Meeting 8/96 of the Education Committee was held on Wednesday 18 December 1996 at 9:00 am in the Sir George Lush Room, University Offices, Clayton Campus.
There were present:
Professor RJ Pargetter, Chair
Ms H Anderson, MUGSU
Associate Professor N Cameron, Science
Ms BL Chew, MPA (Masters)
Associate Professor M Evans, Business and Economics
Associate Professor J Hurst (for Mrs A McMillan) Computing and Information Technology
Professor J Redmond, Art and Design
Associate Professor L Roller, Pharmacy
Professor G Taylor, Medicine
Mr G Tickell, Education
Associate Professor N White, Arts
In Attendance were:
Ms ER Brooks, Secretariat
Mr R Burnet, Student Services
Dr E Lloyd, Pharmacy
Ms J Newham, Secretariat
Professor A Sohal, Business and Economics
Mr C Vernon, Student Services
Mr M Watson, Faculty Registrar - Pharmacy
Mr P Yates, Faculty Registrar - Education (in rotation)
Apologies were received from:
Associate Professor R Alfredson, Engineering
Mr J Beggs, MUSU, Inc (Caulfield)
Ms O Cornelius, Academic Registrar
Mr M Hamilton, MUBS, Berwick
Professor T Hore, PDC
Mr D Imber, MSA, Clayton
Ms S Langford-Jones, MUSU Inc, Peninsula
Associate Professor S McNicol, Law
Professor C Raper, Pharmacy
Mr J Welikala, MPA (Graduate Diploma)
Professor J Whitelaw, Arts
Professor W Young, Co-Opted
MINUTES
* 1. STARRED ITEMS
The Committee noted that certain items had been starred as requiring discussion, nominated items 3.1 and 3.2 to be starred, added new items (14.2 and 17 in these minutes) and then endorsed the recommendations for items other than those starred.
* 2. MINUTES
The Committee approved the Minutes of Meeting 7/96 held on Wednesday 6 November 1996 as circulated.
3. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES
* 3.1 Student Academic Grievance Policy
The Student Academic Grievance Policy was amended in accordance with the recommendation of the Academic Board. The most recent version, inadvertently omitted from Minutes 7/96 (Minute 9) was circulated with the Agenda.
A member pointed out that Council, when it received the document, had queried the order
of hearings when more than one kind of hearing was to be held regarding a particular
student (eg Academic Grievance / Exclusion / Discipline). It was noted that the
Solicitor's Office should take particular care to clarify this matter when drafting the
legislation for this policy.
University Solicitor
* 3.2 Course and Subject Proformas
The Committee received the most recent version of documents relating to course and subject approvals procedures, inadvertently omitted from Minutes 7/96 (Minute 12.1).
The electronic version of these documents will be circulated to all Faculty Registrars
and Associate Deans (Teaching). Other staff who require electronic versions of these
documents should email their request to the Executive Officer
<Randi.Brooks@adm.monash.edu.au>.
Ms Brooks,
Members
Members should also note that proposals made using the older versions of the proformas
will be accepted for Meeting 1/97, but not for Meeting 2/97 and later meetings.
Members
Faculty Registrars
3.3 Name Change - Subject of the Faculty of Business and Economics
The Committee noted the amendment to the title of the subject MKTxxxx Database Strategy and Development so that it became Marketing Database Strategy and Development.
4. EXTRACT FROM MINUTES OF MEETING 8/96 OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD
The Committee received and noted an extract from the unconfirmed Minutes of Academic Board Meeting 8/96, held on 27 November 1996.
The Committee particularly noted the following information:
Prof Griffin
The Committee commended the University Solicitor's Office for the effort expended to
ensure that undergraduate courses to be offered in 1997 were included in the University's
legislation, and noted also the Academic Registrar's assistance in monitoring the progress
of the drafting of the legislation.
University Solicitor,
Ms Cornelius
5. INFORMATION FROM THE COMMITTEE OF DEANS
The Committee noted that no matters of specific interest to the Education Committee were discussed at Committee of Deans Meetings 14/96 or 15/96, held on 5 November and 26 November respectively.
* 6. MATTERS RELATING TO THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE
6.1 Discipline Statute Revisions
As requested in Minute 6.1, Minutes 7/96, the University Solicitor's Office provided a
proposed timeline for the next draft revisions to the Discipline Statute. The Committee
noted that it could expect to receive the next draft of the Statute revisions at either
Meeting 2/97 (March 19) or 3/97 (May 7).
University Solicitor
Members
* 7. AMENDMENT TO BACHELOR OF SCIENCE DEGREE STRUCTURE
This matter was raised at Meeting 7/96, but because a number of members had been obliged to leave that Meeting, it was agreed that discussion of the proposal should be deferred until Meeting 8/96 of the Committee.
The representative of the Faculty of Science advised the Committee that the Faculty had
decided to withdraw these amendments after hearing the initial objections of the Education
Committee. A new proposal will be brought to a later meeting.
Members
Members noted that the proposal, which had recommended reducing the opportunity for
study outside the degree faculty, would have had serious implications for the structures
of many of the degrees of the University, and commended the Faculty of Science for its
decision to withdraw the proposal at this time. It was further noted that in matters of
academic management (as, for instance, the proposals to reduce extra-faculty subjects or
electives), this Committee took very seriously its role in ensuring that such proposals,
if approved, were approached from a starting point of academic merit, rather than for any
other reason.
Members
* 8. FACULTY PASSES FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN "EX-FACULTY" SUBJECTS
Associate Professor N White had queried whether there existed a policy or common understanding regarding the fate of students who are enrolled in subjects outside their degree Faculty who might (in their own Faculty) have been eligible for a Faculty pass result. This also related to the issue of PII results where faculties might have differing rules regarding when such grades were to be awarded.
The Committee considered the matter, in light of the advice received by the Faculty of Business and Economics (Attachment 2) from the Solicitor's Office when a question had been raised regarding the undertaking of supplementary examinations. The Solicitor's Office had advised that the student's degree faculty rules would apply in all such cases.
After a general discussion, the Committee agreed to three main principles:
The Executive Officer was asked to circulate these principles to Faculties and ask for
their input. Subsequently, a small group (Mr N Thorburn, Associate Professor N White, and
Ms Brooks) would examine the Faculty responses and put together a short recommendation for
this Committee.
Ms Brooks
Associate Prof White
Mr Thorburn
* 9. EFTSU WEIGHTING FOR SUBJECTS
Associate Professor M Evans had prepared a discussion paper, "EFTSU weighting for subjects", for the Committee. The Committee received additional information in the form of an email from Mr CT Vernon.
It was agreed that the concept of credit points was an important one for the University, as they were a reflection of the effort expended in order to achieve a result in the subject or subjects undertaken. It was also agreed that a Faculty was then free to choose not to allow all the earned credit points to be used towards obtaining a degree. The Committee was then advised that the issue under consideration at this point related primarily to the dollar value of a subject (to both the provider and the consumer) and the EFTSU which would then be reported to the Government. In the past, the link was simple: points equalled EFTSU, but experience and the wider range of degree options now available has meant that this required reconsideration.
The first answer proposed to this dilemma was to detach points from EFTSU and argue that if a course was prescribed, then it could only equal 1.0 EFTSU per academic year. This approach required Faculties to rescale the EFTSU value and therefore the dollar value of the subjects in overloaded courses. This was not done uniformly across the University, and would, if applied universally, act as a prima facie disincentive to developing double degree programs (which are almost always overloaded). Since double degrees programs are not only educationally sound but also attractive to students, the Committee agreed to consider new options.
Discussion then concentrated on possible solutions. It was pointed out that the problem was really one of distribution of funding rather than an educational dilemma, but because of the implications for the reduction educational merit in degree structures for budgetary reasons, the Committee considered the discussion to be a logical extension of its terms of reference. The three suggested solutions (as presented in the paper) were:
The Committee agreed to await further information on this matter before preparing a policy statement on the matter.
Subsequent to the Meeting, and after consideration of the practices in effect at the University of Melbourne, where double degree courses are normally five years in length, it was suggested that Monash abide by the following new standard for double degree courses: that they be extended by one semester so that they would become 4.5 or 5.5 years in length, and therefore have an allowable overload for students of one semester or 24 points in total. In this way, EFTSU would once again become equal to the credit point value of a subject, and students would be obliged to pay only 1.0 EFTSU per year. It would also be usual, however, for a student to choose to undertake the program in a more accelerated manner, but they would then be undertaking a voluntary overload, and the EFTSU levied would not be adjusted to equal 1.0.
This issue will be re-considered at the commencement of Meeting 1/97, in light of this
suggestion. Comments are invited for submission before 24 January 1997 to the Executive
Officer for inclusion in the Agenda.
Members
Faculty Registrars
Mr Vernon
Mr Levine
* 10. "VIRTUAL EDUCATION: TEACHING AND LEARNING BY MULTIMEDIA AND DELIVERY VIA THE INTERNET - NEW CHALLENGES FOR ADMINISTRATORS"
The Committee received the paper "Virtual Education: Teaching and Learning by Multimedia and Delivery via the Internet - New Challenges for Administrators", which was presented to an AITEA Conference in Perth in 1996 by Mr D Mernaugh.
The Committee noted that it had been proposed to hold a seminar in February or March 1997 to consider the issues of Internet provision of degree programs and multi-university degree programs.
It was also agreed to refer this matter to the Distance Education and Open Learning
Committee, and to ask members of both Committees for input to the seminar.
Members
Ms Wilson-Reid
11. FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
The Education Committee received the Report of Meeting 5/96 of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics held on 17 October 1996, noted the proceedings and considered each item requiring action separately for submission to the Academic Board. Ms Pilgrim
* 11.1 New Course Proposals
11.1.1 Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing
This course was proposed for introduction from Semester One 1997, as a part-time course available on the Caulfield campus.
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal to establish a new course, to be titled Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing.
11.1.2 Master of Marketing
The Faculty of Business and Economics had foreshadowed a course to be titled Master of Marketing, which would be a new cumulative specialist Masters degree. This course would be made available to students in Semester One 1999. This course would be different from the currently available Master of Marketing, which was proposed to be re-titled (see item 11.2.1).
The Committee approved for submission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Faculty of Business and Economics to establish a new course, to be titled Master of Marketing, subject to the provision that no enrolments to the new course be permitted until Semester One 1999.
* 11.2 Amendments to Existing Courses
11.2.1 Master of Marketing - amendment to structure and change of title
This amendment was proposed for introduction from Semester One 1997. There would be no further intake into the existing Master of Marketing (see also item 11.1.2). The Faculty advised that students currently enrolled would be encouraged to take out the award under its new name, Master of Business (Marketing). The Faculty also advised that the newly titled award would be substantially restructured, and provided a comparative chart for the Committee.
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Faculty of Business and Economics to amend the structure of the existing Master of Marketing as detailed in the document presented and to amend the title of the award so that it becomes Master of Business (Marketing).
11.2.2 Graduate Diploma in Retail and Wholesale Management - amendment to structure
This amendment was proposed for introduction from Semester One 1997.
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Faculty of Business and Economics to amend the structure of the Graduate Diploma in Retail and Wholesale Management by replacing the subject MGM9761 Strategic Planning and Management with the subject MKT9251 Case Studies in Strategy.
11.2.3 Master of Management (Operations Systems) - amendment to title
This amendment was proposed for immediate introduction, as it was a correction of a typographical error. The incorrect change of name was approved at Education Committee Meeting 4/96, Minute 11.2.3.
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Faculty of Business and Economics to correct the title of the existing Master of Management (Operations Systems) so that it becomes Master of Management (Operations Management) and to delete all reference to the erroneous title approved previously.
11.2.4 Bachelor of Business / Diploma in Hospitality Management - to be offered on an additional campus
This amendment was proposed for introduction from Semester One 1997. The amendment would allow the course to be offered on the Gippsland campus in conjunction with the East Gippsland Institute of TAFE, in addition to its current availability on the Berwick campus with the Casey College of TAFE.
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Faculty of Business and Economics to offer the Bachelor of Business / Diploma in Hospitality Management on the Gippsland campus in conjunction with the East Gippsland Institute of TAFE, in addition to its availability at the Berwick campus in conjunction with the Casey College of TAFE.
11.2.5 Bachelor of Business - addition of Accounting major (Berwick campus)
This amendment was proposed for introduction from Semester One 1997, and would affect all Bachelor of Business combined courses available at the Berwick campus.
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Faculty of Business and Economics that the Bachelor of Business available at the Berwick campus be amended by the establishment of a new major sequence in Accounting.
11.2.6 Bachelor of Business - addition of Marketing major (Berwick campus)
This amendment was proposed for introduction from Semester One 1997, and would affect all Bachelor of Business combined courses available at the Berwick campus.
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Faculty of Business and Economics that the Bachelor of Business available at the Berwick campus be amended by the establishment of a new major sequence in Marketing.
11.3 New Subject Proposals
11.3.1 GBU3602 Information Law
11.3.2 AAF3250 Financial Aspects of Business Taxation
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the subject proposals listed in items 11.3.1 to 11.3.2 inclusive.
11.4 Amendments to Existing Subjects
The Committee noted the amendments to existing subjects of the Faculty of Business and Economics as listed above.
11.5 Disestablishment of Subjects
The Committee noted the disestablishment of the subjects listed above by the Faculty of Business and Economics.
* 11.6 Review of Graduate Courses
The Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics recommended to Education Committee that it approve the recommendations of the Graduate Courses Review Group. Each recommendation was considered separately.
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board each of the recommendations
contained in the Report of the Graduate Courses Review Group of the Faculty of Business
and Economics, and commended its thoroughness and detail to all other faculties for their
consideration.
Faculty Registrars,
Members
11.7 Monash University Grading Scale
The Committee noted that this matter was considered at Meeting 7/96 of the Education Committee.
11.8 Quotas for subjects in 1997
See also item 15.
The Committee noted the information provided by the Faculty.
* 11.9 Policy on cancellation of subjects
The Committee approved for submission to the Academic Board the policy of the Faculty of Business and Economics on the cancellation of subjects as detailed in the document presented.
12. MONASH MT ELIZA BUSINESS SCHOOL
12.1.1 XXXXXXX Economics and Competitive Analysis
12.1.2 XXXXXXX Managing for Sustainable Development
12.1.3 XXXXXXX 21st Century Leadership
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the subject proposals
listed in items 12.1.1 to 12.1.3 inclusive.
Prof McKern
13. FACULTY OF EDUCATION
The Committee received the Report of Meeting 5/96 of the Board of the Faculty of
Education and consider each item requiring action separately for submission to the
Academic Board.
Mr Yates
13.1 New Subject Proposals
13.1.1 EDFxxxx Achieving Quality in Teaching
13.1.2 GEDxxxx Research in Music Education
13.1.3 GED3905 Improving the Quality of Education
13.1.4 GED3907 Lifelong Learning
13.1.5 EDPxxxx School Effectiveness and School Improvement: A Comparative Review
13.1.6 EDCxxxx How Learners Learn
13.1.7 EDCxxxx How Teachers Teach
13.1.8 EDCxxxx Beyond the Classroom
13.1.9 EDCxxxx The Teacher's World
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the subject proposals listed in items 13.1.1 to 13.1.9 inclusive, and noted the correction made at the meeting of the title of item 13.1.3 and of the codes of several other subjects proposed, to read as above.
14. VICTORIAN COLLEGE OF PHARMACY
Mr Watson
* 14.1 New Course Proposals
14.1.1 Bachelor of Pharmacy / Bachelor of Commerce
The Board of the Victorian College of Pharmacy, at its Meeting 3/96, endorsed the proposal to establish a new double degree, to be titled Bachelor of Pharmacy / Bachelor of Commerce. The Faculty of Business and Economics provided a memorandum advising of the Faculty's approval of the document as submitted by the College of Pharmacy. This memorandum is attached (Attachment 3).
This course was proposed for offer from Semester One 1998, on the Parkville and Clayton campuses, depending upon the year of the course being attempted.
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal to establish a new double degree, to be titled Bachelor of Pharmacy / Bachelor of Commerce.
14.1.2 Master of Computational Chemistry
The Board of the Victorian College of Pharmacy, at its Meeting 3/96, endorsed the proposal to establish a course, to be titled Master of Computational Chemistry.
This course was proposed for offer from Semester One 1997, as a multimode (distance education/on campus) course. The distance education component would be completed over the Internet and the on-campus component at the Parkville campus.
Dr E Lloyd attended the meeting to provide additional information regarding this new type of course.
The proposal included reference to a number of units (subjects), which were not initially presented in the usual format for approval. At the Meeting, Dr Lloyd tabled the proposals for three subjects, and these were endorsed by the Committee (see new item 14.2, below). The proposals for the remaining subjects will be submitted to the Committee at its next Meeting. A course map was also tabled, and is attached to these Minutes (Attachment 4).
The Committee noted that this course was the first of its kind (combining largely electronic instruction with a brief period of on-campus instruction and research) to be introduced at Monash. The Faculty of Science representative commented that those members of his faculty who he had asked to examine the document had considered that it was an excellent proposal.
Members queried whether the College had developed any particular way of ensuring that the work presented was the student's own, and were advised that the on-campus component of the course was intended to provide that verification. It was agreed that this was an issue of great importance but that it was a problem faced in many courses and subjects.
Other questions raised included that of where the responsibility would lie for disciplinary matters, as the proposal was one in which a number of universities would co-operatively teach the course, and members were advised that students would probably enrol in a particular university from the beginning of their study, and that they would then be bound to abide by the rules of that University.
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal to establish a new degree to be titled Master of Computational Chemistry for introduction in Semester One 1997, subject to approval of the three remaining subjects to be made available for the first year of the course.
14.2 New Subject Proposals
Documentation was tabled at the Meeting regarding these proposals. In accordance with the usual practice for subject proposals, only the handbook entries are attached to these Minutes (Attachment 5).
14.2.1 MCC410 The Scope of Computational Chemistry
14.2.2 MCC411 Molecular Modelling
14.2.3 MCC412 Approximate Quantum Chemistry
The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the subject proposals listed in items 14.2.1 to 14.2.3 inclusive.
* 15. SUBJECT QUOTA APPROVALS FOR 1997
As a result of a decision taken late in 1994 by the Education Committee (Minute 8, Meeting 6/94), the Education Committee was given the responsibility to investigate subject quota proposals and report on these annually to the Academic Board. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor was authorised to approve the recommended quotas after investigation by the Education Committee.
In order to investigate quota applications, the Committee agreed to request from faculties the following information:
15.1 Quota Submission from the Faculty of Business and Economics
The Faculty of Business and Economics had recommended a preferential system for allocating places in its subjects. However, the Faculty did not submit quota statements to the Committee "in the usual format" as requested by the Education Committee at Meeting 7/96.
The representative of the Faculty of Business and Economics advised that there will be
no quotas on subjects in that Faculty in Semester One 1997.
Ms Pilgrim
15.2 Quota Submission from the Faculty of Engineering
The Faculty tabled a quota submission at Meeting 8/96 of the Education Committee. This submission is attached to these Minutes (Attachment 6).
The Committee approved the proposed subject quotas of the Faculty of Engineering as
detailed in the document presented.
Mr Secomb
* 16. HONOURS POLICY
The Committee was advised that the amendment of the Honours policy statement to include
the two additional types of professional honours programs had not yet been finalised. It
was agreed that this should be done as soon as possible and submitted to the Committee. It
was also noted that there need be no attempt to force the three disparate types of
programs into conformity, but that any Monash University professional honours program must
take no less than four years to complete.
Ms Brooks
Professor King
* 17. MATTERS OF CONTINUING INTEREST TO THE COMMITTEE
The Committee noted a number of matters to be considered in the New Year. These
included:
Ms Brooks
Members
* 18. MEMBERSHIP MATTERS AND MINUTES OF APPRECIATION
The Committee noted the resignation of a number of members of the Committee, several of whom were also leaving the University:
Particular mention was made of the dedicated service given by Mrs McMillan, who had
been a mainstay of the Committee and without whom much of the work of approving course and
subject proposals would not have been accomplished, and of the dedication of certain of
the student representatives, especially Ms Chew, for her constant attention to the issues
and interest in Committee matters.
Members
The Committee noted that Associate Professor Sue McNicol, currently on maternity leave,
would be replaced for the duration of her leave by the Dean of the Faculty of Law,
Professor R Williams.
Members
The achievement of one of the continuing members, Professor Grahame Taylor, recently
appointed (November 4 1996) Professor of Medical Education in the Faculty of Medicine, was
noted with acclamation.
Members
The Committee also wished to record a Minute of Appreciation for the commitment shown
to its work by the outgoing Chair, Professor Robert Pargetter. His contributions were
recognised as consistently enhancing the quality of education at this University, through
his fair and even-handed application of policy, his willingness to take a chance on new
ideas and his ability to make practice from policy statements. Student members commented
that they considered the Committee to be a forum for open and effective discussion of new
ideas, and that this freedom was primarily due to the efforts of the Chair.
Members
In turn, the Chair commended the Committee for its achievements, and agreed with the
comments of one member that the Committee had enabled Monash University to have arguably
the most effective quality assurance processes for academic developments in Australia. He
also congratulated the Committee for its active interested stance on all of the various
issues placed before it during his two years as Chair, and praised the work of the
Executive Officer, who had made the Committee function as effectively as possible and who
had contributed to the development of the issues of policy placed before it.
Members
The Committee also welcomed Associate Professor John Hurst to the Committee, who will
be acting for Mrs McMillan for the immediate future.
Members
* 19 NEXT MEETING
The next Meeting of the Education Committee will be held on Wednesday 5 February 1997. Course and subject proposal submissions for that meeting are due on or before 8 January; full reports are due on or before 24 January.
Due to a clash of timetable for the Acting Chair of this Committee, Professor Peter
Darvall, Meetings in 1997 will commence at 10 am. The location will
remain the same, and it is anticipated that the meetings will continue to last between 2
½ and 3 hours.
Members
It is very important that all final submissions include a report or draft report from
the Faculty Board. Submissions should be made electronically or on disk, as the
Agenda will not be circulated to non-members in the near future, but will be available on
the University's web page only. This means that submissions not received in an electronic
format will not be attached to the Agenda. A hard copy would be appreciated for
record-keeping purposes. The University's word processing platform is Word for Windows;
please use this format for submissions.
Members
Faculty Registrars
Professor R J Pargetter (Chairman)
Associate Professor R Alfredson, Engineering
Ms H Anderson, MUGSU, Gippsland
Mr J Beggs, MUSU, Inc, Caulfield
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
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
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) - Mr P Yates
Ms ER Brooks, Secretariat