Meeting 3/2002 of the Deans Discussion Group was held between 4.00 pm and 8.40 pm on Tuesday, 7 May 2002 in the Monash City Office, Level 11, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne.

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 S Willis, Dean, Faculty of Education

Professor M Brisk, Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Professor S Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law

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

Professor C Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Professor R Norris, Dean, Faculty of Science

Professor J Rosenberg, Dean, Faculty of Information Technology

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

Mr S Abdurazak, Director, Development and Alumni

Mr T Pollock, Executive Director, Office of International Affairs

Mr D Phillips, Special Advisor to the Vice-Chancellor and President

Mr T Calder, Director, Secretariat and Executive Services

The Notes of meeting 2/2002 held on 19 March 2002 were received and noted.

Mr Serhat Abdurazak provided members with an overview of the activities of the University Development and Alumni Office including the establishment of four faculty foundations (with more planned in 2002 and 2003), international fundraising, annual giving and bequest programs and the Corporate Networking Program.

During discussion, members noted the importance of systematising the storage of relationships, access to the alumni database, the need to coordinate approaches to prospective donors and activities in relation to international alumni.

Mr Abdurazak responded that the alumni and development database was now more accessible and responsive with trained users across faculties able to run reports. Further, members were advised that targeted individuals/groups could be "ringed" for a period of time to prevent multiple approaches by different areas of the University at the same time and that a data transfer was underway to bring in all existing records of graduates across every faculty. Concluding his presentation, Mr Abdurazak informed members that international fundraising activities were largely focussed on countries of high priority to Monash and where Monash had strong alumni groups. These countries included Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, UK and USA.

Professor Homer Le Grand introduced the item by informing members that the proposed approach included the identification of a limited number (5 to 6) of preferred partnerships with a mix of state-supported and private institutions.

Summarising the outcomes of his recent visit to a range of US and Canadian institutions, Professor Le Grand recommended that Monash focus on implementing the recently signed comprehensive institutional-level agreement with the University of Arizona that encompassed collaborative research activities, staff exchanges – both academic and general – and undergraduate and postgraduate student exchanges. Professor Le Grand, requested that Deans provide feedback on the documents and encouraged Deans to explore the opportunities for engagement with the University of Arizona.

During discussion, the following issues were raised:

Concluding the discussion, members were advised that consideration was being given to the establishment of a Monash North America Office, possibly in Chicago, and the appointment of a Director.

Mr Tony Pollock informed members that developments in Singapore were still at an early stage and discussions were ongoing. Members were advised that while Singapore had been identified as an area where deeper engagement was sought, the project was still in its pre-feasibility stage and regular updates would be provided with an outcome expected by mid July.

Mr David Phillips informed Deans that he would be overseeing the process whereby Deans were engaged in the development of the Singapore initiative. This process would then be refined and enhanced where necessary and become the template/model for future developments.

Members were advised that a consultancy report on the initiative was nearing completion and would be presented to a future meeting of Committee of Deans for consideration.

During discussion of Faculty Operational Plans, the following issues were raised:

Concluding the discussion, the Vice-Chancellor recommended that Strategic Cost Management be discussed at the next meeting of Deans Discussion Group.

A document Campus Developments considered by Council at meeting 3/2002 (6 May), was tabled at the meeting.

Ms Alison Crook provided an update on the physical developments occurring on Monash University campuses.

Stage 1 of the STRIP – the shell of the building should be completed by January 2003 with progressive fit out allowing occupation from March 2003. Discussions/agreements with faculty, commercial/semi commercial tenants were well advanced with 70% of lettable space committed – this would rise to 90% depending on the outcome of a proposal to establish a major Centre of Excellence in the STRIP.

Other developments included the near completion of the International Building and Science Centre and early planning for serviced apartments near the site of the Synchrotron.

Equiset Pty Ltd., project managers and architects, was continuing to consolidate the site, plan the facilities and obtain the necessary approvals. The work was expected to continue throughout 2002.

A business plan for the "whole of campus" development, in association with Delfin Lend Lease, was nearing completion for consideration by the State Government. In the meantime, planning for construction of the Stage 3 building was continuing.

In relation to the establishment of the Gippsland Education Precinct, members were advised that a working group had been established to formulate access and charging regimes for those instances when external users access/utilise Monash facilities.

Members were informed that the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal had upheld the decision of the Melbourne City Council to grant a permit for construction of a six-storey building with two levels of basement car parking. A business case was being prepared and if viable, the proposal would be brought to Resources and Finance Committee and Council.

Following completion of five new houses on campus and construction of a new synthetic hockey pitch, the major development on campus would be a dual purpose Early Childhood Education teaching and research facility.

Following advice that our partners could provide land for but not finance the building of a new campus, Monash had sought the agreement of our partner to bring in a third party to build the campus.

Work was continuing on defining space and facility requirements and financial modelling with a view to bringing a detailed proposal to Resources and Finance Committee meeting on 3 June and Council meeting on 24 June.

Members were informed that the first two blocks of student accommodation were completed in time for the semester one intake and that the requirement for additional accommodation was being scoped and a proposal would be developed for consideration by Resources and Finance Committee at its meeting on 12 August and subsequent consideration by Council.

The Vice-Chancellor introduced the item and advised members that the first of a series of discussion papers on aspects of higher education as part of the review process had been discussed at Council meeting 3/2002 (6 May).

Deans were informed that the Group of Eight and the AV-CC would both respond to the request for submissions and Council had agreed with the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor that a Monash submission should focus on Monash specific issues such as Monash’s international activities and regional engagement. Council was advised that a draft submission would be presented to the September meeting of Council.

During discussion, a range of issues/comments were provided including:

Concluding the discussion, the Vice-Chancellor, thanked Mr Phillips and Deans for their contribution to the discussion.

The next meeting of the Deans Discussion Group will be held at 4 pm on Tuesday 4 June 2002 in the City Office.

The next meeting of the Committee of Deans will be held at 2.15 pm on Tuesday, 28 May 2002 in the Sir George Lush Room.