Education Committee Meeting 1-2009
Meeting 1/2009 of the Education Committee was held on 18 February 2009 in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton campus.
MINUTES
Part A Procedural Matters
1. Attendance and Apologies
There were present: Professor Adam Shoemaker (Chair), Ms Jo Becker, Professor Rob Brooks, Dr Angela Carbone, Professor Merran Evans, Dr Tom Ford, Mr Bryan Fricker, Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree, Ms Karly Hickman, Professor Bernard Hoffert, Mr Corey Jacobson, Ms Glenda Key, Professor Max King, Dr Stephen Legg, Professor Guojun Lu, Mr Terry Masocco, Associate Professor Louise McCall, Dr Helen Nesadurai, Ms Lauren O'Dwyer, Associate Professor Toni Patti, Ms Bracha Rafael, Ms Jenny Reeder, Dr Geoff Romeo, Ms Kate Roth, Professor Peter Stewart, Associate Professor David Taylor, Ms Joanne Tyler, Associate Professors Cristina Varsavsky and Len Webster, Mr Peter Yates.
Apologies: Professor Stephen Barkoczy, Ms Sue Bell, Dr Lorraine Bennett, Associate Professor Gary Codner, Professors Jayne Godfrey and Owen Hughes, Associate Professor Robert Nelson, Professors Peter Schelluch and Phil Steele.
Professor Shoemaker welcomed members to the first meeting of Education Committee for 2009.
2. Arrangement of Agenda and Starring of Items
2.1 Alterations to the Agenda and Starring of Items
Professor Shoemaker informed members of the following alterations to the agenda papers:
- removal of page 67 from the agenda papers;
- amendment of page numbers 64 to 66 to 65 to 67; and
- amendment of the original page number 67 to 64.
2.2 Starring of Items
Item eight (Board of Studies, Monash South Africa Report of Meeting 6/2008) was starred.
Resolution:
The recommendations were adopted without discussion for all items other than those starred.
3. Minutes
The minutes of meeting 7/2008 were confirmed.
4. Chair's Report
Professor Shoemaker informed members about recent key events and developments, as follows:
- New Horizons Centre: in late 2008, the Federal Government's Education Investment Fund (formerly the Higher Education Endowment Fund) awarded Monash funding of $89.9 million to establish the New Horizons Centre (NHC). The NHC will provide significant infrastructure to support research collaboration by the faculties of Science and Engineering with the CSIRO. Emeritus Professor Mark Wainwright had been appointed as Chair.
- Major project funding: in response to the global economic crisis, the Federal Government had created a number of new funding opportunities for e-education, research and education. Several submissions are being prepared by senior management and an update on these submissions will be given at meeting 2/2009 of the Education Committee.
- Senior Management Summit: Professor Shoemaker noted that the Conference took place immediately after the recent tragic fires in Victoria, however it was not rescheduled as there were a number of international delegates.
- Gippsland campus had played a pivotal role in combatting the fires by providing a staging area for firefighters and evacuees from the Latrobe Valley. There had also been many offers of help from the Monash community, such as Faculty of Law staff who had volunteered to assist evacuees who had lost their homes and personal documents. Fundraising activities across Monash to support those affected by the bushfires would continue until the end of February.
- Major themes of the Summit included:
- debate on the creation of sustainability courses and units, led by Professor Michael Crow, President, Arizona State University; and
- discussion of Key Performance Indicators at Monash in the context of their complexity and resources currently allocated for assessment.
In addition, the Nexus Centre and its role in e-education and e-research at Monash was discussed at the Monash University Council meeting which occurred on the third day of the Retreat.
- Demographics of the 2009 first year student intake:
- the number of prospective students who had attained an Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER) score of 99.95 had increased significantly, from ten in 2006 to 63 in 2009;
- a record number of 32 offers for the Bachelor of Science Advanced with Honours, compared to 16 in 2008;
- significant increases in first year enrolments by international students in Semester One, 2009; and
- a 50 per cent increase in international offers for courses at Berwick campus.
During discussion, the following points were made:
- Berwick and Gippsland campuses will not meet EFTSL targets for Commonwealth-supported places and consequently this would impact on budgets;
- the structure of the budget allocation for Gippsland campus also included open and distance learning and, if enrolments in these modes increased, the likelihood of a negative impact from lower enrolments in Commonwealth-supported places could be minimised;
- the impact of the selective-entry senior secondary school to be built at Berwick campus may influence future students in their choice of campus. A related issue to consider was the ongoing growth in enrolments at secondary schools in the South-Eastern Growth Corridor and strategies to promote courses at Berwick campus to prospective students from such schools;
- enrolments at Berwick and Gippsland campuses could be increased through alternate entry pathways such as Monash College undergraduate diplomas;
- the challenge of meeting load targets at Gippsland campus when other institutions in the region had lower entry requirements; and
- a marketing campaign to promote the Diploma of Tertiary Studies at Gippsland campus to prospective students from regional Victoria could bring about an increase in enrolments.
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
Members noted that it was anticipated that a document detailing the use of assessment question banks would be considered by 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
Resolution:
Education Committee received and noted the report of meeting 2/2008 of the Sunway campus Education Committee held on 10 December 2008.
8. Board of Studies, Monash South Africa
A member requested clarification of the following items in the report of the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa (MSA) Meeting 6/2008:
- the nomenclature for an undergraduate accounting degree at MSA (refer Proceedings, item two): the core issue was that the Bachelor of Accounting offered at Victorian campuses is a specialised accounting degree aimed at high-achieving Year 12 students and, as the accounting degree at MSA is not tailored to this cohort, the name Bachelor of Accounting should not be used at MSA.
- Foundation Programme (FP) procedures for accelerated progression (refer Proceedings, item three):
- are FP students who achieve a course average of 70 per cent or above in the first semester of the FP permitted, in lieu of an FP unit, to enrol in one first year elective?
- are FP students who achieve a grade of 85 per cent or above in each of the four units offered in the first semester of the FP, permitted to enrol in one first year core subject?
- MSA admission requirements (refer Proceedings, sub-section five): the names of the admission tests that will be administered during the Admission Tests Pilot Project and whether all four of the tests that the item referred to will be administered;
- Off-campus Supplementary Examinations (refer Proceedings, sub-section six): does the item refer to supplementary examinations held off-campus or to supplementary examinations offered as a usual feature of courses?
Resolution:
Education Committee:
- received and noted the report of the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa Meeting 6/2008 held on 27 November 2008;
- resolved that Professor Evans would liaise with Professor Schelluch, Chair, Board of Studies, Monash South Africa, to clarify the administration of admission tests at MSA;
- resolved that Professors Shoemaker and Evans would liaise with Professor Brooks to consider a suitable name for the undergraduate accounting degree at MSA; and
- resolved that Professor Shoemaker would liaise with Professor Schelluch in regard to:
- the structure of accelerated progression rules for the MSA Foundation Programme; and
- whether the item on off-campus supplementary examinations referred to supplementary examinations held off-campus or to supplementary examinations offered as a standard component of courses.
For Action/Information: Professors A Shoemaker, R Brooks, M Evans and P Schelluch
9. Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee (LTQC)
No meeting held.
10. Education Policy and Programs Committee (EPPC)
10.1 Receipt of Report
Resolution:
Education Committee received and noted the report of meeting 1/2009 of the Education Policy and Programs Committee held on 3 February 2009.
10.2 Matters referred by EPPC to Education Committee
10.2.1 Unit Coding Policy and Procedures
Introducing the item, Ms Key informed members that the preparation of the policy and procedures had involved a long process of development and extensive consultation throughout the University community. The policy and procedures before members had codified existing good practice and would facilitate curriculum management in accordance with University policies.
In response to a question from a member on the scale of units available at the University, Ms Key advised members that the grouping of units taught at more than one level/approved as part of more than one area of study or course, would facilitate internal reporting activities and provide underlying unit codes on Callista.
A member advised the meeting that there is an ongoing and vigorous discussion within the Faculty of Business and Economics over the existence of minor sequences in course structures, when such sequences are not explicitly referred to in course documentation. Members agreed that the Course Structure Policy and Procedures should be reviewed to include definitions of unit levels and minor sequences.
Education Committee:
- endorsed the Unit Coding Policy for transmission to Academic Board and approved the Unit Coding Procedures ; and
- requested that Professor Evans foreshadow to Academic Board that the Course Structure Policy will be reviewed by the Education Policy and Programs Committee, with a view to defining unit levels and a minor sequence.
For Action/Information: Professor M Evans, Ms G Key, Ms R Hinds
10.2.2 Collaborative Coursework Arrangements Policy and Transnational Quality Assurance Procedures
Ms Roth informed members that, following the disestablishment of the Transnational Quality Assurance and Improvement Committee (TQAIC), references to TQAIC in the policy and procedures had been removed.
Resolution:
Education Committee:
- Endorsed the revised Collaborative Coursework Arrangements Policy for transmission to Academic Board; and
- Approved the revised Transnational Quality Assurance Procedures.
For Action/Information: Ms R Hinds, Ms K Roth
10.2.3 Use of Animals in Coursework Programs Policy and Procedures
A revised Appendix B (Draft Procedures) was tabled. Introducing the item, Dr Ford informed members that the Office of Planning and Quality had consulted across the University community with a range of stakeholders to draft supplementary policy and procedures for the use of animals for teaching purposes in coursework programs. Consultation with Professor Ben Canny, Associate Dean, MB BS Curriculum and Dr Simon Barrett, Manager, Research Ethics and Compliance, Monash Research Office had further assisted the streamlining of reporting requirements, noting in particular that:
- Scientific Procedures Licences Holders will be responsible for reporting to Education Committee through the Research Ethics and Compliance group on the use of animals for teaching purposes in coursework programs; and
- membership of animal ethics committees that regularly evaluate applications to use animals for teaching purposes had been refined to state that a person with expertise in education, nominated by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), must satisfy the requirements of membership category B, as defined by the Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes.
A member sought clarification on whether the policy applied to a student undertaking a research project in a coursework program such as honours. Dr Ford advised that honours and masters research projects were outside the scope of the policy. It was agreed that Professor King and Dr Ford would refine the policy to reflect that research undertaken by honours and masters by coursework students was outside the scope of the procedures.
Resolution:
Education Committee:
- Endorsed the Use of Animals in Coursework Programs Policy for transmission to Academic Board, subject to an explicit articulation within the policy that reasearch undertaken by honours and maters by coursework students was outside the scope of the procedures;
- Approved the Use of Animals in Coursework Programs Procedures; and
- Recommended 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.
For Action/Information: Professor M King,
Drs S Barrett and T Ford, Ms R Hinds
10.2.4 Coursework Course Review Policy and Procedures
Resolution:
Education Committee:
- Endorsed the Coursework Course Review Policy for transmission to Academic Board; and
- Approved the Coursework Course Review Procedures.
For Action/Information: Dr K Macrae, Ms R Hinds
11. Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee (CASC)
No meeting held.
12. Educational Technology Committee (ETC)
Resolution:
Education Committee received and noted the report of meeting of the Educational Technology Committee 11/2008 held on 11 December 2008.
Part C Other Items
*13. Academic Review Policy and Procedures
Introducing the item, Professor Evans informed members that the driving philosophy behind the policy was the University's quality cycle of plan, act, evaluate, and improve. During discussion, the following points were made:
- a designated role for the Deans should be included within the procedures; and
- the procedures should include consideration of risk management issues, particularly within sub-sections two and five.
Resolution:
Education Committee:
- Endorsed the Academic Review Policy for transmission to Academic Board; and
- Approved the Academic Review Procedures, subject to the inclusion in the procedures of a designated role for the Deans and articulation of risk management issues, particularly within sub-sections two and five.
For Action/Information: Professor M Evans, Dr K Macrae
14. 2009 Learning and Teaching Performance Fund (LTPF) Rankings and Comparisons of Excellence and Improvements by Discipline and Institution
Introducing the item, Professor Shoemaker informed members that in the 2009 LTPF funding round for excellence, Monash had received a total of $5.71 million, the second highest allocation awarded across the sector after the University of New South Wales. He noted that:
- given the scale and diverse nature of Monash, this was a great result;
- in certain categories, the University had not maintained its ranking. For example, in the humanities, arts and education categories Monash was ranked 14 for excellence in 2009, compared to ten in 2008;
- consideration of the complex metrics used to create the rankings, in tandem with concern about the number of surveys administered to students and ensuing survey fatigue, was ongoing;
- the faculties and Gippsland campus would receive 75 per cent of the funding, allocated on the basis of their results; and
- the remainder would be dedicated to priorities identified under the Monash Passport, such as scholarships and technologically-enhanced learning spaces.
Resolution:
Education Committee received and noted 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
Professor Shoemaker welcomed Mr Fricker and Ms Reeder to the meeting. Mr Fricker informed members that the survey was in essence a scoping study to gauge the views of graduate/postgraduate (GPG) and higher degree by research (HDR) students studying by open and distance learning (ODL), of services available to support their studies at Monash. A total of 144 students had participated and issues that had emerged included:
- concern over accessing information about the range of services that are available to GPG and HDR students studying by ODL;
- a lack of consistency in assignment submission time frames; and
- significant variations in the level of academic staff use of Blackboard and response times to email queries.
During discussion, the following points were made:
- the University Library and the Faculty of Science had responded positively to the survey's recommendations;
- in the context of recommendation six, sub-section 5.2 (refer agenda page 95), supporting the development of a universal assignment submission process, members were advised that there was a strong commitment to e-education at Monash. For example, the eEducation Centre was established to lead the enhanced use of technologies for learning and teaching;
- all students have Internet access, however it could not be assumed that their service providers have sufficient download speed for functionality;
- a strategy to support those students who do not own personal computers could be developed; and
- the survey would be considered by the Monash Research Graduate School Committee.
Resolution:
Education Committee received and noted the executive summary of the Survey of Graduate/Postgraduate and Higher Degree by Research Students studying by Open and Distance Learning.
Executive Services note: the complete survey is available at http://mpa.monash.edu.au/downloads/DEpostgrads.pdf
16. Provision of Course Materials to Students without charge
Resolution:
Education Committee received and noted a letter from Mr Rod Manns of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations in relation to the charging of incidental fees and the advice therein.
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
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