The Agenda papers have been circulated.  The Index of Recommendations is set out below and supplementary papers are attached. 

Meetings of the Academic Board are attended by ex officio, elected and appointed members.  A non-member may request permission to attend a meeting of the Board as an observer by telephoning extension 59005.  Observers have no speaking or voting rights.

Members are reminded that items may be starred prior to the meeting by contacting the Secretary, or at the commencement of the meeting under item 1.1 of the Agenda.

Ms Rhonda Hinds
Acting Secretary
4 July 2007

Members having a direct commercial or financial interest in any item before this meeting must declare that interest to the Chair via the Committee Secretary prior to consideration of the item, and must not take part in a vote on any matter concerning it.

A G E N D A

Members who wish a non-starred item to be discussed may so request at this point.

1.2  Approval of Non-Starred Items

The Chair will move:

That the recommendations of the Steering Committee be adopted without discussion for all items other than those starred.

C 1.3  Confidential Items

1.3.1  Report of Faculty Discipline Committee Proceedings – Faculty of    1-6

Business and Economics

Clause 17.1.2 of Statute 4.1 – Discipline requires a faculty board to "annually cause a confidential report on the proceedings of the committee to be made to the Academic Board."

Attached for noting is the 2006 report of the Faculty of Business and Economics Discipline Committee proceedings.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the report from the Faculty of Business and Economics Discipline Committee.
 

The Minutes of Meeting 3/2007, held on Wednesday, 23 May 2007, were distributed on 6 June 2007.

3.1  President’s Report

Associate Professor John Hurst will speak to this item.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board note the advice of the President.
 

4.1  Vice Chancellor

4.1.1  Vice-Chancellor’s Report    111-112

A report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the report of the Vice-Chancellor.

4.2  Education Portfolio

4.2.1  Graduate Attributes    7-8

This item was held over from Academic Board Meeting 3/2007.

At its Meeting 3/2007, Education Committee endorsed the introduction of three generic university-wide Graduate Attributes – ‘internationalised’, ‘research-led’ and ‘communication-competent’.

Professor Merran Evans will introduce the attached paper, for which Associate Professor Heinz Kreutz, Head, Education Plan Implementation Corps (EPIC) will be in attendance.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the proposal that Monash (Institutional) Graduate Attributes:

• should be transmitted and operationalised though faculty and discipline curricula;
• should not just be aspirational, they should be outcome oriented, measurable, assessable and the progress should be able to be tracked;
• should, where possible and consistent with Faculty Education Plans, be embedded, rather than delivered through stand-alone, purpose-driven modules;
• should be able to be offered to graduates as a ‘guaranteed outcome’ of their course;
• should be limited to the three themes of Internationalisation, Research-led Teaching and Communication, as follows:

Graduate Attribute 1:

Monash Graduates demonstrate an understanding of an internationalised and increasingly globalised world - culturally, ethically, professionally and intellectually.

Graduate Attribute 2:

Monash Graduates display an ability to engage and share in the scholarships of discovery, analysis, integration and application, demonstrating the effects of research-led teaching on their problem-solving skills and broader learning in general.

Graduate Attribute 3:

Monash Graduates exhibit verbal and written communication skills in a broad range of settings and domains. This will include communicative competence across cultures and genres, both in generic terms and in the context of specific discipline jargons.

4.2.2  Plagiarism Policy and Procedures    9-26

At its Meeting 3/2007, the Board deferred formal consideration of the Plagiarism Policy, which had been endorsed by Education Committee Meeting 2/2007.

At its Meeting 3/2007, Education Committee subsequently endorsed in principle a range of amendments to the draft Plagiarism Policy. The revised Policy (tracked changes), Procedures and relevant documentation are attached.

Recommendations:

1. That Academic Board approve the amended Plagiarism Policy.
2. That Academic Board note the Plagiarism Procedures.

4.2.3  Early offers pathway into the Diploma of Foundation Studies    27-32

Attached is a report from the Coursework and Scholarships Committee on the operation of the early offer pathway into the Diploma of Foundation Studies at the Gippsland campus in 2006. The Chair, Education Committee, has approved transmission of this matter direct to Academic Board.

Recommendation

That the early offer pathway into the Diploma of Foundation Studies be continued for the three year pilot period originally approved, with the proviso that the early offers are to be conditional on applicants meeting the University’s English language entry requirements.

4.2.4  Monash University Library Annual Report 2006 Separate document

Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree, University Librarian, will present the Library’s 2006 Annual Report.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Monash University Library Annual Report 2006.

4.2.5  Quality Improvement in Education Measures    33-42

Professor Merran Evans will introduce the attached report of demonstrated quality improvement in the Education Portfolio.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the "Quality Matters: quality improvement in education measures" report.

4.3  Research Portfolio

4.3.1  Research-Only Academic Staff Appointment    43-50

Professor Edwina Cornish will introduce the attached Procedures for Research-Only Academic Staff Appointment to a Higher Research Level.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the Procedures for Research-Only Academic Staff Appointment to a Higher Research Level for implementation in 2007.

4.3.2  Benchmarking Research Performance 113-120

Professor Edwina Cornish will introduce the attached Report on Benchmarking Research Performance.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Benchmarking Research Performance Report.

4.4  Question Time

Questions on matters of interest to the Board may be raised at this point. If a response to a question would require detailed information, prior notice (eg 24 hours before the meeting) would be appreciated.
 

7.1  Elections to Academic Board    51-52

Attached for noting is the Poll Declaration Notice for the election to Academic Board of 11 academic staff (other than the professors) members of the Faculty of Business and Economics.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Poll Declaration Notice for the election to Academic Board of 11 academic staff (other than the professors) members of the Faculty of Business and Economics.

7.2  Nominations to Casual Vacancies on Academic Board

7.2.1  Faculty of Business and Economics

Meeting 3/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics appointed Professors Robert Brooks, Val Clulow, Donald Poskitt, and Amrik Sohal to fill professorial casual vacancies on Academic Board with a term of office to expire on 30 June 2009.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the nomination by the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics of Professors Robert Brooks, Val Clulow, Donald Poskitt, and Amrik Sohal to membership of Academic Board, with a term of office to expire on 30 June 2009.

7.2.2  Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Meeting 3/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences appointed the following to fill casual vacancies on Academic Board with a term of office to expire on 30 June 2009:

Professorial Members

Professor Colette Browning, Monash Institute of Health Services Research

Professor Iain Clarke, Department of Physiology

Professor Rod Devenish, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Professor Peter Disler, Bendigo Regional Clinical School

Professor Michael Holland, Centre for Early Human Development, Monash Institute of Medical Research

Professor Tony Luff, Department of Physiology

Professor Patrick Sexton, Department of Pharmacology

Academic Staff (other than the Professors)

Dr. Sue Burney, School of Psychology, Psychiatry & Psychological Medicine

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the nomination by the Board of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences of Professors Colette Browning, Iain Clarke, Rod Devenish, Peter Disler, Michael Holland, Tony Luff, Patrick Sexton and Dr. Sue Burney to membership of Academic Board, with terms of office to expire on 30 June 2009.

7.3  Membership of Education Committee

At its Meeting 3/2007, Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the recommendation that the University Librarian be included in its membership.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve inclusion of the University Librarian in the membership of the Education Committee.

7.4  Requests for Special Leave

No requests for special leave have been received as at the date of this agenda.

8.1  Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress    131-146

Attached are proposals for amendments to Statute 6.2 – Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress and the Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress Regulations.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board endorse, for submission to Council, the proposal to amend:

Statute 6.2 – Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress (Amendment No 1 2007).

Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress Regulations (Amendment No 1 2007).
 

9.  POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND REVIEW

9.1  Language Policy    53-56

At its Meeting 3/2007, Education Committee endorsed repeal of the Language Policy for submission to Academic Board.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve repeal of the Language Policy.

9.2  Unit Evaluation Policy and Procedures    57-60

At its Meeting 3/2007, Education Committee approved the Unit Evaluation Procedures subject to minor amendments and endorsed the re-formatted Unit Evaluation Policy for submission to Academic Board.

Recommendations:

1. That Academic Board approve the Unit Evaluation Policy.
2. That Academic Board note the Unit Evaluation Procedures.

9.3  GPA/WAM Methodology    61-62

At its Meeting 3/2007, Education Committee endorsed ‘Withdrawn Fail’ as a formal university grade which will be awarded to students who withdraw after Week 10.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve:

• Withdrawn Fail as a formal university grade which will only be awarded to students who withdraw after Week 10; and
• The inclusion of Withdrawn Fail into the university’s Grading Scale policy and procedures

Statute 6.1.1 - University entrance and admission to courses (clause 2) provides that

Attached is a memorandum requesting ratification by the Board of the President’s approval of a recommendation by the Faculty of Business and Economics for exemption from admission requirements.

That Academic Board ratify the approval by the President of the recommendation that applicants 21159637 and 21204586 be exempted from the university entrance requirement of English and be deemed to have satisfied the entrance requirements of the University in accordance with clause 2 of Statute 6.1.1.
 

11.1  Monash University Animal Welfare Committee (MUAWC)    65-68

Attached is the MUAWC Annual Report for 2006

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the report of the meetings and activities of the

Monash University Animal Welfare Committee (MUAWC) during 2006.

11.2  Education Committee Meeting 3/2007    69-72

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 3/2007 of the Education

Committee.

11.3  Monash University Research Committee Meeting 3/2007    73-74

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 3/2007 of the Monash University Research Committee.

11.4  Research Graduate School Committee Meeting 5/2007    75-78

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 5/2007 of the Research Graduate School Committee.

11.5  General Library Committee Meeting 2/2007    79-86

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 2/2007 of the General Library Committee.
 

12.  FACULTY BOARD REPORTS

12.1  Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Meetings 2 and 3/2007    87-96

Reports are attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Reports of Meetings 2/2007 and 3/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

12.2  Faculty of Engineering Meeting 2/2007    97-102

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 2/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Engineering.

12.3  Faculty of Business and Economics Meeting 3/2007    103-110

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 3/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics.

12.4  Faculty of Information Technology Meeting 4/2007    147-152

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 4/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology.

12.5  Faculty of Arts Meeting 2/2007    153-154

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 2/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Arts.

The next meeting of the Academic Board will be held on Wednesday 29 August 2007 in the Council Chambers, 1^st floor, Building 3a, Clayton Campus commencing at 3.30pm.