Monash University

Scholarships Committee Meeting 1/2004


Meeting No. 1/2004 of the Scholarships Committee will be held on Friday, 26 November 2004 in the Sir George Lush Room, ground floor, Administration Building 3a, Clayton Campus, commencing at 10.00am.

Apologies: Please telephone Alana Matchett on 9905 9668, or e-mail to alana.matchett@adm.monash.edu.au

Miss Alana Matchett

Executive Officer

Members having a direct commercial or financial interest in any item before this meeting must declare that interest to the Chair via the Committee Executive Officer prior to consideration of the item, and must not take part in a vote on any matter concerning it.

Agenda

1. APOLOGIES

Professor Alan Lindsay.

2. ATTENDANCE

The Committee welcomes Professor Chris Browne, President, Academic Board, Mr Gerard Toohey, Manager, Student Administration, Ms Lynda Caldwell, Manager, Admissions and Coursework Scholarships Unit and Mr Jeffrey Smart, Director, Marketing, Marketing and Public Affairs, who have been invited to attend.

*3. TERMS OF REFERENCE, MEMBERSHIP AND ROLE OF THE COMMITTEE  p 1 - 2

The Terms of Reference and the membership of the Scholarships Committee are attached.

The Chair will speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee note the advice of the Chair.

*4. STARRED ITEMS

The Committee should note that certain items have been starred as requiring discussion. Additional items may be starred at the discretion of the Committee.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee nominates any additional items to be starred and endorses the recommendations for all items other than those starred.

*5. MINUTES   p 3 - 10

The Minutes of Meeting 1/2003, held 31 October 2003, are attached. Also attached is the Committee’s 2003 annual report to Academic Board, which provides a further outline of the activities of the Scholarships Committee in 2003.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee approves the Minutes of Meeting 1/2003.

*6. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE PREVIOUS MEETING

6.1 Principles for establishment of scholarships and bursaries

A working party was established, including representatives from the Research Graduate School Committee, the Coursework Scholarships Committee and Marketing and Public Affairs, to develop policy and definitions in relation to an aspect of the Scholarships Committee’s Terms of Reference that the Committee ‘set principles for the establishment of scholarships and bursaries’.

Professor M King, Chair, Research Graduate School Committee, will update the Committee on this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee note the advice of Professor M King.

6.2 Impact of taxation on scholarship holders

It was noted that the OECD ‘Evaluation of the Australian Economy’ report identified an issue of the impact of taxation on Centrelink payments for scholarship holders. The Committee noted the concern and noted that the Go8 was looking into this issue.

Mr Gerard Toohey, Manager, Student Administration, will update the Committee on this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee note the advice of Mr Gerard Toohey.

*7. ANNUAL REPORTS  p 11 – 74

7.1 Coursework Scholarships Committee (CSC) Attachment A

Attached is the annual report of the Coursework Scholarships Committee.

Ms Lynda Caldwell, Manager, Admissions and Coursework Scholarships Unit, has been invited to the meeting.

RECOMMENDATION:

For noting and consideration.

7.2 Research Graduate School Committee (RGSC)   p 75 – 78

Attached is the annual report of the Research Graduate School Committee.

(Attachment A, Attachment B)

Professor M King, Chair, Research Graduate School Committee, will speak to the report.

RECOMMENDATION:

For noting and consideration.

7.3 Marketing and Public Affairs   p 79 – 83

Attached is a report from the Marketing and Public Affairs division regarding the promotion of scholarships and bursaries.

Mr Jeffrey Smart, Director, Marketing, Marketing and Public Affairs, will speak to the report.

RECOMMENDATION:

For noting and consideration.

8. ANNUAL UPDATE OF SCHOLARSHIPS TO APPEAR ON TRANSCRIPTS

Background

At its Meeting 1/2002, the Committee established a procedure for the approval of scholarships and prizes to appear on academic transcripts. The CSC and RGSC would endorse annual updates from faculties of relevant merit-based scholarships and prizes and forward lists of faculty and university merit-based scholarships and prizes to the Scholarships Committee for approval.

8.1 Coursework scholarships to appear on transcripts  p 84 – 87

Documentation is attached.

Recommendation:

That the Committee note that the coursework scholarships to appear on transcripts remain the same as those previously approved.

8.2 Research scholarships to appear on transcripts  p 88 - 99

Documentation is attached.

Recommendation:

That the Committee:

  • approve the updated list of faculty merit-based scholarships to appear on transcripts forwarded by the Research Graduate School Committee
  • note that the university merit-based scholarships to appear on transcripts remain the same as those previously approved.

*9. PROGRESS ON THE UNIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIPS REVIEW

The Vice-Chancellor’s Group approved the establishment of a Review Group (DVC A Lindsay, DVC A Crook, DVC E Cornish, Professor M Evans, Professor M King) to focus on:

  • The categories and structures of the scholarships the University should be offering;
  • The administrative responsibilities, processes and resource arrangements to administer scholarships; and
  • If not duplicated by other reviews, to develop a suite of scholarship options to assist the University in implementing the Backing Australia’s Future reforms, particularly having regard to the interface between full and partial scholarship payments and Centrelink and taxation benefits.

The review is being undertaken by a working party comprising the Divisional Director (SSSD), Manager of Student Administration and the Faculty Manager, Education.

Mr Gerard Toohey, Manager, Student Administration, will update the Committee on the activities and progress of the working party.

RECOMMENDATION:

For noting and discussion.

10. OTHER BUSINESS

11. NEXT MEETING

The Scholarships Committee meets annually or more frequently if circumstances require. The next meeting will be scheduled and advised in 2005 unless it is deemed necessary to schedule another meeting before this time.

_______________________________________________________________________________

Membership:

Professor Robert Norris, Chair, Scholarships Committee

Professor Alan Lindsay, Chair, Coursework Scholarships Committee

Professor Max King, Chair, Research Graduate School Committee

Professor Robert Willis, Nominee of the Vice-Chancellor in relation to international operations

MAPA Representative

Mr Tim Wilson, Coursework student representative

Ms Shyamala Nadathur, Research student representative

In attendance:

Professor Chris Browne, President, Academic Board

Mr Gerard Toohey, Manager, Student Administration

Ms Lynda Caldwell, Manager, Admissions and Coursework Scholarships Unit

Mr Jeffrey Smart, Director, Marketing, MAPA