Meeting 1/2001 of the Committee of Deans was held between 4:00pm and 6.00pm on Tuesday, 23rd January 2001 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 J Anderson, Pro Vice-Chancellor, South Africa Campus

Professor B Mackenzie, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland Campus

Professor D White, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Monash Centre, King’s College London

Professor J Redmond, Dean, Faculty of Art and Design

Professor H Le Grand, Dean, Faculty of Arts

Professor G Palmer, Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics

Professor J Rosenberg, Dean, Faculty of Information Technology

Professor S Willis, Dean, Faculty of Education

Professor M Brisk, Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Professor S Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law

Professor N Saunders, Dean, Faculty of Medicine

Professor C Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Professor R Norris, Dean, Faculty of Science

Professor Graham Webb, Director, Centre for Higher Education Quality

Professor M Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs

Mr P Marshall, Divisional Director, Student and Staff Services

An apology was received from Professor Alan Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Planning)

The Minutes of Meeting 8/2000 (21 November 2000) of the Committee of Deans were confirmed subject to the following correction:

Minute 10 Professor Rural Health to read:

" to be funded by the Faculty of Medicine."

There was also comment on Minute 5 Fee Paying Initiative: Splitting of Combined Degrees. It was advised that there had been a very positive response to the initiative. The Vice-Chancellor advised that it would be necessary for participating faculties to be prepared to answer questions about the arrangements.

There were no matters arising.

Professor Graham Webb presented a paper, ‘Quality at Monash’. The paper incorporated quality issues identified by Deans and set the context for possible developments in anticipation of future Australian University Quality Agency (AQUA) audit activities. Professor Webb took members through the paper and indicated that he would be consulting with each Dean on quality issues during the year.

Discussion focussed on the need to have Monash graduate attributes carefully defined, the limited applicability of Monquest evaluation to Performance Evaluation and the desirability of bringing Monash internal processes to a stage where they would be able to inform responses to the external audit of quality. The Vice-Chancellor thanked Professor Webb for his presentation.

Professor Dick White presented a paper, Monash University Centre London, Year 2000 Report to Committee of Deans. Professor White took members through the paper summarising goals, activities and plans for the Centre. Observations included the need for a detailed operational plan and the need for continuing raising of awareness of the Monash presence through joint research, teaching and student exchanges with King’s College.

The Vice-Chancellor thanked Professor White for his presentation.

Professor Peter Darvall spoke to this item and reported that a review working party had been formed and that it was expected that a report of its findings would be available in March. The terms of reference of the working party had been defined and information was currently being collected.

Mr Peter Marshall introduced the paper, Guidelines for Academic Promotion – 2001 update, noting that changes were not major between the 2000 and the 2001 guidelines. Comments on the document included the need for a match between the advertised appointment level for the position and the skills of the appointee. Promotion processes should not be used to address anomalies in appointments.

It was pointed out that the use of the term "over a period of time" on page 25 of the document was not effective and should be replaced by a more precise phrase. It was agreed that further comments/input should be forwarded to Mr Marshall.

Mr Peter Marshall spoke to the paper, Rewarding Distinguished Academic Staff noting that the purpose of the paper was to canvas Dean’s ideas and views as to how the University could better reward, in particular, its distinguished academic staff. Mr Marshall explained that the table at Attachment B to the paper displayed loadings that related to a wide range of situations beyond that of loadings to Fellows of Academies.

The Vice-Chancellor commented that recognizing and acknowledging distinguished academic staff should be the focus of discussion; the financial aspect was a separate issue. There was comment that the criteria for and number of Sir John Monash Professorial Appointments were restrictive. Professor Darvall noted that other Professorships might be created for example, chairs established by the Alumni. Ms Crook raised the question of recognition of non-professorial staff.

The Committee resolved to refer the question of recognition of distinguished academic staff to the Special Professorial Appointments Sub-Committee of Council for consideration and report back to the Committee of Deans.

Mr Peter Marshall spoke to the distributed papers. These included:

Ms Crook explained that the papers before the Committee had been endorsed by the Council subject to the incorporation of further changes and information. As such these papers established policy within Monash but that Monash Commercial would provide in due course a separate set of policies for the staff operating in the commercial arm of the University’s activities. Focussing on the paper, Additional Academic Payment Policy, there were concerns expressed about the concept of establishing minimum and maximum numbers of annual contract hours for specific academic activities; this was viewed as irrelevant to the nature of academic endeavour.

In closing the discussion, it was noted that the paper Additional Academic Payment Policy was a first draft and that Ms Crook and Mr Marshall would take into account the comments during the discussion and bring a further iteration to the Committee of Deans in due course.

Professor Palmer spoke to this item. The Committee endorsed the proposal to establish and advertise the position of Professor and Head of the School of Business and Economics

Professor Palmer spoke to this item. The Committee endorsed the proposal to establish and advertise a Second Chair in Econometrics in the Department of Econometrics and Business Statistics.

Professor Palmer spoke to this item. Professor Parker also commented on the proposal. The Committee endorsed the proposal for transmission to Academic Board and Council subject to Professor Palmer and Professor Parker proceeding to discussion of the potential for further collaborative and cooperative activities between the Faculty of Law and The Department of Business Law and Taxation.

Professor Brisk spoke to this item. The Committee endorsed the proposal to advertise the position of Chair in Civil Engineering.

Members noted Professor Saunders’ advice that permission had been granted to establish a medical course in Malaysia and that the Ministry of Health (Malaysia) had committed a hospital in Johor Bahru as a Monash teaching hospital. Accreditation by the Australian Medical Council was under consideration.

Professor John Anderson presented an oral report on current developments and progress with the South Africa Campus. Members noted the information and Professor Anderson agreed to meet with Professor White concerning developing links between the South Africa Campus and the London Centre.

7. Next Meeting

The next ordinary meeting of the Committee of Deans will be held at 2:15 pm, Tuesday 20^th February 2001, in the Sir George Lush Room.

The next meeting of the Deans Discussion Group will be combined with the Committee of Deans, to be held at 4:00pm, Wednesday 14^th March in the City Office.

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

Pro Vice-Chancellors