Meeting No 7/97 of the Academic Board was held on Wednesday, 22 October 1997 in the Council Room of the University, between 2:15 pm and 3:35 pm.

Professor AW Lindsay (Chair), Vice-Chancellor Professor DA Robinson, Professor W Anderson, Mr P Annal, Professor DR Arnott, Mr C Avram, Professors AJ Bishop and G Bouma, Associate Professor J Breen, Miss ML Brien, Associate Professor N Cameron, Professors R Cas and MN Clayton, Ms V Clulow, Professors RL Coppel, PleP Darvall, G Davison, RW Davies, DM de Kretser, R Dickson and RR Doherty, Dr J Edwards, Associate Professor M Evans, Dr B Foddy, Professors P Forsyth, M Gabbott and CL Gibbs, Associate Professor M Gill, Mr H Greenham, Professors G Griffin, P Grundy and RF Gunstone, Associate Professor M Hooper, Mr J Hurley, Mr D Imber, Professors JB Jacobs and J Jarvis, Ms A Jawary, Dr H Johnson, Professors MJ Kartomi and ML King, Ms C Lewis, Associate Professor A Lill, Professor E Lim, Dr M Lindorff, Professors JE Maloney, W Melbourne and P Nagley, Associate Professors L Nethercott and F Ng, Professor B Parmenter, Associate Professor J Peterson, Professor JR Pilbrow, Associate Professor M Pittard, Dr R Pollard, Professors R Porter, J Powell, M Quartly, J Redmond, JA Rickard, A Rizvi, A Russell, D Schauder and B Schroder, Associate Professors T Seddon and J Sheridan, Ms J Southcott, Professor P Spearritt, Ms C Spencer, Dr K Stewart, Professor T Threadgold, Mr M Vitlin, Professors L Waller, RT White and CJ Williams and Dr CG Worth.

Ms A Bardoel, Associate Professor DH Barkla, Dr J Brien, Professors ML Brisk, B Caine, GK Egan, R Fox, RHJ Grimshaw, MTW Hearn, S Holdsworth, WR Jackson (special leave until January 1998) and B Jarrott, Mr Q Le, Associate Professor S McNicol, Professors J Rosenberg, MT Skully and PJ Stewart, Associate Professor GV Taylor, Professor N Thompson, Mr PB Wade, Professors G Webb and CR Williams.

Present by Invitation: Professors J Anderson, J Harris and R Willis (attending for Professor J Rosenberg).

In attendance was: Ms K Wilson-Reid.

Observers: Mr R Burnet, Ms H Dunne and Mr P Siggins.

The Steering Committee had met on Tuesday, 14 October 1997 in the James McNeill Room.

Present were: Professors AW Lindsay (Chair), DA Robinson, PLeP Darvall, J Pilbrow, P Tharenou and B Jacobs.

In Attendance were: Ms K Wilson-Reid (Secretary) and Mr P Siggins.

Item 3 and item 5.4 were added to the Agenda. No new items were starred.

The Minutes of Meeting 6/97 were previously circulated.

3.1 Academic Board Meeting 6/97, Minute 9.1 - Change of Name and Reporting Arrangements for the Centre for Continuing Education (RMO97/0463)

Minute 9.1 of Meeting 6/97 stated that clarification would be sought regarding matters discussed under that item.

At Meeting 6/97, the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor R Porter, highlighted the need for the Faculty of Medicine to be involved with the management of certain programs offered by the Faculty of Education at Peninsula. These programs included nursing, health systems management, medical informatics, ambulance officer training and paramedical studies. The Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor RT White, was not available at that meeting of the Board for comment.

Subsequent to the meeting, it was established that the Deans of the Faculties of Education and Medicine would consult directly about an appropriate outcome for this matter.

This item was added at the meeting.

In introducing this matter, Mr Imber advised that he had been an apology for Meeting 6/97 and would have raised the issue at that time had he been present. He expressed the view on behalf of a number of the student body that Monash University’s participation in the Group of 8 was positive with respect to the Group’s advocacy role for such matters as research, internationalisation and quality assurance in the higher education sector. Mr Imber believed, however, that the Group of 8 had a role in expressing concerns for the higher education sector as a whole. He also commented that there was a perception that the Group of 8 brought to bear an elitist perspective in debates on higher education issues.

The Vice-Chancellor responded to Mr Imber’s comments noting that the coalescence of groups was a natural outcome of the identification of common interests of universities and that it was in fact easier for groups to clearly articulate concerns than for the higher education sector as a whole to speak with one voice. Professor Robinson welcomed Mr Imber’s comments, but noted that Monash was proud to continue its involvement with a group committed to excellence in teaching and research.

No matters were referred to Academic Board by the Council.

5.1 Progress Report of the Academic Board Review Working Party (RMO97/0321)

A Progress Report of the Academic Board Review Working Party was circulated for information (p 1-2).

Members noted the advice of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning), Professor AW Lindsay, that a substantive Report of the Academic Board Review Working Party, including possibilities for legislative delegation and suggestions for a revised Academic Board committee structure, would be brought to Meeting 8/97 of the Board.

5.2 Docklands Project (RMO97/0058)

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor DA Robinson, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), Professor PLeP Darvall, spoke to this item.

The Vice-Chancellor informed members that Monash University, in collaboration with Deakin University, RMIT and VUT, had recently been successful in achieving sole preferred bidder status for the Docklands development project.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), Professor PLeP Darvall, advised that various activities were intended for the site, including research and development in a variety of fields, a science and technology park, open space and estate development. Professor Darvall emphasised the importance of the project as an opportunity to develop strengths through co-operation between institutions. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor stated that it was hoped that other institutions would in future years join the collaborative project at the Docklands so that the site may eventually be a unified representation of the higher education sector.

Professor Darvall provided details of the initial stage of development of the Docklands project and advised that it would be developed in three phases, with the first stage to be completed by the year 2000 and the second and third stages over the following six years. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor informed members that consideration was currently being given to rationalisation of some University activities in line with activities planned for the Docklands site and the potential impact of a development of such magnitude upon the University’s other commitments.

In response to a question raised by a member, the Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) clarified that any research and development activities conducted at the Docklands site would be subject to the same ethical scrutiny and standards as the research activity operating on any other Monash University campus or site.

Professor Darvall highlighted to the Board that the Docklands development was intended as a project which would, through a strong collaborative effort, provide an ideal environment for the acquisition, application and transfer of knowledge which would also encourage the engagement of the community in these activities.

5.3 International Matters - South Africa (RMO97/0672)

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs), Professor JE Maloney, spoke to this item.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor informed the Board that following recent successful meetings between the South African Minister and Deputy Minister for Education, the Vice-Chancellor and himself, Monash University was encouraged by the support of the South African Ministry for the development of a campus of Monash University. Professor Maloney advised that the University’s main partner in the initiative was an established information technology firm with existing infrastructure which had sought to co-operatively deliver quality education programs and that Monash would also seek collaborative arrangements with various established universities in South Africa. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor advised that a concept brief for the Monash initiatives in South Africa was currently being prepared.

Extensive discussion ensued regarding management issues involved with the collaborative formation of the Monash campuses such as funding, registration and ethics considerations for any research activities to be conducted on the offshore locations.

The Vice-Chancellor advised that initial involvement in the South African campuses would include the Faculties of Business and Economics, Education, Art and Design and Engineering, with the eventual development of a range of undergraduate, postgraduate and research programs to be delivered by various faculties.

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning), Professor AW Lindsay, informed the Board that an organisation titled the Global Alliance for Transnational Education (GATE), had developed a certification process to insure the quality of tertiary programs offered abroad. Professor Lindsay advised that Monash University had recently achieved certification from this body and highlighted to the Board the increasing importance of maintaining the offshore quality assurance standards and procedures of the University. Professor Lindsay commended Professor Maloney and Dr G McBurnie, Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs), for their efforts towards development of this initiative.

5.4 Collaboration Between Monash University and the University of Melbourne (RMO97/0041)

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor DA Robinson, spoke to this item which was added at the meeting.

Professor Robinson informed the Board that Monash University and the University of Melbourne were working towards achieving a vital balance between collaboration on mutually rewarding activities and necessary competition between the institutions. The Vice-Chancellor welcomed an initiative to develop and publicly recognise a formal statement which would categorise collaborative activity between the two institutions. Professor Robinson advised that with the arrival of two new Vice-Chancellors and internal reviews at each University, together with the recent spotlight on the higher education sector, this initiative was intended as a codification of present circumstances and public recognition of the healthy, as opposed to hostile, competition engaged in between Melbourne and Monash University.

In response to a question raised by a member, the Vice-Chancellor informed the Board that appropriate advice had been sought about the collaborative activities between the two Universities and that all mutual activities were within the bounds of the current Trade Practices Act.

Professor R Cas commended this initiative, highlighting to members the success of the collaborative efforts of the Universities of Melbourne, La Trobe and Monash within the discipline of Earth Sciences.

(Circulated p 3-4)

6.1 Chair of Electronic Commerce (Personnel)

(Circulated p 5-8)

The proposal to establish and fill the position of Chair below had been endorsed by the Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Committee of Deans.

6.2 Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology (Personnel)

Refer also to Proceeding No 3, item 12.

(Circulated p 9-10)

The proposal under this item had been endorsed by the Board of the Victorian College of Pharmacy and the Committee of Deans. The Chair of Pharmaceutical Biology was a previously established position which became vacant upon the retirement of Professor C Raper on 31 December 1996.

(Circulated p 11-12)

(Circulated p 13-14)

7.2 Honorary Appointments (Personnel)

Academic Board was asked to note that this item would be considered under item 26.1.

8.1 Conferral of a Posthumous Award of Graduate Diploma (RMO97/0346)

The proposal under this item to confer a posthumous award, presented by the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics, Professor A Russell, was in accordance with the guidelines for award of posthumous degrees approved by Council at its Meeting 7/96.

(Circulated p 15-16)

9.1 Change to Academic Dress for the Doctor of Education (EdD) (RMO97/0776)

The current academic dress for the Doctorate of Education paralleled that which was worn for the PhD in all but two respects, consisting of a masters gown with the faculty banana coloured facings, a master of education hood and a doctoral bonnet with black cord and tassel.

The Board of the Faculty of Education had recommended an amendment to the academic dress for the Doctor of Education which was detailed in the Faculty Board Report. The recommendation was made with the intention of affording the EdD appropriate academic status, whilst still denoting the professional orientation of that degree.

9.2 Additional Item for the Report of Meeting 4/97 - Disestablishment of the Asia Pacific Education Centre (95/1188)

The proposal below was submitted subsequent to the Report of the Board of the Faculty of Education. This item was endorsed by the Faculty Board at its Meeting 4/97.

10. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE (RMO97/0281)

(Circulated p 17-18)

(Circulated p 19-20)

10.2 Annual Reports of Centres of the Faculty (RMO97/0668)

(RMO97/0404)

The Annual Reports of the Centre for Rural Health and the Institute of Reproduction and Development were circulated (p 21-24).

10.3 Obituary for Associate Professor B Ritchie (Staff File)

(Circulated p 25-26)

(Circulated p 27-28)

11.1 Membership of the University Readership/Associate Professorship Committee (Personnel)

Academic Board was asked to note that this item would be considered under item 25.1. (Refer also to item 20.2).

(Circulated p 29-30)

Proceedings (Proceeding No 3 - refer also to item 6.2)

13. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE COMMITTEE OF ASSOCIATE DEANS RESEARCH (CADRES) (RMO97/0383)

(Circulated p 31-34)

13.1 Proceeding No 6 - Internal Audit of 1996 Research Publications Data (RMO97/0323)

Proceeding No 6 of the Report of the Committee of Associate Deans (Research) (CADRES) referred to an impending decision of DEETYA about whether or not collection of the Research Publications Data for 1997 would occur in 1998.

A suggestion made by the Steering Committee was adopted by the Board as detailed below.

(Circulated p 35-36)

(Circulated p 37-42)

(Circulated p 43-52)

15.2 New Course Proposal (RMO97/0087)

(Circulated p 53-54)

(Circulated p 55-72)

New course progressions for the Bachelor of Business (Management), Bachelor of Business (Business Administration) and associated double-degree programs were proposed.

The Faculty of Business and Economics had recommended the disestablishment of the Master of Business (International Business).

15.5 New Subject Proposals (RMO97/0087)

The Education Committee endorsed for transmission to Academic Board the subject proposals detailed below. Full documentation was available for perusal by members of the Board upon request to the Secretary.

The Academic Board was advised that 20 new subjects had been proposed for approval in this Agenda: 2 from the Faculty of Arts, 6 from the Faculty of Business and Economics, 7 from the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, 2 from the Faculty of Engineering and 3 from the Faculty of Science.

(Circulated p 73-76)

16.1 Research Infrastructure Block Grant, 1997 (RMO97/0257)

(Circulated p 77-78)

The proposed distribution of the Research Infrastructure Block Grant for 1997 was accepted by the General Library Committee (GLC) on the condition that the Publication Index was included in 1998.

(Circulated p 79-80)

(Circulated p 81-84)

(Circulated p 85-86)

The proposal below sought approval, in accordance with Statute 2.5, for new subjects for the degree of Doctor of Psychology which was established by the Academic Board at Meeting 8/96.

(Circulated p 87-100)

The PhD and Scholarships Committee endorsed for transmission to Academic Board the subject proposals detailed below. Full documentation was available for perusal by members of the Board upon request to the Secretary.

(Circulated p 101-102)

(Circulated p 103-104)

20.1 Honorary Associate and Honorary Clinical Associate Professorships (Personnel)

20.2 Membership of the Committee (Personnel)

Refer also to items 11.1 and 25.1.

The recommendation below sought to amend the composition of the University Readership / Associate Professorship Committee in order to improve gender balance on the Committee and recognise differences in the number of professors across faculties.

The composition of the Committee was as follows:

1. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning) (Chair).

2. One professor from each faculty, appointed by the Faculty Board.

3. A member relevant to the discipline but external to the University (usually from another university), involved in the University Readership/Associate Professorship Committee in order to monitor the standing of recommendations. There may be a different member from each faculty, or the member may represent groupings of faculties.

Members were appointed for two year terms. Members could be re-appointed.

The University Solicitor had prepared legislation, in accordance with instructions from the appropriate faculties and other offices, to implement proposals which had been approved by the Academic Board for submission to Council. Copies of the legislation below were available at the meeting for perusal by members of the Board, and copies of the explanatory memoranda prepared for the legislation were attached to the agenda.

21.1 Statute 6.1.2 - Courses and Degrees (Amendment No 5 1997)

(Circulated p 105-106)

21.2 Faculty of Business and Economics Regulations (Amendment No 1 1997) (RMO97/1313)

(Circulated p 107-108)

(Circulated p 109-110)

21.4 Faculty of Science (Undergraduate Degrees) Regulations (Amendment No 1 1997) (RMO97/0541)

(Circulated p 111-112)

(Circulated p 113-114)

(Circulated p 115-116)

(Circulated p 117-118)

The proposed University schedule for graduation ceremonies to be held in 1998 on the Clayton, Gippsland and Pharmacy Campuses was circulated in the agenda as two separate attachments (p 119 and p 125).

Attached to the Minutes is a single document containing the complete schedule for local graduation ceremonies as endorsed by the Academic Board. (Attachment A)

24. ACADEMIC PROMOTIONS - FACULTY OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (Personnel)

A memorandum from the Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology, Professor J Rosenberg, dated 26 September 1997, was circulated (p 121-122).

25.1 University Readership/Associate Professorship Committee (Personnel)

Refer also to items 11.1 and 20.2.

25.2 Special Professorial Appointments Committee (Personnel)

The membership of the Special Professorial Appointments Committee was circulated (p 123-124).

The nomination below was required to fill the position which became vacant as a result of Professor PLeP Darvall’s ex-officio appointment to that Committee in his capacity as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development).

25.3 Selection Committee for a Chair of Civil Engineering (Personnel)

25.4 Selection Committee for a Chair of Clinical Health Psychology (Personnel)

25.5 Selection Committee for a Chair of Clinical Forensic Psychology (Personnel)

26.2.1 Election of Students to Membership of the Academic Board (94/0545)

(94/0546)

Two notices containing the results of recently held elections for student membership of the Academic Board were circulated (p 127-130).

26.2.2 Alternate Membership of Steering Committee (91/0795)

As advised at Academic Board Meeting 6/97, the terms of office of Professor R Coppel and Professor R Jackson expired on 31 August 1997 and no nominations were received from the Academic Board to fill either position. As referred to in item 26.1, Professor P Thomson, who had also been an alternate member of the Steering Committee, had retired from the Academic Board.

Academic Board was asked to note that in accordance with the procedure adopted by the Academic Board for the filling of casual vacancies of alternates of Steering Committee, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning), Professor AW Lindsay, had nominated three professorial staff members of Academic Board to fill the casual vacancies as detailed below.