Deans Discussion Group Meeting 10-2003

Meeting 10/2003 of the Deans Discussion Group was held at 4.00 pm on Wednesday, 17 December 2003 in the Monash City Office, Level 11, 30 Collins Street, Melbourne. 

NOTES

1. Attendance and apologies

There were present:

Professor R Larkins AO, Vice-Chancellor

Professor S Parker, Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Professor A Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning)

Ms A Crook AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources)

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

Professor B Mackenzie, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland Campus

Professor M Liddell, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Malaysia 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 T Sridhar, Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Professor H P Lee, Acting Dean, Faculty of Law

Professor E Byrne, Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Professor C Chapman, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy

Professor R Norris, Dean, Faculty of Science

Mr T Pollock, Vice-President, International

Professor M King, Director, Research Graduate School

Mr A McMeekin, Executive Director, Information Technology Services for item 8.1

Ms P Sanderson, Chief Executive Officer, Monash Property for item 4

Ms J Lightfoot, Director, Major Projects for item 4

Secretary:

Mr T Calder, Director, Secretariat and Executive Services

2. Notes

Notes of meeting 9/2003 held on 4 November 2003 were received and noted.

3. Matters arising from the Notes of meeting 8/2003

3.1 Strategic Framework - 2003-2008 - Professor Richard Larkins

During discussion, members offered advice and suggestions relating to the need to differentiate between "values" and "vision", progress in implementing the Senior Management Development Program and the appropriateness of decreased emphasis of the defining themes of innovation, engagement and internationalisation.

3.2 Backing Australia's Future and HESB 2004

The Vice-Chancellor introduced the item noting that the Higher Education Support Bill 2003 had been passed (5 December 2003).  The legislation retained the major structural reforms proposed in Our Universities: Backing Australia's Future but had been significantly amended particularly in the area of equity and the change from must to may enter into workplace agreements.

Further, the Vice-Chancellor informed members that the government had given a commitment to review indexation arrangements by February 2005, with a government response due by April 2005.

Members discussed the following issues:

• the likelihood that there would be fewer deferrals in 2004 due to the possible changes in HECS rates from 2005;
• the need for a formal pricing policy for both domestic fee-paying and international students; and
• the Vice-Chancellor's proposed consultative process for developing a response for submission to Council in relation to Monash's response to proposed changes.

Professor Lindsay informed members that the Pricing, Positioning and Equity Working Party met on 14 October 2003 (refer Attachment 5 of the agenda papers).  Professor Lindsay requested that feedback on the proposed tiered policy framework be forwarded to his office.

Members discussed a range of campus, scholarship, equity-related and tax implications of the legislative changes.

The Vice-Chancellor, requesting that the Pricing, Positioning and Equity Working Party meet again as soon as practicable and advised that discussion and consultation on this matter would be a priority in the new year.

4. Berwick Urban Plan

Ms Pru Sanderson, Chief Executive Officer, Monash Property and Ms Jessica Lightfoot, Director, Major Projects were in attendance.

Members were informed that the proposed Urban Plan provided a framework for the physical development of the campus.  Specific aspects of the plan brought to the attention of members included:

• the size of the landholding - 55 hectares;
• the goal of expanding the components of the campus to include retail, entertainment, performing arts, residences, start-up companies and access to sporting facilities;
• development of the precinct to accommodate shared pedestrian, bike and vehicular movement; and
• suggested footprints for further buildings.

5. Proposal to revise the membership of Committee of Deans and Deans Discussion Group

The Vice-Chancellor outlined the proposed reconfiguration of the Committee of Deans and Deans Discussion Group.  The Vice-Chancellor proposed that the Senior Management Committee, with an expanded membership to include the current membership of Committee of Deans and a range of senior administrative managers, would provide advice, discussion and endorsement of issues referred to it.

Further, the Vice-Chancellor advised that the Deans Discussion Group would assume the formal statutory role and title of the Committee of Deans and provide early advice and comment on strategic issues and policy formulation.  The membership of the Committee of Deans would largely conform to Statute 2.9 - The Committee of Deans, supplemented by senior academic and administrative staff as required.

6. Review of Senior Appointments

Professor Alan Lindsay informed members that a review of the senior appointment process was underway and they were invited to note the terms of reference of the review.  Members' attention was directed to the issue of whether or not Monash should introduce "promotion to professor", policy requirements, the process for the appointment of professors at overseas campuses and Monash's policy toward named and/or sponsored Chairs.

7. Proposal to establish and fill the position of Professor (or Associate Professor) and Director of Haematology, Department of Medicine, Southern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Southern Health

Deans Discussion Group endorsed for transmission to Academic Board and Council the proposal of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to advertise and fill the position of Professor (or Associate Professor) and Director of Haematology, Department of Medicine, Southern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences and Southern Health.

8. General Business

8.1 Mr Alan McMeekin, Executive Director, Information Technology Services, provided members with an overview of the causes of the network downtime recently experienced by many areas of the University.  Matters raised during discussion included the status of current contingency planning, implementation of the "next generation network", user groups and the need for a contact telephone number for out-of-hours use.

8.2 Members raised and discussed a range of issues including:

• the need to further discuss aspects of the Monash Style Guide;
• the use of the MCG facilities for Foundation and fund-raising activities; and
• the role of the Pro Vice-Chancellors in the promotion process of faculty domiciled staff.

9. Next Meeting

The first meeting of the Committee of Deans for 2004 will be held at 2.15 pm on Tuesday, 10 February 2004 in the Monash City Office

Distribution

Vice-Chancellor

Deputy Vice-Chancellors

Pro Vice-Chancellors

Deans and Acting/Deputy Deans

Director, Research Graduate School

Vice-President (International)

Executive Director, Marketing and Public Affairs