Committee of Deans Meeting 17-1995
Meeting No. 17/95 of the Committee of Deans was held between 2.15 and
4.00 pm on Monday 18 December 1995 in The Sir George Lush Room, Ground
Floor, University Offices 3.1, Clayton Campus.
Janice H Newham
Secretary
There were present:
Professor M I Logan, Vice-Chancellor, in the Chair
Professor R J Pargetter, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Professor P LeP Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Professor J L C Chipman, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Professor P C Chandler, Pro Vice-Chancellor
Professor J Whitelaw for Dean, Faculty of Arts
Professor J A Rickard, Pro Vice-Chancellor & Dean, Faculty of Business &
Economics
Professor C J Bellamy, Dean, Faculty of Computing and Information
Technology
Professor R T White, Dean, Faculty of Education
Professor M L Brisk, Dean, Faculty of Engineering
Professor C R Williams, Dean, Faculty of Law
Professor R Porter, Dean, Faculty of Medicine
Professor J W Warren, Dean, Faculty of Science
Professor C B Chapman, Dean and Director, Victorian College of Pharmacy
Apologies were received from:
Professor L H T West, Pro Vice-Chancellor
In attendance were:
Mr P B Wade, General Manager
Dr S Matchett, Executive Director, Marketing and Communications
Ms C E Anderson, Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor
Ms J H Newham, Secretary
M I N U T E S
1. Minutes
The Minutes of Meeting No. 16/95 were confirmed and signed.
2. Matters arising from the Minutes not listed elsewhere in the Agenda
2.1 Schedule for Divisional Reports in 1996
The Committee received and approved the revised schedule (D151/95).
3. Vice-Chancellor's Report
At the meeting the Vice-Chancellor added items 3.5, 3.6 and 3.7 to his
Report. Notice of item 3.4 had been given beforehand with the enclosure of
document D157/95 with the circulated agenda. Items were considered in the
following order: 3.6, 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 10.1, 3.4, 3.7, 3.5.
3.1 Report on 1995 Quality Reviews
The Committee received and noted the report from the Quality Review
Committee (D152/95). Brief comments were made by the Vice-Chancellor and
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Darvall, in recognition of the satisfying
results for Monash.
3.2 Higher Education Management Review
The Committee received and noted the summary report of the Hoare
Committee (D153/95). Some discussion followed about accountability of the
members of a university's governing body. It was generally agreed that some
response should be made to the report's recommendations, particularly two
key issues: the size of Council, and staff tenure. The Vice-Chancellor
suggested that he initiate the development of a response early in the new
year for discussion at Meeting 1/96 of the Committee, scheduled for 30
January.
3.3 Enterprise Bargaining - Final Agreement
Professor Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, advised the Committee that the
Enterprise Agreement had been signed earlier that day by the Vice-
Chancellor. A copy was handed to the Secretary after the Meeting (D154/95).
The Agreement is to be circulated to Deans by the Director, Personnel
Services on 21 December 1995, and can be accessed on the Internet with the
following address: http://www.monash.edu.au/emprel/enterprise.httm
3.4 Performance Indicators and Benchmarking
The Committee received document D157/95 which had been prepared by Mr I
Dobson, Associate to Professor Darvall, and circulated with the agenda. The
Vice-Chancellor opened for discussion the matter of performance indicators
and their usefulness. The general view of Deans was that certain measures
were valuable as a basis for comparisons with other institutions, including
comparisons between Australian and overseas universities. Professor Logan
confirmed that work would continue on indicators and benchmarking, and
accepted an offer of further information and assistance from Professor
Brisk, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering. Later in the meeting, the
Committee's attention was drawn to the favourable data on graduate
employment appearing in column 21 in the performance indicators which had
been circulated. Dr Matchett, Executive Director, Marketing and
Communications, agreed to prepare a press statement based on the
data.undertook to ensure that the media were advised of the correct
situation.
3.5 Summary of Items Discussed at Meetings of the Vice- Chancellor's
Executive Held on 7 and 14 December 1995
Document D159/95 was tabled and received. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor
Logan, invited comments and queries on the list of items discussed by the
Executive. The following items were discussed:
The Quality result. Deans noted the Vice-Chancellor's advice that
recommendations for the distribution of Quality funds would be brought to
the Committee's meeting scheduled for 30 January 1996. Professor Logan
agreed that the funds should be directed to projects other than DITS and
took note of the suggestion that the allocation of funds reflect the
strengths which earned the favourable Quality result. He flagged his
intention to base funding on the "dollar for dollar" principle which
operated for the Monash Research Fund.
Use of the Syme name. The Committee noted that a small committee
had been set up by Council to consider this issue.
La Trobe Valley Hospital. Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Chipman
advised the Committee that 18 expressions of interest had been received out
of which would be selected a small number of tenderers.
Graduate Placement Proposal. Professor Chandler, Pro
Vice-Chancellor, informed Deans that a commercial proposal relating to
Monash International had been developed and was with Professors Pargetter
and West for consideration. The recent appearance of a misleading article in
The Age on graduate employment was mentioned.
3.6 Findings on Allegation of Serious Misconduct
A document was tabled (D160/95, members only). Speaking to prepared notes
(D160A/95) which elaborated on the tabled paper, the Vice- Chancellor
advised the Committee of the findings of an external committee of
investigation established under the mandatory provisions of the Australian
Universities Academic Staff Conditions of Employment Award (1988) to
investigate and report on an allegation of serious misconduct made against a
member of staff. Professor Logan said he also intended to inform the
Academic Board and Council of the findings. The Committee noted the
Vice-Chancellor's advice.
3.7 Audit of the Faculty of Business and Economics
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Logan, informed the Committee that he had
appointed an external auditor to advise him on possible financial
irregularities occurring over a long period in the Faculty of Business and
Economics. He said that although the Dean had put in place a set of measures
regarding allowances, there were other areas requiring checking and
verification.
The Committee noted this advice.
4. Urgent Matters
5. Research Matters
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Darvall reported briefly on three
research initiatives in the Faculty of Engineering: the possible
establishment of a Renewable Energy CRC, receipt of funding for a wave tank
under the Maritime Engineering CRC, and the establishment of the Australian
Synchrotron Research Program. His advice was noted.
6. International Matters
There were no international matters raised.
7. Special Items
7.1 Personnel Matters - Use of Professorial Title
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Darvall raised his concerns about
occurrences of inappropriate use of the title of professor, particularly
"professorial fellow". He indicated his intention to bring to the Committee
a paper on the matter.
As a result of comments made by members Professor Darvall agreed to cover
all the various titles and types of professorial appointment and include
current numbers in each category at Monash. He also agreed to consider the
questions of promotion to the rank of professor and the use of the title
'professor' as a mode of address and make recommendations as appropriate.
7.2 Employment of Academic Staff Beyond Normal Retirement Age
The attached paper (D158/95)was tabled and received. Professor Darvall
having introduced discussion, a number of points were raised:
The general thrust of the document and the need for such a policy was
affirmed;
The requirement stated in paragraph 5 for "sufficient separation" after
retirement date might not always be possible, but the desirability of
breaking the nexus between the previous employment and the new arrangement
was affirmed by the Committee;
Costing arrangements other than those set out in the document, and more
applicable to the corporate sector may need to be considered in particular
circumstances, with a percentage of the emoluments mentioned in paragraph 6
being ploughed back into the department's general fund. It was recognised
that emoluments attributable to the retiree's work might not always be
relevant;
A policy on employment beyond retirement age should be clear enough to
avoid the need for difficult and protracted negotiations with staff;
Some rewording of paragraph 8 would enable the document to apply to all
academic staff who had made a "distinguished" contribution and whose
re-appointment after retirement was in the interests of the University.
In the light of changes to Equal Opportunity legislation expected in
1996, it was agreed to defer the finalisation of this policy until advice
was received from Mr P Marshall, Director, Personnel Services, on the
implications of the legislative changes.
8. Matters Raised by Deans
8.1 Directions for the Future Volume 2
The Committee received the memorandum from the Dean of the Faculty of Law
(D155/95). After a short discussion the Vice-Chancellor agreed to consider
questions of consistency and format for the Deans' contributions.
9. Reports of Administrative Divisions / Departments
There were no reports scheduled for the meeting.
10. General Business
10.1 The Office of the Academic Registrar
As had been foreshadowed at the previous meeting, documentation
concerning the review of the Office of the Academic Registrar was submitted
by the General Manager, and was received and noted (D156/95, members only).
The General Manager, Mr Wade, introduced the documents, reminding the
Committee of the context of the review. He drew attention to the
consultant's recommendations on pages 53-54 relating to strengthening of the
role of Academic Registrar, and signalled his intention for that Office to
address policy management and other issues beyond the role of what was
normally seen as "Secretariat" responsibilities. Mr Wade's advice was noted
by the Committee.
The Vice-Chancellor invited comments on the proposed changes, with
particular reference to the last dot point on page 53 which concerned the
Academic Registrar's regular involvement with Faculty Registrars in order to
provide them with guidance and advice. Deans expressed agreement with this
recommendation and indicated such contact was already occurring.
10.2 Visit by Dr Paul Clarke in 1996
The Director of the Professional Development Centre, Professor T Hore,
had advised that he had arranged for Dr Paul Clarke, Director of Quality
Assessment, Higher Education Funding Council in the United Kingdom, to spend
a day at Monash on Friday, 5 July 1996. The Committee noted this advice.
10.3 Review of the Discipline Statute
SB
The attached document was tabled (D161/95). Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Professor Pargetter outlined the advice provided by the Policy and Legal
Counsel, Ms S Bath, which was noted. In response to a point raised by the
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Porter, Professor Pargetter said
that the review would cover the relationship of the Discipline Statute with
the Exclusions Statute.
11. Next Meeting
The next meeting of the Committee of Deans will be held at 2.15 pm on 30
January 1996 in The Sir George Lush Room, Ground Floor, University Offices
3.1, Clayton Campus.
Distribution
Vice-Chancellor
Deputy Vice-Chancellors
Pro Vice-Chancellors
Deans
General Manager
Executive Director, Marketing & Communications
Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor
Associate Dean, Business and Economics Deputy General Manager
Deputy Dean, Business and Economics
General Manager, Monash International
Directors, Administrative Divisions
General Manager, Open Learning
University Librarian
Academic Projects Office
Policy and Legal Counsel Managers, Administrative Branches
Policy and Planning Officer
Faculty Registrars
Director, Computer Centre
Personnel Services
Director, Professional Development Centre
SWAS 1994
SWAS 1995
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