Administrative Heads Group Meeting 1-1998

Meeting 1/98 of the Administrative Heads Group was held at 8.30 am on Thursday 5 February 1998 in the Council Room, First Floor, University Offices, Building 3a, Clayton Campus.

Tony Calder
Secretary
RMO97/1230

M I N U T E S

1. Attendance and apologies

Apologies were received from Professor G Webb, Director - Centre for Higher Education Development; Mr G Connell, Director - Audit and Risk Management; Dr P Rodan, Registrar - Faculty of Science and Mr P Annal, Director - Computer Centre.

Ms J Gaffey, Deputy Director - Research Grants and Ethics Branch was in attendance.

The minutes of meeting 4/97 were confirmed.

The Vice-Chancellor advised members that they were welcome to contribute agenda items to future meetings of the Group and should forward any suggestions to the Secretary ten days prior to a meeting.

Members were advised that Monash had been joined by Australian National University, Curtin University of Technology, Griffith University, Macquarie University, RMIT University, University of South Australia and University of Queensland as shareholders in Open Learning Australia. In addition, members were advised that the company was currently reviewing how OLA could best serve the needs of its shareholders.

A document introducing the matter was attached to the Agenda (ADM1/98).

Mr Clive Vernon, Manager - Student Admissions and Records was in attendance to introduce this item and respond to questions.

Prior to discussion of the agenda item, members were advised that Mr Vernon would be taking up a new position as Director - Access Programs with Monash International. Members wished to record their congratulations to Mr Vernon on his new and challenging position and thank him for his sterling and tireless efforts in the area of Student Administration.

Mr Vernon tabled a document titled VTAC Undergraduate HECS and FEE Offers - Round Two 1998. During discussion of the document, members were advised that only a small number of courses would need to make third round offers, that Australian fee paying numbers may exceed targets and that the HDR shortfall would most likely be resolved over the year but the final figure was unlikely to greatly exceed the projected targets.

Professor Maloney, Deputy Vice-Chancellor - International and Public Affairs advised members that:

• International fee paying student numbers, as measured by deposits received, were on target and tracking a similar curve to 1997.
• Access programs, an indicator of enrolment levels for the following year, were patchy with some countries showing increased numbers while others had declined.
• A decision by the Malysian Cabinet on Monash’s application for a campus in Malaysia was imminent.

During discussion, members were advised that 1998 international student load numbers were looking stable and that feeder program numbers in Indonesia were largely stable at this point.

In addition, members were advised that enquiry levels from S. E. Asian students currently studying at UK and USA institutions may increase due to differentials in currency devaluations and that every effort should be made to accommodate these enquiries.

Following discussion of the published agenda items, members provided an update on the following matters:

• update on progress into Science at Monash
• performing and visual arts - its role at Monash, within the local community, at a national level and with are near neighbours eg. New Guinea
• Student Administration Systems - use of the internet to enrol, pre-enrol, obtain examination results and amend student information
• Monash Web site, its design and use
• Learning and Teaching Plan
• Revised Budget process
• Flexible learning and the need to focus on service to students and not primarily on the technological environment

The next Administrative Heads Group meeting will be held on Thursday, 16 April 1998 in the Council Room.

Special Adviser to Vice-Chancellor - Corporate Planning and Review
Executive Assistant to Vice-Chancellor

Tony Calder, University Secretariat