Committee of Deans Meeting 4/97
Meeting 4/97 of the Committee of Deans was held between 2.15 and 5.20 pm
on Tuesday, 15 April 1997 in the Sir George Lush Room, Ground Floor,
University Offices Building 3a, Clayton Campus.
Janice H Newham
Secretary
MINUTES
1. Attendance and apologies
An apology was received from Professor J E Maloney, Deputy
Vice-Chancellor (I&PA).
Members of the Corporate Planning Group had been invited to the meeting,
and the Vice-Chancellor's Special Adviser on Admission Matters for item 4.1.
Directors of administrative divisions (Mr R Burnet, Mr P S Marshall, Mr J
Mathews, Mr J Trembath), Director, Research Services (Dr T Stokes), the
Deputy University Librarian (Mr H Groenwegen) and the Director of the
Computer Centre (Mr P Annal) had been invited to the meeting for item 4.4.1.
2. Minutes
The minutes of meeting 3/97 were confirmed and signed.
3. Matters arising from the minutes not dealt with elsewhere in the
agenda
There were no matters arising.
4. Vice-Chancellor's business
4.1 Vice-Chancellor
4.1.1 Review of the role of the Committee of Deans
Council had established a Review of Committees Working Party. The
attention of members was drawn to the document approved by Council on 17
March 1997 titled Review of the Council of Monash University: Final
Report on Outcomes of a Council Retreat. This document had been also
referred to the Academic Board at its meeting 3/97 and was available for
perusal on the Monash homepage.
The following documents were received and noted:
- a copy of a memorandum from the Academic Registrar dated 24 March
1997, inviting committees to provide input to the Working Party (D21/97);
- the terms of reference and membership of the Working Party, as
approved by Council (D22/97);
- a copy of Statute 2.9 - Committee of Deans, showing the
Committee's terms of reference (D23/97).
The Vice-Chancellor spoke about the background to the establishment of a
review of committees, emphasising Council's aim to obtain advice on a
suitable structure for supporting Council's revised role. Professor Robinson
said that while members of the Committee of Deans should note the terms of
the review, the Committee of Deans was principally advisory to the
Vice-Chancellor and he would initiate a review of its role and terms of
reference at the appropriate time. Deans noted that there was an opportunity
to forward to the Council Working Party, which was chaired by Professor M L
Brisk, their views on various committees and reporting relationships, taking
account of the revised role of Council.
Deans noted comments from Professor Brisk about the procedures being
followed by the Working Party. (97/0332)
4.1.2 Monash University College of Art & Design - Faculty status
A memorandum from the Vice-Chancellor and President to the Deans dated 10
April 1997, along with a submission from the Director of the Monash
University College of Art and Design, Professor J Redmond, were received
(D24/97). Professor Robinson introduced the proposal briefly.
In response to a query about the suitability of the University's faculty
structure for the future, the Vice-Chancellor said that the second phase of
the corporate planning process would be to determine if the current
structure was appropriate to underpin the agreed directions and programs.
The proposal for faculty status for the College was unanimously supported
for submission to the Academic Board.
Action/information: Director, Monash University College of Art and
Design; Secretary (93/1936)
4.1.3 Corporate Planning
The following documents were received:
- Paper from the Vice-Chancellor and President dated 10 April 1997
titled Principles for Changes in Funded Load (D25/97);
- Paper titled Strategic Innovations Fund dated 10 April 1997
from the Vice-Chancellor and President (D26/97).
A paper titled Australian Undergraduate Fees and Scholarships in 1998
dated 15 April 1997 with covering memorandum from the Vice-Chancellor and
President was tabled and received (D27/97).
1. Professor Robinson introduced discussion on these papers, commencing
with document D25/97 which set out proposed principles for operation on the
basis of known changes to funded load in 1999.
Each of the proposed conditions for reductions and increases in student
load were discussed and various amendments to the document were suggested.
Mr Summers undertook to revise the paper in the light of discussion.
Deans noted the Vice-Chancellor's advice that changes in load
distribution across the University were to be driven by strategic and
academic considerations, and that Deans would be consulted
in on the definition of
"acceptable level of quality" of courses referred to on page 35 of the
agenda.
Action/information: Executive Officer (Corporate Planning & Review)
2. Professor R J Pargetter was present for consideration of the matter of
fees and scholarships (tabled paper D27/97).
Professor Robinson invited comments on the paper with the aim of
improving it for tabling at the Academic Board meeting to be held on the
following day. He informed Deans that, on Professor Pargetter's advice, he
had responded positively to the memorandum from VTAC proposing integrated
application handling procedures for HECS and fee paying courses. This
approach was affirmed by the Committee.
Deans noted that a maximum of 25% of the number of Australian
undergraduates in any course could be charged full fees, and that there was
a distinct financial disadvantage to the University in not filling the HECS
funded quota.
Professor Pargetter informed Deans of positive feedback from certain
secondary schools about the concept of the University offering full fee
undergraduate places above HECS load.
Potential difficulties in charging full fees for certain combined degree
courses were discussed at some length. Mr Phillips
confirmed advised that a student could not pay fees
for one part of a combined degree and be charged HECS for another part, in
the same year. It was agreed that further discussion was needed regarding
the details of implementation of the full fee proposal for combined degree
students. The matter of academic concerns about the overload involved in
combined degrees, raised by the Dean of Arts, was also noted for future
discussion.
Some changes to the document were suggested and recorded by Ms Lampard.
Action/information: General Manager; Dean of Law; Dean of Arts;
Executive Officer (CP&R); Ms Lampard
3. Document D26/97 was considered at the end of the meeting, after item
4.4.1. The Vice-Chancellor outlined the purpose for the Strategic
Innovations Fund and, in response to queries from Deans, clarified the types
of proposals which would be eligible for funding. Mr Summers was asked to
include the points of clarification in a redraft of the document.
Action/information: Executive Officer (Corporate Planning & Review)
(97/0540)
4.2 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development)
There was no business under this item.
4.3 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs)
There was no business under this item.
4.4 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning)
4.4.1 Enterprise Bargaining - the next stage
Professor P LeP Darvall, DVC (R&D) handed to Deans and those invited to
attend for this item, a document describing the enterprise bargaining
framework. He asked that each faculty / functional area consult their senior
staff and report to the Vice-Chancellor's central bargaining team by Friday
16 May 1997 on the implementation of various levels of salary increases.
Professor Darvall suggested that, to enable the payment of salary increases,
increases in revenue, cost savings and downsizing be considered as options.
Members noted that there was to be no negotiation or bargaining at
faculty level.
Action/information: Deans; Director, Computer Centre; University
Librarian; Divisional Directors (96/1377)
4.5 General Manager
There was no business under this item.
5. Matters raised by Deans
The Dean of Law had written to the Secretary about difficulties seen with
the "personal interest" statement to be included at the top of the agenda
for meetings of University committees. At the beginning of the meeting the
Vice-Chancellor advised that the Academic Board would be proposing that
Council alter the word "personal" to "pecuniary" in the statement. (96/1216)
6. Other business
There was no other business.
7. Next meeting
The next Committee of Deans meeting will be held on Tuesday, 6 May 1997
at 2.15 pm in the Sir George Lush Room. A special meeting of the Committee
to consider the draft corporate plan is to be held at 9.00 am on Thursday,
24 April 1997 in the James McNeill Room.
Distribution
(Hard copy):
Vice-Chancellor
Deputy Vice-Chancellors
Deans
General Manager
Executive Assistant to Vice-Chancellor
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