Meeting No 5/94 of the Education Committee was held on Wednesday 10 August 1994 at 10:00 am in the Council Room, University Offices, Clayton Campus.
There were present:
Professor I Chubb (Chair)
Associate Professor R Alfredson, Engineering
Professor T Barnett, Nursing
Professor E Barry, Arts
Professor C Bellamy, Computing and Information Technology
Associate Professor M Gill, Education
Associate Professor A Goldsmith, Law
Ms M Guli, MAS
Associate Professor N Hallam, Science
Professor M King, PhD and Scholarships Committee
Mr S Kulesza, MPA
Ms H Morgan, MPA
Dr L Roller, Pharmacy
Associate Professor G Taylor, Medicine
Professor G Tucker, Business and Economics
Professor J Williamson, Art and Design
In attendance:
Mr R Burnet, Student Services
Ms O Cornelius, Secretariat
Ms J Dunn, Secretariat (Acting Secretary)
Mr R Sebo, Faculty Administrator/Registrar
Ms C Holland, Arts
1. STARRED ITEMS
The Committee noted that in future a starring system would operate so that only items of particular concern would be discussed.
2. MINUTES
The Minutes of Meeting No 4/94 held on Friday 1 July 1994, which had been circulated, were confirmed and signed subject to the following revised wording to replace the first two sentences of minute 14.1:
"The Committee endorsed for transmission to Academic Board the proposal to offer the Master of Health Science (Nursing)in Hong Kong through distance education, with facilitation and support through a Executive twinning arrangement with Hong Kong Polytechnic." Officer
3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
3.1 Graduate Studies Sub-Committee
Regarding Minutes 3.1 Meeting 4/94, 2.1 Meeting 3/94, 2.2 Meeting 2/94 and 12 Meeting 1/94: it was noted that the Sub-Committee was scheduled to meet again on Tuesday 23 August 1994.
3.2 Academic Board approval of subjects
Regarding Minutes 3.4, Meeting 4/94 and 8.5, Meeting 3/94: the Ms J Dunn Committee noted that a paper had been sent to the University Ms S Bath Solicitor for comment.
3.3 Fees for Subjects Taken Over and Above Degree Requirements
Regarding Minutes 3.5, Meeting 4/94 and 9.5, Meeting 3/94: it was noted that faculties had been requested to provide their current fee Members policies to the Executive Officer.
3.4 University Entry via Non-Credit Courses
Regarding Minutes 3.6, Meeting 4/94 and 11, Meeting 3/94: it was noted that the item would be brought to the following meeting of the Education Committee. The Committee also noted the paper presented on Executive page 1133 of Academic Board Agenda 5/94. Officer
3.5 Academic Medals
Regarding Minutes 3.7, Meeting 4/94 and 13, Meeting 3/94: the Committee noted that the policies of other Universities around Australia were being used as the basis of a paper outlining options for a valedictory ceremony and academic medals.
3.6 Discipline Working Party
Regarding Minutes 5, Meeting 4/94 and 4, Meeting 2/94: it was noted Executive that the item would be brought to the following meeting of the Officer Education Committee.
3.7 Double Degree Funding
Regarding Minute 7, Meeting 4/94: it was noted that the Chairman Professor was to respond to Professor Chipman's query. Chubb
3.8 Year Level Standards and Assessment Policies
Regarding Minute 9.1, Meeting 4/94: the Committee noted that the Executive item would be brought to the following meeting of the Education Officer Committee.
3.9 Conventions in Naming Degrees
Regarding Minute 11.1.12, Meeting 4/94: it was noted that the item Executive was to be referred to a later meeting of the Education Committee. Officer
4. HONOURS WORKING PARTY
A document was received (p 1910).
The Committee noted that the Honours Working Party was scheduled to meet on Monday 15 August 1994. As Chair of the Working Party, Professor King spoke to the paper which contained suggested items for discussion at that meeting. He proposed to add to the list the matter of comparative standards and grades across universities, and asked members for any additional items.
It was agreed to add the following items suggested by Committee Executive Officer members: Professor King
. standard procedures for examination and treatment of theses
. the nature of the relationship between student, supervisor and a third party funding the research - particularly in relation to the ownership of intellectual property
. confidentiality: restrictions on publication
. the possibility of specifying the level of honours on testamurs and in the graduation program
. the rationale behind offering the grade of H3
. definition of roles of "associate supervisor" and "co-supervisor".
The Committee noted that several of these matters were relevant to the PhD and Scholarships Committee and the Graduate Studies Sub-Committee, and Professor King was asked to consider referring any policy suggestions to these bodies as appropriate.
Professor King informed the Committee that Associate Professor N Hallam had been nominated to the Working Party as a representative of laboratory disciplines.
5. MINOR SEQUENCE PROPOSAL
Professor Bellamy tabled the attached draft paper concerning the possibility of a minor sequence being taken from outside the degree faculty in all Monash undergraduate degree courses. He spoke briefly to the paper, emphasising the need for degree regulations written in "plain language".
The Committee noted that the Faculty of Arts was in the process of revising its degree regulations along the lines of the Engineering model, and also that it would attempt to remove unnecessarily complex and legal language.
The Committee agreed that the matters raised by Professor Bellamy concerning the wording of degree regulations, permitted or Professor prescribed studies to be taken outside the degree faculty, and the Chubb system of credit points for such interfaculty subjects be considered Executive by a working group of the Education Committee. Professor Chubb Officer indicated that he would set up a meeting.
6. FACULTY OF ARTS REPORT
A preliminary Report from Faculty Board Meeting 4/94 held on 27 July 1994 was received (p 1911), and the comments made by the Faculty's Executive Committee in relation to 5.1 and 5.2 were noted.
The Chair advised the Committee that these proposals had been endorsed by Council on 8 August, subject to the usual scrutiny and approval by the Education Committee and Academic Board. He said that this path had been necessary as a speedy response to the successful tender to offer the programs.
Members noted that the courses would be taught off-campus in Canberra as fee-paying courses outside of DEET load.
6.1 Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade
Subject to the provision of further detail about assessment, the Committee endorsed for transmission to the Academic Board the proposal to establish a new course, to be titled Graduate Diploma in Executive Foreign Affairs and Trade, to be offered at the Department of Officer Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra.
6.2 Master of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Subject to the provision of further detail about assessment and supervision, the Committee endorsed for transmission to the Academic Board the proposal to establish a new course, to be titled Master of Executive Foreign Affairs and Trade, to be offered at the Department of Officer Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra.
7. FACULTY OF MEDICINE REPORT
A document from the Board of the Faculty of Medicine was received (p 1933).
The Committee was informed that at Meeting 4/94 of the Faculty Board held on 29 June 1994, amendments to the structure of the Master of Public Health were proposed, to allow for updating and expanding the course content and to provide greater ease of entry to membership in the recently established professional organisation. Other changes proposed included an increase in the maximum time period for completion of the degree, alterations to the core requirements for the degree and to subject titles and credit point allocations.
Professor Taylor outlined the reasons for the changes.
7.1 Changes to course structure and time limits for the MPH
The Committee endorsed for transmission to the Academic Board the proposal to amend the existing Master of Public Health by increasing the maximum time for completion from four to five years and altering the core requirements to allow for four specific streams: Clinical Executive Epidemiology, Occupational / Environmental Health, General, and Officer Coursework and Minor Thesis.
7.2 New subject proposals for the MPH
The Committee endorsed for transmission to the Academic Board the Executive new subject proposals: Officer
MPHxxxx Sociological Foundations of Public Health MPHxxxx Health Economics, Management and Evaluation MPHxxxx Epidemiology and Demography MPHxxxx Introductory Statistics. 7.3 Amendments to existing subjects for the MPH
The Committee endorsed for transmission to the Academic Board the Executive proposal to alter existing subjects in the Master of Public Health Officer course as follows:
The title of MPH2013 Epidemiological Research Methods to become MPH2013 Research Methods and Computing
The title of MPH1003 Environmental and Communicable Hazards to become MPH1003 Environmental Influences on Health
The title of MPH1016 Health Promotion and Illness Prevention to become MPH1016 Health Promotion
MPH2031 Public Health Policy and Planning to become a core (compulsory) subject rather than an elective in the second year.
8. FACULTY OF SCIENCE REPORT
The Report of Faculty Board Meeting 4/94 held on 27 July 1994 was received (p 1957).
8.1 Restructure of Master of Science Regulations
Professor Hallam spoke about the proposal on p 1957 and the amended draft Master of Science Regulations on p 1960.
There was some discussion to clarify the Faculty's objective in replacing the Masters Preliminary course with Part 1 candidacy for the Master of Science, and the associated matter of whether fees should be charged for this year of study.
During the discussion, the matter of student insurance referred to on p 1957 was clarified.
In acknowledgment of the implications of this type of proposal for increasing the number of research students at Monash, Professor Chubb suggested that the Graduate Studies Sub-Committee look at the Part 1/Part 11 structure for Masters courses, including the development of a clear policy on appropriate standards to be met for a student's progress from Part 1 to Part 11.
As proposed by the Faculty, the Committee endorsed for transmission to the Academic Board an amendment to the Master of Science degree regulations to replace the existing Master of Science preliminary Executive and full candidature with a Master of Science Part I and Part II. Officer
8.2 Amendments to the Schedule to the BSc Regulations
Professor Hallam referred to the documentation on p 1959 and 1966. The Committee noted that the proposed subject restrictions on BSc students had been agreed to by the Department of Geography and Environmental Science.
As proposed by the Faculty, the Committee endorsed for transmission to the Academic Board the proposal to amend the First Schedule to Executive the Bachelor of Science Regulations by deleting GES2211.08, Officer GES2392.08 and GES3392.12, and adding GES3360.12.
9. REPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY LIBRARIAN
The Committee noted that the University Librarian had been asked to Mr Lim provide a report for each meeting of the Education Committee, concerning the impact on the Libraries of changes to the offerings of the University. The first report would be presented to the following meeting of the Committee.
10. REPORT OF THE COMPUTER CENTRE
The Committee noted that the Director of the Computer Centre had been asked to provide a report for each meeting of the Education Committee, concerning the impact on the Computer Centre facilities of changes to the offerings of the University. The first report Mr Annal would be presented to the following meeting of the Committee.
11. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
11.1 Communication
Professor Tucker asked for clarification of the role expected of members of the Committee in communicating decisions to faculty staff. The Committee noted that the Associate Deans (Teaching) were Executive to take responsibility in communicating policy decisions and agreed Officer procedures, and that the Executive Officer was preparing an Education Committee Procedures Manual to assist faculty staff.
It was also noted that copies of the Education Policy, accompanied by the Research Policy and the Intellectual Property Statute, were being printed and would be distributed widely to staff.
Reiterating his concern about the problem of communicating information through all staff levels and campuses of the University, Professor Chubb also informed members of plans to print an annual "Digest" about Monash and a new University newspaper. He invited members to offer ideas or comments about methods of communication.
12. NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of the Education Committee will be held at 10 am on Wednesday 21 September 1994 in the Council Room.
Submissions for the agenda should be made by Friday 9 September Members 1994.
Membership
Professor I Chubb (Chairman)
Associate Professor R Alfredson, Engineering
Professor T Barnett, Nursing
Professor E Barry, Arts
Professor C Bellamy, Computing and Information Technology
Professor L Chipman, Distance Education
Associate Professor M Gill, Education
Associate Professor A Goldsmith, Law
Ms M Guli, MAS
Associate Professor N Hallam, Science
Professor M King, PhD and Scholarships Committee
Mr S Kulesza, MPA
Ms H Morgan, MPA
Dr L Roller, Pharmacy
Mr T Stiles, MUSU Inc.
Associate Professor G Taylor, Medicine
Professor G Tucker, Business and Economics
Professor J Williamson, Art and Design
In Attendance
Mr R Burnet, Student Services
Executive Officer
Ms E R Brooks, Student Services
Distribution
Dr G Baldwin, Policy and Planning
Ms O Cornelius, Secretariat
Ms J Dunn, Secretariat
Mr B Eddy, Solicitor's Office
Ms C Holland, Arts
Mr Tim Lee, MUSU, Inc
Ms J Liddy, MAS
Ms V Kelly, DVC's Office
Mrs D Macmillan, Nursing
Associate Professor L McCredie, Law
Mrs A McMillan, Computing and Information Technology
Mr M Murphy, MAS
Ms A Pilgrim, Business & Economics
Mr P Strickland, Monash Gippsland Student Union
Mr P Summers, Policy and Planning
Ms J Vero, Business & Economics
All Faculty Deans
All Faculty Registrars