Committee of Deans Meeting 2-1993

Meeting No. 2/93 of the Committee of Deans was held on Tuesday, 9 March 1993, in the Council Room, University offices, Clayton campus, between 2.15 and 4.05 pm.

There were present:

Professor M.I. Logan, Vice-Chancellor, in the Chair

Professor I.W. Chubb, Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Professor R. Porter, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine

Professor R.J. Pargetter, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts

Professor L.H.T. West, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (International Programs)

Professor B. Dunstan, Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland Campus

Professor J.O. Miller, Acting Dean, David Syme Faculty of Business

Professor C.J. Bellamy, Dean, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology

Professor J.W. Freebairn, Acting Dean, Faculty of Economics Commerce and Management

Professor R.J.W. Selleck, Acting Dean, Faculty of Education

Professor P.LeP. Darvall, Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Professor C.R. Williams, Dean, Faculty of Law

Professor C.B. Chapman, Dean, Victorian College of Pharmacy

Professor R.J. Snedden, Dean, Faculty of Professional Studies

Professor I.D. Rae, Dean, Faculty of Science

In attendance were:

Mr P.B. Wade, General Manager - Comptroller

Mr M.D. Watson, Acting Registrar

Mr G.F. Neat, Executive Director, University Development

Ms C.E. Anderson, Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor

Ms L. Gash, Acting Secretary

11. Membership

The Chairman welcomed Professor Chubb, attending his first meeting of the Committee since taking up his appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor on 1 March. Professor Logan outlined the nature of Professor Chubb's role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor and invited Deans to communicate with Professor Chubb in the execution of duties associated with the day-to-day operation of University. Professor Logan also indicated that Deans would consult with him as appropriate.

12. Minutes

The minutes of Meeting No. 1/93 held on 18 February 1992, were confirmed subject to the incorporation of the following amendment to the second sentence of item 4.3 - Reporting Mechanisms for CRCs and Key Centres:

`After noting advice from Professors Porter and Pargetter, it was agreed that formal lines of reporting should be reaffirmed with the requirement that regular reports be forwarded through relevant faculty boards to Academic Board by CRCs and National Key Centres'.

13. Matters Arising from the Minutes

13.1 Guidelines Governing Amendments to Courses

Further to the discussion at the previous meeting (item 5.5), the Committee noted the following resolution adopted at Meeting 10/80:

`All proposed new courses or changes which might lead to altered enrolment levels on an inter-faculty basis should be referred to and discussed by the Committee of Deans so that the full ramifications of student enrolment patterns, staffing and budgetary provisions could be determined in advance.'

14. Report of the Vice-Chancellor

14.1 Meeting with Dr Kemp

The Vice-Chancellor briefed Deans on issues raised in a recent discussion with Dr Kemp, apropos the impact of Opposition policy on the university sector in the event of a change of Commonwealth Government after 13 March. Professor Porter advised on the deliberations of a working party established by Academic Board to examine this matter and agreed to keep members informed on its progress.

15. Urgent Matters

15.1 Parking

Mr Wade reported that Monash land on the corner of Blackburn PBW Road/Wellington Roads was available for parking and approximately 800 cars per day were utilising the area. The parking situation on the Clayton campus indicated a limited issue of additional 1993 permits could be released. A priority in allocating this release of parking permits would address the requirements of first-year students and staff.

In response to a query from Professor Darvall, Mr Wade acknowledged that the concept of a pedestrian bridge linking the campus to the eastern side of Blackburn Road was worthy of consideration.

15.2 Chair of Structural Engineering

Members considered the appended paper from Professor PLePD Darvall, D4/93, which sought the Committee's approval for an appointment to the Chair of Structural Engineering in the Department of Civil Engineering upon the retirement of Professor Noel Murray. Professor Darvall advised the significance of this field of engineering within the Department. The Committee approved the proposal. Referring to the large number of chair appointments Deans currently in train, Professor Logan proposed, and the Committee agreed, that future chair appointment proposals be referred to Professor Chubb prior to their submission to Academic Board.

16. Chair of Psychology

Members considered the appended paper from Professor Rae, IDR D3/93, which sought the Committee's approval for the appointment of Professor and Head of the integrated Department of Psychology. The Committee approved the proposal but agreed that the Chair advertisement should be revised to convey a feeling for the `new' breadth of psychology at Monash, and the responsibility of the appointee to sustain a diverse range of vocational and educational objectives. Professor Rae agreed to refer a revised staff advertisement to Professor Chubb prior to publication.

17. Faculty of Business and Economics Implementation Task Force

The Committee appointed Professor Rae as its new nominee on IDR the Implementation Task Force, with Professor Williams as his CRW alternate when necessary.

18. Any Other Business

18.1 The Role of Faculty Assistant Registrars

Further to the discussion at the previous meeting, the IWC Committee reaffirmed its firm view that Faculty Assistant Registrars be transferred to Deans' establishments as part of the review of the University's administrative structure. Professor Chubb assured Deans that the Review Committee would take heed of this view in its ongoing proceedings, and expressed his hope that a recommendation in this regard would be submitted to the next meeting.

18.2 Academic Performance Assessment

Professor Pargetter spoke to the appended paper, D5/93, in reporting on arrangements governing academic staff appraisal.at Monash.

18.3 Faculty of Education

Professor Porter commented on the revised profile for the Institute of Education at the University of Melbourne. He suggested that these changes, when added to the national focus on teacher education, indicated that this was an opportune time to examine the role of the Faculty of Education at Monash. Professor Selleck argued that the changes had limited implications because the profiles of the Monash Education Faculty and the Melbourne Institute of Education were very different.

Next Meeting

It was noted that the next ordinary meeting of the Committee was scheduled to be held at 2.15 pm on Tuesday, 30 March, in the Council Chamber, 1st Floor, Sissons Building, Pharmacy College, Parkville.