Committee of Deans Meeting 1-1991

Meeting No. 1/91 of the Committee of Deans was held on Tuesday, 19 February 1991, in the James McNeill Room, University Offices, at the Clayton campus, between 3.30 and 5.25 pm.

There were present:

Professor M.I. Logan, Vice-Chancellor, in the Chair
Professor J.A. Hay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
Professor G.N. Vaughan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Professor T. Kennedy, Pro-Vice-Chancellor
Professor R.J. Pargetter, Dean, Faculty of Arts
Professor P.C. Chandler, Dean, David Syme Faculty of Business
Professor J.R. Grieg, Acting Dean, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology
Professor W.A. Sinclair, Dean, Faculty of Economics Commerce and
Management
Professor D.N. Aspin, Dean, Faculty of Education
Professor P.LeP. Darvall, Dean, Faculty of Engineering
Professor C.R. Williams, Dean, Faculty of Law
Professor R. Porter, Dean, Faculty of Medicine
Professor R.J. Snedden, Dean, Faculty of Professional Studies
Professor I.D. Rae, Dean, Faculty of Science

In attendance were:

Mr A.L. Pritchard, Registrar
Mr P.B. Wade, Comptroller
Professor L.H.T. West, Executive Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor
Mr G.F. Neat, Director of Communications
Mr M.D. Watson, Secretary

M I N U T E S

1. Minutes

The minutes of Meeting No. 17/90, held on 11 December 1991, copies of which had been circulated, were confirmed and signed.

2. Matters Arising From the Minutes

No matters were raised from the minutes.

3. Report of the Vice-Chancellor

3.1 Academic Salaries

The Vice-Chancellor reported that the unions and AHEIA were now largely in accord concerning the case for increases in academic salaries currently being heard by a full bench of the Industrial Relations Tribunal. He said the likely outcome of the hearing was for a 12 per cent rise to be phased in over three years, commencing in the middle of 1991, with staff evaluation being very much part of the package.

3.2 Publications

Professor Logan referred to the policy statements he was issuing on an occasional basis in the VC's Desk series, and asked for feed-back from Deans on how these were perceived in the faculties. In this regard, Professor Rae mentioned the reference to credit transfer in the 11 February issue, and said it would be useful to discuss just what was being done at Monash. It was agreed to list this matter for discussion at a later meeting.

MDW

The Vice-Chancellor also mentioned that some complaints had been received about the University's press advertising, which it was hoped would improve as a result of faculties being required to comply with firm guidelines to give a more consistent corporate style and a switch to a new advertising agency.

The Director of Communications mentioned that feed-back had been provided to faculties on the quality and cost effectiveness of their in-house publications, which was expected to lead to an overall improvement across the board in due course.

3.3 Performance Appraisal

The Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar sought advice on what progress the University was making in regard to performance appraisal and staff evaluation. From the information provided by Deans, it appeared that Monash was quite well advanced in this area, and probably well ahead of most other Australian universities. It was acknowledged, however, that some difficulties were being experienced at Caulfield and Frankston, and more needed to be done at the departmental level.

3.4 Faculty Budgets

Professor Logan reiterated his request to Deans for copies of their faculty budgets, within the following week if possible. Pending agreement on a specific format for the submission of this information in subsequent years, he said a statement in whatever form that was available would suffice.

All Deans

3.5 Academic Freedom

The Vice-Chancellor informed Deans that the Linke report on academic freedom and institutional autonomy had apparently been shelved by the AVCC in the belief that legislation was not the best way to proceed.

3.6 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Centre

Professor Logan reported on progress in the establishment of a Centre for Sexually Transmitted Diseases by Monash and LaTrobe Universities with funding from the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. He said the Centre would be based at La Trobe University's Carlton campus and would be governed by a tripartite board of management.

4. Consideration of Urgent Matters

4.1 Selection and Enrolment

The Committee gave preliminary consideration to the outcome of the University's selection and enrolment exercise for 1991 noting that, in most cases, cut-off scores had risen but that a variety of circumstances had led to a significant overenrolment above the total student load target. It was agreed to discuss this matter further at the next meeting when firmer figures should be available. In the meantime, the Committee commended Faculty Assistant Registrars for the professional manner in which they had tackled a difficult task.

MDW

4.2 Additional Payroll Tax Impost

The Comptroller gave notice of the State Government's recent decision to make the three per cent TESS superannuation contribution by employers liable for payroll tax, which would result in an unforseen commitment of $320,000 for Monash. He said the Vice-Chancellor had agreed to fund this added impost from the University's contingency fund for 1991.

4.3 Frank Tate House

The Comptroller briefed Deans on the University's recent undertaking to purchase Frank Tate House, an imposing and fully equipped 65-bedroom former Education Department hostel at 373 Dandenong Road, Armadale, for use as a student residence to service the Caulfield campus, relatively close by and easily reached by public transport. He said an agreement had been reached with the State Government for a sole option to purchase at an attractive valuation following a one-year leasehold at a peppercorn rental. Photographs of the building and its facilities were circulated at the meeting for the information of members.

4.4 Strategy Planning

The Comptroller reported that he would soon be forwarding to Deans copies of the faculty strategy plans they submitted last year which had been costed and given a dimensional basis by the Planning and Analysis Branch. He emphasised that figures provided were, at best, intelligent estimates only and that Deans should feel free to vary or query anything they were not happy with.

4.5 Mergers

Professor Rae commented that the Vice-Chancellor's report to the Academic Board, that Monash was not seeking to incorporate the courses, staff, or students of the Rusden campus of Victoria College to avoid additional stress for University staff, had been well received.

It was noted that the future affiliation of the Pharmacy College was still in abeyance despite the strong continuing commitment of both Monash and the College for the two institutions to be amalgamated.

5. Review of Honorary Chair Appointment

The Committee approved the attached recommendation, D1/91, for the renewal of an honorary chair appointment in the Faculty of Medicine pursuant to the provisions of Staff Handbook section 1.4.1.

DAL

6. Chair of Politics

The Committee approved for submission to the Academic Board the attached proposal, D2/91, to fill the second Chair of Politics vacated in 1990 by Professor D.A. Kemp.

MDW

7. Chair of Law

The Committee gave preliminary approval to the attached proposal, D3/91, to fill the Sir Hayden Starke Chair of Law recently vacated by Professor C.G. Weeramantry, after noting that Professor R. Baxt had subsequently resigned from the faculty as well. The meeting endorsed the view of Professor Williams that preference would be given to filling the chair in the area of international law.

CRW

8. Joint Appointment in Respiratory Medicine

The Committee gave preliminary approval to the attached proposal, D4/91, for a joint appointment of Professor/Director of Respiratory Medicine at the Alfred Hospital which, it was noted, would be made at no cost to the University.

RP

9. Externally Funded Chair in Anaesthesia

The Committee reaffirmed its support for the proposal outlined in the attached correspondence and draft agreement, D5/91, for the establishment of a Chair of Anaesthesia at the Monash Medical Centre to be wholly funded by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons through its Victorian Chairs of Anaesthesia Fund.

RP

10. Occupational Health and Safety

The Committee gave preliminary consideration to the attached paper from the Occupational Health and Safety Policy Committee, D6/91, and agreed to discuss the matters therein further at its next meeting.

GNV

Next Meeting

It was noted that the next ordinary meeting of the Committee was scheduled to be held on Tuesday, 12 March, commencing at 2.15 pm.