Administrative Heads Group Meeting 1-1999

Meeting 1/99 of the Administrative Heads Group was held at 8.30am on Thursday 11^th February 1999 in the Council Room, 1^st Floor, University Offices Building 3a, Clayton campus.

Tony Calder, Secretary

MINUTES

Apologies were received from Professor P LeP Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), Professor John E Maloney, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs), Mr M Lewenberg, Faculty Manager (Faculty of Medicine), Mr G Connell, Director – Audit and Risk Management, Mr J Levine, Assistant General Manager – Audit & Risk Management and Mr Ian Porter, Execxutive Director – International Affairs.

The minutes of meeting 6/98 were confirmed subject to amendment of the date in the second last line of item 4.5.2 to read 3^rd May 1999.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor D Robinson advised members that he had met with the new members of Council on Wednesday the 10^th February. Among the items/issues discussed with Council members were:

Updating of the Monash Plan and taking into account both internal and external factors.

Educating scholars and professionals: the possibility that DETYA may release a statement relating to teaching and performance funding.

Advancing and applying knowledge: the government has yet to release a statement relating to possible changes to research funding while it was noted that Monash needs to ensure that there are no internal barriers to cross disciplinary research collaboration.

Becoming Global: Currency fluctuations will likely continue and the Malaysian government has brought in twinning arrangements to run three courses with a partner(s). The formation of Monash Global will ensure that Monash has a coherent and well founded and well funded international operation.

Infrastructure: External issues will include the likely introduction of Voluntary Student Union legislation along either the Victorian or Western Australian models. One of the most important internal issues facing Monash in the short term is the successful implementation of the Integrated Administrative System.

Increasing differentiation in the Higher Education Sector: The increasing flow of students, particularly high quality students, across state borders is contributing to the Group of 8 Universities becoming increasingly national universities.

Two other important issues to be addressed are the relationship between the Monash Mt Eliza Business School and the Faculty of Business and Economics and the need to ensure that Monash’s contribution to the development of the Gippsland region is clearly defined and complementary to the Universities activities.

Mr P Yates, Manager – Student Admissions and Records was in attendance and provided an oral report.

A summary document and supporting tables relating to enrolment data as at 10^th February 1999 were distributed to members at the meeting.

Mr Yates introduced the matter by noting that fewer Round 1 offers were made across the VTAC system with Monash Round 1 offers falling by 8% to 5921. This reduced number of offers was attributed in part to load cuts across the tertiary sector and in some cases to faculties correcting their overenrolled position from 1998. Highlighting some of the major items contained in the tabled paper, Mr Yates noted the following:

• the "Clearly in" ENTER for HECS liable students rose with Science increasing by 8% and Environmental Science increasing by more than 10%;
• Multimedia (Berwick) and Sports and Outdoor Recreation (Gippsland) were two of the new initiatives that generated strong demand;
• noting that the Monash appeared to have continued to attract high quality HECS applicants, Mr Yates advised that the March 1 turnstile target may be exceeded by approximately 200 to 300 EFTSU;
• while Australian fee-liable undergraduate applications totaled 340 EFSTU it was expected that this figure would be slightly eroded as students received latter round offers; and
• noting that international numbers were marginally below those of this time last year, members were advised that the position would become clearer over the next two weeks.

Other matters discussed included the increasing number of applications from interstate applicants, the increased number of interviews conducted by the Faculty of Medicine, the ENTER and its relationship to the TER and that comparisons across states can now be meaningfully undertaken.

Noting that overall the VTAC System worked well, Mr Yates thanked all Faculty Registrars/Managers and staff involved in the selection process.

Professor Lindsay introduced this item by noting that one aspect of the strategic direction of the Learning and Teaching Operational Plan was to coordinate like and complementary activities by breaking down barriers that unnecessarily impacted on students and staff and ensuring the flexible delivery of services. To complementary these objectives, the Language and Learning Services Unit, Educational Services and the Distance Education Centre had been grouped together as the Centre for Learning and Teaching Support with Professor Harris as the Director.

Professor Harris advised the meeting that the Centre would provide a comprehensive set of services which would continue in cooperation with faculties and other academic areas. The current plan was to stage the evolution of CeLTS into an integrated unit over the next 12 months thus ensuring the continued and uninterrupted delivery of services in all areas.

A document was distributed to members.

Members were advised that the project was still running to schedule and that the efforts of all staff involved with the project were greatly appreciated and the cornerstone for the success of the project.

Members were referred to the distributed document titled "Impact Assessment and Transition Plan" and advised that the Plan should be available by the 23^rd February.

Members were advised that a Working Party had been formed to address the overarching framework and strategies in relation to scholarships in all categories. Terms of Reference were being finalised and anyone wanting to provide input to the process was advised to contact Professor Dick White, Dean – Faculty of Education and Chair of the Working Party.

Matters raised and discussed included Performance Funding Indicators, further discussion on the matter of Voluntary Student Unionism and an overview of the reasons pertaining to Monash’s withdrawal from the AHEIA.