Education Committee Meeting 6-2008

Meeting No. 6/2008 of the Education Committee will be held on 15 October 2008 in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton campus commencing at 3.15pm.

Apologies: To Ms Helen Pavlovski on 9905 9005 or helen.pavolvski@adm.monash.edu.au

Mr Michael Fenaughty Secretary

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

Agenda

Part A Procedural Matters

*1. Attendance and Apologies

In attendance: Ms Natalie Mitchell, Manager, Education Policy and Programs, Office of Planning and Quality, and Mr Vern Garth, Manager, Examinations (for item 10.2.1).

Apologies: Apologies were received from Professor Adam Shoemaker.

*2. Arrangement of Agenda and Starring of Items

Certain items appearing in the agenda have been marked with an asterisk. These are items that appear to need discussion by the Committee. Items that do not appear to need discussion are unstarred. Items may be starred prior to the meeting by contacting the Secretary, or at this point in the meeting. Items of other business will be called for at this point.

Recommendation:

That the unstarred items on the agenda be adopted without discussion and that the actions recommended be taken or the information therein noted.

*3. Minutes

The unconfirmed minutes of meeting 5/2008, held on Wednesday 3 September are attached.

Recommendation:

That the minutes of Education Committee Meeting 5/2008, held on 3 September, be confirmed.

*4. Chair’s Report

Professor Evans will brief members on extracts relevant to the Education Portfolio from the:

• 2008 University-wide Key Performance Indicators Report; and
• 2008 University-wide Internal Performance Indicators.

Members are invited to access the complete reports at http://www.ups.monash.edu.au/planning/reporting/KPI/

Part B Policy and Committee Matters

5. Matters Arising from the Minutes

5.1 Monash Honours Task Force (refer item 5.1)

Members are invited to note that the first meeting of the Honours Project Task Force was held on 10 October. Professor Max King is Chair of the Task Force and membership includes representatives from all faculties, the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), University Planning and Statistics, MPA, and the University Library. A further meeting of the Task Force is scheduled to take place on 5 December.

5.2 Sunway campus Education Committee (refer item 7)

Members are invited to note that following Education Committee meeting 6-2008, Professors Evans and Godfrey consulted with Professor Robin Pollard, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Sunway campus, Malaysia, in regard to refining the terms of reference of the Sunway campus Education Committee. The following terms were agreed to describe the Purpose of the Committee:

That Sunway campus Education Committee:

• Advise on education matters and developments relevant to the campus as a whole.
• Oversee at campus level the implementation of Monash legislation and policies in relation to education matters.
• Recommend to the University Education Committee changes to Monash legislation and policies in relation to education matters.

5.3 Revised Grading Scales Procedures (refer item 9.2.2)

This item will be considered at item 10.2.2

*5.4 Update on implementation of multi-campus policy (refer item 14)

Professor Steele will provide a verbal update on multi-campus learning and teaching issues.

6. Academic Board Matters – Meeting 5-2008

Items referred to Academic Board 5-2008

6.1 Extension of the early offer pathway into the Diploma of Tertiary Studies

Members are invited to note that the proposal from the Coursework and Scholarships Committee (CASC) to extend the early offer pathway into the Diploma of Tertiary (formerly Foundation) Studies for another year to 2009 was endorsed by Education Committee meeting 4-2008. The proposal was subsequently approved by Academic Board meeting 5-2008 held on 3 September.

Members are also invited to note that the three provisos contained within the proposal (meeting of University English language entry requirements; achieving the Diploma of Tertiary Studies ENTER score of 50; and satisfying any specific VCE study score prerequisites for a students’ intended bachelor’s degree) were also approved by Academic Board meeting 5-2008.

7. Sunway campus Education Committee

No meeting held.

8. Board of Studies, Monash South Africa Receipt of Report

Attached is the report of meeting 4/2008 of the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa, held on 27 July 2008.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the report of the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa meeting 4/2008 held on 27 July 2008.

9. Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee (LTQC)

9.1 Receipt of Report

Attached is the report of LTQC meeting 5/2008 held on 18 September 2008.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the report of the Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee meeting 5/2008 held on 18 September 2008.

*9.2 Matters referred by LTQC by Education Committee

9.2.1 Plagiarism Detection Software

At LTQC meeting 5/08, it was agreed that an invitation would be extended to Dr Harsh Suri to attend Education Committee and address members on the existing practices of detecting plagiarism, available options and what is required from a systemic, technical and process perspective. An invitation has been extended to Dr Suri to address Education Committee meeting 7-2008 on this issue.

*9.2.2 Unit Evaluation Template

At LTQC meeting 5/08, it was agreed that, pending its formal endorsement by LTQC, the draft Evaluation Template would be submitted to Education Committee for feedback. A copy of the template, accompanied by an extract of the discussion at LTQC 5/08 of this topic, is attached for discussion. Associate Professor Nair will speak to the item.

10. Education Policy and Programs Committee (EPPC)

10.1 Receipt of Report

Attached is the report of EPPC meeting 6/2008, held on 16 September 2008.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the report of the Education Policy and Programs Committee meeting 6/2008 held on 16 September 2008.

*10.2 Matters referred by EPPC to Education Committee

*10.2.1 Special Consideration Policy and Procedures

Attached are the amended Special Consideration Policy and associated Procedures. Professor Merran Evans will introduce the item.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee:

1. receive and endorse the Special Consideration Policy for transmission to Academic Board; and
2. approve the Special Consideration Procedures.

*10.2.2 Revised Grading Scale Procedures

Attached for approval is a revised Grading Scales Procedures. Professor Merran Evans will speak to the item.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee approve the following amendment to the Grading Scales Procedures:

Withdrawn Fail (WN)

Withdrawn Fail is awarded to students who apply to withdraw from units of study between Monday of Week 10 in a standard semester (or equivalent in a non-standard semester) and the last day of the teaching period in that semester.

For this purpose,

1. Week 10 is the tenth week following the teaching start date, including any semester break, and
2. the Student Administration web pages will contain the actual dates for standard and non-standard semesters. Students may not withdraw from units in a semester after the last day of the teaching period in that semester.

*10.2.3 Course Structure Policy

Attached for endorsement is an amendment to that portion of the Course Structure Policy concerning the duration of Double Degree Programs. Professor Merran Evans will speak to the item.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee endorse the amendment proposed to the Course Structure Policy for transmission to Academic Board.

*10.2.4 Masters by Coursework

Attached for consideration is a discussion paper on Masters by Coursework. Professor Merran Evans will lead discussion on this item.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee:

• note that the Bradley Review may be considering the issue of coursework masters; and
• in preparation for the release of the Review, consider the following questions:

1. Should the category of Master (Honours) be retained within the Schedule of Qualifications Categories?
2. Should both the current categories of Master by Coursework and Professional Master by Coursework be retained within the Schedule of Qualifications Categories?
3. Alternatively, should a new Schedule of Qualifications Category be designed to cover all coursework masters?

11. Education Technology Committee

Receipt of Report

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the Report of Meeting 7/2008 of the Educational Technology Committee.

12. Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee (CASC)

No meeting held.

Part C Other Items

*13. Summary of 2008 Annual Monitoring Reports for Transnational Collaborative
Coursework Arrangements

Attached for the information of members is a summary of the 2008 Annual Monitoring Reports for Transnational Collaborative Coursework Arrangements. Ms Roth will speak to the item.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the Annual Monitoring Reports for 2008 for transnational collaborative coursework arrangements.

14. Minutes of the Joint Sitting of Education Committee and Monash University Research Committee

The unconfirmed minutes of the joint sitting of Education Committee and Monash University Research Committee held on Monday 18 August are attached.

Recommendation:

That the minutes of the joint sitting of Education Committee and Monash University Research Committee, held on Monday 18 August, be confirmed.

Part D Education Committee Meetings in 2009

15. Education Committee Meetings in 2009

Attached for approval is the schedule of meeting dates for Education Committee in 2009.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee approve the proposed meeting dates for 2009.

Part E Next Meeting

16. Next Meeting

Meeting 7/2008 will be held on Wednesday 3 December commencing at 3.15pm in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton Campus. Final submissions for the agenda for this meeting are due by close of business on Wednesday, 19 November 2008 to michael.fenaughty@adm.monash.edu.au