Meeting 2/2001 of the Committee of Deans was held between 2.15 pm and 5.00 pm on Tuesday, 20 February 2001 in the Sir George Lush Room, ground floor, University Offices Building 3a, Clayton campus.

Phillip Siggins, Secretary

In opening the meeting the Vice-Chancellor welcomed Professor Leon Piterman, Faculty of Medicine and Professor Peter Steward, Faculty of Pharmacy.

Professor D A Robinson, Vice-Chancellor and President

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

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

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

Professor B Mackenzie, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland

Professor J K 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 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 L Piterman, Head of Department of Community Medicine and General Practice for Professor N Saunders, Dean, Faculty of Medicine

Professor P Stewart, Faculty of Pharmacy for Professor C B Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Professor R Norris, Dean, Faculty of Science

• Mr K Bensley, Head of Department of Theory of Art and Design, Faculty of Art and Design for item 4.3.2

• Mr G Bawden, Lecturer, Department of Design, Faculty of Art and Design for item 4.3.2

• Professor M Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs for item 4.3.2

• Ms N Mitchell, Planning Advisor, Planning and Academic Affairs for item 4.3.2

• Associate Professor A Farley, Associate Dean (U/G Teaching), Department of Accounting & Finance, Faculty of Business and Economics for item 4.3.2

• Mr Reynold Dias, Manager, Budget & Client Liaison Financial Resources Management Division for item 4.4.1

Apologies were received from Professor Nick Saunders, Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Professor Colin Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy.

The minutes of meeting 1/2001 held 23 January 2001 were confirmed.

The Vice-Chancellor reported that there would be reports from both Professors Parker and Le Grand in their capacities as Chairmen of the Steering Committees for London and Prato. The Vice-Chancellor noted that a full listing of Future Directors Reports was included in the Academic Board papers for the Board meeting to be held 21 February 2001.

Professor Parker commented that additional students had been enrolled as a result of the splitting of combined degrees initiative. He has also reported that he and Professor Palmer had held a fruitful meeting regarding collaborations between their faculties in regard to Business Law and Taxation.

The Vice-Chancellor reported that Intellectual Property issues were particularly prominent in this context. He also reported that a small task force had been established, chaired by Mr David Phillips (Special Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor) to prepare for the Vice-Chancellor’s Group initial proposals for how best Monash might respond.

The meeting noted the magnitude of the opportunities presented by this Government initiative.

The Vice-Chancellor reported on recent developments including successful action taken by the University to ward off possible changes to the University’s conditioned registration.

Ms Crook commented that the positive outcome of negotiations meant that Monash could now move into a more active phase in the South Africa operation.

Professor Darvall extended congratulations to staff involved in the recently announced CRCs. He also advised that the printed copy of the Research and Research Training Operational Manual would be distributed shortly.

Professor Lindsay presented an oral report. He advised that development of the relevant software had taken a little longer than expected but that a system would be ready to trial during March. Further discussion of the software would take place at the next meeting of CADETS (22 February). The main focus would be a development of faculty processes. The Minister had recently approved the amendments to Statute 6.1.2 and the follow up of drafting and making of regulations would proceed through the Office of the University Solicitor and the Secretariat. Associate Deans would be expected to come forward with proposals regarding implementing the trialled system and it was anticipated that reporting processes would be settled by June. The development and settling of these processes would enable Education Committee and OQAC to focus on academic policies rather than on approvals of courses and subjects.

Mr Karen Bensley introduced the topic and Mr Gene Bawden presented Effective Visual Communication at Monash University drawing on the folder of materials distributed with the agenda papers.

Professor Darvall invited Mr Bawden to consider giving a seminar on effective visual communications to post-graduate students.

Professor Evans was requested to give consideration as to how best to convey the information contained in the presentation to the faculties.

Associate Professor Alan Farley presented the topic Lifelong Learning Skills.

Discussion focussed on some of the difficulties in measuring aspects of the identified skills and also on following up with industry and other employer bodies post graduation.

Professor Le Grand requested that the material be made available to the Associate Dean (Teaching) in the Faculty of Arts.

Ms Crook introduced this item noting that the item would be presented to Academic Board and Administrative Heads. Mr Dias then presented the paper drawing member’s attention to the overview and benefits of the new financial management process, the timetable for the rollout of the new financial management process and a comparison of the operation of the 2002 budget with that of the 2003 budget. Mr Dias also noted and spoke to a paper providing a conceptual view of the transition from the current financial model to the future financial management process.

Discussion focussed on the basis on which DEETYA funding is provided and any implications it may have for the new system.

Ms Crook advised that given the complexities of the transition process it would be necessary for members of the Corporate Finance Division to visit each faculty over the coming months to fully explain and work through the concepts and implementation of the new system.

This item was discussed in confidence. Ms Crook provided an update on developments and advised that any media approaches should be referred to her office.

Ms Crook supplied updates on campus developments including Berwick, Caulfield, the ‘Science Precinct,’ Parkville and an overview of initiatives commenced to meet the changing needs for space across the university campuses.

Ms Crook indicated that there would be further discussion of space requirements and utilisation at future meetings.

Professor Leon Piterman reported on this item and advised that a number of issues would need to be resolved. These issues would be the subject of discussion at a meeting of an Executive Committee of the faculty to be held on 23 February.

The Vice-Chancellor commented that if the outstanding matters could be resolved and the project moved forward, it would result in a transformation of the Monash presence in Malaysia.

Professor Leon Piterman reported on this item and an information folder was tabled. Professor Piterman advised that the Monash Institutes of Health (MIH) brought together health and medical researchers currently working in the Monash Clayton precinct. As such, this represented a major step forwarding and bringing together a critical mass of experts with a broad range of skills that covered the health concerns of all Australians. Professor Darvall commented on the strategic implications and congratulated the faculty on its initiative.

Professor Rosenberg spoke to this item. The committee endorsed the proposal to advertise and fill the position of a new Research Professor in Information Technology.

Professor Palmer spoke to this item. The Committee endorsed the proposal to advertise and fill the position of a Professor of Finance, Department of Accounting and Finance.

Professor Brisk raised this matter advising that the present practices required graduands of a double degree program to graduate at the ‘managing’ faculty if they wish to have both their degrees in the program read out. They also wear the colours of the managing faculty. Should they choose to graduate at the ‘other’ faculty’s ceremony only that faculty’s degree is printed and read and they wear that faculty’s colours.

Professor Brisk advised that this had disadvantaged some students and that students should receive full acknowledgement of their awards at the graduation ceremony.

The committee accepted that this matter should be rectified and Professor Brisk agreed to write to the Divisional Director, Student and Staff Services.

The next meeting of the Committee of Deans will be combined with the Deans Discussion Group, to be held at 4:00pm, Wednesday 14 March 2001 in the City Office.