Committee of Deans Meeting 5/97

Meeting 5/97 of the Committee of Deans was held between 2.15 and 3.50 pm on Tuesday, 6 May 1997 in the Sir George Lush Room, Ground Floor, University Offices Building 3a, Clayton Campus.

Janice H Newham
Secretary

MINUTES

1. Attendance and apologies

Professor B Srinivasan attended for Professor R J Willis, Acting Dean, Faculty of Computing and Information Technology.

The Vice-Chancellor also welcomed Ms J Chandler, Executive Director, Marketing and Development, who was invited to the meeting for item 4.3.1, and Mr P Summers, Executive Officer (Corporate Planning & Review) who was invited for item 4.1.1.

2. Minutes

The minutes of meeting 4/97 were confirmed and signed subject to two minor alterations on page 3.

Action: Secretary

3. Matters arising from the minutes not dealt with elsewhere in the agenda

3.1 Council's review of committees - Buildings Committee

A document dated 23 April 1997 provided by Professors Quartly and Porter was received (D 28/97).

Subject to the correction of a typing error the Committee endorsed the document for submission to Council's review.

Action / information: Secretary; Professor M L Brisk; Academic Registrar

4. Vice-Chancellor's business

4.1 Vice-Chancellor

4.1.1 Corporate Planning update

The Vice-Chancellor thanked Deans for their submissions which he had received on the previous day, and said he expected to be able to give indications at the Committee's special meeting on 13 May which proposals would be supported. Professor Robinson also thanked members for comments provided on the preliminary corporate planning documentation.

Mr Summers said that Deans could expect to receive additional tables showing projected student load.

Action / information: Executive Officer (CP&R)

4.2 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development)

4.2.1 IT policy - revised draft

Professor P LeP Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (R&D) tabled version four of the IT policy, dated 27 April 1997, which had taken into account comments received from members of the Committee (D30/97). The document was received.

As a result of points raised in discussion, Professor Darvall agreed to reword section 3.3.4 of the document on funding and the reference to the Information Systems Centre under section 3.3.3.

The adequacy of the relative funding model for resourcing IT in the faculties was queried. Deans noted the Vice-Chancellor's advice that an appropriate method of resource allocation was to be developed according to agreed directions for the University, in time to inform the budget process from 1999 onwards. The General Manager offered to bring to the next meeting some suggested new principles for resource allocation.

Professor Darvall agreed to consider any further suggested amendments to the draft policy before its adoption as an interim policy pending the appointment of the IT Director.

Action / information: General Manager; Deans; Associate to Professor Darvall

4.3 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs)

This item was taken after item 4.1.1.

As foreshadowed previously Deputy Vice-Chancellor (I&PA) Professor J E Maloney asked each Dean to provide him with the name and title of a faculty staff member designated as "Associate Dean (International)" or similar title. He said that the next phase of planning further international development involved the establishment of major country focus groups.

Deans noted that they were to be invited by the Managing Director, Monash International, to visit the company's offices; feedback on the use of the facilities would be welcome.

Action / information: Deans; Managing Director, Monash International

4.3.1 Alumni research and Marketing update

Ms J Chandler gave a presentation of qualitative information gained from recent market research using alumni focus groups. She informed Deans that the next stage was "positioning research" which would produce quantitative, specific results to inform a marketing plan.

In response to a query, clarification was provided about the interaction between the development of a marketing plan and the current corporate planning process. The Vice-Chancellor confirmed that Deans were expected to comment on and contribute to the development of Monash's marketing strategy. The need for complementary marketing responsibilities of faculties and the centre was also noted.

Ms Chandler was thanked for her presentation.

Action / information: Deans; Executive Director, Marketing and Development

4.4 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning)

4.4.1 Activities update

The Committee received and noted a paper showing small grants for 1996 (D31/97, tabled).

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (R&D) foreshadowed an invitation to Deans to attend a presentation by Higher Education Partnerships in Communications and Information Technology (HEPCIT).

Professor Darvall also signalled the development of an open learning / credit transfer data base, initiated and part funded by the Faculty of Business and Economics.

The Vice-Chancellor informed Deans that the Prospective Students Office (formerly Schools Liaison Office) in Marketing and Development was available to assist faculties in their visits and presentations to schools and other organisations.

Referring to frequent requests from academic staff to the Monash University Facilities and Conference Office (MUFCO) for additional lecture space, Professor Robinson asked Deans to encourage their staff to use the available space fully, showing flexibility about teaching times. Mr P B Wade, General Manager, said he had asked the Director, Facilities and Services to put together a detailed picture of lecture theatre usage at Caulfield and Clayton campuses, which would be provided for the next meeting of the Committee.

Action / information: Deans; Faculty Registrars; Director, Student Services; Academic Registrar; Executive Director, Marketing and Development; Director, Facilities and Services

4.4.2 Enterprise bargaining

The Committee received and noted copies of an NTEU newsletter dated 29 April 1997 for information (Tabled Paper D29/97).

4.5 General Manager

The Committee noted the General Manager's advice that the Playbox Theatre and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art (ACCA) had received a joint grant of $6.5 million in the State budget to relocate ACCA, a move which would benefit Monash.

5. Matters raised by Deans

There were no matters raised under this item.

6. Other business

There was no other business.

7. Next meeting

The next scheduled Committee of Deans meeting will be held on Tuesday, 27 May 1997 at 2.15 pm in the Sir George Lush Room.

The second special meeting of the Committee of Deans to consider the draft corporate plan will be held on Tuesday, 13 May 1997 at 3.00 pm in the Sir George Lush Room.

Distribution

(Hard copy):

Vice-Chancellor
Deputy Vice-Chancellors
Deans
General Manager
Executive Assistant to Vice-Chancellor