Meeting 4/2001 of the Committee of Deans was held at 2.15 pm on Tuesday, 29 May 2001 in the Sir George Lush Room, Clayton Campus

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 N Saunders, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Professor C B Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Professor R Norris, Dean, Faculty of Science

Professor Bob Bignall, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Monash University, Malaysia Campus

Ms Katherine Lock, Director, Corporate Marketing Project, Public Affairs

Professor Merran Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs

No apologies were received.

The Minutes of meeting 3/2001 of the Committee of Deans were confirmed.

The Vice-Chancellor advised members that the opening of Monash University Prato had been rescheduled to 17 September 2001.

Professor Mackenzie spoke to the paper Monash University Gippsland – Academic Plan 2001-2005 noting that the paper incorporated proposals that would greatly enhance the campuses status as a provider of quality programs to the Gippsland region and via distance education. Proposals discussed included strategies for raising the research profile of the campus, a proposal to establish an Institute for Regional Studies, development of new courses (subject to faculty approval), governance structures including the establishment of an Academic Forum and the establishment of an Educational Precinct.

Following discussion, the Vice-Chancellor congratulated all concerned with development of the Plan and advised members that a revised version of the Plan would be submitted to Council at its 1 October meeting – to be held at Gippsland Campus.

Ms Katherine Lock presented the paper titled Marketing Monash – A discussion paper.

Matters discussed included Monash’s marketing priorities and directions, the positioning of Monash in order to emphasise its differences and advantages and the most appropriate structures for enhancing the effectiveness of current marketing and recruitment activities.

Following discussion members were advised that Section 14 (pages 31-32) would be redrafted to delineate the responsibilities of Public Affairs, Monash International, off-shore campuses and centres and faculties.

Professor Lindsay spoke to the paper Advancing Off-Campus Delivery – a Coordinated Development Program noting that the paper set the proposed approach for achieving growth in the area of off-campus delivery – a critical component of the university’s development.

Further, Ms Crook advised that a pilot project focussing on on-line delivery of non-award short courses had commenced. Experience gained from this project would assist in understanding the costs and difficulties associated with this type of project and contribute to our understanding of the business model.

Members endorsed the approach as detailed in the paper.

Members endorsed the proposed copyright warning on course materials.

Ms Crook advised members that Ms Amanda Lazar, Deputy University Solicitor, would circulate the detail by email.

Professor Merran Evans spoke to the paper, Load Planning Issues, noting that estimates of DETYA student load (31 August 2001 census date) indicated that the total University load would be 69 EFTSU below the DETYA target with undergraduate load exceeding the target by a lower than expected level, OPG load 260 EFTSU below target and Higher Degrees by Research load exceeding target by 36 EFTSU.

For 2001, Professor Evans informed Deans that measures for improving outcomes included initiatives identified in the Gippsland Academic Plan and a competitive bidding process for unused and / or unallocated load
(150 EFTSU = 300 places for a semester, with 50 EFTSU agreed to be earmarked for Gippsland).

2002 guidelines would focus on reinforcing research at Monash and emphasise research training programs - honours years and master programs and courses of strategic importance to the University.

Ms Alison Crook reported on the Space Management Project and noted that membership of the Steering Committee included Professors Palmer, Brisk and Le Grand.

This item was not discussed as it was included for the information of members.

This item was included at the meeting and a paper was tabled.

Members were requested to provide nominees for the Consultative Group to the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources).

Professor Palmer spoke to this item.

The committee endorsed the proposal to establish and fill a Chair of Accounting at Monash South Africa.

Professor Parker spoke to this item.

The committee endorsed the proposal to rename The Sir Keith Aickin Chair of Commercial Law to The Sir Keith Aickin Chair of Company Law and fill the position.

Professor Rosenberg spoke to this item.

The committee endorsed the proposal to establish and fill a Chair of Strategic Business Systems

Professor Le Grand advised members that following further consideration it had been decided to amend the proposal as follows - advertise and fill the position of Professor (or Associate Professor) of Australian Indigenous Studies and Director of the Centre for Australian Indigenous Studies.

The committee endorsed the proposal as detailed above.

The next meeting of the Committee of Deans will be held at 2.15 pm on Tuesday, 3 July 2001 in the Sir George Lush Room.

Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President

Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Vice-Presidents

Pro Vice-Chancellors

Deans