Meeting 1/2000 of the Committee of Deans was held between 2.15 pm and 4.25 pm on Tuesday, 18^th January 2000 in the Sir George Lush Room, ground floor, University Offices Building 3a, Clayton Campus.

Professor D A Robinson, Vice-Chancellor and President

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

Mr P Marshall, Acting 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 D. Gunstone, Acting Dean, Faculty of Education

Professor M L Brisk, Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Professor J Rosenberg, Dean, Faculty of Information Technology

Professor S Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law

Professor J Davies, Acting Dean, Faculty of Medicine

Professor C Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Mr John Levine, Assistant General Manager (Budget & Statistical Services) for Item 4.4.1

Mr Neil Bradley- for Item 4.3.2

Mr P Siggins, Manager, University Secretariat

In opening the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor welcomed Professor John Davies, representing the Faculty of Medicine, Professor Homer Le Grand to his first meeting as Interim Dean, Faculty of Science and Mr Peter Marshall as Acting General Manager.

Apologies were received from Professor Peter Darvall and Professor Nick Saunders.

The minutes of meeting 8/99 held 16^th November 1999 were confirmed subject to minute 6.1-Dean’s power to suspend a student’s enrolment for health reasons being redrafted in consultation with Professor Parker to reflect the requirement that the opinion obtained must support the course of action taken in these cases.

Any matters arising were dealt with in the body of the agenda.

In introducing this item, the Vice-Chancellor identified ten major issues which would be under consideration in 2000. The Vice-Chancellor indicated that he hoped that work on each issue might be finalised by mid-year. The ten issues were as follows:

Governance and managing Monash in light of our global developments.

Clarifying the role of each campus: Campus directional statements.

Releasing the ‘sleeping value’ of campuses.

Generating a substantial return to individuals and the University for the massive stock of intellectual property in Monash.

Developing Monash as an on-line enterprise.

Developing, registering and controlling the Monash ‘brand’ globally.

Raising substantial funds for Monash University.

Preparing a sound three year balanced budget.

Clarifying arrangements for management and support of our off-shore campuses, alliances and centres.

Developing our research profile and productivity off-shore.

Finalising and reporting on a set of University-wide KPIs.

Following his presentation of the major issues for 2000, the Vice-Chancellor invited discussion. Professor Parker suggested that staff morale, commitment and motivation was an issue for consideration and that thought should be given to strategic ways of improving morale. It was agreed that further consideration would be given to this issue.

Mr Peter Marshall spoke to this item. A paper was distributed setting out the status of negotiations for third round Enterprise Bargaining in the G08 Universities. Mr Marshall reported on the current situation with regard to Monash negotiations. At the conclusion of discussion the Vice-Chancellor commented that there was a need for a realistic picture across the University as a whole. Mr Marshall agreed to provide a set of scenarios incorporating the variables identified in discussion for consideration.

The Vice-Chancellor thanked Mr Neil Bradley for the paper, Report from the Deans Discussion Group on Issues Concerning the Science Faculty. Professor Lindsay introduced the discussion noting that Recommendations 2, 5 and 7 have wider implications for the University and invited members to seek clarification or comment on those recommendations. Professor Le Grand noted that Recommendation 4 was to be addressed by colleagues in the Faculty of Science, that under Recommendation 2 the costs of course administration would need to be taken into account and that a spirit of cooperation and support from the Faculty of Medicine was evident and would assist in addressing the loss of teaching load caused by the loss of service teaching.

In discussion the Vice-Chancellor invited comment on Recommendation 2. Recommendation 2 identified a need for procedural guidelines to assist the processes of coordination and load management between degree owning and service teaching faculties and to limit the adverse effects of intra-University market behaviour and safeguard the efficient use of resources while maintaining quality academic programs. Mr Neil Bradley responded indicating the need for development of the suggested guidelines. He proposed that he meet with Mr John Levine and Professor Merran Evans to draft a paper on the matter for consideration by the Vice-Chancellor’s Group and the Committee of Deans. Mr Bradley’s suggestion was endorsed and it was agreed that input from Deans would be welcomed.

Mr John Levine introduced the paper, 2001 Budget Briefing. Mr Levine emphasized the anticipated deficit over the three years between 2000-2002, the prospects for Commonwealth assistance towards salary increases and costs associated with the third round Enterprise Bargaining. Mr Levine noted that Council had approved the 2000 Budget subject to measures being put in place to avoid the indicative deficits of 2001 and 2002. As a consequence of Council’s budget resolution, it was necessary for the University to develop by the end of June 2000, financial plans and the associated Budget 2001-2003, which would demonstrate the capacity of the University to operate with a surplus. The key dates of this process would be:

To ensure a common understanding of how the budget distributions were determined, a briefing paper would be prepared by early February for the information of Deans.

In discussion, the Vice-Chancellor emphasized that Council had by its resolution, set the University the task of demonstrating capacity to balance its books and operate with a surplus. The build up of a deficit was unacceptable to the governing body. Accordingly, the Budget would be one of the key issues for the first half of the year.

Professor Homer Le Grand spoke to the proposal.

The Committee approved the filling of the Chair of Jewish Civilisation and the renaming of the Chair as the Sir John Monash Chair of Jewish Civilisation subject to further clarification and consultation with relevant parties concerning redesignation of the Chair as the Sir John Monash Chair of Jewish Civilisation. In this context members noted that there existed a Sir John Monash Chair of Electrical Power Engineering and a Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor Award. Professor Lindsay suggested that thought be given to policy regarding the Distinguished Professor Award.

Professor Chapman suggested that it would be appropriate for a report on Y2K to be made available and for staff involved in Y2K preparation to be thanked for their efforts.

It was agreed that Mr John Matthews, Assistant General Manager (Financial Services) be invited to the next ordinary meeting of the Committee of Deans (22^nd February) to present advice on preparations and training in anticipation of the GST.

The Vice Chancellor advised that a small group would be established to assist the implementation of Report of the Gippsland Working Party. The group would comprise three to four people and the Vice-Chancellor sought the advice of the committee regarding potential members.

Mr Marshall advised that the delivery of the Report had been temporarily delayed by the need to consider the implications of the GST. It was agreed that the University Practice Policy would be considered at the next Deans Discussion Group (1 February).

The Vice-Chancellor advised that the Executive Committee of Council would shortly receive a recommendation for the appointment of a new Dean of the Faculty of Business and Economics.

The Vice-Chancellor provided an update on negotiations which had now been concluded and approved by Executive Committee of Council.

The Vice-Chancellor provided an update on developments and advised that the Monash proposal had been endorsed and received registration. The situation would now allow for further progress and members were requested to give thought to making early preparations in case the University was requested to make a rapid response. The Vice-Chancellor commented that the London and South Africa initiatives would signal a significant change in the University’s identity.

The next meeting of the Deans Discussion Group will be held at 4.00 pm on Tuesday, 1^st February 2000 in the City Office.