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.

Tea and coffee will be served in the foyer prior to the meeting.

Ms Rhonda Hinds
Secretary
22 August 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

1.1  Starring of Items

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
 

2.1  Minutes of Academic Board Meeting 4/2007

The Minutes of Meeting 4/2007, held on Wednesday, 11 July 2007, were distributed on 26 July 2007.

Recommendation:

That the Minutes of Academic Board Meeting 4/2007, held on 11 July 2007, be confirmed.
 

3.1  President’s Report

Associate Professor John Hurst will speak to this item.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board note the advice of the President.

3.2  Role of Academic Board    101-112

Attached is a memorandum from the President and a paper "Academic Board and the Academy: Seizing the Moment" presented by Professor Hilary Winchester to the recent AUQF.

Associate Professor John Hurst will introduce this item.

Recommendation:

1. That Academic Board consider and discuss the attached paper.
    
2. That Academic Board request Steering Committee of Academic Board to bring forward a draft statement of Terms of Reference for discussion to the next Academic Board meeting (2007/08).
    

4.1  Vice Chancellor

4.1.1  Vice-Chancellor’s Report    113-118

The Vice-Chancellor will speak to the "State of the University" report.

A paper, prepared by Professor Graham Webb, PVC Quality, responding to questions raised to University Council is attached.

Recommendation:

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

4.2  Education Portfolio

4.2.1  University Policy Project    1-2

Attached for information is a briefing paper on the University Policy Project. Professor Merran Evans will introduce this item.

Dr Kristina Macrae, Project Manager – Policy Project will be in attendance for this item.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive the briefing paper and note Professor Evans’ advice.

4.2.2  External Assessment of Performance    3-14

Professor Merran Evans will introduce the following:

Shanghai Jiao Tong Rankings

Attached is an overview of SJTU 2007 Academic Ranking of World Universities.

Good Universities Guide

Attached is a report on Monash’s rankings in the 2008 Good Universities Guide.

Learning and Teaching Performance Fund

Attached is a report on the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund 2008 Monash results.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and discuss reports on External Assessment of Performance.

4.3  Research Portfolio

4.3.1  Update on the Research Portfolio

Professor Edwina Cornish, DVC (Research) will provide an oral report to Council.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and discuss the report of the DVC (Research).

4.4  International Portfolio

4.4.1  Update on the International Portfolio

Professor Stephanie Fahey, DVC (International) will provide an oral report to Council.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and discuss the report of the DVC (International).

4.5  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.
 

6.1  Membership of Steering Committee of Academic Board

At the declaration of the poll for the elections to Steering Committee of Academic Board, the following members were elected and will hold office from 1 September 2007 to 31 August 2009:

One academic staff (other than the professors) member:

Associate Professor Ben Canny
 

Two professorial alternate members:

Professor Bernard Hoffert

Professor Andrew Markus

Casual vacancies therefore currently exist in the following categories:

One professorial member (to 31 August 2009)

Two (2) non-professorial alternate members (to 31 August 2008)

Recommendation:

That Academic Board note the result of the elections to Steering Committee of Academic Board.

6.2  Nominations to Casual Vacancies on Academic Board

6.2.1  Campus-Based Member

Professor Phillip Steele, Director, Berwick campus, has nominated Dr Grace W Rumantir (Berwick School of Information Technology) to fill a casual vacancy for a member representing Berwick campus with a term of office to expire on 30 June 2009.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the nomination by the Berwick Campus Director Director, Berwick campus of Dr Grace Rumantir to membership of Academic Board, with a term of office to expire on 30 June 2009.

6.2.2  Faculty of Arts

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

Professorial Members:                        

Professor Ross Mouer                          

Professor Greg Barton                          

Professor Nigel Tapper

Professor Peter Kershaw
 

Academic Staff (other than the Professors):

Dr Chandani Lokuge

Dr Rita Wilson

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the nomination by the Board of the Faculty of Arts of Professors Ross Mouer, Greg Barton, Nigel Tapper and Peter Kershaw and Drs Chandani Lokuge and Rita Wilson to membership of Academic Board, with terms of office to expire on 30 June 2009.

6.2.3  Victorian College of Pharmacy

A special meeting held on 18 July 2007 of the Board of the Victorian College of Pharmacy appointed the following to fill casual vacancies on Academic Board with a term of office to expire on 30 June 2009:

Professorial Members:                          

Professor Colin Chapman                         
 

Academic Staff (other than the Professors):

Dr Ben Boyd

Associate Professor Kay Stewart

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the nomination by the Board of the Faculty of Pharmacy of Professor Colin Chapman, Dr Ben Boyd and Associate Professor Kay Stewart to membership of Academic Board, with terms of office to expire on 30 June 2009.

6.2.4  Faculty of Education

Meeting 4/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Education appointed Professor Dennis Moore to fill the casual vacancy on Academic Board with a term of office to expire on 30 June 2008.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the nomination by the Board of the Faculty of Education of Professor Dennis Moore to membership of Academic Board, with term of office to expire on 30 June 2008.

6.2.5  Faculty of Law

Meeting 15/07 of the Executive Committee of the Board of the Faculty of Law appointed the following to fill casual vacancies on Academic Board with a term of office to 30 June 2009.

Professorial Members:

Marilyn Pittard

Jeff Waincymer
 

Academic Staff (other than the Professors):

Dr Bronwyn Naylor

Dr Gideon Boas

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the nomination by the Board of the Faculty of Law of Professors Marilyn Pittard, Jeff Waincymer and Drs Bronwyn Naylor, Gideon Boas to membership of Academic Board, with terms of office to expire on 30 June 2009.

6.3  2008 Meeting Dates    15-16

A memorandum from the Secretary is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the proposed 2008 meeting dates.

6.4  Requests for Special Leave

Statue 2.2 – The Academic Board (clause 4.1) provides that 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. Requests for special leave has been received from:

Professor Graham Webb PVC (Quality) Meetings 5-6 2007

Recommendation:

That Academic Board grant special leave from attendance at meetings of the Board to the members listed above.
 

Attached is a proposal to amend the Faculties Regulations to give effect to the approval of the Board of the Faculty of Engineering for change to the name of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (agenda item 11.1 is also relevant).

Attached is a request from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences for amendment to the Master of Surgery (course code: 3443) to allow it to be offered in external mode. This request was endorsed by the Research Graduate School at its Meeting 6/2007.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the request from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences for amendment to the Master of Surgery (course code: 3443) to allow it to be offered in external mode.
 

9.1  Credit (including RPL) Policy and Credit Transfer Procedures    37-50

At its Meeting 4/2007, Education Committee endorsed revision to the Credit (including RPL) Policy and approved the Credit Transfer Procedures.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the revised Credit (including RPL) and note the Credit Transfer Procedures.

9.2  Academic and Administrative Complaints and Grievances Policy and Procedures    51-66

At its Meeting 4/2007, Education Committee endorsed submission of the revised Academic and Administrative Complaints and Grievances Policy and Procedures to the Board.

Recommendations:

That Academic Board approve the revised Academic and Administrative Complaints and Grievances Policy and note the accompanying Procedures.

9.3  Zero Credit Point Coursework Units    67-68

At its Meeting 4/2007, Education Committee endorsed creation of Zero Credit Point Coursework Units in 5 circumstances.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board approve the following:

That zero credit point coursework units only be permitted where:

1. the work undertaken by the student is not at Monash University (viz. students undertaking work experience in industry at a business);

2. the work undertaken by the student at Monash involves minimal resources by the University (e.g. equivalent to 2 credit points or less, no supervision by academic staff, minimal to nil assessment of work);

3. an activity has to be undertaken by a student as a compulsory pre-requisite to undertake a future coursework, load bearing unit (e.g. Hurdle requirements);

4. students require an extension to an already enrolled thesis unit and for which they should be charged as they are consuming University resources. (e.g. Thesis extension units where ‘enrolled credit points’ equal a value >0 and achievable credit points equal a value of 0); or

5. the unit is established to allow the recording and approval of a final Honours grade;
    

10.1  Graduate Attributes

Members are advised that a report will be provided to Academic Board Meeting 6/2007 following establishment of an Implementation Working Party.
 

11.1  Research Graduate School Committee Meetings 6 & 7/2007    69-72,  119-122

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the report of the Research Graduate School Committee Meetings 6 & 7/2007.

11.2  Monash University Research Committee Meeting 4/2007    73-74

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 4/2007 of the Monash University Research Committee.

11.3  Education Committee Meeting 4/2007    75-78

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 4/2007 of the Education Committee.
 

12.1  Faculty of Arts Meeting 3/2007    79-80

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

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

12.2  Faculty of Business & Economics Meeting 4/2007    81-88

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 4/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Business & Economics.

12.3  Faculty of Engineering Meeting 3/2007    89-96

A Report and proposal for renaming the Department of Mechanical Engineering are attached.

Recommendation:

1. That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 3/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Engineering.

2. That Academic Board approve the recommendation that the Department of Mechanical Engineering be renamed "The Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering".

12.4  Faculty of Law Meeting 5/2007    123-148

A report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board:

1. Receive and note the Report of Meeting 5/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Law.

2. Approve the amendments to membership of the Law Faculty Board as set out in Attachment A.

3. Approve the appointment of the person named in the document as alternate member to Associate Professor Evans on the University Associate Professor Promotions Committee (replacing Associate Professor Ann Monotti).

12.5  Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences Meeting 4/2007    97-100

A Report is attached.

Recommendation:

That Academic Board receive and note the Report of Meeting 4/2007 of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.
 

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