Meeting 5/99 of the Committee of Deans was held at 2.15 pm on Tuesday, 6 July 1999 in the Sir George Lush Room, ground floor, University Offices Building 3a, Clayton campus.

Apologies were received from Professor David Robinson - Vice Chancellor, Mr Peter Wade - General Manager, Professor Michael Brisk, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Professor Stephen Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law and Professor John Rosenberg, Dean, Faculty of Information Technology.

In attendance as Acting Dean was Professor Tam Sridhar (Faculty of Engineering), Professor Marcia Neave (Faculty of Law) and Associate Professor Phil Steele (Faculty of Information Technology).

Ms Katherine Lock for item no 4.4.1

The minutes of meeting 4/99 held 25^th May 1999 were confirmed.

Professor Darvall requested that Deans forward SMURF 2 proposals by the end of the week.

Members were advised that discussions relating to the Private Practice Policy were still underway. In addition, members were advised the policy would be discussed at a future meeting of the Committee of Deans.

Professor Maloney agreed to respond to the query as to the existence and status of a fee schedule for incoming study abroad students.

Noting that Monash will begin negotiations with the NTEU in the second half of 1999, and following a brief discussion of the recent University of Sydney Enterprise Bargaining Agreement, it was agreed that the matter would be included on the agenda for a future meeting of the Deans Discussion Group.

Members were advised that the recently released Green Paper had no good news in relation to the overall quantum of research funding for the University sector. Other matters raised during discussion included the retention of the Australian Research Council, the availability of an increased amount of SPIRT type funding and the Group of Eight Universities formulating a response to the paper.

Professor Maloney advised the meeting that in order to ensure an effective and responsive administrative structure and to integrate the international activities of the University, the following areas of his portfolio had been restructured:

Mr Stephen Dee is now the Executive Director – Public Affairs with responsibility for the visual and performing arts and public affairs. Members were advised that a Manager Fundraising had recently been appointed to progress this important area of the University’s activities.

Mr Tony Pollock has assumed the position of Executive Director International while retaining his position as General Manager – Monash International Pty. Ltd.

Mr Ian Porter is now Principal Adviser – International and Government Relations - a new position. Members were advised that Mr Porter was available to discuss any matters relating to governmental links, both domestic and international.

In response to a question, members were advised that Monash International’s role was now focused towards service delivery in the areas of international student recruitment, assisting in the early phases of the establishment of off-shore campuses and related activities.

King’s College: Following advice that the Senate of the University of London had formally endorsed the Monash – King’s College Agreement, Deans were requested to identify appropriate programs that could be offered at King’s in the first half of 2000.

Other matters discussed included an update on recent developments in Southern Africa and Italy.

A paper was attached.

Ms Katherine Lock, Manager - Staff Development and Communications, was in attendance for this item.

Introducing the matter, members were advised that the documents distributed with the Agenda included an extract from the Draft Report of the Teaching and Promotions Criteria Working Party. Noting this Report had yet to obtain formal approval, members were advised that the Report would be made available via the Web as soon as practicable.

In reference to the detail provided in Attachment 1 of the papers relating to this item, Ms Lock brought the following matters to the attention of members.

Where practicable, Deans were requested to:

• ensure that faculty boards were aware of the need to have gender balanced Faculty Promotion Committees,

• encourage applications for promotion from women wherever appropriate, and

• as far as possible, attempt to achieve gender balance in their nominations.

In respect to the Central Readership / Associate Professorship Promotions Committee, Deans were requested to nominate a female alternate nominee when a male nomination is made for the internal member. In addition, Deans were advised that the female alternate nominee may be chosen ahead of the Dean’s first nominee in circumstances where it is necessary to achieve gender balance on the Central Committee.

Deans are to supply the Central Readership / Associate Professorship Promotions Committee with the names of all unsuccessful female candidates along with the reason(s) why the Faculty Promotion Committee did not support their application.

Following discussion of the document Guidelines on Criteria for Academic Promotion, the following amendments were approved:

(i) Section 1.6 (second paragraph) following the word rehearing insert the following: but should seek the advice of their senior colleagues, Head of Department or Dean prior to making the request (or similar).

(ii) Section 5.1 – insert following the last paragraph : The committee shall determine by at least a two-thirds majority whether a candidate is to be recommended for promotion.

Following a brief discussion on the need to coordinate the timetable within and across campuses, it was agreed that the matter be discussed at a future meeting of the Committee of Deans.

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