Education Committee Meeting 4-2009

Meeting 4/2009 of the Education Committee was held on 12 August 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), Professor Stephen Barkoczy, Mr Jeffrey Bender, Dr Lorraine Bennett, Dr Amanda Berry, Professor Rob Brooks, Dr Angela Carbone, Dr Glenda Crosling, Associate Professor Gary Codner, Ms Dale Down, Professor Merran Evans, Dr Cecilia Hewlett, Professor Bernard Hoffert, Mr Corey Jacobsen, Ms Glenda Key, Professor Max King, Dr Stephen Legg, Associate Professor Louise McCall, Ms Lauren O'Dwyer, Ms Bracha Rafael, Dr Geoff Romeo, Ms Lisa Smith, Professors Phillip Steele and Peter Stewart, Associate Professor David Taylor, Mr Sarwar Tahzeeb, Ms Joanne Tyler, Associate Professor Cristina Varsavsky, Mr Peter Yates.

Apologies: Professor Jayne Godfrey, Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree, Professors Owen Hughes and Goujun Lu, Mr Terry Masocco, Professor Peter Schelluch.

2.     Arrangement of Agenda and Starring of Items

Professor Shoemaker welcomed members to the meeting and invited members to star items for discussion. The following items were starred: 5.2.5, 5.2.7, 5.2.8, 9, 11.2.2, 12, and 15.

Resolution:

The recommendations were adopted without discussion for all items other than those starred.

3.     Minutes

Resolution:

The minutes of Education Committee Meeting 3/2009, held on 27 May, were confirmed.

4.     Chair’s Report

Professor Shoemaker will speak to the item.

4.1    Review of Education Committee

Resolution:

Education Committee:

• received and noted the revised terms of reference and membership of Education Committee and its subcommittees;
• noted that the revised membership structure will be implemented from Education Committee Meeting 5/2009;
• acknowledged the significant contribution to Education Committee of the following outgoing members: Dr Lorraine Bennett, Mr Terry Masocco, Professor Phil Steele, Ms Joanne Tyler.

For information: Dr L Bennett, Mr T Masocco, Professor P Steele, Ms J Tyler.

4.2    SWOTVAC

The Chair informed members that a proposal to transition towards 12-week teaching semesters and an embedded, 5-day SWOTVAC will be considered at the next meeting of Academic Board on 26 August.

Part B     Policy and Committee Matters

5.      Education Policy Committee (EPC)

5.1    Receipt of Report

Resolution:

Education Committee received and noted 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

Resolution:

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

For action/information: Ms R Hinds, Ms N Mitchell, Mr K Williamson

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

Resolution:

Education Committee endorsed 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.

For information: Ms M Costelloe, Ms R Hinds, Ms N Mitchell, Professor P Stewart, Mr K Williamson

5.2.3    Draft Remarking of Assessment Procedures

Resolution:

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

For action/information: Ms R Hinds, Ms N Mitchell, Mr K Williamson

5.2.4    Late alteration of Grades

Resolutions:

Education Committee approved 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.

For action/information: Dr C Hewlett, Ms R Hinds, Ms N Mitchell, Mr K Williamson

5.2.5    Revised Grading Scale Policy and Procedures

A member requested clarification of the marking scale for supplementary examinations and Associate Professor Varsavsky advised that students who sat and passed a supplementary examination would be awarded a mark of 50 Pass. Higher grades would not be awarded for supplementary examinations.

A member suggested that, to clearly single out Second Class Honours Division A as the minimum entry point for Higher Degree by Research studies, the boundaries between the Second Class Honours Division A and Second Class Honours Division B be redefined as 75 to 79 and 70 to 74 respectively. Associate Professor Varsavsky advised that this proposal should be considered by the Honours Project Task Force. Professor King advised members that the report of the review of Honours at Monash will be considered by the next meeting of Education Committee.

Resolutions:

1. Education Committee endorsed for Academic Board’s approval 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. Education Committee approved:

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

3. Education Committee noted that the Grading Scale Policy may need further amendment as a consequence of the forthcoming report of the Honours Project Task Force.

For action/information: Mr A Devey, Ms R Hinds, Professor M King, Ms N Mitchell, Associate Professor C Varsavsky, Mr K Williamson

5.2.6    Discipline Guidelines and Plagiarism Procedures

Resolution:

Education Committee approved the revised Discipline Guidelines and Plagiarism Procedures.

For action/information: Ms N Mitchell, Mr K Williamson

5.2.7    Revised Course Structure Policy

A member requested clarification of the Course Structure Policy, section 3 (page 123 of the agenda papers), “Award Course Requirements”, in particular whether a major consists of a minimum of eight units across different course structures. Members were informed that the definition of a major is a minimum of eight units, which could be completed in a degree that has a number of course structures or streams.

A member requested clarification of the structure of degrees tagged (Global), in particular:

• the definition of exposure to a language other than English; and
• whether this component would consist of immersion studies in the target country.

During discussion, the following points were made:

• the proposal before members could be interpreted as a requirement that students undertake a minor sequence in a language other than English on campus, before they undertake immersion studies in the target country;
• further discussion of the exposure to a language other than English by Education Committee could take place in tandem with the consideration of international degrees;
• the report of the review by the Internationalisation of the Curriculum Taskforce will be considered by Education Committee; and
• references to degrees tagged (Global) should be removed from the revised Course Structure Policy before the Policy was considered by Academic Board.

Resolutions:

Education Committee:

1. endorsed for Academic Board’s approval the revised Course Structure Policy, subject to the removal of the section in regard to degrees tagged (Global);
2. endorsed the inclusion of the definitions of Core Unit and Sequence in the Course Structure Policy; and
3. noted that a discussion paper on degrees tagged (Global) will be considered in tandem with the report of the Internationalisation of the Curriculum Taskforce.

For action/information: Ms R Hinds, Ms N Mitchell, Mr K Williamson

5.2.8    Revised Establishing, Disestablishing and Amending Coursework Courses and Units Procedures

Referring to page 141 of the agenda papers, a member sought clarification of the articulation of ongoing unit management costs within the Procedures, particularly as they related to Sunway Campus, Malaysia and Monash South Africa. It was noted that consideration of such costs are included in the Academic Programs Offered from Multiple Campuses Policy. Members agreed that an explicit articulation of the ongoing costs of the management of units should be articulated within the Procedures.

Resolutions:

Education Committee approved the revised:

1. Establishing, Disestablishing and Amending Coursework Courses and Units Procedures, subject to the explicit articulation of procedures for the management of ongoing unit management costs; and
2. Course Proposal Template.

For action/information: Ms N Mitchell

Executive Services Note: The Academic Programs Offered from Multiple Campuses Policy can be accessed at http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/academic/education/awards/academic-programs-offered-from-multiple-campuses-policy.html.

5.2.9    Implementation of the new Statute 6.1.5 Assessment, and related policy and procedures

Associate Professor Cristina Varsavsky, Chair, Assessment Policy Working Party advised members that, following approval of the new Statute 6.1.5 Assessment by Monash University Council, faculties should now focus on compliance with the new assessment legislation, policy and procedures, in particular through the:

• review of the constitution of their Boards of Examiners and the matters and units for which they take responsibility;
• development of guidelines to determine the criteria for the granting of supplementary assessment for failed units to students who experience ‘significant impact’ on their overall academic progress; and
• creation of administrative processes surrounding the award of the Near Pass Grade to students who commenced their course prior to 2010. Associate Professor Varsavsky noted that transitional arrangements will be developed by the Education Policy Committee (formerly the Education Policy and Programs Committee).

During discussion, the following points were made:

• a range of approaches to hurdles requirements was evident across the University;
• hurdle requirements such as attendance at tutorials and participation in laboratory sessions could be included in the learning objectives of a unit;
• exam hurdles can be linked to the learning objectives;
• meeting hurdle requirements was an important aspect of independent, self-directed adult behaviour; and
• under section 1 of the Assessment Regulations (page 168 of the agenda), the definition of a unit does not include a thesis or project for a masters, however it does not exclude a PhD thesis. It was agreed that further work on the Assessment Regulations to address this issue would be undertaken by the University Solicitor’s Office.

Resolutions:

1. Education Committee noted 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.
3. Education Committee requested that further work on the Assessment Regulations to address the issue of the definition of a unit (as it pertained to a PhD thesis) be undertaken by the University Solicitor’s Office; and
4. the Assessment Regulations would be further considered by Education Committee.

For action/information: Ms G Beecher, Ms N Mitchell, Associate Professor C Varsavsky, Mr K Williamson

6.     Matters Arising from the Minutes

There were no matters arising.

7.     Academic Board Matters – Meeting 3/2009

No items were referred by the Board.

8.     Sunway Campus Education Committee

Resolutions:

Education Committee received and noted the report of the Sunway Campus Education Committee Meeting 3/2009.

9.     Board of Studies, Monash South Africa

Referring members to the Report of the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa Meeting 1/2009, part 4, a member requested clarification of the structure of the Foundation Programme (FP), in particular whether:

• students who do not complete the FP were subsequently offered single unit enrolments and, if they completed single units, were then eligible to apply for entry to a degree?
• “students achieving over 85% in all four first semester units could be given single subject entry into first year” referred to students undertaking the FP who had completed one semester?
• students who had performed poorly in the FP who went on to undertake single units were competing for places in degree courses with high-performing FP students?

Resolutions:

Education Committee:

1. received and noted the reports of the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa Meetings 1/2/3/4/2009;
2. requested that the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa amend the Foundation Programme course regulations:

i. to explicity articulate that Foundation Programme students who do not pass the Foundation Programme will not be offered single unit enrolments in undergraduate units; and ii. pertaining to students who achieved over 85 per cent in all four first semester FP units, who would then be offered single subject entry in first year undergraduate degree subjects, as follows:

‘Students who achieve a grade of higher than 85 per cent in all four first semester units in the Foundation Programme, will be offered enrolment in a first year undergraduate unit, to be undertaken in the second semester of their enrolment in the Foundation Programme.'

For action/information: Professor P Schelluch, Ms D Lees

10.     Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee (LTQC)

Resolution:

Education Committee received and noted 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

Resolution:

Education Committee noted the Evaluations Report July 2009.

For action/information: Dr K Macrae

10.1.2    Proposed criteria for interpreting Unit Evaluation results

Resolution:

Education Committee approved 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.

For action/information: Dr K Macrae

11.     Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee (CASC)

11.1    Receipt of Report

Resolution:

Education Committee received and noted 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

11.2.1 Deferment Policy and related Procedures

Resolutions:

Education Committee:

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

For action/information: Ms R Hinds, Mr K Jensen, Ms N Mitchell

11.2.2    Extension of the early offers pathway into the Diploma of Tertiary Studies

A member requested clarification of the report and noted that, if the proposal to extend the early offers pathway into the Diploma of Tertiary Studies (DoTS) to 2010 was approved, the pilot program would be in its fifth year. During discussion, the following points were made:

• the document was a statistical analysis of the performance of students enrolled in the early offers pathway into the DoTS;
• ongoing review of pathway programs by the Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee has resulted in, inter alia, the raising of English language proficiency requirements for admission to Monash courses;
• a detailed analysis of the pilot program could be undertaken, with a view to such an analysis informing a discussion on mainstreaming the program and benchmarking it against other pathway programs offered at Monash; and
• a comprehensive review of pathway programs at Monash could include consideration of the early offers pathway into the DoTS within the context of the suite of pathway programs available at Monash.

A review of pathway programs at Monash could also consider, inter alia, the:greater emphasis by the Federal Government on student-centred policy that would include funding to increase enrolments by students from low socioeconomic (LSE) backgrounds;

• offering of the early offers pathway into the DoTS at Melbourne campuses;
• a focus on Berwick campus and the educational aspirations of prospective students from LSE backgrounds who reside within the City of Casey;
• whether applications for entry into the early offers pathway into the DoTS could be made via the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre.

Resolutions:

Education Committee:

1. noted the summary detailing the progress of students admitted in 2008 from the DoTS early offers pathway;
2. endorsed for Academic Board’s approval the proposal that the early offer pathway into the Diploma of Tertiary Studies be extended for another year (2010); and
3. noted the advice from Professor Shoemaker that the next Education Committee meeting will consider the suite of alternative entry pathways offered by Monash.

For action/information: Ms R Hinds, Mr K Jensen

11.2.3    Review of the Internal Course Transfer Policy and Procedures

Resolutions:

Education Committee:

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

For action/information: Ms R Hinds, Mr K Jensen, Ms N Mitchell

Part C    Other Items

12.     Monash University Employability Symposium

Ms Tyler informed members that the Symposium would be an excellent forum for staff to share best practice. She noted that presentation abstracts would be refereed by a panel of senior Monash staff and invited submissions by members. She anticipated that the schedule of events will be available at the end of August.

Executive Services Note: full details of the themes of the Symposium, keynote speakers, and abstract submission form are available at http://careers.monash.edu.au/faculties/employability-symposium.html

Resolution:

Education Committee received and noted the briefing paper on the forthcoming Employability Symposium.

13.     Report of the Review of Learning Skills

By way of background, Ms Smith informed members that, following the transfer of learning skills support at Victorian campuses from the Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching to the University Library during 2007, a review was to have taken place toward the end of 2008. The aim of the review was to determine whether faculty and student needs were being met by the Library’s learning skills programs, resources and services, and to provide an opportunity for input into future directions.

Ms Smith noted that during the review, a range of key stakeholders were consulted during meetings held from November 2008 to July 2009 on the future directions of learning skills support. Ms Smith noted that stakeholders had emphasised the need to develop a more systematic, coordinated approach to program delivery that will improve engagement with students. The Library had worked with Health, Wellbeing and Development on development of responses to Academic Progress Committee hearings and would also continue to work with Information Technology Services and the eEducation Centre to address gaps in service delivery.

The Chair noted that a significant improvement in learning skills support had taken place, accompanied by innovation in service delivery by a very talented team of learning skills advisers.

Resolution:

Education Committee received and noted the Report of the Review of Learning Skills.

For action/information: Ms C Harboe-Ree, Ms L Smith

14.     Management of Semester 2, 2009 International Student Enrolments in Faculty of Business and Economics Courses

The Chair invited members to comment on the response by the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) to the issues that the Faculty of Business and Economics had raised in relation to the management of Semester 2, 2009 enrolments of international students.

Professor Brooks informed members that the primary issue was the management of the conditional offer process for future international students. He noted that certain universities had amended their result release dates for completing undergraduate students to dates after the deadline for applications for postgraduate courses at Monash. To preserve the quality of enrolments by international students at Monash, it was preferable for students who had failed a unit in their final semester of their undergraduate degree to repeat the unit in the following semester, then to apply for entry to Monash.

The Chair informed members that responsibility for the recruitment of international students had been transferred to the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International), who is working in conjunction with the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) to implement business practices that would address the concerns raised by the Faculty of Business and Economics.

Resolutions:

Education Committee noted the:

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

For action/information: Dr C Hewlett, Professor R Brooks

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

Commencing a PowerPoint presentation, Mr Bender informed members that there are currently several groups at Monash working in the area of sustainability, as follows:

• The Vice-Chancellor’s Group (Environment);
• The Office of Environmental Sustainability (TOES), led by Mr Paul Barton; and
• ClimateWorks Australia, established in partnership with the Myer Foundation and incorporating the Monash Sustainability Institute (MSI).

He noted that:

• the Green Steps Program was developed to translate theoretical understanding of sustainability issues by students into action; and
• a sustainability unit may be offered within the Graduate Certificate of Higher Education.

Mr Bender advised members that the Education for Sustainability Framework (ESF) was prepared following the 2009 Senior Management Conference and 2009 Council Retreat, both of which reconfirmed the centrality of the integration of sustainability into all aspects of University activities and operations.

He noted that a Master of Environmental Science has been offered by Monash for several decades and that opportunities to promote sustainability within education are under development. Such opportunities will be incorporated within the Monash Passport at both Victorian and offshore campuses. Proposals currently under consideration included an Education for Sustainability Small Grants Program, that will provide funding for student projects.

Mr Bender informed members 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. 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 and work in concert with TOES and MSI.

During discussion, the following points were made:

• the proposed cluster model currently would facilitate the identification of synergies between faculties and assist the development of cross-faculty collaborations;
• due to the current climate of fiscal restraint, it would not be possible to create further positions within the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education) portfolio to support education for sustainability, other than the proposed Convenor, Education for Sustainability;
• Monash should lead the way through a significant and ongoing commitment to sustainability in both theory and practice. Such a commitment would motivate students to engage with sustainability activities at Monash in diverse and innovative ways;
• sustainability should be part of everyday life and it was vital to adopt this philosophical approach on an ongoing basis at Monash, particularly through initiatives such as new The Oxfam ‘Shop within a Shop’ at Clayton campus and the application of fair trade principles at Monash campuses.

Resolutions:

Education Committee noted:

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 (refer 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.

Executive Services Note: a copy of the PowerPoint presentation that accompanied this item can be obtained from mailto:michael.fenaughty@adm.monash.edu.au

16.     Education Committee Meeting Dates for 2010

Resolution:

Education Committee received and noted 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 Monday, 21 September 2009 (please note amended submission date) to mailto:michael.fenaughty@adm.monash.edu.au