Monash University

Academic Board Meeting 1/2002

2.15pm

Wednesday, 20 February 2002

Council Room

Clayton Campus

Dr H Abachi, Professor D Abramson, Dr G Acquaah-Gaisie, A/Professor R Alfredson, Professor W Anderson, A/Professor L Angus, Professor M Ariff, Mr J Arnold, Mr C Avram, Mr H Ballis, Mr K Bensley, Professor J Bigelow Professor B Bignall, Professor A Bishop, Professor G Bouma, Professor M Brisk, A/Professor C Browne, Mr R Burnet, Mr L Bull, Professor R Cas, Professor C Chapman, Professor S Cordner, Ms A Crook, Professor P Darvall, Professor G Davison, Mr M Davison, Professor R Dickson, A/Professor T Dingle, Professor R Doherty, A/Professor R Edwards, Professor M Evans, A/Professor A Farley, A/Professor J Glover, Professor J Goldsworthy, Professor G Griffin, Professor J Hamill, Mr D Hanson, Mr B Harding, Mr A Herzberg, Professor G Hodge, A/Professor B Hoffert, Professor K Hourigan, Professor O Hughes, A/Professor J Hurst, Dr H Irving, Professor J Jacobs, Professor J Jarvis, Dr V Jenvey, Dr G Johanson, Professor S Joy, Professor D Karoly, Professor M Kartomi, Professor E Kendall, Professor B Kent, Professor M King, Professor D Kinley, Ms A Lee, Professor H Le Grand, Dr M Lindorff, Professor A Lindsay, Professor B Mackenzie, A/Professor K McLaren, Mr A McMeekin, A/Professor C Mingins, Professor P Nagley, Professor B Nelson, Dr R Nelson, Professor R Norris, A/Professor G Oppy, A/Professor M Page, Professor G Palmer, Professor S Parker, Mr A Pollock, Mr I Porter, Professor J Redmond, A/Professor P Reed, Dr M Rosa, Professor N Saunders, Professor T Seddon, Professor M Skully, Professor G Smith, A/Professor K Smith, Professor D Smyth, Professor T Sridhar, Dr K Stewart, Professor P Stewart, A/Professor M Story, Ms K Styles, Professor R Summers, A/Professor J Teicher, Dr A Tokita, Mr J White, Professor R Willis, Professor S Willis, Dr C Worth.

Professor D Robinson, Dr O Akindemowo, Professor J Anderson, Dr D Bednall, Dr K Blashki, Professor A Bond, Ms J Brown, Associate Professor J D Cashion, Professor J Crossley, Professor D de Kretser, Associate Professor T Dix, Dr C Davies, Professor J Jarris, Professor M Hearn, Associate Professor J Hurst, Dr M Islander, Ms T Porritt, Dr C Porter, Professor J Rood, Professor J Rosenberg, Professor B Schroder, Professor J Sheridan, Dr R Smith, Professor B Toh, Professor G Webb, Professor B Workman

Ms A Lazar

Ms L Farrell, Professor Nyland, Dr L Russell, Ms S Stafford, Mr T Calder, Ms S Rose

Ms S Narayanasamy

Ms J Taylor (Secretary)

The Chair, Professor A W Lindsay welcomed members and attendees to the Academic Board for 2002 and welcomed Professor Bignall from the Malaysia campus.

Professor Lindsay welcomed Janty Taylor as the new Secretary for the Board.

On behalf of the Board, Professor Lindsay noted the retirement of Professor Edward Lim, the former Monash Librarian and received the Board’s endorsement for a letter of appreciation being sent on behalf of the Board to Professor Lim.

Professor Lindsay announced the proposed position of Associate Chair of the Board. This will be a three year appointment for a .5 appointment with a focus on promotion of the Board as a forum for debate. Reporting directly to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Planning) in his capacity as Chair of the Board, the Associate Chair will play an active role in the updating and enhancement of the Learning and Teaching Plan. A major focus of the 2002 plan will be the further development of internationalisation and electronically supported teaching and learning within the university.

This senior academic position will also address quality issues relating to the responsibilities of Academic Board, including those identified in the University’s institutional self-review.

Professor Lindsay welcomed applications from members of the Board .

The meeting endorsed the starring of item 6.4 by Professor Sally Joy and item 6.2 by Professor Alan Lindsay.

The Board approved all non-starred items as presented.

A document was attached.

A document was attached. (p 3-6) RMO2001/0640

Professor Stephen Parker spoke to the item noting its purpose was to inform the Board of Monash activities in Europe such as bi-lateral relationships with European institutions.

The Europe Steering Group promotes support and co-ordination of activities of Monash in Europe, particularly in London and Prato, within its strategic directions of globalisation.

Professor Parker noted the goal of compiling a database of these activities for members’ information.

Updates on activities since January 2002:

1. Three student exchange schemes in Medicine, Geography and Law.

2. Research collaboration with Kings College for support in applications for research funding.

3. Development of a centre with Kings College counterpart in Education.

4. New premises to be opened in July 2002 on the Strand, opposite Australia House.

5. Support for Monash London received from the Australian High Commission and the Victorian Agent General in London.

6. Strong links established between student bodies of Monash and Kings College.

7. Monash is submitting an application to the European Union for medical research funding in collaboration with five European institutions.

8. A new scholarship has been established at Prato with the Sardinian Cultural Association.

The Group is planning a number of activities to keep the momentum about Monash in Europe while co-ordinating planning with Monash’s strategic direction.

A document was attached. (p 7-40)

Professor Peter Darvall and Professor Max King introduced the item. Professor Darvall noted a recommendation had been received from the Research Graduate School Committee that the review take place.

Professor Darvall noted the three recommendations of the report and responses from members were as follows:

No comment was received.

Professor John Crossley welcomed the centralization of the administration of higher doctorates. There was a need to define the relevant faculty and department to which it belongs, however if it was an interdisciplinary Higher Doctorate the Committee is requested to clarify the issue.

Professor Darvall noted the Committee would address interdisciplinary Higher Doctorates.

Professor Bruce Jacobs raised the issue of forms of Honorary Doctorates.

Professor Darvall clarified Honorary Doctorates as a separate category entirely from the Higher Doctorates covered by this proposal.

Professor Lindsay noted not all the requirements for the higher doctorates need to be regulations but may be policies and procedures administered by the individual Faculty, therefore on page 8 of the item where it refers to "regulations" it should read "regulations or procedures".

In relation to higher doctorates in Medicine, the issue of authenticity of medical research work completed off the campus was discussed. Professor Lindsay noted that on page 13 of the item, in the column referring to MD, it should read "OR" not "AND". In addition, relevant ethics issues related to the work completed for the degree need to be taken into consideration.

(Secretarial note: Refer to Item 7.1 Report of the Monash Research Graduate School Committee meeting 11/2002)

A document was attached. (p 41-46)

Professor Darvall introduced the item about progress towards establishing the Institute and referred to the development and establishment of other institutes such as the Accident Research Centre, set up in 1987, which is now a successful research centre. It is a cross disciplinary centre with a turnover of $6m of non recurrent funding. He also noted other prestigious institutes such as Monash Environmental Institute and the Centre for Policy Studies.

Professor Sue Willis addressed the meeting about the proposal to establish the Institute which began in July 2001. Subsequently there have been meetings within and between five faculties which have revealed high quality work being undertaken in each. However this work is done in isolation and is not co-ordinated with other faculties. The proposed Institute would draw together these parallel activities and provide support to the faculties in creative ways.

Although there are other centres similar to this proposed institute in overseas institutions, Monash will be different in that it intends to collaborate across five faculties and has a specific view of globalisation while at the same time being a stakeholder in it.

The Institute will be established with a director, a small secretariat and separate premises. It will develop conferences, seminars and marketing activities. The Institute will also define major research programs with two to commence in 2002, in areas where there is existing expertise and strengths. It will also seek to develop new directions.

The meeting discussed the following issues:

1. Funding for the proposed Institute.

Professor Willis noted over the first five years the University is to allocate funding largely through competitive project support schemes. Professor Willis also noted the intention that the Institute would eventually be self funding.

2. Internal university commitment.

Professor Willis acknowledged the strong commitment required to the purpose of the Institute and that its research programs must be competitive with others.

3. Potential clients of the proposed Institute’s products.

Professor Darvall quoted the example of the APEC Study Centre which largely supports itself from government agencies purchasing its products.

Professor Lindsay thanked Professor Willis for the address and noted that a formal proposal for establishment of the Institute should come to the next meeting of the Board to formalise it for approval by Council, before the position of director is filled and an official launch takes place.

Professor Darvall praised the vitality of the Committee’s work. He noted the demanding nature of the task and invited Professor Bouma to address the meeting.

Professor Bouma noted the research of the Committee and the involvement of members. He thanked the Deans for their support and recognition of the activities of the Committee.

In 2002, the Committee will take into consideration issues in the Federal and State privacy legislation relevant to its work. It has expedited a review of research and subject approvals of any gathering of data from humans through teaching or research which must be covered by approval of the Committee. The approval would last for five years, however the Committee has also introduced approval for limited research activities which can be approved for an ongoing method. Also during 2002, the Committee will give more attention to research on campuses other than Clayton.

Professor Bouma requested particular attention be given by Faculties to 4^th year projects and the ethics requirements of those.

The Committee meets each three weeks. In 2001 the Committee examined 693 projects with each proposal being read by two members.

Professor Darvall expressed the thanks on behalf of the Board for the work of the Committee.

A document is attached. (p 123-140)

Ms Amanda Lazar spoke to the document and noted there were three proposed changes to the statute:

1 Variations in the discipline process for students at overseas campuses (except for unsatisfactory progress).

2 Provision of power for the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Resources) to fine people for certain offences, eg forging parking tickets.

3 Imposition of conditions on a student’s re entry or continuation at the University by the Discipline Committee, eg a condition that student undergoes counselling.

Discussion occurred as to whether students and the Students Rights officers had been consulted in the drafting of the changes. Ms Lazar noted the item had been through the Education Committee where she indicated student members would have been involved and had the opportunity to undertake wider consultation.

Meeting 5/2002 of the Academic Board has subsequently had to be re-scheduled, from 16 to 9 October, due to the Council’s South Africa meeting. The revised schedule for meetings of the Board in 2002 is set out below for reference:

A document was circulated (p47-72)

Professor Lindsay noted there was no pathway into Masters by Research from Coursework awards and that attention will be given to achieving this.

Secretarial note: Subsequent to the meeting, Professor Lindsay referred the matter to Professor King, Executive Chair of the Monash Research Graduate School Committee.

The Academic Board approved the recommendations in the paper presented by the working group regarding honours structure and marks and grades as set out below:

This item was starred by Professor Sally Joy who raised the need for co-ordination between the different recommendations for linkage to other related developments within the University.

The meeting discussed the potential for conflict between enabling information to be widespread, accessible and accurate and the retention of control and copyright over the information.

Proceedings

7.1 Receipt of Report for meeting 11/2001 RMO1997/1156

A document was circulated (p 73-76)

Proceedings

A document was circulated (p77-78)

Proceedings

A document was circulated (p79-80)

Proceedings

9.1 Receipt of Report

A document was circulated (p81-84)

Proceedings

10.1 Receipt of Report

(A document is at p 85-90)

A document was circulated (p91-104)

A document was circulated (p105-106)

A document was circulated (p 107-108)

Proceedings

A document was circulated (p 109-110)

14.1.1 Proposal to establish and fill the position of Cardiovascular Medicine. PERSONNEL FILE

PERSONNEL FILE

A document was circulated (p111-112)

14.2.1 Proposal to establish and fill the position of Professor/Director of Aged Care Medicine. PERSONNEL FILE

A document was circulated (p113-116)

RECOMMENDATION:

14.2.2 Award of Degree of Doctor of Medicine RMO1998/0448

The Academic Board endorsed for submission to Council the following awards of the M.D. degrees to Dr. Kenneth Opeskin, A Clinical and Pathological Study of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy and Dr. Alasdair Vance, Investigations of Anxiety in Clinically Referred Children with ADHT-CT.

Proceedings

A document was circulated (p117-118)

A document was circulated (p119-122)

The Academic Board approved the replacement nomination to membership of the Exclusion Appeals Committee as provided.

A document was circulated (p123-140)

A document was circulated (p141-142)

The Academic Board noted the matters of interest to the Academic Board from Council Meeting 8/2001, held 17 December 2001.