Committee of Deans Meeting 5-1994

Meeting No. 5/94 of the Committee of Deans was held on Wednesday, 6 April 1994, in Conference Room 428, Fourth Floor, Faculty of Law, Clayton campus, between 2.15 and 4.00 pm.

There were present:

Professor I.W. Chubb, Acting Vice-Chancellor and Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics, in the Chair

Professor R.J. Pargetter, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Projects)

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

Professor W.A. Brown, Acting Dean, Faculty of Engineering

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

Professor R. Porter, Dean, Faculty of Medicine

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

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

Apologies were received from Professor M.I. Logan, Professor L.H.T. West and Professor P.LeP. Darvall.

In attendance were:

Mr P.B. Wade, General Manager

Ms O. Cornelius, Academic Registrar

Professor R.McD. Anderson was unable to attend the meeting.

M I N U T E S

37. Minutes

The minutes of Meeting No. 4/94 held on 16 March 1994, copies of which had been circulated, were confirmed and signed.

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

38.1 Allocation of Scholarships

PLePD

The Committee noted that the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) was to provide a report on the 1994 allocation of scholarships to PhD candidates to the next meeting.

38.2 1994 Undergraduate Enrolments

RB

The Committee noted:

. that a report on 1994 enrolments, as at the 31 March census date, was to be presented to the next meting; and

. the advice of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor that it appeared likely that the University would go close to achieving 1994 undergraduate enrolment targets.

39. Report of the Vice-Chancellor

39.1Allocation of Student Places

IWC RJP

The Acting Vice-Chancellor advised that DEET was considering a reallocation of student places nation wide. While criteria for such a reallocation were yet to be determined, it may be based on current state participation rates, and could take the form of a 1% cut in places allocated to states with high rates of participation, such as Victoria, and a corresponding increase in places allocated to states with low participation rates.

During discussion, the Committee noted:

. when DEET policy was further developed, Deans were to be invited to consider budgetary and other implications, and to assist in the development of options which would facilitate negotiations with DEET;

. the potential of the Berwick campus, and of the Gippsland campus Distance Education Centre, for limiting the effect of state cuts on this University; and

. the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Projects) was to circulate to Deans, for comment, a draft discussion paper on the University profile, for subsequent development and referral to the Committee for consideration.

39.2Criteria for Promotion of Academic Staff

IWC JD

The Acting Vice-Chancellor advised that, as an outcome of the Deans' Retreat, he intended to circulate to Deans for comment a draft paper on criteria for promotion of academic staff. The Committee noted that the paper would propose changes to current policy to remove ambiguities and provide for staff to demonstrate quality of performance across a range of areas. A paper finalised in the light of Deans' responses was to be presented to the next meeting of the Committee for consideration and for referral to the Academic Board.

40. Urgent Matters

The Committee considered tabled papers titled Berwick Development and Academic Developments at the Berwick Campus (attached, D32/94), presented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Projects).

Proposals to proceed with the development of the campus, including the establishment of the Campus Planning Committee and the Berwick Campus Academic Committee, were endorsed, the Committee noting that:

. developments were to be in terms of the project parameters and initial academic arrangements as detailed in the tabled papers;

. technological requirements and links with the Distance Education Centre at Gippsland were yet to be identified and proposals and developments in these areas were to be closely monitored; and

. the concept of offering an award of the University jointly with Dandenong TAFE was at preliminary discussion stage.

40.2 Copyright Agreement on use of Videos in Teaching

IWC PBW

The Acting Dean of Arts detailed the budgetary implications for the faculty inherent in the University's copyright agreement, advising that the costs imposed by the agreement could lead to the faculty abandoning the use of videos in teaching.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor and the General Manager undertook to review the agreement with a view to identifying exemptions which may assist the faculty, and to advise the Acting Dean accordingly.

40.3 Administrative Arrangements at Peninsula Campus

RJP

The Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology suggested that it would be timely for a review to be undertaken of administrative arrangements at Peninsula campus, its profile and goals. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Projects) advised that the issue was to be addressed in the paper he was developing on the University profile (item 39.1 refers).

40.4 Director, Financial Services

The Committee noted that the Director, Financial Services, Mr A Newbold, had resigned recently; the position was to be advertised shortly.

40.5 Redundancies in the School of Physics

The Acting Vice-Chancellor advised that the dispute relating to redundancies in the School of Physics was continuing: redeployment options had been explored and redundancy notices had now been dispatched.

Deans noted that the redundancy provisions of the award were not available for dealing with staff who performed unsatisfactorily; career development processes in place were designed to ensure early identification of problems and remedial and support action.

40.6 Academic Award Restructuring

It was noted that the University had hosted a visit by representatives of NTEU, AHEIA and by the IR Commissioner. It was anticipated that continuing negotiations would result in an award more satisfactory to all parties than the current award.

40.7 Australian Association of Social Workers

The Acting Vice-Chancellor advised that the Australian Association of Social Workers had recently advised that the University's Social Work course was not be approved by the Association as an approved social work degree. Implications for recently completed and continuing students were noted; the University was to continue negotiations with the Association.

40.8 Capital Works

PBW

The General Manager advised of the proposed development of a long term plan for capital construction; Deans would shortly be invited to identify capital priorities to assist in the development of the plan.

40.9 Early Retirement Scheme

In response to a query from the Dean of Medicine, The Acting Vice-Chancellor advised that an early retirement scheme, to apply to nominated areas of the University, was being developed in consultation with NTEU, the scheme to be in place before changes to taxation legislation were introduced in June. The University's offer of a maximum payout of 18 months salary after 25 years of employment was currently being considered by the union.

40.10 Quality Review

IWC

The Acting Vice-Chancellor advised that a small group was to be established to consider allocation of funds to be received as an outcome of the Quality Review, in accordance with guidelines issued by DEET. Copies of the guidelines were to be forwarded to Deans as soon as they were available.

41. Research Matters

No report.

42. Supervision of Graduate Students

See item 43 below.

43. Deans' Reports to Council/Academic Board

IWC

The Acting Vice-Chancellor advised that a paper incorporating proposals relating to Deans' reports to Council and Academic Board, including reports on supervision of graduate students, was to be forwarded shortly to Deans for comment.

44. Student Evaluation of Subjects

IWC

A paper circulated separately by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor was noted. The proposed 10 core questions presented were discussed and the following issues were raised for further consideration:

. the universal application of the core questions across all faculties/departments eg. not all courses provide for formal feedback (question 8);

. the inclusion of core questions to ascertain whether students have been extended by their study of the subject, and whether the University has provided a questioning environment for students;

. appropriate grouping of questions;

. clarification of core question 3 - would students be surveyed prior to assessment in a subject?

. the inclusion of a question to clarify the attendance of students, possibly in a preamble to the survey; and

. clarification for students that the exercise was to assess particular subjects rather than the performance of academic staff.

The Committee noted that a sample of subjects in all faculties was to be evaluated at the end of first semester 1994, the process to be reviewed and modified for subsequent implementation.

The Acting Vice-Chancellor undertook to reconsider the core questions and circulate a revised document to Deans for comment.

45. Pencil Sketch of a Faculty

The report of the Faculty of Arts Committee on Quality was noted and commended as a most lucid and useful document (D21/94).

46. New Technologies and Distance Delivery

A paper previously circulated by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Gippsland) was noted. Professor Chipman advised that he could provide additional information to members on request.

47. Proposal for a Chair of Chemistry

SEH BM

The Committee approved a proposal from the Faculty of Science to advertise a Chair of Chemistry in the area of Inorganic and/or Materials Chemistry (D22/94).

48. Proposed Salary and Grading Model for Senior General Staff

PBW SEH

The General Manager presented the proposal to the Committee advising that it was designed to provide a structure for the establishment of remuneration packages for a relatively small number of positions and that the proposal was yet to be discussed with the union.

During discussion, Deans presented the following suggestions for consideration:

. to backdate implementation of the policy to a reasonable date;

. to involve Deans in delineation of levels; and

. to set up a `classification group' to consider submissions for allocation of senior staff to levels.

Subject to the above considerations, the Committee endorsed the proposal, noting that, following consultation with NTEU, finalised recommendations were to be referred to the Committee for approval (D23/94).

49. Training of Postgraduate Students in OHS

Item deferred for consideration at the next meeting.

50. Divisional Administrative Reports

Report were considered and discussed. The Committee noted:

. arrangements for the June examination period, and variations in the schedule of operations from 1993 (D28/94, p55);

. stated impact of award restructuring on the Library (D29/94, p58); the Acting Vice- Chancellor proposed to discuss issues raised with the University Librarian; and

IWC

. the current roles of the Standing Committee on Animal Ethics and `coalface' committees in relation to approval of proposals for the use of animals in teaching and research (D27/94, p52); the General Manager undertook to look into the matter.

PBW

51. Other Business

51.1 Senior Appointments

The Committee noted the confidential advice of the Acting Vice-Chancellor concerning recommendations for senior academic appointments to be considered by Council on 11 April 1994.

52. Next Meeting

The Committee noted that the next meeting was scheduled for 12.00 noon on Wednesday 4 May 1994 in the James McNeill Room, University Offices, 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