Committee of Deans Meeting 15/97
Meeting 15/97 of the Committee of Deans was held at 2.15 pm on Tuesday, 2
December 1997 in the Sir George Lush Room, Ground Floor, University Offices
Building 3a, Clayton Campus.
Tony Calder
Secretary
MINUTES
1. Attendance and apologies
Professor G Webb was in attendance for item 3.1.
Mr P Summers and Mr J White were in attendance for item 4.1.
Mr P Annal was in attendance for item 5.1.
Professor G Davison and Professor B Caine were in attendance for item
6.1.
2. Minutes
The minutes of meeting 14/97 were confirmed.
3. Matters arising from the minutes not dealt with elsewhere in the
agenda
3.1 Induction to Teaching for new Academic Staff
Professor Graham Webb was in attendance for this item.
A paper titled, Induction to Teaching for New Academic Staff, was
discussed at the Committee of Deans meeting 13/97 (refer document D67/97). A
discussion paper extending issues raised at that meeting and by Deans in
subsequent discussions with Professor Webb was attached (D71/97).
During extensive discussion, the following suggestions were made in
relation to the items raised on page two of paper D71/97. A variety of views
were expressed and have been noted as a means for furthering development of
the proposal:
1. A Graduate Certificate in Higher Education would be a viable option.
It would be the equivalent of six months duration (full time) but should be
modularised to increase flexibility.
2. Noting the primary role of CHED in the design, management and
coordination of the Graduate Certificate, it was proposed that:
(a) The course proposal should follow existing course approval processes
and be progressed via the Faculty of Education Board in the first instance.
(b) It was proposed that a CHED staff member be specified as Program
Leader but that future iterations of the proposal would need to clarify that
staff member’s relationship with the Faculty of Education.
(c) That a Program Committee (Management Committee), with broad based
faculty representation, be established. Such a Committee could oversee the
ongoing development of the program and facilitate consideration of general
and specific requirements raised by faculties.
(d) The Committee was advised that development of the program in flexible
mode(s) was a current consideration but that pressing time constraints may
initially restrict the progress of this aspect of the development.
3. On the subject of a reporting relationship over and above normal
Faculty of Education requirements, a view was expressed that existing
reporting via the faculty would be sufficient provided the Program Committee
(Management Committee) was representative of all faculties.
4, 5 & 6 Participation in the Certificate should be seen as part of
staff/career development for Monash staff.
The course could be offered to staff at other Universities on a fee
paying basis.
It was suggested that a suitable compromise may be required in order to
encompass faculty requirements and make the course content attractive to
external fee paying participants.
Establishing the course as a full fee paying course would make it
competitive with other similar external courses.
Scholarships, if made available, should be made available to all academic
staff, not restricted to new academic staff.
7. The view was expressed that an incentive for completion of the
Certificate should not be offered. Suitable consideration would be given as
part of the appraisal and promotion procedures.
8. The Committee was advised that initial financing of the program would
require funding of a Coordinators position in CHED and a one-off materials
production grant. This was based on the expectation that the Faculty of
Education would supply some teaching support. In addition, it was noted that
the financing requirements would become more apparent once the outstanding
queries had been resolved.
9. No statements were made in relation to this point.
10 The view was expressed that participation should not be a contractual
requirement for new academic staff. It was suggested that the process needed
to be flexible and that participation in the program would be favourably
viewed when matters relating to probation, tenure and contract renewals were
being discussed.
Professor Webb was invited to submit further iterations of the document
to the Committee once the matters raised in discussion had been progressed.
3.2 Research Quantum - distribution of additional sum
A discussion paper was attached (D72/97).
Following extensive discussion of the matter, it was agreed that
Professor Darval would supply Deans with the following tables for
comparison:
(i) distribution of research funds as per Professor Whites paper
(ii) distribution of research funds as per the current formula
(iii) distribution of research funds as per the formula proposed in
discussion paper D72/97
4. Vice-Chancellor’s business
4.1 Peninsula Campus
A report titled Development of the Peninsula Campus was attached
(D73/97).
Mr Peter Summers was in attendance.
During discussion, the following items of significance were raised:
| Item |
Explanation/inclusion |
| 2.2.9 |
Graduate Certificate of Health and
Medical Informatics. It was suggested that the Dean of Information
Technology be included under the column Possible Management
Responsibilities. |
| 2.2.13 |
Bachelor of Health Management. It was
suggested that the Dean of Business and Economics be included under
the column Possible Management Responsibilities |
| 2.2.53 |
This matter is to be the subject of
further discussion between Mr White, the DVC (A&P) and representatives
from the Faculty of Arts. Once the proposals are finalised,
application for funding via the Strategic Innovation Fund can be made.
The Committee was advised that applications for funding via the
Strategic Innovations Fund would be called for mid way through 1998,
that the $300,000 budget allocation to support Peninsula Campus
activities was a one-off allocation and that Peninsula programs could
compete for the remaining unallocated student load for the year 2000. |
| 2.2.63 |
Following a query on summer programs, the
Committee was advised that Deans would specify the campus location for
summer programs.
Mr White suggested that the wording of recommendation 2.2.63 could
be further clarified and agreed to write to Deans on the matter. |
| 2.7.12 |
It was noted that it would be difficult
to meet the proposed timeline of the first quarter of 1998. It was
suggested that the matter be further reviewed and then referred to the
appropriate person(s) for attention as soon as practicable. |
| 1.2.1 |
Table 4
The Committee was advised that the Faculty of Education had reduced
the number of A.Prof/Reader staff to three and that the professorial
staff member was no longer based at Peninsula.
The need for senior faculty staff and leadership at Peninsula was
further discussed. |
4.2 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development)
4.2.1 Y2K - Year 2000 compliance
Deans were invited to access the following web page to obtain the latest
information on this important subject.
http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/y2k/
4.3 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs)
4.3.1 Progress on international related matters
Professor Maloney advised the Committee that a decision from the
Malaysian Government was expected in the near future. In addition,
Professors White and Harris had recently returned from a visit to South
Africa where Monash was continuing to explore avenues of involvement in the
South African educational sector.
The Committee was advised that faculty nominated Associated Deans -
International (titles may vary between faculties) would be submitted to the
next meeting of Council.
4.4 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning)
4.4.1 Monash University Aboriginal Programs
A report on Monash Indigenous programs, undertaken by consultants
Professor Colin Bourke and Associate Professor Eleanor Bourke, was attached
(D74/97). A further paper containing an analysis of issues raised in the
report was distributed to members prior to the meeting (D79/97).
Professor Lindsay introduced the item and indicated that the Committee’s
endorsement of Recommendation 2 would enable the matter Aboriginal education
at Monash to be progressed. Contingent on endorsement of Recommendation 2,
the appointed senior indigenous academic would then be accountable for
refining and actioning the remaining recommendations, in consultation with
stakeholders.
Following discussion, the Committee endorsed Recommendation 2.
4.5 General Manager
4.5.1 Enterprise Bargaining
Mr Wade advised the Committee that negotiations were still underway but
that unless the outstanding matters were resolved within the next few days
then any final agreement could not be put to a vote by staff until the new
year.
5. Matters raised by Deans
5.1 Computer Laboratories
A discussion paper (D75/97) was attached. Mr Peter Annal was in
attendance for this item.
Professor Rosenberg introduced the item by advising the Committee that
the discussion paper, produced at the request of UNITAC, raised issues
relating to the increasing cost of maintaining the Universities computing
infrastructure, the possible role of Internet Service Providers, the
implications of universal access to computers by students, the use and
‘ownership’ of computer laboratories at Monash, the decreasing retail cost
of computing equipment and the need to progress the debate on the use of
computers in teaching and learning.
In addition, Mr Annal advised members that the results of recent surveys
confirmed the trend of high PC ownership among students and that the
University was already incurring some costs in this area by assisting
students in the resolution of hardware and software problems.
Following further discussion of some of the matters contained in document
D75/97, Mr Annal suggested that preliminary work needed to commence shortly
in order for a transition plan to be ready by April.
During discussion, the following matters were raised:
- The Administrative guidelines manual for higher education
institutions on HECS and FEES for 1997 states in Section 2 that:
In certain circumstances, higher education institutions may charge
students for goods and services which are a component of a course....,
this includes equipment regarded as a tool of trade....
however, the position in relation to computing equipment is clarified
in a later paragraph were the guidelines state that:
Higher education institutions must not charge a student for goods
or services which are required for a course of study.... Cases include
.... access to computers or other on-line resources.
This would appear to indicate that the University would need to
maintain some PCs on campus for those students not owning a PC.
Given the increasing use of multi-media in teaching and learning and
the issues raised in the discussion paper, the Vice-Chancellor agreed to
take up the matter with the AVCC.
- that any changes in access to computing infrastructure needs to
consider the special requirements of distance education students and
students with disabilities, and
- the use of PCs to access administrative processes and in examinations
needs to be considered.
In summarising the discussion, it was noted that the principal objectives
contained in the discussion paper were sound and that even though barriers
to their implementation currently existed, the matter needed to resolved via
continued refinement of the recommendations contained in the paper and
ongoing consultation with interested parties, including the Student Union.
5.2 Establishment of the position of Professor of Surgery, Cabrini
Hospital
Attached was a position specification and rationale (D76/97) for a
proposal to establish an externally funded position of Professor of Surgery,
Cabrini Hospital. The proposal had been endorsed by the Board of the Faculty
of Medicine and Academic Board.
The Committee endorsed the proposal.
5.3 Establishment of the position of Professor/Director of Medical
Oncology
Attached was a proposal (D77/97) to establish an externally funded
position of Professor/Director of Medical Oncology, located at the Monash
Medical Centre in the Southern Healthcare Network. The proposal had been
endorsed by the Board of the Faculty of Medicine and Academic Board.
The Committee endorsed the proposal.
6. Other business
6.1 Monash University Electronic Publishing Press
A discussion paper was attached (D78/97). Professor Graeme Davison and
Professor Barbara Caine were in attendance for this item.
Introducing the matter, Professor Davison noted that the academic
monograph was still a significant form of scholarly publication but that
publication runs of 500 to 1000 were becoming increasingly uneconomical. In
addition, Professor Davison suggested that it may be appropriate for Monash
to instigate a process for reviewing how it may best utilise existing and
emerging technology in the area of academic publishing.
During discussion of the matter, the following suggestions were made:
- noting comments by the authors that the proposal was in an early stage
of development, it was suggested that a small Working Party be formed to
assist the authors with further development of the proposal;
- given the above suggestion, it was suggested that Professors Davison
and Caine co-chair the Working Party and that they may wish to draw on the
experience of Associate Professor Zenon Pudlowski and Mr Hans Groenewegan
who have previous relevant experience in the area of electronic
publishing;
- Other matters raised included:
(i) the issue of intellectual property needs to be considered
(ii) while many external entities will/currently publish electronically,
the quality and name of the Monash publications should enable
differentiation
(iii) international partners in the venture may enhance the viability of
the project
(iv) a primary objective of the project would be to support academic
activities at Monash, particularly those areas where Monash already has an
advantage, and
(v) future iterations of the proposal should clarify, where necessary,
any possible involvement in the project of the Distance Education Centre and
Monash Print Service
7 Items for information
8. Next meeting
The next scheduled Committee of Deans meeting will be held on 27 January
1998 at 2.15pm in the Sir George Lush Room.
Distribution
(Hard copy):
Vice-Chancellor
Deputy Vice-Chancellors
Deans
General Manager
Executive Assistant to Vice-Chancellor |
