Committee of Deans Meeting 10/98

Meeting 10/98 of the Committee of Deans was held at 2.15 pm on Tuesday, 11 August 1998 in the Sir George Lush Room, ground floor, University Offices Building 3a, Clayton campus.

Tony Calder
Secretary

97/0025

1. Attendance and apologies

An apology was received from Professor J E Maloney, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs) and Professor M Quartly, Dean - Faculty of Arts.

Mr Tony Pollock, General Manager - Monash International Pty Ltd was in attendance for item 4.1.1.

Mr John Matthews, Assistant General Manager - Finance was in attendance for item 4.5.1.

The minutes of meeting 9/98 were confirmed.

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

3.1 Personnel related matters

In reference to the review into the appropriate length of the probationary period for continuing employees, Mr Wade advised the Committee that he would:

• provide an update on the matter to the next meeting of the Committee (1 September 1998) and;
• on completion of the review, provide a discussion paper for consideration by the Committee.

Mr Tony Pollock was in attendance for this item.

The Vice-Chancellor advised the Committee that negotiations with ADvTECH on establishing a campus in South Africa had been discontinued.

Outlining the direction of future activities in the region, Mr Tony Pollock, General Manager - Monash International Pty Ltd advised the Committee of the following

• noting that demand in South Africa had not diminished, Monash would seek registration in South Africa as a private education provider;
• the geographic region where Monash may seek involvement would be better described as Southern Africa as initial discussions were underway with institutions in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mauritius as well as South Africa;
• Monash's involvement in Southern Africa may involve a set of relationships with a variety of groups/partners including outreach program providers, black empowerment organisations, existing education providers and professional management societies; and
• discussions with the Institute of Management and Marketing would be resumed under the above framework.

4.2 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development)

4.3 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs)

Document D35/98 was attached.

Following discussion on ways of maximising the benefits derived from the establishment of the Science at Monash Innovation Fund, the Committee recommended that the Deans of the Science (Convenor), Pharmacy, Engineering, Information Technology and Medicine consult and bring forward to the Committee a proposal(s) on how to expend the funding in the first year.

4.4.2 Matters relating to the Academic and Planning portfolio

Professor Lindsay advised the Committee that an information session relating to Staff Engagement Profiles and Workload Planning was under development and would be presented as soon as practicable.

In addition, Professor Lindsay advised the Committee that the timetable for distributing documentation relating to the Review of the Faculty of Arts was as follows:

12^th August Progress Report to be distributed electronically to Deans of faculties and others.

18^th-20^th August Completion date for the subsequent iteration of the Report.

28^th August Final Report to the Vice-Chancellor.

4.5 General Manager

Document D36/98 was attached.

Mr John Matthews, Assistant General Manager - Finance was in attendance for this item.

Noting that all Government authorities had been obtained, Mr Matthews advised the Committee that the leasing facility would benefit the University by allowing faculties/departments to even out their IT expenditure over the term of an equipment lease, provide the flexibility to keep equipment up-to-date while reducing the risk relating to residuals and permit the University to retain the capacity of purchasing equipment from its preferred suppliers.

Issues still under discussion include:

• whether to centralise or devolve the procurement of equipment;
• the Technical Working Party is to provide UNITAC with a proposal on the desirability and suggested level of standardised software and hardware; and
• administrative requirements and processes still need to be finalised but use of the leasing facility should be available by October.

In relation to an e-mailed question from Professor Quartly, the Committee was informed that the University would receive discounted HECS funding ($2000 per student) for its net over-enrolment following finalisation of August census data.

Members were advised that the 2% ceiling placed on over-enrolments in 1998 was part of the internal budget process and that the need for a ceiling in 1999 would be decided following further consultation.

Mr Wade advised the Committee that he would endeavour to submit a statement on the matter to the 22 September meeting of the Committee.

In response to an e-mailed question relating to the distribution of income from the Sunway Campus, members were referred to Leading the Way - The Monash Plan 1999-2003, (page 44, Table 7 and related footnotes) which states that:

'Royalties from Sunway Campus Malaysia for 2001-2003 have been included under General Provisions. In 1998-2000 the royalty is included in Academic Activities and Academic Support in the ratio 90% / 10%.'

In response to a question on the progress with a new budget model, the Vice-Chancellor drew the attention of the meeting to a statement on page 43 of Leading the Way - The Monash Plan 1999-2003 viz:

"The internal resource allocation model is under review and the outcomes of this review will begin to be incorporated in the budget-setting process in 1999".

The next scheduled Committee of Deans meeting will be held on 1 September 1998 at 2.15pm in the Sir George Lush Room.

Vice-Chancellor
Deputy Vice-Chancellors
Deans
General Manager