Meeting 8/2001 of the Deans Discussion Group was held at 4.00 pm on Tuesday, 4 December 2001 in the Monash City Office, Level 11, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne.

Tony Calder

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 G Palmer, Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics

Professor J Sheridan, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Professor J Rosenberg, Dean, Faculty of Information Technology

Professor L Piterman, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Professor R Norris, Dean, Faculty of Science

Professor Sue Willis, Dean, Faculty of Education

Professor Mike Brisk, Dean, Faculty of Engineering,

Professor Nick Saunders, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Professor Stephen Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law

Professor Colin Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Mr Alan McMeekin, Executive Director, Information Technology Services Division for item 9.

Notes of meeting 7/2001 held on 6 November 2001 were received and noted.

Papers, Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements and Proposal for the Formation of the Monash Institute for the Study of Global Movements had been distributed.

The Vice-Chancellor requested comments on the papers. In discussion, it was noted that the proposal had already stimulated greater interaction between faculties with the major themes outlined in the paper providing a framework for the five "cultural" faculties to build upon and further enhance research productivity.

Matters raised by members included the inclusion of "health and well being" under the heading "Defining themes/questions" (Attachment 2 page 1 refers), the use of "Institute" in the title and funding issues.

Concluding the discussion, the Vice-Chancellor noted the naming issue was yet to be finalised and that it was important that groups drive forward the big intellectual issues, develop good funding proposals which should then be submitted to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Development) and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Planning) for SMIF and SMURF funding.

The Vice-Chancellor introduced discussion and informed members that the major themes of reports to Council in 2002 would include reporting on progress of the many initiatives that commenced in 2001.

Members suggested that the following matters be included:

The Vice-Chancellor provided members with an overview of the proposed topics that would be presented at each meeting of Council in 2002 and confirmed that the matters raised by members would, in the most part, be incorporated within an appropriate report to Council.

Professor John Redmond, Dean, Faculty of Art and Design, spoke to this item. The Committee endorsed the proposal to establish and fill the position of Professor/Associate Professor of Fine Arts.

7.2 Proposal to rename the existing Chair of Civil Engineering to the Noel Murray Chair of Structural Engineering.

This item was withdrawn. Members were advised that the issue of "Naming" was under review by the Resources and Finance Committee with an outcome expected by the end of January 2002.

Professor Leon Piterman, Deputy Dean Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Services spoke to this item. The Committee endorsed the proposal to establish the position of Professor/Associate Professor Director of Monash University Bendigo Clinical School.

A document was tabled.

Professor Leon Piterman, Deputy Dean Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Services spoke to this item. The Committee endorsed the proposal to establish the position of Professor/Associate Professor Director of Monash University Gippsland Clinical School.

This item was withdrawn on the advise of Mr Tony Pollock as the documentation for the item was not finalised.

The Vice-Chancellor introduced the topic noting that Attachment 6a IT Programme Portfolio – 2002 Project Prioritisation and 6b IT Programme Portfolio – 2202 Project Submission had been further developed following consultation with faculties and administrative support divisions.

Mr Alan McMeekin introduced the paper "Obtaining Value from Information Technology Investment" and outlined the framework of policies, procedures and accountabilities for:

Following discussion it was agreed that with the exception of recommendation 4.2, to approve the recommendations 1.1 to 4.1 in the document. Recommendation 4.2, 5.1 and 5.2 were to be discussed further.

Mr McMeekin outlined the proposal that IT Services follow a similar model to the operation of computer laboratories. That Information Technology Services provide software to the "plug in the wall" and faculties provide the necessary hardware. Further, the Committee was informed that any policy discussions resulting from the discussion would, in the first instance, occur at the University Information Technology Policy Committee.

During discussion members raised the following issues

In concluding discussion it was noted that following discussion at the University Information Technology Policy Committee, draft policies would be brought to the Committee of Deans for further consideration.

Mr McMeekin informed members that pages of the Monash Web site were hosted on over 500 web servers of which 60 servers were centrally hosted by Information Technology Services.

Problems identified with the proliferation of servers include threats to quality, security and ensuring the availability and maintenance of web services.

In order to rationalise the web server environment five major areas of responsibility were discussed. These were: 

1. branding requirements

2. web content

3. web server infrastructure

4. web utilities

5. specialised web applications

Subject to some issues raised relating to the teaching and learning environment, the recommendations contained in sections 7.1 and 7.2 of the document titled "Consolidation of Web Services" were approved.

The first meeting of the Deans Discussion Group for 2002 will be held at 4 pm on Tuesday, 22 January 2002 in the City Office.

The first meeting of the Committee of Deans for 2002 will be held at 2.15 pm on Tuesday, 15 January 2002 in the Sir George Lush Room.

Vice-Chancellor and President

Deputy Vice-Chancellors and Vice-Presidents

Pro Vice-Chancellors