Meeting No 4/98 of the Academic Board was held on Wednesday, 3 June 1998 in the Council Room of the University, between 2:15 and 5:35 pm.

Mr P Annal, Professor DR Arnott, Associate Professor DH Barkla, Dr J Brien, Miss ML Brien, Mr M Cabrie, Professors B Caine, W Charman, G Davison, RR Doherty and M Gabbott, Associate Professor M Gill, Professors RHJ Grimshaw, RF Gunstone and MTW Hearn, Ms A Jawary, Dr A Johns-Putra, Mr YL Koh, Professors JE Maloney, P Nagley, JR Pilbrow, J Powell, JA Rickard and A Russell, Ms J Southcott, Professors P Spearritt and PJ Stewart, Associate Professor GV Taylor, Professors P Tharenou, T Threadgold, J Warren and CR Williams.

Present by invitation:

Professors J Anderson, J Harris, RJ Pargetter and G Webb, Mr P Summers, Ms C Mingins, Ms D Lampard, Mr R Burnet, Associate Professor V Khompis, Ms P Honvityakorn and Ms J Buckingham.

In attendance was: Ms K Wilson-Reid (Secretary).

Mr P Siggins, Ms H Dunne, Ms J Chandler, Dr G Ellis, Ms N Mitchell, Ms S Gleeson and Mr S Manpal.

The Steering Committee had met on Wednesday, 26 May 1998 in the James McNeill Room.

Present were: Professor AW Lindsay (Chair), Professor DA Robinson, Associate Professor C Browne, Professors W Melbourne, JR Pilbrow and P Tharenou.

In attendance was: Ms K Wilson-Reid (Secretary), Ms H Dunne and Mr P Siggins.

The Chair, Professor AW Lindsay, welcomed Professor N Saunders as the new Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, together with Dr K Macrae, Professor HP Lee and Ms J Tooher as new members of the Board.

Professor Lindsay extended the Board’s appreciation and thanks to the following retiring members: Professors P Spearritt, J Powell, R Brown, R Gunstone, R Fox, S Holdsworth and J Hamill, Associate Professors G Taylor, S McNicol, A Lill and M Hooper, Dr M Lindorff, Ms A Parr and Ms J Southcott.

The Chair also welcomed Associate Professor V Khompis and Ms P Honvityakorn, distinguished Thai Fellows who had been invited to attend the meeting of the Board whilst participating in the Thai Australia Science and Engineering Assistance Project.

Items 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8 were added and item 22.1.1 was starred at the meeting.

The Minutes for Meeting 3/98 were previously circulated.

3.1 Draft Monash Plan 1999 - 2003

A draft of the Monash Plan 1999 - 2003 was circulated for information and comment (p 271-342).

The Vice-Chancellor spoke to this item.

The Academic Board received a presentation on the draft Monash Plan 1999 – 2003. Members noted advice provided by the Vice-Chancellor, the General Manager, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) and Ms D Lampard, Deputy Manager, Budget and Statistical Services, about the Plan.

Members discussed various aspects of the Plan and comments and suggestions were noted. The Board noted that this iteration of the Plan represented a major consolidation of achievements to date and pointed the way to future directions.

The Vice-Chancellor requested that any further comments or suggestions about the Draft Plan be forwarded to Mr P Summers by 5 June 1998.

3.2 Learning and Teaching Operational Plan - Draft 1998

The Learning and Teaching Operational Draft 1998 was circulated for information and comment (p 1-44).

Members were advised that since its release in March 1998, the wider University community had commenced consultation, implementation and refinement of the Operational Draft through devolved structures. The Draft Plan 1998 was presented to this meeting of the Board for information and comment and members noted that a revised Plan, to be re-titled Learning and Teaching Plan 1999, would be presented to the Board for endorsement at its Meeting 8/98.

Academic Board noted and provided comment about the Learning and Teaching Operational Draft Plan 1998, following receipt of advice from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning), particularly in relation to the role of the Board in oversight and implementation of the Plan.

Professor Lindsay commended the efforts of members of the Learning and Teaching Working Party towards production of the Draft Operational Plan. The Chair highlighted a document which was tabled at the meeting to call for expressions of interest in membership of future working parties for further consultation and implementation of the Draft Plan. Professor Lindsay requested that expressions of interest in response to the document be forwarded to the Secretary by Wednesday, 10 June 1998.

The Chair advised members that resource issues in relation to the Draft Plan, including the balance between teaching and research, be forwarded to the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning) for in depth consideration outside the meeting of the Board.

A query was raised in relation to the quality of teaching and learning in secondary institutions. It was agreed that Professors W Melbourne and RT White would undertake further discussion about this matter outside the meeting.

3.3 Research Management Plan

A draft of the Research Management Plan was circulated for information and comment (p 343-364)

Professor PLeP Darvall presented this item to the Board on behalf of those involved in formulation of the Draft Plan, including Professors B Parmenter, M King, Associate Professor J Sheridan, Ms P Herman, the Committee of Associate Deans (Research) and the PhD and Scholarships Committee.

The Board endorsed the Plan and a range of advice and comment was offered, particularly in relation to:

• research infrastructure;
• allocation of research funding; and
• the quality and quantity of research output.

Associate Professor Peterson highlighted the North American system of teaching and research assistantships, rather than research scholarships, whereby supervisors have more time for supervision and young researchers gain greater experience in teaching. Professor Darvall advised that the North American model had previously received favourable consideration at Monash and the issue would be revisited.

Members noted that further comments could be forwarded to the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development).

3.4 Associate Chair of the Academic Board

A document was circulated (p 365-366).

The Chair, Professor AW Lindsay, spoke to this item.

Academic Board endorsed a proposal presented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning) to establish the position of Associate Chair of the Academic Board. Members noted that the position had been developed to support the overall responsibility of the Chair of the Academic Board and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning). The incumbent would advance policy in areas that related to the Board, particularly in relation to implementation of the Learning and Teaching Operational Plan, educational policy development, support of the Board’s role in quality assurance and the provision of effective leadership in student matters.

The Board noted that Associate Professor M Evans, currently Associate Dean (Teaching) in the Faculty of Business and Economics and Convenor of the Learning and Teaching Working Party, would be appointed to the position of Associate Chair of the Board by the Vice-Chancellor, initially for a period of one year.

Members congratulated Associate Professor Evans on her appointment to the position, noting her significant contributions made in relation to the University’s academic governance and achievements as part of the team which developed the Learning and Teaching Operational Plan.

Whilst endorsing the establishment of the position under this item, one member suggested that in future consideration be given to conducting an election for the position of Associate Chair. The Chair noted the suggestion.

3.5 Review of Academic Board Membership

Attached was a document presented by Professor AW Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning), which contained recommendations for a minor review of membership of the Academic Board (p 367-384).

Professor AW Lindsay spoke to this item, highlighting that a number of cases for membership had been addressed in this small scale review eg. membership provisions for comparatively smaller faculties such as the Faculty of Art and Design. Members noted that the review also addressed a number of anomalies which had accrued over time, in order to bring the membership of the Board up to date with the current academic and administrative structures of the University.

Discussion occurred regarding the possibility for additional ex-officio positions. The Chair highlighted that staff and students of the University could apply for observer status for any meeting of the Board.

In response to a query, Professor Lindsay advised that positions in which elected members were currently serving would not be affected by the changes to membership during the current term of office.

Noting that the position of Director of the Computer Centre would not retain ex-officio membership, the Board extended thanks to Mr Peter Annal for his contributions and service to the Academic Board.

The Board noted that appropriate legislation would be required prior to implementation of the recommendations endorsed for changes to the Board’s membership.

Academic Board received advice from the Vice-Chancellor that Arts and humanities at Monash represented a significant part of the University’s operation and that the Faculty was currently reflecting on its range of programs, structures, intra-institutional relationships, staffing and resources. Professor Robinson indicated a range of internal and external assistance to enable the Dean to provide advice on the financial development of the Faculty, its subject and enrolment configuration, research performance and overall planning. The Vice-Chancellor indicated that he would bring further comment on this matter to the Academic Board and Council in the near future.

This item is used in the agenda to highlight those items which were starred prior to the meeting. For the relevant minutes, please refer to items 9.3.4 and 21.

5. ANNUAL REPORTS

Under Section 2.9 of Statute 3.3 - Deans, Associate Deans and Subdeans of Faculties - a Dean "shall submit ... for transmission through the Academic Board to Council ... a concise report of the work done during the preceding year".

A document was circulated (p 45-54).

The Dean of the Faculty of Education, Professor RT White, spoke briefly to his report, mentioning in particular:

• the restructure of the Faculty;
• thanks for the significant contributions of Mr Peter Yates, former Registrar of the Faculty;
• the valuable contributions of academic and general staff; and
• the success of double degree and graduate diploma programs;

The Vice-Chancellor also congratulated the Dean, Mr Yates and staff of the Faculty of Education on the successful restructure of that Faculty.

A document was circulated (p 55-66).

Due to time constraints for the meeting and with the agreement of the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Professor ML Brisk, consideration of this item was deferred until Meeting 5/98 of the Board.

A document was circulated (p 67-86).

Due to time constraints for the meeting and with the agreement of the Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology, Professor J Rosenberg, consideration of this item was deferred until Meeting 5/98 of the Board.

A document was circulated (p 87-104).

Due to time constraints for the meeting and in the absence of the Dean of the Victorian College of Pharmacy, Professor CB Chapman, consideration of this item was deferred until Meeting 5/98 of the Board.

A document was circulated (p 105-110).

Due to time constraints for the meeting and in the absence of the Director of the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED), Professor G Webb, consideration of this item was deferred until Meeting 5/98 of the Board.

There were no matters arising for this meeting.

No matters were referred to the Academic Board from Council for this Meeting.

8. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF ASSOCIATE DEANS RESEARCH (CADRES)

(Circulated p 111-112)

9. REPORT OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

(Circulated p 113-122)

Members were asked to refer to item 2 of the Report of the Education Committee presented (p 113 of the agenda).

9.2 Proposals for the Sunway Campus, Malaysia for Semester Two, 1998

At its Meeting 3/98, Academic Board authorised the Education Committee to approve, on its behalf, proposals for new and amended courses which would be offered on the Sunway Campus, Malaysia in semester two, 1998 (Minute 3.1). The new and amended courses under this item were approved at the meeting of the Education Committee held on 6 May 1998. Members noted that in accordance with its terms of reference, the Offshore Quality Assurance Committee at its meeting of 14 May 1998, had also endorsed each of the proposals detailed under this item. (Refer to the Report of the Offshore Quality Assurance Committee at item 10 of the agenda, which included details of that Committee’s endorsement of the proposals below.)

Documentation was circulated for the proposals approved by the Education Committee below (p 123-130).

Documentation was circulated for the proposals approved by the Education Committee below (p 131-168).

9.3 New Course Proposals – General

A document was circulated (p 169-170).

This course would be offered from Semester 2, 1998 by distance education.

A document was circulated (p 171-176).

This course would be offered as a stand-alone exit award at the Berwick Campus from Semester 1, 1999.

A document was circulated (p 177-180).

This course would be offered by distance education through the Department of Psychological Medicine and the Master of Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy location at Repatriation Campus. The course was proposed to be offered from Semester 2, 1998.

A document was circulated (p 181-182).

Refer also to item 21.3.

The proposal of the Faculty of Science under this item sought establishment of a new Bachelor of Science, replacing the existing course, to be offered from Semester 1, 1999. The course would be offered in on-campus and flexible learning modes at the Clayton and Gippsland Campuses, with some subjects offered in distance mode.

In the agenda, this item was considered by the Board as item 4.1 under Section B – "Starred items". The item was starred by the Steering Committee, who had invited the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor RW Davies, to speak about the proposal.

Professor Davies highlighted benefits of the new Bachelor of Science degree, including the greater ease of transition between secondary education and science education at tertiary level. Members noted the Dean’s advice that the amended degree would emphasise training for acquisition of specific skills, where students would be required to take discipline majors within the Faculty, and could also undertake a major from outside the Faculty of Science.

Professor Davies commended the Associate Dean (Teaching) for the Faculty of Science, Dr K Macrae, for her efforts towards the exciting amendments to the Bachelor of Science degree.

Members noted the Dean’s advice that consideration of issues relating to double degrees involving the Bachelor of Science was underway.

A document was circulated (p 183-186).

This course would be offered from Semester 1, 1999 by flexible delivery. The course would be offered in conjunction with East Gippsland, Casey, Peninsula and Northern Melbourne Institutes of TAFE.

A document was circulated (p 187-188).

This course would be offered from Semester 2, 1998 by flexible delivery in collaboration with Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE.

9.4 Major Amendment to an Existing Course – General

A document was circulated (p 189-200).

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 noted that twenty-one new subjects were proposed for approval in the agenda: seven from the Faculty of Business and Economics, four from the Faculty of Engineering, eight from the Faculty of Medicine and two from the Faculty of Science.

‘The VCE Units 3 and 4 prerequisites for the year 2001 are as follows:

10. REPORT OF THE OFFSHORE QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMITTEE

Refer also to item 22.

(Circulated p 201-206)

Members noted that the proposals contained within this report, all of which concerned the establishment and amendment of courses for offer at the Sunway Campus, Malaysia from semester two, 1998, were included for consideration under item 9.2 of the agenda.

11. REPORT OF THE PhD AND SCHOLARSHIPS COMMITTEE RMO97/1156

(Circulated p 207-212)

11.1 Doctoral Regulations

Following extensive consultation with faculties, the doctoral regulations were revised by the University Solicitor’s Office and the PhD and Scholarships Committee, to incorporate:

• external candidature regulations;
• the Doctor of Psychology (D Psych) regulations; and
• revised guidelines in relation to termination, research misconduct and grievance and appeal procedures.

The revised regulations were also restructured into six major parts:

The University Solicitor had prepared legislation, in accordance with instructions from the PhD and Scholarships Committee (following consultation with faculties), to implement the proposed changes to the regulations outlined above. Copies of the legislation were available at the meeting for perusal by members of the Board (or upon request to the Secretary prior to the meeting), and a copy of the explanatory memorandum prepared for the legislation was circulated with the agenda (p 211-212).

12. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS

(Circulated p 213-214)

Members noted that the Faculty of Art and Design had previously been consulted about proposal under this item.

13. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF ART AND DESIGN

(Circulated p 215-220)

The Board of the Faculty of Art and Design and its constitution were established by Council at its Meeting 1/98 (Resolution CL1/98/11).

A list of membership of the Board of the Faculty of Art and Design for 1998 (in accordance with the constitution approved by Council) was circulated for the information of Academic Board (p 219-220).

14. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF EDUCATION

(Circulated p 221-222)

15. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

(Circulated p 223-224)

The Annual Reports of five centres of the Faculty of Engineering were circulated for information (p 225-236).

A list of membership of the Board of the Faculty of Engineering for 1998 was circulated for the information of the Board (p 237-238).

16. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF LAW

The Report of the Board of the Faculty of Law was circulated to members as a confidential document (p 239-240).

Proceedings (Refer also to item 19.2.)

17. REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE

(Circulated p 241-250)

A proposal for the establishment of a Centre for Ambulance and Paramedic Studies within the Faculty of Medicine was circulated (p 243-250).

This Centre would take over the provision by the Ambulance Office Training Centre (AOTC) of ‘in-service’ training to employed ambulance officers. The proposal had received the support of the Minister for Health and members noted that if approved, it was expected to be effective from 1 July 1998.

The proposal had previously been endorsed by the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development).

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 circulated with the agenda.

18.1 Faculty of Medicine (Graduate Certificate in General Practice Psychiatry) Regulations 1998

(Circulated p 251-252)

18.2 Statute 6.1.2 - Courses and Degrees (Amendment No 3 1998)

(Circulated p 253-254)

18.3 Statute 6B.1 - Multi-Faculty Degrees (Amendment No 1 1998)

(Circulated p 253-254)

18.4 Faculties Regulations (Amendment No 2 1998)

(Circulated p 253-254)

18.5 Faculty of Computing and Information Technology Regulations (Change of Name and Miscellaneous Amendments 1998)

(Circulated p 253-254)

18.6 Faculties Regulations (Amendment No 3 1998)

(Circulated p 255-256)

18.7 Statute 11.2 - Intellectual Property (Amendment No 1 1998)

(Circulated p 257-258)

18.8 Intellectual Property Regulations (Amendment No 1 1998)

(Circulated p 259-260)

19. ACADEMIC BOARD MEMBERSHIP

19.1 Report of the Returning Officer - Results of Elections for Professorial and Teaching Staff Membership of Academic Board

The Report of the Returning Officer following the election of professorial and teaching staff members of the Academic Board was circulated (p 385-388).

19.2 Casual Vacancies - Faculty of Law

(Refer also to the Proceedings of item 16.)

19.3 Casual Vacancy - Faculty of Science

20. MATTERS OF INTEREST FROM COUNCIL MEETING 3/98

A document was circulated (p 389-390).

A document was circulated (p 261-262).

In the agenda, this item was considered by the Board as item 4.2 under Section B – "Starred items". The item was starred by the Steering Committee, who had invited the Special Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor on admission matters, Professor RJ Pargetter, to speak to the Report.

Academic Board noted advice from Professor Pargetter that the recommendations contained within the Report did not alter current University policy in relation to admissions.

The Board congratulated Professor Pargetter on his recent appointment as Principal at Haileybury College.

21.1 Undergraduate Scholarships Sub-Committee

The Report of a meeting of the Undergraduate Scholarships Sub-Committee held on 7 April 1998 was circulated (p 263-264). The recommendations contained within the document had been endorsed by the Admissions Committee.

21.2 Sub-Committee on Local Fees

The Report of a meeting of the Sub-Committee on Local Fees held on 29 April 1998 was circulated (p 265-268).

Discussion occurred regarding the number of full-fee paying local students who had accepted places at Monash in 1998 and a comparison between demand for local places at Monash and other institutions.

In response to a member’s query, the Vice-Chancellor advised that a recommendation had been made to the Minister by the AVCC that loans be made available to full-fee paying students and that consideration of the matter was underway.

21.3 Science Prerequisites

Refer also to item 9.3.4.

A document was circulated (p 269-270).

The Faculty of Science had advised that there were proposed changes to 1999 prerequisite requirements for undergraduate Science courses as a result of the restructure of the Bachelor of Science.

Professor Pargetter highlighted that, in accordance with an agreement made with VTAC, due to the waiving of the requirement for two years of notice before changing prerequisites, Monash had agreed that no applicant would be disadvantaged by this change and that a place would be guaranteed if the study of pre-1999 prerequisites resulted in a lower TER and if that TER was above the 1998 cut-off. This would not affect some double-degrees involving Science.

22. REPORT OF THE OFFSHORE QUALITY ASSURANCE COMMITTEE

Refer also to item 10.

A document was circulated (p 391-392).

The Report of the Offshore Quality Assurance Committee under item 10. of this agenda (for its Meeting 3/98) contained proposals for new and amended courses to be offered on the Sunway Campus from semester two, 1998. All of those proposals had also been endorsed by the Education Committee prior to their submission to this meeting of the Academic Board through the Report of the Offshore Quality Assurance Committee and the Education Committee. The Report of Meeting 4/98 of the Offshore Quality Assurance Committee contained additional proposals for amended courses to be offered at the Sunway Campus from second semester 1998, however the Board’s approval of the two items below was subject to endorsement of the items at the next meeting of the Education Committee, to be held on 24 June 1998.

This item was starred at the meeting by the Dean of the Faculty of Science, Professor R Davies.

The Dean commented that this was a program which had been offered on the Gippsland Campus for the past ten years and that following suggestion by the Sunway Campus, it was now proposed by the Faculty of Science for offer at the Malaysia Campus from semester two, 1998. Professor Davies highlighted that discussions had taken place with the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor D DeKretser about the matter.

The meeting finished at approximately 5:35 pm.