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Education Committee Meeting 4-2009

Meeting 4/2009 of the Education Committee will be held on 12 August 2009 commencing at 3.15pm in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton campus.

Apologies: To Ms Helen Pavlovski on 9905 9005 or helen.pavlovski@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

1.1    Apologies: Professors Stephen Barkoczy and Jayne Godfrey, Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree, Professor Owen Hughes, Mr Terry Masocco.

1.2    Welcome to members attending via teleconference: Dr Glenda Crosling, Director of Education Quality and Innovation, Sunway campus, Malaysia, Mr Corey Jacobsen, Undergraduate Student Representative, Gippsland campus, 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     P1-10

The unconfirmed minutes of meeting 3/2009, held on Wednesday 27 May are attached.

Recommendation:

That the minutes of Education Committee Meeting 3/2009, held on 27 May, be confirmed.

*4.     Chair’s Report

Professor Shoemaker will speak to the item.

*4.1   Review of Education Committee     P11-18

At Academic Board Meeting 3/2009, held on 17 June, the Board received a report of the review of Education Committee and its subcommittees. For the information of members, a copy of the revised terms of reference and membership of Education Committee and its subcommittees is attached, accompanied by an extract of the unconfirmed minutes of the meeting.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee:

  • receive and note the revised terms of reference and membership of Education Committee and its subcommittees;
  • note that the revised membership structure will be implemented from Education Committee Meeting 5/2009;
  • discuss the frequency and structure of the summary of key emerging issues that Faculty Education Committees will provide to Education Committee; and
  • acknowledge the significant contribution to Education Committee of the following outgoing members: Dr Lorraine Bennett, Mr Terry Masocco, and Ms Jo Tyler.

Part B     Policy and Committee Matters

5.      Education Policy Committee (EPC)

5.1    Receipt of Report     P19-24

The report of EPC Meeting 4/2009 held on 28 July 2009 is attached.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the report of the Education Policy Committee Meeting 4/2009 held on 28 July 2009.

5.2    Matters referred by EPC to Education Committee

5.2.1   Repeal of the Flexibility in Pedagogy Policy and Relevance of Curriculum Policy     P25-32

EPC Meeting 3/09 received and endorsed a recommendation from meeting 3/09 of the Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee that the Flexibility in Pedagogy Policy and Relevance of the Curriculum Policy be rescinded. The policies do not conform with the required policy bank format, present out-dated information, refer to practices, circumstances or positions that no longer exist, and are often too wordy and discursive to provide useful guidance to academic and professional staff.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee endorse for transmission to Academic Board the proposal to rescind the Flexibility in Pedagogy Policy and the Relevance of the Curriculum Policy.

5.2.2   Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Policy for Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ Students P33-34

The Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ Education Committee (6-2008) and Faculty Board (1-2009) have approved a more rigorous faculty-specific Academic Progress Policy, for implementation from 2010. A student would be referred to the Academic Progress Committee if they pass 50% or less of their enrolment in a year, rather than the university-wide criteria of passing less than 50% of their enrolment. The Faculty believes that failing 50% of an enrolment warrants referral to the Academic Progress Committee and would assist in early intervention.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee endorse for Academic Board’s approval the proposed Faculty Academic Progress Policy for Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences’ students (excluding BEng/BPharmSci students and BPharm/BCom students after they have completed the BPharm component) for implementation from 2010.

5.2.3   Draft Remarking of Assessment Procedures    P35-52

Earlier this year, the University Ombudsman wrote to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) recommending that the current Assessment of Coursework Policy be clarified and strengthened and that all faculties be required to have policy and procedures to deal with student requests for passed work to be remarked.

The Assessment Policy Working Party considered whether there should be a university-wide remarking policy but was unable to reach a consensus on this matter and referred the matter to Education Policy Committee (EPC), formerly the Education Policy and Programs Committee.

Following discussions at meetings 2/09 and 4/09, EPC endorsed the attached draft remarking procedures.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee approve the draft Remarking of Assessment Procedures for inclusion in the Unit Assessment Procedures.

5.2.4     Late alteration of Grades     P53-72

The Final Report of the Assessment Policy Working Party, discussed by Education Committee Meeting 3/2009, noted that further work was required regarding the alteration of grades in exceptional circumstances. Specifically, the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) requested that procedures and guidelines be prepared for the amendment of final results from a Fail or Withdrawn Fail to a Withdrawn grade.

Recommendations:

That Education Committee approve the:

  1. additions to Section G, sub-section 7, of the Unit Assessment Procedures;
  2. Guidelines for the Alteration of Grades by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education); and
  3. Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) Approved Result Amendment Form.

5.2.5    Revised Grading Scale Policy and Procedures    P73-86

Recent amendments of related education policies and procedures require corresponding changes to the Grading Scale Policy and Procedures.

Recommendations:

1. That Education Committee endorse for transmission to Academic Board the:

i. inclusion of the grades NAS (Not Assessed) grade and WI (Withdrawn Incomplete) in the Grading Scale Policy and Procedures; and
ii. deletion of DISC (Discontinued) from the Grading Scale Policy and Procedures.

2. That Education Committee approve:

i. inclusion of the proposed GPA and WAM methodologies in the Grading Scale Procedures; and
ii. deletion of Fail Mark Verification and Unit Hurdle Requirements from the Grading Scale Procedures.

5.2.6    Discipline Guidelines and Plagiarism Procedures     P87-118

The University Solicitor’s Office has recently reviewed the Discipline guidelines and Plagiarism Procedures in line with the recent change to Statute 4.1 – Discipline to ensure information is consistent. The Guidelines should be read in conjunction with Statute 4.1 – Discipline and are intended for internal use only to assist faculty managers and other academic and general staff in the faculties.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee approve the revised Discipline Guidelines and Plagiarism Procedures.

5.2.7     Revised Course Structure Policy    P119-136

Over the past six months there have been numerous committee decisions and policy advice requests which have impacted on the Course Structure Policy. The following sections have been updated:

  • Section 3 - Award Course Requirements;
  • Section 5 - Accelerated Study;
  • Section 6 - Unit Level Descriptors;
  • Section 7 - Offering of Compulsory Course Core Units;
  • Section 9 - Course Progression Requirements;
  • Section 11 - Degrees tagged (Global); and
  • Section 17b – Undergraduate Minor Sequence.

Recommendations:

That Education Committee:

  1. endorse for Academic Board’s approval the revised Course Structure Policy;
  2. note the implementation issues of a compulsory language sequence in degrees tagged as (Global); and
  3. endorse the inclusion of the definitions of Core Unit and Sequence in the Course Structure policy.

5.2.8     Revised Establishing, Disestablishing and Amending Coursework Courses and Units Procedures    P137-162

The Establishing, Disestablishing and Amending Coursework Courses and Units Procedures have been revised to include reference to the new Offshore Course Costing Model (OCCM), including an updated Course Proposal Template which:

  • provides information on the OCCM;
  • aligns the information in the new Course Review Template with the Course Proposal Template; and
  • incorporates information requirements identified by the Internationalisation of the Curriculum Taskforce.

Recommendations:

That Education Committee approve the revised:

  1. Establishing, Disestablishing and Amending Coursework Courses and Units Procedures; and
  2. Course Proposal Template.

*5.2.9     Implementation of the new Statute 6.1.5 Assessment, and related policy and procedures     P162-188

Associate Professor Cristina Varsavsky, Chair, Assessment Policy Working Party, will speak to the item.

Recommendations:

  1. That Education Committee note the implementation requirements of the new assessment legislation, policy and procedures.
  2. That all faculties and other relevant areas of the university review their processes and documentation to ensure compliance with the new assessment legislation, policy and procedures.

6.     Matters Arising from the Minutes

7.     Academic Board Matters – Meeting 3/2009

No items referred.

8.     Sunway Campus Education Committee    P189-190

Attached is the report of the Sunway Campus Education Committee Meeting 3/2009 held on 8 July 2009.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the report of the Sunway Campus Education Committee Meeting 3/2009.

9.     Board of Studies, Monash South Africa     P191-198

Attached are the reports of the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa Meetings 1/2/3/4/2009.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the reports of the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa Meetings 1/2/3/4/2009.

10.     Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee (LTQC)     P199-200

Attached is the report of LTQC Meeting 4/2009 held on 6 August.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the report of the Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee Meeting 4/2009 held on 6 August 2009.

10.1      Matters referred by LTQC to Education Committee

10.1.1    Evaluations Report July 2009     P201-206

Recommendation:

That Education Committee note the Evaluations Report July 2009.

10.1.2     Proposed criteria for interpreting Unit Evaluation results     P207-210

Recommendation:

That Education Committee approve the proposal that the criteria for “traffic light” indicators be based on responses to the Item 5 reporting overall satisfaction, according to the measures in Table 1.

11.     Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee (CASC)

11.1     Receipt of Report     P211-212

Attached is the report of CASC meeting 2/2009 held on 28 May 2009.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the report of the Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee Meeting 2/2009 held on 28 May 2009.

11.2     Matters referred by CASC to Education Committee     P213-216

11.2.1     Deferment Policy and related Procedures

Subsequent to procedural changes endorsed at CASC 3/2008 (approved at Education Committee 5/2008) and further discussion at CASC 1/2009, additional changes to the Deferment Procedures were endorsed at CASC 2/2009. These amendments provide greater clarification and reflect current practice. Given that those who have applied for deferment before enrolling are not by definition “students”, CASC has determined that “offered applicants” would be more accurate terminology, and has therefore endorsed changes to both the Policy and Procedures to incorporate this correction. The Deferment Policy and related Procedures appear attached with the amendments marked.

Recommendations:

That Education Committee:

  1. endorse for Academic Board’s approval the amendments to the Deferment Policy; and
  2. approve the amendments to the Deferment Procedures.

11.2.2    Extension of the early offers pathway into the Diploma of Tertiary Studies    P217-224

CASC Meeting 2/2009 considered the results of students enrolled in the Diploma of Tertiary Studies (DoTS) (in accordance with the requirement of Academic Board 5/2005 that an annual report be provided on the progress of students admitted under this pathway) and endorsed a proposal to continue the early offers pathway into DoTS.

Recommendations:

That Education Committee:

  1. note the report on the progress of students admitted in 2008 from the DoTS early offers pathway; and
  2. endorse for Academic Board’s approval the proposal that the early offer pathway into the Diploma of Tertiary Studies be extended for another year (2010).

11.2.3    Review of the Internal Course Transfer Policy and Procedures     P225-230

The Internal Transfer Policy was due for review in July 2007. Following a detailed review by a working party of the Student Administration Network, CASC 2/2009 endorsed the attached revisions of the Policy and related Procedures to represent current practice, updates in terminology, and important procedural information previously found only on the Course Transfer application form.

Recommendations:

That Education Committee:

  1. endorse for Academic Board’s approval the revised Internal Course Transfer Policy; and
  2. approve the amendment of the Internal Course Transfer Procedures as outlined.

Part C     Other Items

12.     Monash University Employability Symposium     P231-232

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the briefing paper on the forthcoming Employability Symposium.

*13.     Report of the Review of Learning Skills     P233-254

Ms Smith will speak to the item.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the Report of the Review of Learning Skills.

*14.    Management of Semester 2, 2009 International Student Enrolments in Faculty of Business and Economics courses    P255-262

Recommendations:

That Education Committee:

  1. note the adverse impact of high international student enrolments in the Faculty of Business and Economics on the staff and student experience; and
  2. note the response from the DVC(E) detailing the university response to this matter.

15.    A Framework for Embedding Sustainability within Education at Monash University     P263-290

The Education for Sustainability Framework (ESF) has been prepared in response to the 2009 Senior Management Conference and 2009 Council Retreat. Through these fora the University reconfirmed the centrality of the integration of environmental sustainability into all aspects of its activities and operations. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) has responsibility for the preparation of a University Plan regarding the embedding of sustainability in education at Monash. The ESF provides a structure and mechanism for this to be achieved.

Recommendations:

That Education Committee note:

  1. the Education for Sustainability Framework;
  2. that the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) will assume the responsibility for outcomes noted at LTQC Meeting 2/2009 and Education Committee 2/09 (see Appendix 2);
  3. that, pending approval by the Vice-Chancellor’s Group and depending upon the University’s budgetary situation, it is proposed that a part-time appointment will be made of a senior academic as Convenor, Education for Sustainability (and additional staffing as required) reporting to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) at an approximate full-year cost of $100,000 in the July-December 2009 period and $200,000 in 2010. These funds will be provided from Education Portfolio Initiatives for this period; and
  4. that the Convenor, Education for Sustainability will have a major responsibility for achievement of a range of outcomes detailed in the Education for Sustainability Framework paper.

16.    Education Committee Meeting Dates for 2010    P291-292

Attached for information is a schedule of Education Committee meeting dates for 2010.

Recommendation:

That Education Committee receive and note the schedule of meeting dates for 2010.

Part D    Next Meeting

Meeting 5/2009 will be held on Thursday 8 October 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 Tuesday, 22 September 2009 to mailto:michael.fenaughty@adm.monash.edu.au