Monash University

Education Committee Meeting 6/96

Meeting 6/96 of the Education Committee was held on Wednesday 11 September at 10:00 am in the Sir George Lush Room, University Offices, Clayton campus.

There were present:

Professor RJ Pargetter, Chair
Associate Professor R Alfredson, Engineering
Ms H Anderson, MUGSU
Dr C Browne, Medicine (for Associate Professor G Taylor)
Professor J Bowers, Nursing
Associate Professor N Cameron, Science
Ms BL Chew, MPA (Masters)
Associate Professor M Evans, Business and Economics
Professor T Hore, PDC
Professor M King, PhD and Scholarships Committee
Mrs A McMillan, Computing and Information Technology
Associate Professor S McNicol, Law
Associate Professor L Roller, Pharmacy
Mr G Tickell, Education
Mr J Welikala, MPA (Graduate Diploma)
Associate Professor N White, Arts

In Attendance were:

Ms ER Brooks, Secretariat
Ms J Newham, Secretariat
Ms C Jordon, Faculty Registrar - Arts (in rotation)
Professor A Sohal, Business and Economics
Professor J Whitelaw, Arts

Apologies were received from:

Mr J Beggs, MUSU, Inc (Caulfield)
Mr R Burnet, Student Services
Ms O Cornelius, Academic Registrar
Mr M Hamilton, MUBS, Berwick
Mr D Imber, MSA, Clayton
Ms S Langford-Jones, MUSU Inc, Peninsula
Professor C Raper, Pharmacy
Professor J Redmond, Art and Design
Professor W Young, Co-Opted

MINUTES

* 1. STARRED ITEMS
The Committee endorsed the recommendations for items other than those starred.
* 2. MINUTES
The Committee approved the Minutes of Meeting 5/96, held on Wednesday 14 August 1996, as circulated.
3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
*3.1 Course and Subject proposals from Meetings 4/96 and 5/96
The Education Committee noted that the Executive Officer had yet to resolve all comments made regarding course and subject proposals presented to Education Committee Meetings 4/96 and 5/96, and noted further that it was anticipated that all outstanding matters relating to these proposals would be resolved prior to the next Meeting of this Committee.
* 3.2 Master of Management - Resolution of Evaluation Panel Comments
At Meeting 4/96, Minute 11.2.2, the Committee considered a proposal to amend the Master of Management, and endorsed the proposal for submission to the Academic Board, subject to the presentation of further satisfactory documentation regarding the following points:
  • that students entering the award from each of the potential pathways (those with a Bachelor degree and a Graduate Diploma, those with an honours degree, and those entering via the new pathway of Executive Certificate, Graduate Diploma and prior work experience) would be measurably at an equal academic level; and
  • that the majority of the subjects proposed for inclusion were at Masters level (ie fifth year academic level).
The Education Committee received and noted the advice provided by the Department of Business Management regarding the concerns raised by the proposal to amend the structure, time limits and entrance requirements of the Master of Management, and noted that the conditions placed on the original approval of these amendments (Minute 11.2.2, Education Committee Meeting 4/96) had now been met. However, it was also noted that awards in that area were continuing to be amended, and the Committee requested that the Department make a report regarding implications for the Master of Management when any changes were proposed to other awards offered by the department. In addition, the Committee recommended that the Head of the Department revisit the question of admissions standards and the comparability of the various pathways into the degree before the end of 1997, and make a report to this Committee regarding the matter. Ms Pilgrim,

Professor
Griffin

* 3.3 Graduate Certificate in Decision Support Systems - Resolution of Comments
At Meeting 5/96, Minute 13.2.2, the Committee considered a proposal to establish a Graduate Certificate in Decision Support Systems, and endorsed the proposal for submission to the Academic Board, subject to clarification of the relationship between the methods of teaching and the objectives and the methods of assessment and the objectives.
The Education Committee received and noted the advice provided by the Department of Information Systems clarifying the relationship between the methods of teaching and the objectives and the methods of assessment and the objectives, and noted that the condition placed on the original approval of this proposal (Minute 13.2.2, Education Committee Meeting 5/96) had now been met. Mr Hobbs
* 3.4 Bachelor of Applied Science / Diploma of Applied Science - Resolution of Comments
At Meeting 4/96, Minute 17.1.2, the Committee considered a proposal to establish a new double award, Bachelor of Applied Science / Diploma of Applied Science (Materials Engineering), and endorsed the proposal for submission to the Academic Board, subject to consideration of this proposal by the Faculty of Engineering.
The Education Committee received and noted the advice provided by the Faculty of Engineering confirming that there was no objection from that Faculty to the establishment of a new double award, to be titled Bachelor of Applied Science / Diploma of Applied Science (Materials Engineering), originally endorsed by the Education Committee at Meeting 4/96, Minute 17.1.2, subject to consultation with the Faculty of Engineering. The Committee noted that this condition had now been met. Mr Secomb
Further, the Chair advised the Committee that relations were extremely cordial between the University and the eight TAFE colleges with which the University had close dealings, and that there remained great potential for further collaboration.
* 3.5 the honours degree of Bachelor of Arts (Police Studies) - New course
At Meeting 4/96, Minute 10.3.1, the Committee endorsed for transmission to the Academic Board a proposal to establish Police Studies as a new stream in the honours degree of Bachelor of Arts. The Committee noted that this was an error on the part of the Executive Officer and the proposal should have read to establish a new course, to be titled the honours degree of Bachelor of Arts (Police Studies).
The Education Committee endorsed for transmission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Faculty of Arts to establish a new course, to be titled the honours degree of Bachelor of Arts (Police Studies), and noted that the approval granted to establish a new stream in Police Studies of the honours degree of Bachelor of Arts (Minute 10.3.1, Education Committee Meeting 4/96) should be rescinded. Miss Jordon
4. Faculty Liaison with Solicitor's Office for Legislative Matters
At Meeting 3/96 (Item 15.2) the Committee requested that each Faculty formally nominate a person located in the Faculty Office to be the liaison for all matters regarding legislation for that Faculty.
All nominations have now been received and the names of the following persons will be submitted to the University Solicitor's Office as the official liaison person for the Faculty, College or Subfaculty:
Faculty of Arts Ms C Holland
College of Art & Design Ms M Hah
Faculty of Business and Economics Ms A Pilgrim
Faculty of Comp & Info Tech Mr K Hobbs
Faculty of Education Ms M Clarke
Faculty of Engineering Mr D Secomb
Faculty of Law Ms P Lister
Faculty of Medicine Ms J Tong
Subfaculty of Nursing Ms H Hind
College of Pharmacy Mr M Watson
Faculty of Science Dr P Rodan
University
Solicitor,

Mr Eddy
* 5. MATTERS REFERRED TO THE ACADEMIC BOARD
The Executive Officer and the Chair provided a verbal report of the action taken at Academic Board Meeting 6/96, held on Wednesday 4 September. An extract from the unconfirmed Minutes of Academic Board Meeting 6/96 is attached to the Minutes of this Meeting (Attachment 1).
The Committee discussed the addition of a summary to the document presented to the Academic Board (Item 13.1 - 10 Questions on Subject Management), and it was agreed that the summary statements would be appended to these Minutes, for the information of Faculty staff (Attachment 2). A number of Faculties may need to take action regarding certain of the statements within the next several months. Faculty Registrars
The Committee also noted that the Steering Committee of the Academic Board had requested that in future a summary of the number of subjects offered by each Faculty be provided when new subjects were presented to the Board. The Committee noted that the Chair and the Executive Officer had expressed concerns regarding the accuracy of such information, but that it would be provided as requested. Members queried whether the information could be 'broken down' in various ways, to provide slightly more accuracy and detail. It was agreed that the Executive Officer would consider how many levels of information could be provided, after a suggestion that the number of subjects at different credit points be shown. The Chair also informed the Committee that a set of standard wording would be prepared to be inserted above the chart, indicating that the "count of subjects" was in fact a "count of codes" which would count all codes attached to any given subject. The wording and the proposed breakdown of information will be presented to the Committee before it is submitted to the Academic Board. Ms Brooks
The Chair advised the Committee that the meeting regarding increased use of alias codes, to be held in the afternoon of 11 September, might lead to the provision of more accurate information to the Academic Board, by allowing the report to exclude alias subject codes.
* 6. ACTION TAKEN AT THE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF DEANS
An extract from the unconfirmed Minutes of the Committee of Deans is attached to the Minutes of this Meeting (Attachment 3).
The Committee noted the advice of the Chair regarding the action taken at Meeting 11/96 of the Committee of Deans, held on 3 September 1996. The paper presented to the Deans regarding the revisions to the Discipline Statute was to be considered for two weeks and then referred to the University Solicitor for the drafting of a new set of revisions to the Statute. The Committee noted that the matter of general discipline would be referred to the Solicitor's Office without reference to a working party, and that the next draft of revisions to the Statute would be presented to the Committee of Deans via the Education Committee.
The Committee of Deans also referred other matters to the Education Committee and to the Associate Deans (Teaching). Item 10.2.1, - Role of the Associate Deans (Teaching) in Staff Development, was referred to the meeting of the Associate Deans (Teaching) for development of appropriate wording to amend the Education Policy, section 1.3.4. Associate Deans (Teaching)
Regarding the matter of subject evaluation and review, the Committee noted the advice of the Chair that the matter was also to be referred to the Associate Deans (Teaching) for preparation of wording to amend the Education Policy. In a brief discussion of subject evaluation, the Chair advised the Committee that the current method of evaluating subjects was considered by many to be no longer appropriate, and that in future the review of courses and of subjects should be seen as a holistic process. The Chair further advised that a paper would be developed for circulation to Faculties advising of their current requirements in terms of the Education Policy and the Graduate Studies Policy (for example the need to include student evaluation in reviews of courses or subjects), and requesting advice from each Faculty regarding their plans for evaluating their courses and subjects. This would include a statement regarding the level of information to be provided within the University regarding any external reviews, and the appropriateness of external review processes in the context of internal requirements. Once responses had been received from Faculties, consideration would be given to those responses and a policy statement developed for inclusion as an attachment to the Education Policy. Associate
Deans
(Teaching)

Ms Brooks,

Professor
Pargetter,

Faculty
Registrars

Incorporated in this statement of policy would be a timeline for review of the courses of each Faculty, in order that reviews were conducted over a number of years. The Committee agreed with the principle that a review of a subject was more relevant if considered in the context of the course in which it was offered, rather than as an isolated entity. When considering the statement that some faculties were routinely subjected to stringent external review processes, it was noted that the University might require information different from that required externally, and that this point would need consideration by each Faculty once a policy statement was developed. The matter of the need to provide a mechanism for reporting the outcomes of external reviews was also noted, as was the essential requirement that students be involved in any internal review process, so that external reviews which did not incorporate student involvement would need to be supplemented for the purposes of the University.
It was agreed that this statement of policy should be developed either later this year or early in the new year, and that it would be submitted to the Academic Board via the Education Committee.
Another matter which was considered by the Committee of Deans related to responsibility for Academic Discipline Areas (Item 10.3). The paper received by the Committee of Deans is attached (Attachment 4) for information. The Committee of Deans referred this matter to the Education Committee for the development of guidelines to be followed when considering the location of primary responsibility when a discipline was taught by more than one faculty or department. It was agreed that a working party should be established to discuss the matter with each Dean and then to develop guidelines to be used by each faculty when designing courses or subjects in which other academic areas might have an interest. Deans,
Mr Tickell,
Ms Brooks
It was agreed that Mr G Tickell would chair this working party, and that other members would be Professor M King, a representative of the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology (to be nominated by Mrs McMillan), and Professor J Redmond. Student input would be sought when a report from this working party was returned to the Education Committee. Mrs McMillan,

Professor
King,

Professor
Redmond
* 7. RESPONSIBILITY FOR MASTERS BY RESEARCH DEGREES
The PhD and Scholarships Committee had proposed that there be a revision to the terms of reference of the Education Committee and the PhD and Scholarships Committee, so that the Education Committee, while retaining certain responsibilities for subjects and for coursework Masters degrees, transferred to the PhD and Scholarships Committee the primary responsibility for endorsing for submission to the Academic Board new or amended Masters degrees by research.
The Committee received a document prepared by the Secretary of the PhD and Scholarships Committee. The Committee agreed to refer to the Academic Board each of the recommendations listed below, but removed from the report to Academic Board the recommendation that the PhD and Scholarships Committee be responsible for subjects which could be undertaken in either a coursework or research masters degree. Concern was expressed that this suggestion would mean that virtually all postgraduate subjects would in fact be approved by the PhD and Scholarships Committee, since many of the graduate level subjects of the university were available to students enrolled in Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Masters programs of both types, and a number of these subjects were offered also as part of the honours programs of various faculties. Ms Herman,
Ms Vero,
Ms Brooks
The Education Committee
  • agreed to submit the recommendations detailed below to the Academic Board for implementation from January 1 1997; and
  • noted that in each case the specified responsibility is that of making recommendation to the Academic Board:
  1. The overview of research masters policy matters should become the responsibility of the PhD and Scholarships Committee;
  2. The Education Committee would retain sole responsibility for coursework masters degrees and thus the subjects offered solely within such programs;
  3. The PhD and Scholarships Committee should assume responsibility for approval and amendment of masters degrees by research;
  4. The PhD and Scholarships Committee should assume primary responsibility while inviting comments from the Education Committee for subjects in the PhD program;
  5. The PhD and Scholarships Committee should assume primary responsibility while inviting comments from the Education Committee for subjects within professional doctorate programs;
  6. The PhD and Scholarships Committee should assume primary responsibility while inviting comments from the Education Committee for subjects that are offered in research masters programs only; and
  7. In cases where comment has been invited from the Education Committee, the PhD and Scholarships Committee should, on receiving a submission from the relevant faculty, forward immediately a copy to the Education Committee. If no adverse comment has been received from the Education Committee by the time the PhD and Scholarships Committee is ready to submit its recommendation to Academic Board, the submission should proceed without further delay.
*8. UNIVERSITY GRIEVANCE POLICY
At Education Committee Meeting 6/95, the Committee considered the individual Grievance policies of the Faculties of the University, and recommended that a document be circulated to Faculties regarding the development of a University Grievance Policy. This document, revised after input from the Committee, is attached to these Minutes (Attachment 5).
The Committee agreed that the responsibility for Grievance matters should rest with an appropriate senior academic staff member appointed to the task by the Dean rather than stipulating that it should be the Associate Dean (Teaching), and that appeals should be heard within the Faculty concerned rather than at a central point. The issue of academic grievance proceedings being brought by a student at the same time as that student was involved in an appeal against exclusion or a discipline hearing was raised as a separate issue, and the Committee agreed that whichever process was first initiated would take precedence, and that any other proceeding could not run until the conclusion of the first. Faculty
Registrars;
Members;

Secretary,
Discipline
Committee;

Secretary,
Exclusion
Appeals
Committee

It was noted that the proposed Academic Grievance Policy would cover only those awards managed by faculties, since the PhD and Scholarships Committee had previously developed grievance procedures for complaints related to degrees administered by the University. Ms Herman
Student representatives to the Committee expressed concern regarding the ability of the Dean to choose to convene, or not to convene, a second panel to hear an appeal, and were also concerned with the exact composition of the Faculty Grievance Committee. It was agreed that they might write to Deans separately, indicating their point of view on these matters and any others related to this proposal. Ms Anderson
The Committee agreed that Faculties should be requested to comment on the document circulated before 25 October, to allow submission of the proposal to the Academic Board at its final meeting for 1996. Members
9. REPORT OF THE DISTANCE EDUCATION AND OPEN LEARNING COMMITTEE
The Committee received the report and noted the proceedings of Meeting 4/96 of the Distance Education and Open Learning Committee, held on 25 July 1996. Ms Wilson-Reid
*10. DISTANCE EDUCATION COURSES - COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS
A memorandum from Mr C Vernon, Manager, Admissions and Records, which requested that consideration be given to incorporating a Cost-Benefit Analysis into the development process for proposals to offer new or existing courses via Distance Education was received by the Committee.
The Committee considered that this matter was not within the brief of the Education Committee, as it appeared to be a matter relating to staffing issues in an office in the General Manager’s jurisdiction. Mr Vernon,
Mr Harris
*11. REVIEWS OF COURSES
At Education Committee Meeting 4/96, the Committee approved the guidelines, terms of reference, working group membership and timeline for implementation for the evaluation and review of existing undergraduate courses of the Faculty of Business and Economics. The Committee noted the amendments to the timeline for review of existing undergraduate degrees of the Faculty of Business and Economics as detailed in the document presented with the Agenda. The Committee commended the Faculty for the detailed timeline presented. Ms Pilgrim
The Committee noted that the Faculty of Law has now completed a comprehensive Review of the curricula of all its degree programs, and commended the Faculty for its thoroughness. Ms Wilson
Discussion minuted under item 6 indicated that establishing review timelines for all degrees offered by the University and development of a policy related to the integrated review of courses and subjects were priorities of the Committee. A summary of review information will come to the next meeting.
*12. UNIVERSITY GRADING SYSTEM
A paper was tabled for the Committee’s consideration regarding the proposal to change the grading scale currently in use for all students of the University. The Committee was reminded that, in 1995, it was recommended and subsequently approved by Council that the grading scale in use for honours degrees be amended. The Committee agreed that it was therefore a sensible suggestion that all students of the University be assessed using the same scale, and referred the document (with minor amendment) to be considered by Faculties. A copy of the amended document circulated to Faculties is attached to these Minutes (Attachment 6).

Faculties have been requested to submit comments to this Committee before 25 October to allow a recommendation to be made to the final Academic Board and Council meetings for 1996.

 Members
*13. GRADUATE PROGRAMS OFFERED IN 1996
A document is attached (Attachment 7), listing the Graduate Programs offered by the University with intake in 1996. This document was circulated to Faculties prior to the meeting and has been amended and recirculated with a list noting any discrepancies between the listing, the current Statute 6.1.2 - Courses and Degrees and each Faculty’s regulations. The final version of this list of discrepancies, amended after consultation with faculties, is attached to these Minutes (Attachment 8). Both documents will be presented to the Academic Board for information.

The Committee commented, regarding the list, that in a University of the size and diversity of Monash, the number and variety of awards offered at the graduate level in 1996 was both acceptable and appropriate. The Committee also considered that given the size and diversity of the undergraduate programs also offered by the University it would be inappropriate for a lesser number of graduate awards to be available.

*14. COURSE AND SUBJECT APPROVALS
The attached paper (Attachment 9) provides the draft responses of the small group which met to consider the dot points raised by the Evaluation Panels before Meeting 4/96 (Item 9 Agenda 4/96).
The Committee noted this paper and agreed to bring the item before the next meeting to allow full discussion of the points. It was agreed to refer the document to the Associate Deans (Teaching), to allow consideration of any matters deemed crucial, and therefore revision of the proformas for course and subject approvals at the earliest possible date. Associate
Deans
(Teaching)
*15. MASTER OF NURSING - AMENDMENT TO STRUCTURE
The Committee noted that this amendment was approved in principle by the Faculty of Medicine at its Meeting 3/96, held on 19 June 1996, as reported to Education Committee Meeting 4/96 (Item 16.1.2).
It was further noted that the proposal provided for greater ease of articulation between the Graduate Diplomas of the Subfaculty and the Masters degree program.
This amendment was proposed for introduction from Semester One 1997.
The Committee endorsed for transmission to the Academic Board the proposal to amend the structure of the Master of Nursing to allow greater ease of articulation from the Graduate Diplomas of the Subfaculty of Nursing, subject to the prescription that no less than two-thirds of the final year subjects be taken at fifth year in terms of academic level, as required by the Graduate Studies Policy approved by Council in 1995 (Resolution CL8/95/582). Professor
Bowers
*16. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
16.1 Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education - to be additionally offered on the Clayton campus
At Meeting 4/96, the Education Committee approved a number of amendments to the existing Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education. The Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Arts tabled a proposal to offer this double degree program on the Clayton campus in addition to the Peninsula campus from Semester 1 1997 (Attachment 10).
The Committee agreed to endorse the proposal of the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Education to offer the double degree Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education on the Clayton campus in addition to the Peninsula campus, subject to the provision of appropriate resource implication statements. Mr Yates
16.2 Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Education - new course proposal
The Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Science tabled a proposal to offer a new double award program on the Clayton campus from Semester 1 1997.
The Committee considered the proposal, bearing in mind the statement of the Chair that each component of the proposed double degree was already in use as part of another double degree structure.
The Committee agreed to endorse for transmission to the Academic Board the proposal to establish a new double degree program, to be titled Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Education, subject to
  • clarification of the mathematics subject areas, the course structure and the course map,
  • the provision of a rationale for the overload required in the proposed structure, and
  • the provision of appropriate resource implication statements.
Mr Yates
The Committee also noted for future reference that when a standard course proposal cover sheet has been altered, those alterations should be marked for greater ease of identification. Faculty
Registrars,

Members
17. NEXT MEETING
The Committee noted that the next Meeting would be held on Wednesday 6 November, that course and subject proposal submissions for that meeting would be due on 9 October, and that final submissions for Meeting 7/96 would be due on 25 October.

Membership

Professor R J Pargetter (Chairman)
Associate Professor R Alfredson, Engineering
Ms H Anderson, MUGSU, Gippsland
Mr J Beggs, MUSU, Inc, Caulfield
Professor J Bowers, Nursing
Associate Professor N Cameron, Science
Ms B L Chew, MPA, Masters
Associate Professor M Evans, Business and Economics
Mr M Hamilton, MUBS, Berwick
Mr D Imber, MSA, Clayton
Professor M King, PhD and Scholarships Committee
Ms S Langford-Jones, MUSU Inc, Peninsula
Mrs A McMillan, Computing and Information Technology
Associate Professor S McNicol, Law
Professor J Redmond, Art and Design
Professor L Roller, Pharmacy
Associate Professor G Taylor, Medicine
Mr G Tickell, Education
Mr J Welikala, MPA, Graduate Diploma
Associate Professor N White, Arts
Professor B Young, Co-Opted
Vacant, MUPSA

In Attendance

Mr R Burnet, Student Services
Professor T Hore, PDC
Professor C Raper, Pharmacy
Professor A Sohal, Business and Economics
Professor J Whitelaw, Arts
Faculty Registrar/Manager (in rotation) - Miss C Jordon

Executive Officer

Ms ER Brooks, Secretariat

Distribution

Mr P Annal, Computer Centre
Mr R Cochrane, M I Pty
Ms O Cornelius, Secretariat
Prof P LeP Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Mr B Eddy, Solicitor's Office
Ms M Hah, Art & Design
Ms H Hind, Nursing
Ms C Holland, Arts
Ms E Knowles, Student Services
Mr T Lee, MUSU, Inc
Mr E Lim, Librarian
Mr M Murphy, MAS
Ms J Newham
Ms E Nolan, Arts
Ms S Parker, Bus & Eco
Ms M Rambert, FCIT
Mr P Summers, Policy and Planning
All Faculty Deans
All Faculty Registrars/Administrators