Committee of Deans Meeting 3/2001

Meeting 3/2001 of the Committee of Deans was held between 4.00pm and 6.00pm on Wednesday 14 March 2001 in the City Office, Level 11, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Phillip Siggins, Secretary

In opening the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor welcomed Professor Leon Pitterman, Faculty of Medicine, Professor Phil Steele, Faculty of Information Technology and Professor Max King, Faculty of Business and Economics.

Professor D A Robinson, Vice-Chancellor and President, Presiding

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 Campus

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

Professor H Le Grand, Dean, Faculty of Arts

Professor M King, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics for Professor G Palmer

Professor S Willis, Dean, Faculty of Education

Professor M L Brisk, Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Professor P Steele, Associate Dean, Faculty of Information Technology for Professor J Rosenberg

Professor S Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law

Professor L Pitterman, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences for Professor N Saunders

Professor C B Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Professor R Norris, Dean, Faculty of Science

Mr P Yates, Director, Services and Systems

Mr A McMeekin, Executive Director, Information Technology Services Division

Mr M Gray, Director, Planning and Quality Assurance

Professor M Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs

Apologies were received from Professor Nick Saunders, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Professor Gill Palmer, Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics and Professor John Rosenberg, Dean, Faculty of Information Technology.

The Vice-Chancellor advised that item 4.1.1 Admissions Update would be dealt with as the last item of the agenda.

The minutes of meeting 2/2001 of the Committee of Deans held on 20 February 2001 were confirmed.

The Vice-Chancellor and Professor Brisk commented that the arrangements for graduation ceremonies for double degrees had been satisfactorily amended to provide for graduands to be conferred with both their degrees at either ceremony.

Professor Merran Evans and Mr Peter Yates were in attendance for this item.

Mr Yates commented on the report, ‘Progress toward 2001 student load targets by funding source as at March 2001,’ noting that there would be changes to enrolment numbers over the period leading up to the 31 March census date.

Concerning DETYA Undergraduate Load, Mr Yates advised that overall the University was above target by 16 EFTSU as 1 March 2001. Members noted that the Faculty of Arts enrolment was under target for this category. The Faculty of Arts was however, encouraging students who had not fully re-enrolled to complete their re-enrolments and would look to a second semester intake to make up any shortfall. Mr Yates commented on DETYA Other Post Graduate Load (OPG), DETYA Higher Degree by Research Load, Monash University Malaysia enrolments (up by 8.5% on the same time in 2000) and international student enrolments (up 6.1% on the same time in 2000).

Professor Le Grand commented that the Faculty of Arts had too much exposure via its Other Post Graduate programs and would look to varying its current profile. Professor Mackenzie commented that undergraduate Science and Arts enrolments were above target at the Gippsland campus. The Gippsland situation could assist the Faculty of Arts overall position and the Vice-Chancellor requested Professor Mackenzie, Le Grand and Evans to discuss the matter further.

The Vice-Chancellor advised that he and the Chancellor had requested the Esquire Bedel to advise on changes that had been implemented in the graduation ceremony and associated events since the beginning of 1999. The committee endorsed the five recommendations set out in the paper, Monash University-The Graduation Process, and the Vice-Chancellor invited any further comments on improvement of the process to be forwarded to his office.

Professor Lindsay spoke to the paper, Monash University Global Equal Opportunity Policy, noting that it had been discussed at a meeting of Administrative Heads and would be considered by Academic Board and by Council in May 2001. The Committee noted the contents of the policy.

Professor Darvall spoke to the paper, Innovation Action Plan, noting that the paper set out the action arising after discussion of the task force report of 21 February 2001. Professor Darvall highlighted aspects of the process and advised that Mr David Phillips, Special Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor, would be overseeing the process and any follow up action.

Professor Pitterman gave a comprehensive oral report on developments since the committee last considered this matter (20 February). Members noted that a number of issues would need to be resolved and further noted that the Vice-Chancellor had established a timetable for the decision making process.

4.3.2 Learning and Teaching Plan – Lead Site Presentation

Professor Brisk presented this topic. Members commented on the excellent quality of the presentation and Professor Brisk agreed to make available copies of his PowerPoint presentation to Deans. (Secretarial note- a copy of the presentation is at Attachment 1 to these minutes).

Mr Alan McMeekin and Mr Mel Gray presented the Information Technology Strategy Plan.

Members noted that Information Technology Strategic Plan was a university wide plan describing a framework for the application and usage of Information Technology within the University. It aimed to ensure that the University wide information technology initiatives were directly aligned to the overall mission, strategies and operational needs of the University. Members commented on the need for a balance to be achieved between business language and concepts employed in the draft plan and the nature of university activities and appropriate language to describe these processes. The Vice-Chancellor invited members to provide comments to Mr Alan McMeekin and he requested Mr McMeekin to provide Deans with copies of his presentation materials.

4.4.2 Acceptance of Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality

Ms Crook advised that a further document would be forwarded to the Committee of Deans in the near future following Audit Committees consideration of the circulated paper, Acceptance of Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality: Guidelines for Good Practice.

4.4.3 Progress Report on Guidelines for Paid Outside Work

Ms Crook gave an oral report on this item. She advised that policy needed to be developed in relation to renumeration and performance management. A small working group was being established and Professor Palmer had provided a commentary and would participate. On the recommendation of the Committee it was agreed that Professor Willis and Professor Rosenberg would also be invited to join the working group.

Members noted the need for a global e-mail to be released announcing the establishment of the guidelines for paid outside work.

In this context Professor Lindsay reported on the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement. The documents had been distributed on the web and in hard copy. Matters were progressing smoothly toward the vote for adoption of the document and Professor Lindsay and the President of the NTEU (Monash Branch), Ms Dale Halstead, would provide a joint report to the next meeting of Council.

4.4.4 Science Precinct

Ms Crook gave an oral report and advised that the model was being developed and the Steering Committee was meeting on a fortnightly basis. Faculties were participating well in the developing project. Ms Crook advised that consideration would need to be given to finding a suitably compelling name for the Science Precinct.

Professor Norris spoke to this item. The Committee endorsed the proposal to establish and fill a Chair of Chemistry. Noting the urgency for filling this position the Committee endorsed a further motion that the proposal be submitted to Council without delay.

Professor Saunders spoke to this item. The Committee endorsed the proposal to establish and advertise the position of Professor/Associate Professor, Rural Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Professor Saunders spoke to this item. The Committee endorsed the proposal to establish and advertise the position of Chair of Nursing (Palliative Care).

Professor Brisk spoke to this item. The Committee endorsed the proposal to establish and advertise the position of Chair in Materials Science (Nanotechnology).

Professor Brisk presented the statistics as compiled by the Occupational Health and Safety Unit. Professor Brisk noted the continuing need for building evacuations to be rehearsed. The Vice-Chancellor thanked Professor Brisk for his presentation.

Professor Brisk spoke to the paper, Recommendation from the Occupational Health and Safety Policy Committee to the Committee of Deans Regarding the Monash Occupational Health and Safety Committee Structure.

The Committee endorsed the Occupational Health and Safety Policy’s recommendation that Occupational Health and Safety be set as a periodic agenda item on Faculty/Administrative Group Management meeting with a report being received/delivered outlining the major issues facing the faculty or area.

There was no other business.

The Vice-Chancellor advised that because of the calling of an Italian national election, the opening of the Monash University Centre at Prato would be deferred from the 10 May date previously announced until shortly before or after the Singapore and Kuala Lumpur graduation ceremonies.

Professor Parker advised that Monash Law was one of four Australian Law Schools recently accredited by the Singapore government. The Universities of Sydney, New South Wales and Melbourne were similarly accredited.

The next meeting of the Committee of Deans will be held at 2.15pm on Tuesday, 29 May 2001 in the Sir George Lush Room.

The next meeting of the Deans Discussion Group will be held at 4pm on Monday, 9 April 2001 in the City Office.

Vice-Chancellor and President

Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Vice-Presidents

Pro Vice-Chancellors

Deans