Administrative Heads Group Meeting 2-1997
Meeting 2/97 of the Administrative Heads Group was held at 8:30 am on
Thursday 3 April 1997 in the Council Room, University Offices, Building 3a,
Clayton Campus.
Janice H Newham
Secretary
Membership:
A list of membership is provided at the end of these minutes.
Vice-Chancellor Professor DA Robinson chaired the meeting.
Apologies were received from:
Professor J Anderson
Mr P Annal
Mr P Cunliffe
Mr J Campbell
Mr D Phillips
Ms H Dunne
Present:
Ms ER Brooks, Minute Secretary
M I N U T E S
1. Attendance and Apologies
Attendance and Apologies were as noted above and in the membership list
attached. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs),
Professor JE Maloney was welcomed to his first meeting.
2. Minutes of Meeting 1/97
The Minutes of Meeting 1/97, held on 29 January 1997, were confirmed as
circulated.
3. Update on Corporate Planning
The Vice-Chancellor advised members that Faculties and Campus Directors
have been asked to provide information regarding their academic directions
for the next five years. Faculties had been asked for this information from
a "faculty-centric" viewpoint, while campus directors were asked to consider
the matter based on their localities' specific needs and from a multiple
faculty perspective.
The first draft of the document detailing academic directions,
administrative and infrastructure requirements for the next five years was
expected to be made available for circulation within the next two to three
weeks. The document would then be presented to various Committees of the
University, including the Administrative Heads Group. Members were advised
to expect that an additional meeting would be called to consider the
corporate planning document.
The Group was advised that the document would include information
regarding fees and scholarships for local students, a paper on the 'Learning
Environment' for future Monash activities, and a document reflecting
resourcing (including staffing) issues.
The Vice-Chancellor advised that this exercise was intended to identify
areas requiring the attention and support of the University as a whole. The
General Manager added that the process of developing the Corporate Plan had
required the University community to consider very carefully its financial
needs for the next few years, and that this had worked to everyone's
advantage.
4. Enterprise Bargaining
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development) was asked to
provide advice regarding the progress of the current round of Enterprise
Bargaining. He advised that, given that many recent Australian agreements
have resulted in unfunded salary increases of upwards of 10% over a two year
period, the University would need to tackle the matter from three
directions: increased productivity (including possible outsourcing of some
activities), increased income generation and decreased staffing levels.
The Group was advised that the preliminary phase was almost over and that
Faculty and Division managers would be asked to develop plans for managing
salary increases in their areas. Members noted that the preferred position
of management on the pending Enterprise Bargaining round was for staff and
management to mutually resolve on acceptable outcomes.
The General Manager reminded members of the problem of 'incremental
drift' in salaries and the expectation that 1998 resources would be at least
7 and one-half per cent lower than 1997 levels, due in part to reductions in
funding and in part to anticipated enterprise bargaining agreements.
5. Professor JE Maloney's Portfolio
The Vice-Chancellor invited Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and
Public Affairs) Professor JE Maloney to speak to the Group regarding his
portfolio. His responsibility broadly encompasses the three areas of
International Affairs, Public Affairs and the Creative and Performing Arts.
In International Affairs, Professor Maloney advised that a new advisory
group, including staff from APEC, MUFY, the Monash Asia Institute and Monash
International, had been established to provide a clearer focus on objectives
for the division. Professor Maloney also informed the Group of the intention
of the International Affairs division to 'band' countries in Asia and the
Pacific in which he saw potential for the University, as well as to
re-examine the University's other global links (outside Asia and the
Pacific), with a view to maximising return for investment. This matter was
given a very high priority, as many other areas of the University were
awaiting a statement regarding the University's international direction
before finalising their own plans for development.
The Public Affairs Division had been almost completely restructured. He
indicated that his goal for this area was to focus more on the activities of
the division rather than on formalised structures for operation. Internal
communications, liaison with prospective students other than school leavers,
improvement of fund-raising activities and confirming that University
publications were reaching their target audiences were also indicated as
priorities.
In the area of creative and performing arts, Professor Maloney noted that
the facilities for the performing arts were possibly the finest in Australia
since the completion of the Performing Arts precinct. He advised that his
goal in this area was to integrate all the University's activities in the
creative and performing arts into a more coherent whole, which could work
better for the University.
6. Other Business
6.1 Monash Package
The General Manager advised members that the date for final applications
for the Monash Package had been extended to the close of business on Monday
7 April, as a result of the Easter closedown. Members were advised to
consider very carefully before rejecting requests for the Package, and to
note that this version of the Package would probably not be the last made
available to staff because the University would need to save or earn at
least $50 million each year for the next three years.
6.2 Review of Monash University Council
The Vice-Chancellor advised members that the Report of the Review of the
Council was available on the WWW at
http://www.monash.edu.au/unisec/council/retrtrpt.htm
Members were asked to note particularly section 3(b): ". . . the
Administrative Heads Group report directly to Council, through the
Vice-Chancellor, on matters which the Vice-Chancellor and the Group consider
to be of strategic importance."
The Vice-Chancellor also informed the Group that the status, as members
ex officio of Council, of the Chair of the Academic Board and of the
President of MUFSO had been confirmed. However, he also advised members of
his expectation that the size of Council and its membership would be
re-examined after the completion of the Ministerial review of University
governance structures.
As part of the review of the University's governance structure, all
committees were being asked to consider their terms of reference and role.
This matter would be discussed more fully at a later stage, but members were
advised to consider this matter, and to make any comments through the
Secretary.
6.3 "Universitas 21"
A member queried the exclusion of Monash University from the "Universitas
21" project currently highlighted in the press. The Vice-Chancellor advised
members that the project was a mechanism for universities to expand their
networks overseas, but that Monash was intending to work on its overseas
links in a different way, probably by building on the already extensive
collegiate links maintained by the University's academic staff.
Professor Maloney commented that although Monash would be closely
monitoring the progress of "Universitas 21", members of this University
could remain confident that Monash was already a global University, and that
his intention was to foster that global outlook as part of his activities
here.
6.4 Organisational Chart
It was suggested by a member that a more frequently updated
organisational chart would be of great use to members of the Group, and it
was agreed that this should be investigated further, with a view to placing
the information on the Monash homepage.
6.5 Campus Director, Caulfield Campus
Members noted the appointment of Mr J White to the Caulfield Campus
Director's position from 21 April, to replace
Professor J Northfield Professor G Smith on his retirement.
The Vice-Chancellor advised that Mr White would combine the duties of Campus
Director with his responsibilities as Deputy General Manager and would
continue his involvement with UniPower and the development of CASMAC.
7. Next Meeting
The next formal meeting of the Administrative Heads Group has been
scheduled for 31 July 1997 at 8:30 am in the Council Room, Clayton campus.
Members will be advised of the date and time for an additional meeting to
consider the corporate planning document.
Membership
Vice-Chancellor
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development)
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs) Designate
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning) Designate
General Manager
Deputy General Manager
Campus Director, Gippsland
Campus Director, Berwick
Campus Director, Caulfield
Campus Director, Peninsula
Director, Student Services
Director, Financial Services
Director, Facilities and Services
Director, Personnel Services
Director, Research Services
Director, University Development
Director, Marketing and Communications
University Librarian
Academic Registrar
University Solicitor
Director, Computer Centre
Director, Halls of Residence
Director, Performing and Creative Arts
Director, Distance Education Centre
Manager, Budget and Statistical Services
Manager, Internal Audit
Director, Business Development
Director, University Union
Director, Sports & Recreation Association
General Manager, Monash International Pty Ltd
Director, Higher Education Development Centre
Executive Officer, Corporate Planning and Review
Manager, Bookshop
President, Managers' Association
Faculty Registrars
Additional Circulation
Special Advisor - Corporate Planning and Review
Executive Assistant to Vice-Chancellor
Secretary
Manager, University Secretariat |
