in Theatre Performance

Noting that amendment to the Regulations pertaining to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy would be made in due course, Academic Board endorsed the establishment of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the specialty of Theatre Performance.

5.4   Use of Animals in Coursework Programs

This item had first been considered by Academic Board at its Meeting 3/2008. Upon its return to the Board’s meeting 2/2009, members noted that development of the proposed policy had been undertaken by the Office of the PVC (Planning and Quality), and included a robust process of consultation with a wide range of stakeholders.

Academic Board approved the Use of Animals in Coursework Programs Policy and noted the Use of Animals in Coursework Programs Procedures. In so doing the following significant features of the policy were noted:

  • The re-affirmation of Monash’s commitment to the ‘three Rs’ - replacement, reduction and refinement of animal use.
  • Limitation of the Policy’s scope to the use of animals in coursework programs.
  • Inclusion of some additional compliance elements to ensure Animal Ethics Committees had all of the information needed to make well-informed judgments.

Academic Board was also advised that the Research Ethics and Compliance Branch would work with Education Committee to audit relevant compliance practices across the university.

6.    Review of Standing Committees - Monash University Research Committee

Academic Board:

  • Received and noted the Report of the Review of the Monash University Research Committee and its standing committees;
  • Disestablished the Centre and Institute Directors Group (CIDG) as a standing committee of the Monash University Research Committee (MRC);
  • Approved the revised Terms of Reference of the:
    • Monash University Research Committee (MRC);
    • Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (MUHREC);
    • Monash University Animal Welfare Committee (MUAWC);
    • Monash University Institutional Biosafety Committee (MUIBC);
    • Monash University Clinical Research Governance Committee (MUCRGC).
  • Noted the role, constitution and operations of the:
    • Monash University Research IT Project Steering Committee;
    • Monash University Research Governance Implementation Committee; and
  • Pursuant to section 2.1.2.5 of Statute 2.2 – Academic Board, delegated to the Monash University Research Committee (MRC) the power to constitute such committees as MRC shall think fit.

C     OTHER ITEMS

7.    Formal Business

7.1   Academic Board received and noted the Report of the Vice-Chancellor, including a report on the end of financial year impairment of investments; strong demand for entry to Monash from local and international students; student amenities and services fees legislation; Federal Budget; signature of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese Academy of Sciences; launch of the Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute; faculty/campus operational performance reviews.

7.2   Academic Board received and noted the report of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), including reports on further implementation of the Monash Passport; review of open and distance learning; Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) interviews; development of revised indigenous learning and teaching strategies.

7.3   Academic Board received and noted the report of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), which focused on Monash’s National Competitive Grants (NCGs) performance.

9.    Governance

9.1   Legislation

Academic Board noted the Guidelines under Monash University Statute 6.3 – Exclusion for Health Reasons.

9.2   Policy Development and Review

Academic Board;

  • Approved the Unit Coding Policy and noted the accompanying Procedures.
  • Approved the Collaborative Coursework Arrangements Policy and noted the accompanying Transnational Quality Assurance Procedures.
  • Approved the Coursework Course Review Policy and noted the accompanying Procedures.
  • Approved the Academic Review Policy and noted the accompanying Procedures.

9.3   Reports from Standing Committees

Academic Board received and noted the reports of:

  • Research Graduate School Committee Meetings Meeting 1/2009 & 2/2009.
  • Monash University Research Committee Meeting 1/2009.
  • Education Committee Meeting 1/2009.
  • General Library Committee Meeting 1/2009.

9.4   Reports from Faculty Boards

Academic Board received and noted the reports of the following Faculty Board meetings:

  • Faculty of Information Technology Meeting 1/2009, including the briefing paper on the Jean and Phyllis Whyte Funds (Attachment 2).
  • Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Meeting 1/2009.
  • Faculty of Engineering Meeting 1/2009.
  • Faculty of Business and Economics Meeting 1/2009.
  • Faculty of Arts Meeting 1/2009.

9.5   Reports from Faculty Discipline Committees

Academic Board received and noted the Reports from the Discipline Committees of the following faculties:

  • Faculty of Engineering
  • Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
  • Faculty of Information Technology
  • Faculty of Law
  • Faculty of Science
  • Faculty of Art & Design (nil return)
  • Faculty of Arts
  • Faculty of Business and Economics