Meeting 1/2003 of the Committee of Deans was held between 2.15pm and 4.35pm on Tuesday, 28 January, 2003 in the Sir George Lush Room, ground floor, University Offices, Building 3a, Clayton Campus.

Professor Peter Darvall, Vice-Chancellor

Professor Alan Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Planning)

Ms Alison Crook, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources)

Professor Gary Bouma, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development)

Professor Brian Mackenzie, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland Campus

Professor John Redmond, Dean, Faculty of Art and Design

Professor Homer Le Grand, Dean, Faculty of Arts

Professor Gill Palmer, Dean, Faculty of Business and Economics

Professor Sue Willis, Dean, Faculty of Education

Professor John Sheridan, Acting Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Professor John Rosenberg, Dean, Faculty of Information Technology

Professor HP Lee, Faculty of Law for Professor Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law

Professor Leon Piterman, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences for Professor Nick Saunders

Professor Colin Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Professor Rob Norris, Dean, Faculty of Science

Professor Max King, Director, Research Graduate School

Mr Peter Marshall, Divisional Director, Student and Staff Services for item 4.2.1

Professor Merran Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs for items 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3

Professor Colin Bourke MBE, Council Member and Chair of the Equal Opportunity Committee for items 6.1 and 6.2

Apologies were received from Professor Stephen Parker, Dean, Faculty of Law, and Professor Nick Saunders, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Order of agenda – 6.1, 6.2, 2, 4.2.1, 4.3.1, 4.3.2, 4.3.3, 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3

The minutes of meeting 8/2002 of the Committee of Deans held on 19 November 2002 were confirmed.

Professor Darvall noted that over the previous 12 months, a number of issues had been identified for discussion at the "Advance". These included, but were not limited to, the faculty/campus matrix, global objectives while also attempting to resolve regional campus issues, the role of Berwick, Peninsula and Gippsland Campuses, the appropriateness of the integrated planning and budget cycle and South Africa and Malaysia Campuses.

Professor Darvall noted that all Deans would be present at the "Advance" and informed members that Mr David Phillips would be attending as facilitator.

In response to a request for advice, members suggested the following:

Professor Darvall thanked Deans for their input and requested that any further suggestions be forwarded to his office.

Members were informed that instances of breach of copyright and cheating continued to be reported in the press – not only in Australia but also in Malaysia and Singapore.

During discussion, it was noted that academic staff were not trained in dealing with media enquiries and were sometimes not aware of the ramifications of the information they were imparting. The suggestion that "media awareness" training be made available to staff, was supported.

Professor Darvall informed members that expressions of interest would be sought for the positions of Pro Vice-Chancellor Malaysia and Pro Vice-Chancellor South Africa.

Documentation was circulated.

The Committee of Deans noted the advice of Professor Bouma and received the report.

Professor Merran Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs was in attendance for this item.

A document titled "VTAC Undergraduate Selection 2003: Clearly-In Round 1 ENTER data" was tabled at the meeting.

Professor Evans introduced the item noting that the cut-off score level across all faculties was pleasing overall, that the revised method of allocating merit and equity scholarships had been well received by students and the first ever offer of a Deans Scholarship to a Gippsland Campus enrolled student had been made.

During discussion, members provided the following observations:

Noting that load may have to be shifted in order for the University to meet its targets, Professors Palmer and Mackenzie were requested, in the first instance, to review the situation at Gippsland including the possibility of a mid-year intake, an increased number of undergraduate honours offers and writing to deferring students with an offer to enrol in second semester. Professor Lindsay requested that he and Professor Evans be kept informed of progress in relation to the matter.

In response to a question, Professor Evans informed members that awarding scholarships to double-degrees students was permitted and was a decision of the faculty.

Documentation was circulated.

Professor Merran Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs was in attendance for this item.

Professor Lindsay introduced the item and informed members that the proposed "clawback" of 2% of the DEST planned load target was similar to the 1997 reallocation where Deans agreed to a "pro-rata" reduction to degree faculty load that was then reallocated to agreed new initiatives.

Members were advised that the proposed clawback would be redistributed taking into account the following factors:

During discussion, members raised the following issues:

Following discussion on the pipeline effect of a 2% clawback, Professor Darvall agreed that a decision on the matter be deferred and a further paper on the matter be considered at a later meeting of the Committee of Deans.

Documentation was circulated.

Professor Merran Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs was in attendance for this item.

Professor Lindsay introduced the item noting that the proposed model for sub-faculty planning was modelled on faculty operational plans and invited the feedback of members.

Following discussions, Professor Darvall noted that as research centres needed to demonstrate their financial viability, a cross reference to specific financial modelling should be included.

Documentation was circulated.

The Committee of Deans approved the proposal to fill an existing position of Chair of Education and to establish and fill a new Chair of Education.

Documentation was circulated.

During discussion the following issues were raised:

Following further discussion, Professor Darvall requested that revised and more detailed proposals be circulated.

Documentation was circulated.

This item was added to the agenda and documentation tabled at the meeting.

The Committee of Deans approved the proposal by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, to establish and fill the position of Chair of Health Services Management.

Documentation was circulated.

Professor Colin Bourke MBE, Council member and Chair of the Equal Opportunity Committee was in attendance for this item.

Professor Bourke, informed members that while Council had approved the Policy on Gender Representation on Decision Making-Bodies in 1993, statistics revealed that there had been little improvement in the overall number of women on decision-making committees in the period 1996 – 2000.

Noting that there was a need to ensure that women in senior positions were not overworked and that some positions on bodies such as Academic Board and Faculty Boards were either elected or ex officio positions, Professor Bourke requested the advice and assistance of Deans in improving the situation.

Noting the advice of Deans that a balanced approach needed to be adopted and that many women in senior positions were still developing their research portfolio, Professor Darvall requested Deans to continue their efforts of increasing the number of women on decision making bodies where appropriate.

Documentation was circulated.

Professor Colin Bourke MBE, Council member and Chair of the Equal Opportunity Committee was in attendance for this item.

Professor Bourke noted that three or four Deans had attended meetings of the Equal Opportunity Committee where they had outlined to the Committee their faculty’s equity and diversity initiatives. Further, Professor Bourke requested that the proforma annual report included with the agenda paper, be trialled by all faculties in 2003.

Noting advice that the proforma report could be obtained from the Student and Staff Services web site and that the required statistical data was collected centrally, Professor Darvall, with the support of the Deans, agreed that the report be used in 2003 on a trial basis.

NOTE: following discussion, the meeting of the Deans Discussion Group scheduled for 10^th February was cancelled.

The next meeting of the Deans Discussion Group will be held at 4.00pm on Tuesday, 1 April 2003 in the City Office.

Meetings for Strategic Cost Management Issues will be held on Tuesday, 18 February, Thursday, 20 February, Tuesday, 25 February and Friday, 28 February at 1.30pm in the Sir George Lush Room.

The next meeting of the Committee of Deans will be held at 2.15pm on Tuesday, 11 March 2003 in the Sir George Lush Room.