Meeting 4/99 of the Deans Discussion Group was held between 4.00 pm and 9.08 pm on Tuesday, 27 July 1999 in the Monash City Office, Level 11, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Professor D A Robinson, Vice-Chancellor and President, Presiding

Professor J E Maloney, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs)

Professor A W Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning)

Mr P B Wade, General Manager

Professor J K Redmond, Dean, Faculty of Art and Design

Professor H Le Grand, Dean, Faculty of Arts

Professor J A Rickard, Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics

Professor J Rosenberg, Dean, Faculty of Information Technology

Professor R T White, Dean, Faculty of Education

Professor S Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law

Professor N Saunders, Dean, Faculty of Medicine

Professor C B Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Professor R W Davies, Dean, Faculty of Science

Mr P Siggins, Manager, University Secretariat

In opening the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor welcomed Professor Homer Le Grand to his first meeting as Dean of the Faculty of Arts.

Members noted that Professor Peter Darvall and Professors Michael Brisk would not be present.

The notes of Deans Discussion Group meeting 3/99 held 15^th June were received.

The Vice-Chancellor extended congratulations and good wishes to Professor John Rickard on his appointment as Vice-Chancellor, Southern Cross University.

The Vice-Chancellor advised that Professor Dick White had accepted appointment as Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Monash Centre, London. Professor Robinson advised that Professor White would commence in his new role in January next year. Professor White would be the link for Deans with King's College and he would coordinate all approaches to King's. Deans would need to discuss with Professor White faculty initiatives, developments and contacts to ensure a professional and integrated approach to Monash developments at Kings.

The Vice-Chancellor congratulated Professor White on his appointment and noted that the appointment would remain confidential until further announced.

There was general discussion of a recent meeting of Deans with the Deputy Chancellor, Dr Geoffrey Knights and the Campus Director, Gippsland, Professor John Anderson. The Vice-Chancellor emphasized that each faculty would need to establish, in the context of these discussions, a clear view of what it believes is worth doing at the Gippsland campus. The Vice-Chancellor reminded the meeting that the November iteration of the faculty rolling operational plans would set the timelines for these discussions and whatever the faculties envisaged for the campus would have to be realistic and sustainable. Members commented on their faculty's operation at the campus and plans for the future. There was also discussion of distance education and the role the DEC and CeLTS played in supporting distance education. Professor Lindsay commented that CeLTS would soon have an office on each campus. There was comment on differentiation in the greater Monash.

A paper, Budget Planning 2000-2002, was distributed. The General Manager, Mr Peter Wade, spoke to the paper. Mr Wade reported that the financial outlook was extremely tight for 2000 and for the triennium. Mr Wade noted the continuing decline in Commonwealth General Grants and also commented that while Monash achieved well in attracting research grants these monies were for use by the researchers and did not contribute to general revenue. The University was facing market pressures in attracting funds from other sources including full fee paying overseas students. However, Mr Wade advised that Asian economies were starting to show signs of substantial economic recovery and this indicated that it would be timely to market vigorously Monash courses overseas. It would also be timely to review the level of fees set for such courses. Professor Maloney commented that as evidence of the recovery, the second semester intake of international students was above set targets.

Mr Wade responded adding that there was a need for incentives for staff who exceeded targets for income generation. There was also comment on faculty balances and the need for faculties to put this money to good use through investment in programs that would yield reasonable returns.

Discussion moved to enterprise bargaining issues. Mr Wade commented on the current industrial relations environment in Victoria with specific reference to the hospitals' dispute and its implications for forthcoming enterprise bargaining negotiations. In discussion members commented on:

• the review being undertaken by the Purchasing Sub-committee of Council to identify where savings can be achieved;

• pressure not to employ sessional staff and the resulting difficulties with staffing of some courses;

• the need to rationalize courses and subject offerings and to reduce inflated staff workloads;

• academic salary levels being inappropriately low at levels A & B;

• the possibility of reaching agreement on enterprise bargaining with the NTEU at an early opportunity with offers targeted at different staffing levels;

• flexibility of appointments and the possibility of establishing senior positions that were teaching focussed;

• maintaining a positive focus through the enterprise bargaining negotiating period;

• Monash offering commercial loans to students in relation to fees, including variable and fixed rates for such loans;

• rationalization and devolution of the course approval process to faculties.

At the conclusion of discussion Mr Wade requested members to provide him with dot point summaries of their perceptions of how to improve the budget situation.

The Vice-Chancellor briefed members on his recent visit and discussions that had taken place. Professor White indicated that he would meet with Deans over August to discuss how to progress matters and then hold discussions with Professor Arthur Lucas.

The Vice-Chancellor emphasized the need for the early development of non-competitive (with King's) programs that were of sound quality and might involve King's staff.

In further discussion, Professor Maloney provided an update on Southern Africa and there was broad ranging discussion of international and local strategies for the University. In this discussion it was suggested that the Vice-Chancellor may wish to address the University community on the long-range vision for its development.

The meeting closed at 9.08pm.

The next ordinary meeting of the Committee of Deans will be held at 2.15 pm on Tuesday, 17^h August 1999 in the Sir George Lush Room.

The next meeting of the Deans Discussion Group will be held at 4.00 pm on Tuesday, 7th September 1999 in the City Office.