Committee of Deans Meeting 3/97
Meeting No. 3/97 of the Committee of Deans was held from 2.15 to 4.25 pm
on Thursday, 20 March 1997 in the Sir George Lush Room, Ground Floor,
University Offices 3a, Clayton Campus.
Janice H Newham
Secretary
MINUTES
1. Attendance and Apologies
Present:
Professor D A Robinson, Vice-Chancellor, Chair
Professor P LeP Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Development)
Professor J E Maloney, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International & Public
Affairs)
Professor M Quartly, Dean, Faculty of Arts
Professor J A Rickard, Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics
Professor R J Willis, Acting 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 C B Chapman, Dean and Director, Victorian College of Pharmacy
Professor R W Davies, Dean, Faculty of Science
Mr J S White, Acting General Manager
Apologies:
Mr P B Wade, General Manager
In attendance:
Ms H Dunne, Executive Assistant to Vice-Chancellor
Ms J H Newham, Secretary to the Committee of Deans
Mr P Summers, Ms D Lampard, Mr I Dobson, Ms C Mingins and Associate
Professor M Evans were present for item 4.1.1.
2. Minutes
The minutes of meeting 2/97 were confirmed and signed subject to the
following amendment:
Under Item 6.2 (Deans' Representative on the Monash University Club
Committee), the last sentence to be substituted with: "Noting that the
Vice-Chancellor and the General Manager were both represented on the Club
Committee, members agreed that it was not necessary for the Committee of
Deans to be represented on that body."
Action/information: Secretary; Mr J McGrath
3. Matters arising from the minutes not dealt with elsewhere in the
agenda
In relation to item 4.3.1 in the minutes, the Vice-Chancellor said that
the two Deans who had nominated to participate in the off-shore graduation
ceremonies in 1997 were Professors M L Brisk and J A Rickard. It was noted
that the Academic Registrar would be in contact with the two Deans.
Referring to item 4.1.1 in the minutes, Professor P LeP Darvall gave
Deans a brief update on progress with the meetings scheduled on each campus
to inform staff about the enterprise bargaining process.
Deans asked the Acting General Manager for an update on the CASMAC
project which had been raised under item 5.2. Mr White spoke about the
current litigation with the supplier of the software, and the action being
taken by the participating universities to recover damages. Referring to the
CASMAC finance product, he said that this still appeared to be the best
option for Monash, and that the work already done would be followed through
with delivery envisaged for October 1997.
The Vice-Chancellor agreed to pass on a request to the General Manager to
provide the Dean of Law with advice regarding the postgraduate student
amenities fee matter considered under item 5.1 at the previous meeting.
Action/information: General Manager; Academic Registrar; Professors
Brisk and Rickard; Deputy General Manager
4. Vice-Chancellor's Business
4.1 Vice-Chancellor
4.1.1 Corporate Planning
A paper titled "Monash and the future higher education environment" dated
12 March 1997, prepared by the Learning and Environment Reference Group (LERG),
was received. (D15/97)
Members of the Corporate Planning Group and Associate Professor M Evans
had been invited to the meeting for this item. Associate Professor Evans
introduced discussion.
The paper was noted as a preliminary document which identified issues
relevant to the teaching, rather than research, environment. Deans discussed
implications of the changing academic environment for the planning process,
including the need for the internal funding model to be related to agreed
academic directions and priorities. Professor Robinson stressed the need for
innovation in all aspects of programs and in the University's relationships
with other institutions. In response to a query the Vice-Chancellor outlined
the steps in the development of the corporate plan, advising Deans that
definitive plans would be formed taking account of the proposals they had
submitted. Mr Summers mentioned the work being done on resourcing scenarios,
ancillary fees and principles for distributing fee income, as a background
to decision making, and informed Deans about the University's current market
research work.
Associate Professor Evans invited Deans to forward any further comments
on the preliminary paper to the office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (A&P).
Action/information: Deans
4.2 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development)
4.2.1 Information Technology Policy
Through the Acting Dean, Professor J Rosenberg, Dean (designate) of the
Faculty of Computing and Information Technology had provided a response
dated 4 March 1997 to the draft Monash University Information Technology
Policy. (D16/97) The document was received and noted.
Professor Darvall said that this was one of several responses received,
and reminded Deans to forward their views on the draft policy to Mr Dobson.
Action/information: Deans
4.2.2 Payment of loading allowances and one-off payments to academic
staff
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Darvall tabled a preliminary discussion
paper outlining inconsistencies in the payment of loading and allowances to
academic staff. (D20/97)
A small group comprising Professors Rickard, Willis and White, to include
a representative from Personnel Services, was set up to consider the matter
further.
Action/information: Professors Darvall, Rickard, Willis and White;
Director, Personnel Services
4.3 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs)
Professor J E Maloney, DVC (I&PA), informed the Committee about a
re-structure of his portfolio. He spoke about plans for relocation and
greater co-ordination among the international, marketing and public affairs
and performing and creative arts functions. Professor Maloney said he would
be asking each Dean to nominate a staff member to handle international
activities in the faculty.
The Committee noted Professor Maloney's advice.
Action/information: Executive Director, Marketing and Development;
Director, Performing and Creative Arts
4.4 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning)
4.4.1 Policy on admission of observers to Academic Board meetings
A draft policy, prepared by the Secretary to the Academic Board in
accordance with minute 5.1 of the Board's meeting 8/96, was received.
(D17/97)
The Committee endorsed the draft policy for consideration by the Academic
Board at meeting 3/97.
Action/information: Secretary
4.4.2 Matter raised by the Dean of Law
A memorandum on employment matters from the Dean of Law dated 17 March
1997 was received. (D18/97, members only)
A brief preliminary discussion was held, introduced by Professor
Williams.
4.5 General Manager
There were no matters considered under this item.
5. Matters Raised by Deans
5.1 Articles published in The Sunday Times and The
Australian
This item was considered along with item 4.1.1.
The Committee received copies of articles, extracted from the Internet on
15 February 1997 and provided by the Dean of Medicine. (D19/97)
References to the introduction of fees and some implications for the
University's planning process were noted.
6. Other Business
6.1 Review of the Graduate School of Government
In response to a query from the Dean of Arts, the Vice-Chancellor briefed
the Committee on his plans to review the Graduate School of Government. He
noted Professor Quartly's interest in providing an input to the review.
6.2 Attendance of Chaplains at faculty board meetings
The Vice-Chancellor informed Deans that he had met with the Chaplains in
the course of his introductions to staff around the campuses. As an outcome
of matters raised at this meeting Professor Robinson said that individual
Chaplains might approach Deans to ask for an opportunity to attend a faculty
board meeting.
Deans noted this and indicated they would respond favourably to such
requests.
Action/information:; Deans; Faculty Registrars; Manager, Community
Services
7. Next Meeting
The next Committee of Deans meeting will be held on Tuesday, 14 April
1997 at 2.15 pm in the Sir George Lush Room.
Distribution
(Hard copy):
Vice-Chancellor
Deputy Vice-Chancellors
Deans
General Manager
Executive Assistant to Vice-Chancellor
|
