Monash UniversityAcademic Board Meeting 5-2004Meeting No 4/2004 of the Academic Board was held on Wednesday, 29 September 2004, in the Council Room, Administration Building 3A, Clayton campus, between 2:15pm and 4:50 pm. There were present: Professors C Browne, D Abramson, Dr G Acquaah-Gaisie, Professors S Adeloju, R Alfredson, W Anderson, Mr C Avram, Mr J Beringer, Professor J Bertram, Mr L Bull, Professor E Byrne, Associate Professor B Canney, Dr D Casey, Professor M Clayton, Dr S Cockfield, Professors C Cocklin, E Cornish, Ms A Crook, Associate Professor Denise Cuthbert, Professor D De Kretser, Ms R Dhillon, Professor T Dingle, Associate Professor T Dix, Professors G Egan, M Evans, A Freiberg, J Godfrey, Mr B Harding, Dr M Hau, Professors G Hodge, B Hoffert, Ms C Holgate, Professor O Hughes, Associate Professor J Hurst, Ms K Jones, Mr M Josem, Professors M King, R Larkins, C Lipsig-Mumme, Dr R Lisner, Professor A Lindsay, Dr J Lyneham, Professor B Mackenzie, Professor A Markus, Dr G Martin, Dr L McCall, Professors B Muddle, K Murray, Ms H Ngo, Professor R Norris, H Oppewal, Associate Professor M Page, Professor G Palmer, Dr S Pickering, Professors D Poskitt, J Redmond, Associate Professors P Reed, G Sanson, Professors J Sheridan, J Smith, K Smith, Dr K Stewart, Professor E Storey, Ms K Styles, Dr G Taylor, Professors J Teicher, B Tonge, Dr S Ventura, Mr M Vincent, Mr D Watson, Professors G Webb, R Weber, G Whyte, S Willis, Mr T Wilson, Professor Xiao Ling Zhao. Apologies were received from: Associate Professor H Abachi, Dr O A Kindemowo, Professors J Anderson, B Caine, P Cally, Dr B Cooke, Associate Professor A De Bono, Dr B Doecke, Associate Professor A Farley, Professors M Fleer, P Gronn, Mr P Handsworth, Ms C Harboe-Ree, Dr S Joseph, Associate Professor S Joy, Professors J Kenway, D Kirkpatrick, K Langfield-Smith, H Le Grand, M Liddell, D MacFarlane, Mr A McMeekin, Professor P Nagley, Dr R Nelson, Associate Professors P Nestor, K Ngo, On Kit Tam, S Parker, Associate Professor S Petrovic-Lazarevic, Professors L Piterman, M Pittard, Associate Professor C Porter, Professors M Skully, G Solarsh, T Sridhar, P Steele, P Stewart, N Thomson, P Von Nessen, J Walter, R Willis, Present by invitation: Mr V Garth, Mr T Hogan, Ms A Matchett, Mr A Picouleau Observers: A/Professor V Clifford, Ms C Cooze, Ms S Stafford, Ms J Holt, Mr Lindsay Hugley from Charles Darwin University. In attendance: Ms C Chatterton M I N U T E S*A PROCEDURAL MATTERS 1 Welcome The Chair, Professor Chris Browne welcomed those in attendance via teleconference from the South Africa campus, new casual members of Academic Board and observers including Mr Lindsay Hugley from Charles Darwin University. The Chair also welcomed Mr V Garth, Mr T Hogan, Ms A Matchett and Mr A Picouleau who were invited to attend. 1.1 Starring of Items Members noted that items 8.1.1 and 9.1 had been starred by the Steering Committee of Academic Board for discussion. 1.2 Deferred Items Members noted that items 6.1 and 6.2 were deferred and will be on the agenda for meeting 6/2004. 1.3 Approval of Non-Starred Items The recommendations of the Steering Committee were adopted without discussion for all items other than those starred and deferred. 1.4 Confidential Items C There were no confidential items on the agenda for this meeting. 2 MINUTES 2.1 Minutes of Academic Board Meeting 4/2004 held Wednesday, 18 August 2004 The Minutes of Academic Board Meeting 4/2004, held 18 August 2004, were confirmed. *B STARRED ITEMS 3 PRESIDENT’S REPORT Professor C Browne extended the congratulations of the Board to the following:
Professor Browne informed the Board that he had given a verbal report to Council on the work and business of the Board and the key issues for 2005. This will be presented as a paper to the next Board meeting. He also informed the Board that Council had approved all the recommendations in the report of the Professorial Appointments Review. Professor Browne tabled the following key dates for Academic Board for 2005, based on the dates for Council meetings in 2005 which were approved at Council meeting 6/2004 on 27 September. He informed the Board that other committees reporting to the Board needed to set their dates for 2005 based on Academic Board dates being finalised and sought the Board’s approval of the following dates:
Academic Board noted the advice of the President and endorsed the above schedule of key dates for meetings of the Board in 2005. 4 REPORT OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR’S GROUP 4.1 Vice-Chancellor’s Report RMO2004/0369 Professor R Larkins, Vice-Chancellor, informed the Board that Ms Alison Crook, Professor Alan Lindsay and Mr John Matthews had indicated their desire to retire and in that context the following current and forthcoming changes to the senior management structure were approved by Council at meeting 6/2004:
Professor Larkins extended his appreciation to Ms Crook and Professor Lindsay for their contributions to the university. Professor Larkins informed the Board that Dr Jon Dellandrea, Vice-President and Chief Advancement Officer, University of Toronto, will be spending a week at Monash from 17 October. Dr Dellandrea played a key role in the fundraising campaign of the University of Toronto which reached its $1 billion milestone a year ahead of schedule. He will be working with faculties and central administration to build a cooperative approach to planning. The Vice-Chancellor informed the Board that a Partnerships Dinner will be held on 11 April 2005 for the business, bureaucratic and political community of Victoria at which Professor Richard Lambert will be the guest speaker. His report of the Lambert Review of Business-University Collaboration in the UK led to increased investment in education. Academic Board noted the advice of the Vice-Chancellor and applauded the new appointments and extended thanks to Ms Crook and Professor Lindsay. 4.2 Report on Monash’s Research Activities RMO1997/1152 A document was attached. (p 45-56) Professor E Cornish, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) spoke to her presentation and acknowledged the contribution of A/Professor Denise Cuthbert, Professor John Sheridan, Ms Alison Crook and Ms Jane Holt. Professor Cornish outlined the sources of research income, Monash’s 2004 level of research funding and indicated that research activity was becoming concentrated in fewer universities. A range of benchmarking charts comparing Monash’s research performance with the Group of Eight universities were presented, noting that although Monash had improved performance in industry and other income, the rate of growth was not as fast as the University of Sydney or the University of Melbourne and there was capacity to grow the research performance given the size of Monash. Professor Cornish added that Monash had only been awarded one Federation Fellow of the 74 awarded and stated that faculties will need to be proactive and identify potential candidates for this scheme. Professor Cornish informed the Board of a number of themes that have emerged as part of the review including the need for:
Professor Cornish concluded by stating that the themes emerging from the review are consistent with Excellence and Diversity. The President thanked Professor Cornish for her presentation and invited questions from members as detailed below.
Academic Board noted the advice and received the presentation of Professor Cornish, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research). 4.3 Enterprise Bargaining Update RMO1999/1878 Professor A Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) informed the Board that he has had overall leadership of the process supported by Mr P Marshall, Mr A Picouleau and Mr N Pope. Recent progress has essentially resulted in agreement except for salary. Agreement was reached on parental leave, superannuation arrangements, process for reducing sessional staff and review of research staff. At a meeting on 13 September, the University increased its offer to 15.5% plus $500 and the expiry date has been brought back from September to June. In the absence of final agreement, the NTEU proceeded with a strike on 16 September. Figures from the strike are still being collated. Very few classes were cancelled at Caulfield, 20% were cancelled at Clayton and all classes were cancelled at Gippsland. No figures were available for Berwick and Peninsula. The NTEU have been offered a briefing session on the state of the university’s financial situation. The Vice-Chancellor has expressed his wish for an early finalisation to current negotiations, but indicated that the university is prepared to continue to give staff the pay rises that would have been granted had the university’s offer been agreed to. The current agreement will remain in place until a new agreement is reached. The next pay increase is scheduled for March 2005. In response to a query about student evaluation of teaching, Professor Lindsay indicated that the NTEU has not yet signed off, but has agreed in principle. The evaluations will not be used to measure personal performance but as a quality measure to identify units of concern, in order to facilitate improvement measures. The system will be centrally-supported, summary data will be readily available so that year to year comparisons as well as 3-year and 5-year trends can be obtained. The process for developing the evaluation measures will go to Education Committee, the student groups and the Academic Board. Responding to a query about access to data on evaluation of units, it was pointed out that Learning and Teaching Performance Fund required data to be publicly available. A Board member requested that the questions in the evaluation accommodate a wide range of modes of delivery and was assured that the questions will relate to the learning process and not be dependent on the methodology of delivery. Academic Board noted the advice of Professor Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic). 4.4 Revised Reporting Arrangements for Gippsland Campus RMO2001/0662 A document was attached. (p 43-44) Professor R Larkins, Vice-Chancellor spoke to the paper and assured the Board that the revised reporting arrangements was an attempt to balance between having sufficient autonomy at the regional campus level and at the same time to take advantage of belonging to a large university with its quality programs. It will enable Gippsland campus to initiate changes instead of being reactive and an attempt for the campus to operate as a planning unit and be seen as a major component of Monash University. Responding to a query about withdrawing units from Gippsland due to low enrolments and the revised arrangements not addressing the problem of students driving past Gippsland to study, Professor Larkins stated that this is not an academic plan but an administrative structure designed to empower Gippsland to put forward innovative and creative proposals in its academic plan. In response to a comment about adding another dimension to the matrix and how conflicting priorities will be resolved, Professor Larkins stated that the Pro-Vice Chancellor, Gippsland, will be responsible for the budget and will be responsible for allocating resources. Responding to a concern about how accrediting bodies will view performance management issues was raised by the Department of Accounting and Finance whose degrees get accreditation by campus, Professor Larkins stressed that the communication with the academic disciplines will be retained. It is the responsibility of the heads of academic units to work with the discipline heads to ensure accreditation requirements are met. Academic Board noted the advice of Professor Larkins, Vice-Chancellor. 4.5 Quality Matters 4.5.1 AUQA Audit Timeline RMO2000/0766 A document was attached. (p 57-62) Professor G Webb, Director, Centre for Higher Education Quality, spoke to the AUQA Audit Timeline document and informed the Board that AUQA has been keeping to their timeline. It is anticipated that Monash will be audited in 2006 and approximately 500 staff and students will be interviewed. Negotiations are underway with HEQC to run an audit at Monash Australia and an audit at Monash South Africa to coincide with the AUQA visit. Academic Board noted the advice from Professor Webb, Director, Centre for Higher Education Quality. 4.6 Question Time 5 ITEMS ORIGINATING FROM SECTION C 5.1 Blind Marking RMO1998/2712 This item originated from item 8.1.1 of the agenda. A proposal was attached. Professor A Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) spoke to this item and informed the Board that the issue of Blind Marking has been given particular emphasis in ‘Still Learning’. The current consideration arises from concern for best practice rather than any history or suggestion of breaches of integrity of our process. In the current climate we need to demonstrate our academic integrity. The university recognises that a number of approaches to blind marking could be adopted and so we need to balance the level of blind marking against the cost. The aim of the current proposal is to eliminate potential bias at the point where an academic is marking an examination. Board members commented on the following issues and concerns:
Academic Board noted the advice of Professor Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and approved the proposal and its introduction of blind marking examinations utilising the student ID and Desk Number as the forms of identification and noted that an implementation plan will be developed by faculties, in consultation with the Examinations Branch. 5.2 Research Graduate School Committee - Receipt of Report of Meeting 7/2004 RMO1997/1156 This item originated from item 9.1 of the agenda. A report was attached. (p 9 – 12) Professor M King, Director, Research Graduate School, updated the Board on the new model for allocation of the Research Training Scheme (RTS). The major elements of the RTS will not change. The university’s allocations will still be determined 50% on research student completions, 40% on research income and 10% on publications, but the separations component caused problems for estimation and implementation. Each university’s annual RTS allocation will eventually be made up of 75% based on the previous three years’ funding, and 25% allocated on the basis of the most recent performance data. The ALP policy, if they win the election, will be to do remove the RTS and instead have more places along with a 30% increase in scholarships. Academic Board noted the advice of Professor King, Director, Research Graduate School and received the Report of Meeting 7/2004 of the Research Graduate School Committee, held on 6 August 2004. C ITEMS FOR APPROVAL OR INFORMATION 6 MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES 6.1 University Librarian’s Report – transforming scholarly communication: A Monash University perspective RMO1997/0902 This item originated from item 12.1 of the agenda of meeting 4/2004. A report entitled "Transforming scholarly communication: a Monash University perspective" was attached to agenda 4/2004. This item was deferred to meeting 6/2004. 6.2 Monash University Library Annual Report 2003 RMO1997/0395 This item originated from item 12.2 of the agenda of meeting 4/2004. The Monash University Library Annual Report 2003 was attached to agenda 4/2004. This item was deferred to meeting 6/2004. 7 MATTERS REFERRED TO ACADEMIC BOARD BY COUNCIL 8 REPORT OF THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE 8.1 Receipt of Report of Meeting 5/2004 RMO2004/0611 A report was attached. (p 1-4) Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 5/2004 of the Education Committee, held on 8 September 2004. Proceedings 9 REPORT OF THE RESEARCH GRADUATE SCHOOL COMMITTEE 9.1 Receipt of Report of Meeting 7/2004 RMO1997/1156 (Secretarial Note: This item was dealt with under item 5.2) Proceedings 9.2 Receipt of Report of Meeting 8/2004 RMO1997/1156 A report was attached. (p 13-16) Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 8/2004 of the Research Graduate School Committee, held on 3 September 2004. Proceedings 10 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF ARTS 10.1 Receipt of Report of Meeting 3/2004 RMO1998/0455 A report was attached. (p 17-18) Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 3/2004 of the Board of the Faculty of Arts held on 21 July 2004. Proceedings 11 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING 11.1 Receipt of Reports of Meeting 2/2004 and 3/2004 RMO998/1368 A report was attached. (p 19-20) Academic Board received and noted the Reports of Meeting 2/2004 and 3/2004 of the Board of the Faculty of Engineering held on 31 March 2004 and 6 July 2004 respectively. Proceedings 12 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF MEDICINE, NURSING AND HEALTH SCIENCES 12.1 Receipt of Report of Meeting 5/2004 RMO1998/0708 A report was attached. (p 21-22) Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 5/2004 of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences held on 1 September 2004. 12.1.1 Award of Doctor of Medicine Degree Academic Board approved and endorsed for transmission to Council the awarding of the degree of Doctor of Medicine to Dr Michele Pathé for the thesis entitled, ‘The Nature and Impact of Stalking: A Mental Health Perspective’. 13 REPORT OF THE BOARD OF THE FACULTY OF SCIENCE 13.1 Receipt of Report of Meeting 4/2004 RMO1997/0904 A report was attached. (p 23-26) Academic Board received and noted the Report of Meeting 4/2004 of the Board of the Faculty of Science, held on 1 September 2004. Proceedings 14 LEGISLATION 14.1 Amendment to Regulations 2.3 and Repeal of Regulations 2.4 RMO1997/1504 RMO2001/1049 Documentation was attached. (p 27-34) At meeting 4/2004 Academic Board approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to amend Statute 2.3 which updated the title of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and affected a redraft of subsection 1.1 to assist in the reading of the provision; and repealed Statute 2.4 The University Teaching Hospitals. The proposal seeks an amendment to regulations Schedule 8, Part II, made pursuant to Statute 2.3, to alter the membership of the faculty board of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and affects a housekeeping redraft of item 5 under subsection 7.2 and seeks to repeal regulations 2.4 which is consequential upon the repeal of Statute 2.4. Academic Board endorsed for submission to Council the amendment to Regulations Schedule 8 Part II made pursuant to Statute 2.3 The Faculties (Amendment No 1 2004) and the repeal of Regulations made pursuant to Statute 2.4 The university teaching hospitals (membership of the faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences) regulations. 15 PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH AND FILL THE POSITION OF CHAIR OF CIVIL ENGINEERING RMO1998/2135 A proposal was attached. (p 35-42) Academic Board approved the proposal, approved by Council at meeting 6/04 on 27 September 2004, of the Faculty of Engineering to establish and fill the position of Chair of Civil Engineering. 16 ACADEMIC BOARD MEMBERSHIP 16.1 Casual vacancies on Academic Board as at meeting 5/2004 RMO2004/1174 The following casual vacancies exist on Academic Board as at meeting 5/2004:
16.2 Nominations from Faculty Boards to fill casual vacancies on Academic Board RMO2004/1174 Academic Board noted the following appointments made by Faculty Boards to fill casual professorial and non-professorial vacancies on Academic Board:
16.3 Request for Special Leave from Meetings of the Board RMO2004/1174 In accordance with Statute 2.2 – The Academic Board (section 7), a casual vacancy in the office of an elected member occurs where a member is absent from three consecutive meetings without special leave granted by the Board at or before the last of those meetings. A request was received for special leave from:
Academic Board granted special leave from attendance at meetings of the Board to the member listed above. 17 NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Academic Board will be held on Wednesday 24 November 2004 from 2:15 pm – 4:30 pm in the Lecture Theatre, Art & Design Building, Caulfield Campus. It will be preceded by a light lunch commencing at 1:15pm in the foyer outside the gallery in the Art & Design Building and there will be an opportunity for members to visit the gallery. |
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