Education Committee Meeting 3/99

Meeting No 3/99 of the Education Committee was held on Wednesday, 5 May 1999 in the Sir George Lush Room, Administration Building 3A, Clayton Campus, between 10:00 am and 11:45 am.

Ms Kerri Wilson-Reid

Executive Officer

Professor W Lindsay, (Chair)

Associate Professor D Garrioch

Dr P James

Mr K Bensley

Associate Professor A Farley

Associate Professor L Nethercott

Associate Professor P Gronn

Associate Professor K Ng

Associate Professor J Hurst

Mr C Avram

Dr B McSherry

Professor G Taylor

Professor L Piterman

Dr K Macrae

Associate Professor L Roller

Professor M King

Professor M Evans

Professor J Harris

Professor G Webb

Professor B Young

Mr D Hickman

Ms C Robinson

Ms A Purdham

Mr N Turner

Professor L Johnson

Dr M Morgan

Mr R Burnet

Dr P Rodan

Ms K Wilson-Reid

Ms F Walker

Dr G Ellis

Dr K Fraser

The Chair, Professor A Lindsay, welcomed new student members to the Education Committee.

The Committee noted that certain items had been starred as requiring discussion. Members nominated additional items 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 to be starred. The Committee endorsed the recommendations for all items other than those starred.

The Committee approved the Minutes of Meeting 2/99 held on Wednesday, 17 March 1999, which had been circulated previously.

The Committee noted that the items put forward in the Report of Meeting 2/99 of the Education Committee to the Academic Board had been approved.

In relation to the integration of the Learning and Teaching Operational Plan (LTOP) 1999 into the Monash Planning and Review Cycle, Deans were invited to nominate lead site activities in which their faculties would assume a University-wide leadership role in 1999, and then share their best practice outcomes with their colleagues in 2000. It was agreed that faculties would submit their proposals to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning) by the end of May 1999.

A memorandum from Professor A Lindsay, together with documentation from the faculties who had already identified their lead site activities was circulated (p 1–6).

Members considered the documentation presented from the Faculties of Law, Engineering, Science and Pharmacy and informally exchanged ideas relating to lead site activities. Possible lead site activities which may be adopted by the faculties who had not already made nominations were discussed as follows:

Studio teaching methods.

Use of quality visual information/communication (eg internet-based) with the intention of developing flexible modes of delivery.

Transition arrangements for students moving from one level of study to the next (eg. those entering tertiary study and students moving from undergraduate to postgraduate studies).

Methods of linking flexible delivery with traditional face-to-face learning.

Integration of generic skills into courses of study.

Development of web-based information for students.

Responses as canvassed from within the Faculty were to be considered shortly.

Development and management of document technologies.

Encouragement of various effective methods of delivery of course information and materials via the web (eg. handbook information).

Curriculum development in a professional discipline.

Conversion of a program to be delivered at an offshore campus.

Use of an information technology template across courses.

Assessment of students in a clinical environment and clinical assessment methodologies (possibly in collaboration with the Faculty of Law and Pharmacy).

Professor Lindsay highlighted that the establishment of lead site activities within faculties would assist faculties with the implementation of LTOP, and create opportunities for innovative development of best practice, or the significant development and strengthening of what was currently acknowledged as good practice. Members noted the Chair’s advice that the considered and focussed nomination of lead site activities by faculties would provide opportunities for quality outcomes to be shared with other faculties.

The Committee noted that lead site activities (including those which may be nominated as collaborative efforts between relevant faculties) would be considered by the Committee of Deans following their submission to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Planning).

As part of the revised course and subject proposal and evaluation procedures which were recommended by the Education Committee Procedures Review Working Party in its Report to Education Committee Meeting 8/98, the Working Party highlighted the existing "Guide to Writing Objectives for Courses and Subjects" as one of several guiding documents for the process of preparing course and subject proposals. Toward the end of 1998, the Working Party requested that a member of the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED) draft a revised version of that Guide which was located at the University Secretariat website.

Draft revised versions of the documents titled Education Policy Section 2.0 Course and Subject Objectives, and the Guide to Writing Objectives for Courses and Subjects, prepared by Dr K Fraser of CHED, were circulated (p7–18).

The Education Committee endorsed the revised versions of the documents presented titled Education Policy Section 2.0 Courses and Subject Objectives, and the Guide to Writing Objectives for Courses and Subjects, subject to the following amendments to Education Policy Section 2.0:

removal of the final dot point in item 2.3.5 (which was a continuation of the previous dot point);

amendment of item "2.3.8" to read "2.3.7";

inclusion of "diplomates" in the first line of item 2.1 (to read "…statement of outcomes for students, graduates and diplomates…"); and

further consideration being given to the University’s list of graduate attributes (as listed under item 2.2), including attributes contained in the Monash Plan, the Learning and Teaching Operational Plan and the Education Committee Procedures Review Working Party Report to Meeting 8/98 of the Education Committee.

It was also agreed that the Education Committee could give further consideration to item 2.3.7 of Education Policy Section 2.0 at a later meeting.

The Committee thanked Dr Fraser for her efforts in drafting the revised documents titled Education Policy Section 2.0 Course and Subject Objectives, and the Guide to Writing Objectives for Courses and Subjects.

Draft legislation titled Statute 6.1.1 – University Entrance and Admission to Courses (Amendment No 1 1999), prepared by the University Solicitor's Office, was circulated (p 19–26).

At its Meeting 3/98, Council resolved that responsibility for approving quotas for subjects be transferred from the Council to the Education Committee. The legislation under this item was drafted to implement that decision. As in legislation the reference is always to "parent" body however, the Committee noted that reference in the Statute was to the Academic Board, rather than the Education Committee. Members noted that in order for the Education Committee to be given responsibility for the approval of subject quotas in accordance with the original decision of Council, a resolution by the Academic Board to delegate that responsibility would be required.

In addition, the Committee noted that the legislation transferred the authority for approval of course quotas from Council to the Academic Board, and made a small number of minor changes to the Statute to more accurately reflect current University practice.

The question of how subject quotas should be determined was raised (eg. that academic merit should determine priority and that different categories of students should be considered). Members noted the advice of the Chair that details of the management of the approval process for subject quotas could be considered by the Education Committee following Ministerial approval of the Statute. The Committee also noted that the term "VCE or equivalent" would be more appropriate to use in reference to entry requirements.

The Education Committee:

endorsed for submission to the Academic Board (via the Admissions Committee) the legislation titled Statute 6.1.1 – University Entrance and Admission to Courses (Amendment No 1 1999), subject to the following amendment to section 4A.3.2:

change "tertiary entrance" to read "ENTER", and "90" to read "95"; and

agreed to recommended to the Academic Board that, conditional upon Ministerial approval of the above legislation, Academic Board resolve to delegate the authority for the approval of subject quotas to the Education Committee, in accordance with Council Resolution CL3/98/84.

This item was raised following preliminary discussions which had taken place between representatives of several faculties and Mr R Burnett, Assistant General Manager (Student Services), about the possibility of supplying some student ranks and percentile ranks in addition to student marks at individual subject level and at an aggregate level. It was recognised that difficulties arose when there were differences in mark distributions between disciplines and between institutions. The perceived benefits of such a facility were both internal and external and affected staff and students. Internally, availability of ranks could assist in processes such as the awarding of honours scholarships and prizes/awards for best student(s) or producing the lists to determine Golden Key membership. Externally, such information could assist students applying for national scholarships and prestigious employment positions, and staff when supporting such applications.

The Education Committee established a working party on information on student rankings to examine the issue highlighted above and make relevant recommendations to the Education Committee. It was agreed that the membership of the working party would include Dr B McSherry (convenor), Associate Professor A Farley, the Assistant General Manager (Student Services) or nominee and Mr D Hickman.

Members of the working party agreed to forward a report (or draft report) to Education Committee Meeting 4/99.

A copy of an email from Associate Professor J Hurst, Associate Dean (Teaching) of the Faculty of Information Technology, regarding an amendment to the section of the Subject Proforma relating to Computer Centre Requirements, was circulated (p 27-34).

Following significant discussion about the University’s computer infrastructure (including the division of funding between faculties and the University for that infrastructure), the Committee agreed that the Education Committee Procedures Review Working Party would consider how computer resource requirements should be specified on Subject Proformas, based on the recommendations presented in the email from Associate Professor J Hurst. In relation to the University’s computer infrastructure, the Committee agreed to request a report from Mr A McMeekin, Director of Information Technology Services, to provide details about the status of existing resources, faculty access and responsibility, and the level support to be provided by the University.

The Committee noted that once a recommendation had been made by the Working Party regarding appropriate changes to the Subject Proforma as detailed above, it may be necessary to establish a group to consider how any subsequent access and equity issues could be addressed.

At Meeting 1/99 of the Committee of Associate Deans (Teaching), a request was made for the clarification and formalisation of the University’s management of the exclusion process in relation to students undertaking double degree programs. A suggestion was made that the managing faculty for a double degree program could conduct the unsatisfactory progress interviews for the students concerned, with the other faculty having a representative on the interview panel. Draft procedures for the exclusion of double degree students for unsatisfactory academic performance based on the above suggestion, prepared by Associate Professors J Hurst and K Ng, and Ms K Wilson-Reid, were circulated (p 35-44).

The recommendation in relation to the above procedures sought to make appropriate additions, following a one year trial period, to the University’s existing exclusion for unsatisfactory progress procedures to cover double degree students. Those procedures titled the Faculty Exclusion/Unsatisfactory Progress Committees Functions and Procedures and the Exclusion Appeals Committee of the Academic Board Functions and Procedures, were also circulated for information.

It was suggested that this recommendation may have significant implications for administration within the Faculty of Law, as many of that Faculty’s students were enrolled in double degree programs. Members noted that Registrars from other faculties may also need to consider the procedures prior to their consideration by the Committee. It was agreed that the Procedures could be considered at the next meeting of the Education Committee, and that relevant comments regarding the suggested procedures would be forwarded by the Faculty of Law and the Faculty Registrars Group prior to that meeting.

The Committee noted Professor Lindsay’s advice that further issues had been raised in relation to the broader exclusion and exclusion appeals policies and procedures of the University. On the recommendation of the Chair (separate from the specific matter of double degree students detailed above), the Committee established a working party on exclusion including Associate Professor J Hurst (convenor), Professor M Evans, Mr J Duns, Dr P Rodan, Ms K Wilson-Reid and Mr G Nagtzaam. Members noted that the working party members would meet to draft Terms of Reference for the working party which would be presented to the next meeting of the Committee.

The Chair highlighted an issue which had arisen during the transition to the new procedures for course and subject evaluation which were adopted by the Education Committee at its Meeting 2/99, concerning the pre-evaluation of proposals (ie. the evaluation of proposals prior to Faculty Board). Professor Lindsay advised that for the more urgent approval of courses and subjects commencing in semester two 1999, it may have been difficult for evaluation to have occurred before Faculty Board due to the pre-scheduled meeting dates for 1999. Members noted the Chair’s suggestion that where such proposals could not be pre-evaluated, the Faculty Board could delegate its authority for the approval of final versions of course and subject proposals (where changes had been made through evaluation) to the Dean or Dean’s nominee, to ensure that proposals had been finally approved in accordance with the new procedures.

Professor Lindsay added that it should be possible for proposals with a commencement date of 2000 to have been evaluated prior to Faculty Board. Members noted that monitoring of these new procedures would be helpful for reporting to Deans about the effectiveness of devolving such procedures to Faculty level.

(Circulated p 45-46)

The Committee received the Report of Meeting 1/99 of the Board of the Faculty of Arts held on 3 March 1999.

The Education Committee endorsed for transmission to Academic Board the decision of the Board of the Faculty of Arts to re-commence intake of students into the subjects LAT1010/LAT1020 and AGR1010/AGR1020, inclusive of semester one, 1999.

(Circulated p 47–52)

The Committee received the Report of Meeting 2/99 of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics held on Wednesday, 31 March 1999, noted the proceedings and considered each item requiring action separately for submission to Academic Board.

A document was circulated (p 53–62).

The Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to establish the degree of Master of Marketing (Direct Marketing), to be offered on the Caulfield Campus commencing semester two, 1999, on-campus and via Open Learning. As this course is a 72 point masters degree, it will need to be listed in the Schedule of Exceptions in the Graduate Studies Policy.

A document was circulated (p 63–98).

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to amend the course structure of the Master of Business (Retail and Wholesale) by reducing the course from sixteen subjects to twelve, altering the admission requirements and providing additional exit points, as detailed in the document presented. As this course is a 72 point masters degree, it will need to be listed in the Schedule of Exceptions in the Graduate Studies Policy.

A document was circulated (p 69–72).

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to amend the Graduate Diploma in Retail and Wholesale Management, by changing the title of the award to become the Graduate Diploma in Retail and Wholesale Business, and amending the course structure by revising the sequencing of the eight subjects to reflect their cumulative sequential nature, as detailed in the document presented.

A document was circulated (p 73–76).

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to amend the course structure of the Graduate Certificate in Retail Business, by revising the sequencing and structure of the first four subjects of the course as detailed in the document presented previously.

A document was circulated previously (p 77–78).

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to amend the Graduate Diploma in Direct Marketing, by revising the course structure to reflect its cumulative sequential nature as detailed in the document presented.

Documentation was circulated (p79–82).

The following course was previously taught jointly by the Faculties of Arts and Business and Economics.

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to amend the course structure of the Graduate Diploma of Arts (Foreign Affairs and Trade), to reflect the change of ownership of the course from the Faculty of Arts to the Faculty of Business and Economics as detailed in the documentation presented, including a change to the title of the course so that it becomes the Graduate Diploma in Diplomacy and Trade.

Documentation was circulated (p 79–92).

The following course was previously taught jointly by the Faculties of Arts and Business and Economics.

The Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to amend the course structure of the Master of Arts (Foreign Affairs and Trade), to reflect the change of ownership of the course from the Faculty of Arts to the Faculty of Business and Economics as detailed in the documentation presented, including a change to the title of the award so that it becomes the Master of Diplomacy and Trade.

Handbook entries, together with some correspondence, were circulated (p 83–86). Further documentation was available for perusal by members.

The Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to establish the new subjects listed below:

MKC3134 Strategic Issues in Marketing

MKC3224 International Marketing

MGX9XXX Business Decisions Management

Documentation was circulated (p 87–92).

(The subjects under this item were referred to in the Report of the Faculty Board as MKF5702, MKF5703 and MKF5704.)

The Education Committee noted the decision of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to amend the following subjects, by changing their year level of offering as detailed in the documentation presented:

MKF9702 Marketing Database Strategy

MKF9703 Direct Marketing: Creative and Media

MKF9704 Direct Marketing Statistics and Mathematics

At its Meeting 4/98, the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics endorsed the disestablishment of the two courses listed below. The Faculty forwarded these to Meeting 1/99 of the Education Committee, however they were omitted from that Education Committee agenda.

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to disestablish the following courses:

Graduate Diploma in Operations Management

Master of Management (Operational Management)

(Circulated p 93–94)

The Education Committee received the Report of the Meeting 1/99 of the Board of the Faculty of Education held on Wednesday, 10 March 1999 and considered each item requiring action separately for submission to Academic Board.

Documentation was circulated previously (p 95–114).

The Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Education to make amendments to the degree of Master of Education as summarised below, and as detailed in the Faculty Board Report and other documentation presented:

establish the following as a third study option for completion of the 72 point degree:

Option 3 – 5 x 12 point masters level coursework subjects plus 1 x 12 point research paper (10,000 words approximately);

establish a specialist pathway for the degree of Science Education; and

establish a specialist pathway for the degree of Mathematics Education.

As the course is a 72 point masters degree, it will need to be listed in the Schedule of Exceptions in the Graduate Studies Policy.

(Secretarial Note: Immediately following the meeting, it was clarified by Associate Professor P Gronn that the words "Science Education" and "Mathematics Education" were to be included in brackets in the title of the degree for those pathways, which constituted the establishment of two new courses rather than a major amendment to course. The documentation was subsequently amended by the Faculty for inclusion in the Report to the Academic Board as the establishment of two new courses, in accordance with the required approval process. Both courses will need to be listed in the Schedule of Exceptions in the Graduate Studies Policy.)

12.2 New Subject Proposals

Handbook entries were circulated (p 115–128). Further documentation was available for perusal by members.

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Education to establish the new subjects listed below:

EDF3105 Teaching Studies B

EDF4105 Teaching Studies C

EDF3201 Curriculum Studies: Primary Art and Music

EDF3203 Curriculum Studies: Primary Technology

EDF3506 Cultural Studies (Early Childhood)

EDG1504 Human Development and Biophysical Foundations B

A document was circulated (p 129–130).

The Education Committee received the Report of the Meeting 1/99 of the Board of the Faculty of Engineering held on Wednesday, 10 March 1999.

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty Board of Engineering to amend the Master of Engineering Science (coursework and minor thesis) and the Graduate Diploma Regulations, as detailed in the Report of the Board of the Faculty of Engineering presented.

(Circulated p 131–132)

The Education Committee received a further Report of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology from its Meeting 1/99 held on Wednesday, 3 March 1999 (containing items which were omitted from the original Report to Education Committee Meeting 2/99).

A document was circulated (p 133–134).

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology to restrict enrolments in BUS2700 Integrated Business Systems SAP/R3 in semester two, 1999 due to resource issues.

A document was circulated (p 135–136).

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology to restrict enrolments in BUS4700 Integrated Business Systems SAP/R3 in semester two, 1999. due to resource issues

A document was circulated (p 137–138).

The Education Committee received the Report of Meeting 2/99 of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine held on Wednesday, 31 March 1999 and considered each item requiring action separately for submission to the Academic Board.

A document was circulated (p 139–156).

The Committee noted the advice of Professor M Evans that as this was a 72 point masters degree, it would need to be listed under the Schedule of Exceptions in the Graduate Studies Policy.

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine to establish a professional Master of Family Medicine (Clinical), to be conducted by distance education through the Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, commencing semester two, 1999.

A document was circulated (p 157–166).

Refer also to the new subjects proposed under item 15.2.

The Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine to establish the Graduate Certificate in Family Medicine to be conducted by distance education through the Department of Community Medicine and General Practice to commencing semester two, 1999.

Refer also to item 15.1.2.

Handbook entries were circulated (p 167–170). Further documentation was available for perusal by members.

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine to establish the subjects listed below:

CFM1001 Introduction to General Practice

CFM1002 Clinical General Practice

(Circulated p 171–172)

The Education Committee received the Report of the Meeting 1/99 of the Board of the Faculty of Science held on Wednesday, 24 March 1999.

Documentation was circulated (173–176).

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Science to amend the Bachelor of Science (Honours), by changing the entry standard as detailed in the documentation presented.

An email forwarded by the Registrar of the Victorian College of Pharmacy, Mr M Watson, regarding amending course regulations, was circulated (p 177–178).

The Education Committee endorsed the recommendation of the Board of the Victorian College of Pharmacy (from its Meeting 3/98 held on 2 September 1998), that amended regulations for the College be drafted by the University Solicitor’s Office in order to:

take account of the practical experience programs in the third and fourth years of the course;

provide for the four year course to be awarded at pass and honours level; and

provide for the course to be offered as a double degree program with other courses, such as the existing Bachelor of Pharmacy / Bachelor of Commerce.

The next scheduled Meeting of the Education Committee will be held at 10.00 am on Wednesday, 23 June 1999. All final submissions for that meeting are due on or before Wednesday, 9 June 1999 (see Submission Schedule and Evaluation Roster for evaluation schedule).

All final submissions to the Committee from faculties must include a Report from the Faculty Board. Submissions must be electronically submitted, and hard-copies should also be submitted for our records. Please DO NOT staple or submit double-sided hard copies.

Professor Alan Lindsay (Chair)

Associate Professor David Garrioch

Dr Paul James

Mr Karen Bensley

Associate Professor Alan Farley

Associate Professor Les Nethercott

Associate Professor Peter Gronn

Associate Professor Kim Ng

Associate Professor John Hurst

Mr Chris Avram

Dr Bernadette McSherry

Professor Grahame Taylor

Professor Leon Piterman

Dr Kristina Macrae

Dr Michael Morgan

Professor Louis Roller

Professor Max King

Professor Merran Evans

Professor John Harris

Professor Graham Webb

Professor Bill Young

Professor Les Johnson

Ms Claire Robinson (MONSU)

Mr Daniel Hickman (MSA)

Mr Ken Hull (MUGSU)

Ms Anne Purdham (MUBSU)

Mr Noel Turner (MPA - Master by coursework)

Mr Robert Burnet

Mr Clive Vernon

Dr Paul Rodan

Ms Kerri Wilson-Reid (Executive Officer)

Ms Fiona Walker (Minute Secretary)

Mr B Eddy

Ms M Fairbanks

Dr A Mitchell

Mr P Siggins

Ms J Buckingham

Ms C Holland

Faculty Registrars/Managers