Meeting 14/98 of the Committee of Deans was be held at 1.30 pm on Tuesday, 11 November 1998 in the Sir George Lush Room, ground floor, University Offices Building 3a, Clayton campus.

Apologies were received from Professor D Robinson, Vice Chancellor, , Professor J Maloney, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs) and Professor J Rickard, Dean – Faculty of Business & Economics.

In attendance at Acting Dean was Professor Allen Russell, Faculty of Business and Economics.

Mr Stephen Dee, Executive Director – Performing and Visual Arts was in attendance for item 5.2.

The minutes of meeting 13/98 were confirmed.

At meeting 13/98, Deans were requested to give further consideration to the draft policy and submit any further comments to Ms S. Wales and Mr G. Connell as soon as practical. As several issues, including copyright and multimedia development remained unresolved, the Committee was advised that a revised version of the document would be available for comment no sooner than meeting 15/98 on 1 December 1998.

The Committee noted that Resources and Finance Committee had accepted the Vice-Chancellor’s report relating to implementation of the Arts at Monash Report.

The publication titled ‘Research Management Plan – June 1998’ was attached. Professor Darvall introduced the matter and advised the Committee that:

the use of Engagement Profiles was integral to improving the University’s research output;

Associate Deans – Research were already focusing on the targets detailed in the plan; and

Faculties commencing operations at the Monash Malaysia Campus were requested to identify research support needs.

In addition, Professor Darvall advised the Committee that a review of Research Services Division would be undertaken and that it would be completed by mid February 1999, not December 1998 as detailed in the plan.

Professor Darvall tabled a paper outlining the program Achievement Through Teams: Leadership in Innovation sponsored by Business/Higher Education Round Table Ltd.

Noting that the program would be extremely beneficial and was heavily subsidised, Professor Darvall advised the Committee that he had requested nominations from all Associate Deans – Research. Likely nominees would include Directors and/or Associate Directors of CRC’s, leaders of research groups and potential research leaders.

Professor Lindsay advised the Committee that the documentation relating to this scheme was now in a different form and would return to the Committee of Deans after discussions had been held with the NTEU.

Mr Wade advised the Committee that Finance Department and faculty representatives were still liasing on this matter and that it was expected that the total of outstanding fees, expected to be approx. $2million, would be less than the provision made in the budget.

Resources and Finance Committee had recently requested a report on how the University was dealing with the year 2000 issue. In addition, the Committee considered the matter was of such importance to the University that it had directed that the matter be a standing item on the agenda for all future meetings of the Committee.

Mr Wade advised members that documentation detailing the budget, due to be considered at the special meeting of the Committee of Deans on the 11^th November 1998, would be circulated in advance (Friday).

Mr Wade, in outlining the budget process, noted that while student load was one of the driving forces informing the budget process, research, LTOP, the scholarship program and the administrative operations of the university were all brought together in the budget papers to provide an overall picture of the University’s operations.

Noting that the 1998 Budget included estimated student fee income of $76.3 million, with a special allowance made for a decline in fee paying international student income of $2.975 million, faculties were advised that the net income would be distributed.

Professor Davies advised the Committee that the five Deans of science related faculties had agreed to further develop five specific proposals relating to Science at Monash. Once the five proposals were finalised and following consideration by the Deans of the science related faculties, a recommending supporting two or three of the proposals would be brought to the Committee of Deans.

Documents D48/98 & D49/98 relating to this matter were attached.

Mr Stephen Dee, Executive Director – Performing and Visual Arts was in attendance.

Introducing the matter, Mr Dee advised the Committee that the main thrust of the attachments was the decision making process and that a Strategic Review of Performing and Visual Arts was underway with a focus of reorienting priorities towards complimenting and supporting the academic objectives of the University. Following discussion, it was agreed that a further update on the matter would be provided to the Committee once the review process was further progressed.

Following clarification, it was resolved that the matter would be discussed at the 1999 Budget meeting of the Committee of Deans scheduled for 11 November.

A series of documents (D50/98) relating to this matter were attached for information and discussed.

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