Committee of Deans Meeting 4-1994

Meeting No. 4/94 of the Committee of Deans was held on Wednesday, 16 March 1994, in the James McNeill Room, University Offices, at the Clayton campus, between 12:00 and 2.00 pm.

There were present:

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

Professor I.W. Chubb, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics

Professor P.LeP. Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and Dean, Faculty of Engineering

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

Professor J.L.C. Chipman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Gippsland Campus)

Professor G.C. Clark, Acting Dean, Faculty of Arts

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

Professor R.T. White, Dean, Faculty of Education

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

Professor R. Porter, Dean, Faculty of Medicine

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

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

An apology was received from Professor R.J. Pargetter.

In attendance were:

Mr P.B. Wade, General Manager

Professor R.McD. Anderson, Campus Director, Frankston

Ms O. Cornelius, Academic Registrar

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

Mr R. Burnett, Director, Student Services

M I N U T E S

27. Minutes

The minutes of Meeting No. 3/94 held on 23 February 1994, copies of which had been circulated, were confirmed and signed.

28. Matters Arising From the Minutes (not listed elsewhere in the agenda)

28.11994 Undergraduate Enrolments

RB

The Director, Student Services, presented updated enrolment numbers and advised that, as at the census date of 31 March, it was anticipated that:

. while some faculties may be over or under-enrolled, total load may be exceeded by less than 2%;

. undergraduate load may be exceeded by less than 1%;

. school leaver/TAFE transfer load may be exceeded by approximately 200 EFTSU.

Final enrolment figures were to be made available to the Committee after 31 March. The Committee expressed its appreciation of the efforts of Student Services and faculty staff which ensured deans were kept fully informed of developments in a timely fashion during the enrolment period; Mr Clive Vernon, Manager, Admissions and Records, was thanked for his management and coordination of operations (D17/94).

28.2 Allocation of Scholarships

The Committee considered a preliminary report on 1994 scholarship selection (D18/94), and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) undertook to bring to a future meeting of the Committee more detailed information about numbers of PhD students who had not been awarded scholarships in 1994.

A tabled paper from AVCC, which detailed Higher Education Student Load, Target Load, Commonwealth Funded Load and students by state and institution (actual 1993 and estimated 1994), was received, and the Committee noted:

. a predicted increase of 20% in higher degree enrolments in 1994 at Monash;

. while demand for higher degree places was expected to remain high, the Vice- Chancellor was of the view that it was desirable to establish an even higher level of demand for 1995;

. a change in the management of the Office of University Development, foreshadowed by the Vice-Chancellor, to reduce the current emphasis on projecting the University's corporate image and to ensure a greater coverage in the media of Monash-related academic issues.

The tabled paper was identified for further consideration at the Deans' Retreat.

29. Report of the Vice-Chancellor

29.1 Quality Review

The Vice-Chancellor advised on outcomes of the quality review, and indicated that the report did not contain enough information to clearly identify this University's shortcomings, nor did it identify clearly differences between group 1 institutions and those in group 2.

The Vice-Chancellor was of view that the University must proceed to identify and address shortcomings; that while many policies were in place, other must be developed and all must be publicised within the University community and documented before the next quality review. He saw that deans would play a vital role in that process. He cited the draft Education Policy as one which would meet requirements for accountability and that mechanisms for its implementation and monitoring were to be addressed in due course, together with identification of good practices already in place.

29.2 International Student Selection

MIL LHTW

The Committee received a tabled paper which detailed preliminary data on 1994 international student selection.

During discussion, the Vice-Chancellor advised that he intended to propose to the Academic Board that the University privatise marketing and other aspects of international student recruitment (see also Minute 32 below). Future targets and strategies were to be discussed with faculties.

The tabled paper was identified for further consideration at the Deans' Retreat.

29.3 Education Policy

IWC Deans

The Committee considered the separately circulated document titled `Monash University - Education Policy' which had been developed by the Education Committee, and noted that `in principle' endorsement of the recommendations therein was to be sought from the Academic Board that afternoon.

During discussion, deans expressed reservations about some aspects of the document, including:

. the proposal to allocate 2% off the top of faculty budgets to support teaching and learning initiatives;

. the validity of the proposal that a Masters degree in Higher Education, to be offered by the University, be a criterion for selection and promotion; and

. the proposed mediation procedures.

The Committee noted:

. the input of faculties, through their representatives on the Education Committee, to the development of the document;

. the proposed policy was to be seen as a framework within which faculties were to develop procedures for its implementation according to their particular circumstances, needs and relevant procedures already in place;

. a working group was to meet in four weeks with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor to give further consideration to the details of the policy framework; and

. following further input to the policy document from the University community, the Education Committee was to refer a finalised proposal to the May meeting of the Academic Board.

The Committee agreed:

. that the policy document be given further consideration at the forthcoming Deans' Retreat;

. that Deans refer the views of faculties on the policy document to the Deputy Vice- Chancellor by 25 March, for referral to the Education Committee for consideration;

. that the policy document be referred to the Academic Board that afternoon, for `in principle' endorsement as a basic framework for teaching and learning in the University within which faculties may develop procedures for its implementation.

29.4 Proposal for a Career Development Scheme

IWC

The Committee received a tabled paper which presented a proposal for a career development scheme for academic staff. The proposal was accompanied by an extract from the Staff Handbook detailing current procedures for academic staff assessment (section 7.6).

It was noted that the extract from the Staff Handbook was to be referred to the Academic Board that afternoon, together with advice that current procedures were to be revised with an emphasis on staff development.

29.5 Items discussed at Executive

The Vice-Chancellor advised briefly on the following matters considered at meetings of the Executive held on 1 March and 16 March 1994:

. Deans' Retreat

. Industry funded places

. Enhancement programs

. Voluntary student unionism

. Insurance for students

30. Urgent Matters

30.1 Approval of a second Chair in Syme Department of Accounting

IWC BM

The Committee approved a request from the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics for the establishment of a second Chair in the Syme Department of Accounting.

30.2 Fringe Benefits Tax

The General Manager provided background information to the Committee on existing University procedures relating to the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) and advised on the implications of changes to the relevant legislation, shortly to be implemented.

The Committee noted that the University was to continue to carry the costs of FBT.

30.3 Departmental Charges to Students

SEB

It was noted that letters had been received from MAS in which various charges imposed by faculties/departments were queried. The Committee was advised that the issue was currently being considered by the University Solicitor.

30.4 Age Retirement

IWC SEH

The Committee noted that, in the light of legislative changes whereby retirement at age 65 was not now compulsory, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Personnel staff would continue to meet with representatives from the University of Melbourne to develop policy proposals relating to age retirement of staff.

31. Research Matters

31.1 The Role of Associate Deans (Research)

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) advised that the role of Associate Deans (Research) was becoming increasingly important, with more work being undertaken by them within faculties in addition to their work on the Committee of Associate Deans (Research).

31.2 Non-competitive Research Grants

PLePD PBW

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) and the General Manager undertook to liaise concerning the collection of data required for grants.

32. The Future Structure of Monash University's International Activities

The Committee noted a previously circulated paper (D19/94) which detailed the proposal for the establishment of a wholly owned company to manage recruitment of international students (see also Minute 29.2 above).

33. Faculty Based Student/Course Management Information Systems

The Committee noted a previously circulated paper (D20/94).

34. Appointment to Personal Chairs Committee

RTW BM

The Vice-Chancellor nominated Professor R.T. White, Dean, Faculty of Education to succeed Professor Freebairn on Council's Personal Chairs Committee under the category of `Two Deans', as alternate to Professor C.R. Williams, Dean, Faculty of Law.

35. Other Business

35.1 Goals and Objectives

A tabled paper was received, and identified for further consideration at the Deans' Retreat.

35.2 Review of the Faculty of Education

Committee members were invited to view a display in the Faculty of Education.

36. Next Meeting

The Committee noted that the next meeting was scheduled for 2.15 pm on Wednesday 6 April in the 4th floor Conference Room, No. 428, Faculty of Law, Clayton campus.

Distribution

Vice-Chancellor

Deputy Vice-Chancellors

Pro-Vice-Chancellors

Deans

General Manager

Campus Director, Peninsula

Director, University Development

Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor

Deputy Deans, Business and Economics

Heads, Administrative Divisions

Librarian

Director, Computer Centre

Policy & Planning Directorate (2)

Director, Administration, Gippsland

Director, Centre for International Students

Director, HEARU

Director, Buildings and Development

General Manager, OLA

Registrar, Victorian College of Pharmacy

Assistant to Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Special Projects Officer, Clayton

Managers, Administrative Branches

Faculty Administrators

Personnel Branch