Education Committee Meeting 1-2009

Meeting No. 1/2009 of the Education Committee will be held on 18 February 2009 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
Acting 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

Apologies: Professor Stephen Barkoczy, Associate Professor Gary Codner.

Welcome to new members: Mr Corey Jocobson, Education Vice-President, Monash University Gippsland Student Union; Ms Lauren O’Dwyer, Education Academic Affairs Officer, Monash Student Association; Ms Bracha Rafael, Education, Community and Welfare Officer, Monash University Student Union, Peninsula campus; Ms Emma Weir, Education Officer, Monash University Student Union, Caulfield campus.

In Attendance: Ms Jo Becker, Manager, Educational Services, Faculty of Law (for Professor Barkoczy); Dr Tom Ford, Policy Officer, Education Policy and Programs Unit, Office of Planning and Quality (for item 10.2.3); Mr Bryan Fricker, President, Monash Postgraduate Association (MPA) and Ms Jenny Reeder, Executive Officer, MPA (for item 15).

Welcome to members attending via teleconference: Dr Helen Nesadurai, Senior Lecturer, School of Arts and Social Sciences, Sunway campus, Malaysia; Professor Peter Schelluch, Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor, Monash South Africa.

*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 7/2008, held on Wednesday 3 December are attached.

Recommendation:

That the minutes of Education Committee Meeting 7/2008, held on 3 December, be confirmed.

*4.   Chair’s Report

Professor Shoemaker will brief members on the following:

• The New Horizons Centre;
• The recent Monash University Council Conference and its educational outcomes; and
• Demographics of the 2009 first year student intake.

Part B    Policy And Committee Matters

5.   Matters Arising from the Minutes

5.1  Freedom of Information and Surveying the Use of Assessment Question Banks throughout the University

At Academic Board Meeting 6/2008, the Board delegated responsibility for the conduct of a survey on the use of assessment question banks throughout the University to Education Committee. Subsequently Mr Renn Wortley, University Special Counsel, briefed Education Committee Meeting 7/2008 on the recent Supreme Court decision in University of Melbourne v. McKean. Members agreed that faculty representatives would report on the use of assessment question banks in their respective faculties. Members are advised that requests for information on the use of assessment banks have been forwarded to faculty members and is it anticipated that a consolidated document will be included in the agenda of Education Committee Meeting 2/2009.

6.   Academic Board Matters – Meeting 7/2008

Items referred by Academic Board Meeting 7/2008.

No items referred.

7.   Sunway campus Education Committee

Attached is the report of the Sunway campus Education Committee meeting 2/2008 held on 10 December 2008.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the report of the Sunway campus Education Committee meeting 2/2008 held on 10 December 2008.

8.   Board of Studies, Monash South Africa

Attached is the report of the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa meeting 6/2008 held on 27 November 2008.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the report of the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa Meeting 6/2008 held on 27 November 2008.

9.   Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee (LTQC)

No meeting held.

10.   Education Policy and Programs Committee (EPPC)

10.1  Receipt of Report

Attached is the report of EPPC meeting 1/2009 held on 3 February 2009.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the report of the Education Policy and Programs Committee meeting 1/2009 held on 3 February 2009.

*10.2  Matters referred by EPPC to Education Committee

*10.2.1  Unit Coding Policy and Procedures

A University-wide Unit Coding Policy and Procedures, prepared by the Faculty Managers Group, was endorsed by EPPC meeting 1/2009. Ms Key will speak to the item.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee:

• Endorse the Unit Coding Policy for transmission to Academic Board;and
• Approve the Unit Coding Procedures.

*10.2.2  Collaborative Coursework Arrangements Policy and Transnational Quality Assurance Procedures

Ms Roth will speak to the item.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee:

• Endorse the revised Collaborative Coursework Arrangements Policy for transmission to Academic Board; and
• Approve the revised Transnational Quality Assurance Procedures.

*10.2.3  Use of Animals in Coursework Programs Policy and Procedures

Attached is a briefing paper on the use of animals in coursework programs, accompanied by policy, procedures, and a position statement of the School of Biomedical Sciences. Dr Ford will speak to the item.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee:

• Endorse the Use of Animals in Coursework Programs Policy for transmission to Academic Board;
• Approve the Use of Animals in Coursework Programs Procedures; and
• Recommend that annual reports to Monash University Animal Welfare Committee on approved projects using animals for teaching purposes include the information listed under section three of the Use of Animals in Coursework Programs Procedures, in order to avoid duplication of reporting processes.

10.2.4  Coursework Course Review Policy and Procedures

The Course Review Policy was last reviewed in 2002. Recent consideration of the policy aims to align the criteria of the policy with the course proposal process and address Recommendation Eight of the 2006 AUQA Audit Report that:

"Monash University introduce a formal reaccreditation requirement in its course review policy to ensure systematic consideration of the currency of the University’s education program."

Recommendation:

That Education Committee:

• Endorse the Coursework Course Review Policy for transmission to Academic Board; and
• Approve the Coursework Course Review Procedures.

11.   Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee (CASC)

No meeting held.

12.   Educational Technology Committee (ETC)

Attached is the report of ETC Meeting 11/2008 held on 11 December 2008.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the report of the Educational Technology Committee meeting 11/2008 held on 11 December 2008.

Part C    Other Items

*13.   Academic Review Policy and Procedures

Attached for endorsement is the Academic Review Policy, accompanied by the Academic Review Procedures. The policy has been reviewed to align it with the University’s quality cycle and addresses Recommendation Eight of the 2006 AUQA Audit Report that:

"Monash University introduce a formal reaccreditation requirement in its course review policy to ensure systematic consideration of the currency of the University’s education program."

Professor Evans will speak to the item.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee:

Endorse the Academic Review Policy for transmission to Academic Board; and Approve the Academic Review Procedures.

*14.   2009 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund (LTPF) Rankings and Comparisons of Excellence and Improvements by Discipline and Institution

Attached for discussion is a document detailing the results of the 2009 LTPF rankings and comparisons of excellence and improvements by discipline and institution. Appendices A and B can also be accessed at:

http://ups.monash.edu.au/research/external/LTPF/2009-ltpf-monash-excellence-model-analysis.pdf

http://ups.monash.edu.au/research/external/LTPF/2009-ltpf-monash-improvement-model-analysis.pdf

Professor Shoemaker will speak to the item.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee discuss the results of the 2009 LTPF rankings and comparisons.

*15.   Survey of Graduate/Postgraduate and Higher Degree by Research Students studying by Open and Distance Learning

Attached for the information of members is the executive summary and recommendations of a survey of graduate/postgraduate and higher degree by research students studying by open and distance learning. The survey was conducted by the Monash Postgraduate Association (MPA). Mr Bryan Fricker, President, MPA, will speak to the item.

Members are invited to view the complete report at

http://mpa.monash.edu.au/downloads/DEpostgrads.pdf

16.   Provision of Course Materials to Students without charge

On 5 November 2008, ABC News reported that the Queensland University of Technology (QUT):

“has breached the Higher Education Support Act, which requires universities to provide materials needed for a course for free. QUT students were required to buy a textbook for a subject because the book had a unique serial code for online assessments. QUT says it is committed to meeting its responsibilities and will investigate the complaint.”

On 17 November 2008, Mr Rod Manns, Branch Manager, Funding and Student Support Branch, Higher Education Group, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations wrote to vice-chancellors, including Professor Richard Larkins, to remind them of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 requirements in relation to the charging of incidental fees. For the information of members, a copy of the letter from Mr Manns and an extract from the Higher Education Provider Guidelines on fees for goods and services incidental to studies is attached.

Part D    Next Meeting

17. Next Meeting

Meeting 2/2009 will be held on Wednesday 29 April 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, 15 April 2009 to mailto:michael.fenaughty@adm.monash.edu.au