Deans Discussion Group Meeting 8-2000

Meeting 8/2000 of the Deans Discussion Group was held between 4:00pm and 7:45pm on Tuesday, 5^th December in the Monash City Office, Level 11, 30 Collins Street Melbourne.

Phillip Siggins

Secretary

Professor D A Robinson, Vice-Chancellor and President Presiding

Professor P LeP Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Development)

Ms A Crook, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources)

Professor B Mackenzie, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland Campus

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

Professor H Le Grand, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Interim Dean, Faculty of Science

Professor G Palmer, Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics

Professor S Willis, 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 N Saunders, Dean, Faculty of Medicine

Professor C Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Professor Merran Evans, Director, Academic and Planning Affairs for Item 3

An apology was received from Professor Alan Lindsay.

The Notes of Meeting 7/2000 (21 November) of the Deans Discussion Group were received subject to correction of note 4 School Formation and Structure at Gippsland as follows: Note 4, paragraph 3, first sentence to read, "In the context of this discussion, a member commented that emphasis should be on resourcing courses rather than departments".

Commenting on the notes of meeting 7/2000 Professor Darvall indicated that matters were progressing regarding gallery issues and Professor Mackenzie advised that discussions about Gippsland programs were proceeding and that he would meet with Professor Le Grand.

A memorandum to members of the Deans Discussion Group from the Vice-Chancellor had been distributed. A paper, Progress Report, Cross Faculty Interests: Sustainability/Green Environment/Water and an extract from meeting 4/2000 (30 May) of the Deans Discussion Group had also been distributed.

The Vice-Chancellor introduced discussion and noted that a proposal concerning the topic Sustainability/Green Environment/Water would be considered in the New Year. The Vice-Chancellor raised the question of what might be a further area of cross faculty interest for the Deans Discussion Group to consider.

Professor Gill Palmer responded and nominated the topic Postgraduate Business and Professional Education as a major area of cross faculty interest. In commenting on this topic, Professor Palmer indicated that subjects or courses across faculties that had a management component would be relevant. Professor Palmer proposed that she bring a report on this topic to an early meeting of the Deans Discussion Group in 2001 and this proposal was endorsed at the meeting. The Vice-Chancellor indicated that Professor Merran Evans would be invited to consult with Professor Palmer on the proposed paper.

In this discussion, there were also comments on the need for a cross faculty program at the London Centre that would be met with the support of King’s College. There was also comment on entrepreneurship programs.

The Vice-Chancellor then requested comments on other broad issues that could be considered as cross faculty initiatives. In discussion of health issues, the topic food was raised and its was agreed that food could be considered a major University wide interest in terms of faculty offerings and research. Professor Evans suggested that an audit of faculty courses/subjects and research might be conducted and this suggestion was endorsed at the meeting.

A paper, Deans: University-wide activities/responsibilities had been distributed.

The Vice-Chancellor requested comment on the paper. In discussion Professor Le Grand indicated that he would be pleased if Professor Palmer would be available to serve as the Vice-Chancellor’s nominee on the Arts Foundation.

Professor Palmer asked if there was a body overseeing space utilisation and space allocation across the University and Ms Crook responded that it was her intention to bring to a future meeting a report on that matter including progress with the introduction of Syllabus Plus. Professor Redmond asked for information as to whether the Visual and Performing Arts Precinct Committee was continuing to operate and whether there was a need for an appraisal of the Precinct’s operation.

The Vice-Chancellor advised that the Selection and Remuneration Committee of Council had endorsed the new structure of contracts for senior staff and had asked that the Deans be invited to move on to the new type of contract. The Vice-Chancellor advised that the Divisional Director, Student and Staff Services would consult with Deans at the time of contract renewal. The Vice-Chancellor indicated that the Chancellor was enthusiastic about Deans accepting the new contracts.

Professor Parker requested advice as to whether the University Practice and Paid Outside Work Policy had been released/triggered. Ms Crook responded advising that guidelines for implementing the policy would need to be developed. These guidelines were currently being drafted.

Professor Parker indicated that letters to staff offering contracts/appointments should refer to the terms of the University Practice and Paid Outside Work Policy. It was agreed that it would be helpful if a training session for Deans and Associate Deans on the implementation of the University Practice and Paid Outside Work Policy could be offered in the near future. In the context of this discussion there was comment on the question of loadings and it was noted that the new policy empowers Deans to give a loading to staff members on an individual basis.

A paper, Directional Statement for Off-Campus Monash had been distributed. The Vice-Chancellor introduced this item noting that the Directional Statement had been considered by the Academic Board. He invited Professor Rosenberg to comment on the Directional Statement.

Professor Rosenberg acknowledged the contribution of the Working Party and the support of the Secretariat. He drew attention to page 16 of the Directional Statement which summarised the key challenges for off-campus Monash and also to page 6, table 1, which set out examples of various models for off-campus delivery. Professor Rosenberg particularly stressed the need for strong strategic leadership for off-campus Monash, the current scale of off-campus activity, the huge recent and predicted future growth in the field and the importance of appropriate infrastructure and technology to support off-campus.

The Vice-Chancellor opened discussion requesting members to comment on the Directional Statement in terms of future implications. Ms Crook commented that the resource implications would need to be explored and a plan provided. Professor Parker noted the need for overall coordination of the off-campus operation. Professor Redmond commented on the need to define what the Monash experience constituted in this context. He advocated a pilot study that would produce some prototyping of the off-campus experience.

Professor Willis suggested that there were many issues facing the University’s off-campus arrangements – particularly regarding assessment on-line. She also indicated that MonQueST surveys were not currently available for DE courses.

The Vice-Chancellor, commenting on Professor Willis’ statements, advised that quality issues were at the forefront of current consideration and he would be asking CHEQ to outline its contribution to quality processes and the new e-Monash. The Vice-Chancellor invited members to inform him of any area that they were aware of that needed attention in relation to quality issues. In this context, there was discussion of the Performance Management System and the need to reflect on and review how effectively the engagement profile process was working.

The second part of the evening discussion refocused on the Directional Statement. Matters raised included the positioning of Open Learning Australia in this context, discussion on the Monash name with the possibility of Mr Tony Pollock, Mr Glenn Barnes and Deputy Chancellor, Mr Paul Ramler meeting with Deans to further progress defining the Monash experience and the place of graduate attributes in this context.

The Vice-Chancellor indicated that if a senior appointment was made to coordinate off-campus activity, it was likely to be on a short term basis aimed at bringing together the operation in a reasonably short time frame.

A further topic raised was that of Faculty Operational plans. At the Vice-Chancellor’s invitation, Professor Rosenberg explained that he was developing for his Faculty a two level plan – (i) an overall statement akin to Leading the Way Monash 2020 and (ii) an implementation plan similar to the existing operational plan.

The meeting closed at 7:45pm.

The next ordinary meeting of the Committee of Deans will be held at 3:00 pm, Tuesday 23 January 2001, in the City Office.

The next meeting of the Deans Discussion Group will be held at 6.00pm on Tuesday 23 January 2001, in the City Office.

Vice-Chancellor and President
Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Vice-Presidents,

Pro Vice-Chancellor’s

Deans