Education Committee Meeting No. 2/2001 was held Wednesday, 21 March 2001 in the Sir George Lush Room, Administration Building 3A, Clayton Campus, between 2:15 pm and 4:50 pm.

Ms K Wilson-Reid

Executive Officer

There were present: Professor A Lindsay (Chair), Dr M Peel, Mr K Bensley, Associate Professor A Farley, Associate Professor L Nethercott, Dr I Walker, Associate Professor I Prince, Professor W Young, Associate Professor J Hurst, Mr C Avram, Professor S Campbell, Associate Professors T Luff, M Sim and M Page, Dr T Patti, Dr K Stewart (alternate for Associate Professor L Roller), Professors M King, M Evans, J Harris and G Webb, Mr K Lee and Ms D Brown.

In attendance were: Mr P Lawford, Mr P Yates, Mr A McMeekin, Ms B Shields, Ms K Gardner, Ms K Wilson-Reid (Executive Officer), Ms A Lazar (attended beginning of meeting), Ms S Stafford, Ms A Hamilton and Dr H Edwards.

The Chair, Professor A Lindsay, welcomed Professor W Young, Director of Graduate and Further Education, Faculty of Engineering, and Mr K Lee, student representative from MONSU, Caulfield, as new members of the Education Committee. The Chair further welcomed Mr A McMeekin,  Ms B Shields, Ms S Stafford, Dr H Edwards, Ms K Gardner, Ms A Lazar and Ms A Hamilton, who were in attendance for items being considered at this meeting.

At the invitation of the Chair, Mr A McMeekin, Executive Director of Information Technology Services (ITS), provided a Powerpoint presentation at the beginning of the meeting on the Information Technology Strategic Plan (Powerpoint presentation attached – Attachment A). Introducing the Strategic Plan, Mr McMeekin highlighted the stages of consultation that had occurred, the way the Plan had been set out and an assessment of Monash’s current IT services and systems. Mr McMeekin informed the Committee about the key themes of the Plan, the visions for IT and a connected Monash (e-Monash), the portfolio of projects and appropriate methods for project management. The Committee noted advice about projects of particular relevance to learning and teaching such as my.monash learning and teaching channels, web CT, and teaching space management. Mr McMeekin welcomed feedback from members about the Plan.

Brief discussion occurred regarding positive IT initiatives, including in particular the my.monash portal. Professor Lindsay commended the efforts and achievements of ITS under Mr McMeekin’s direction and noted that many aspects of the IT Strategic Plan complimented the Learning and Teaching Plan. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor commented about great opportunities and challenges ahead to identify and optimise the benefits for learning and teaching in conjunction with IT. The Committee thanked Mr McMeekin for the informative presentation.

Apologies for this meeting were received from Associate Professor L Roller, Mr C Wolfe, Mr E Miller, Mr S Juster and Mr P Marshall.

The Committee noted that certain items had been starred as requiring discussion. No further items were nominated at the meeting as additional items to be starred.

The Committee endorsed the recommendations for all items other than those starred.

The Committee approved the Minutes of Meeting 1/2001, held 31 January 2001, that had been circulated separately.

The Committee noted that each recommendation in the Report of Education Committee Meetings 8/2000 and 1/2001 was approved by the Academic Board at its Meeting 1/2001, with the exception of the following matters.

The proposals for major amendment to the Master of Business Systems, the Bachelor of Business and Commerce and the Executive and Graduate Certificates of Business (Management), were withdrawn from the Academic Board agenda prior to the meeting pending appropriate fulfilment of Offshore Quality Assurance Committee requirements.

Documentation was circulated p 1–56. (Refer also to item 6.)

As previously noted at CADeT Meeting 1/2001, all new courses and those significant amendments falling within defined categories of university-wide interest would utilise the new Integrated Academic and Resource Planning Approach from 21 March 2001. In addition, effective from 7 March, faculties would have in place their own procedures to handle all subject approval processes, and course amendments not falling into one of the defined categories of university-wide interest, on a devolved basis.

Members noted the URL for the integrated planning approach, located on the University Secretariat website: http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/unisec/res/cds/index.html

Professor Lindsay thanked Associate Deans Teaching for the timely provision of their devolved faculty procedures that were circulated in the agenda for this meeting. (It was noted that the devolved procedures of some of the faculties required further consideration and approval at the faculty level.) An updated version of the report on implementation of the new integrated planning approach was also circulated.

Professor Lindsay advised that course and subject proposals that had been initiated prior to 21 March would be submitted to the Education Committee, and the Offshore Quality Assurance Committee (OQAC) where appropriate, in the traditional manner. Following finalisation of those proposals, the roles of these two committees would be revised with a more strategic focus, with Education Committee continuing to consider academic policy and OQAC continuing its audit of the numerous courses offered offshore.

Initial discussion occurred regarding the application of the integrated planning approach and the devolved procedures. The following comments and points of clarification were noted:

Associate Deans Teaching noted that the following general amendments would be required to all of the faculties’ devolved procedures that were circulated:

The Education Committee considered each of the faculty’s devolved procedures circulated and the following faculty specific amendments / consideration were noted:

It was agreed that each Associate Dean Teaching would make the relevant amendments to the faculty’s devolved procedures and formally lodge those procedures within the faculty. Professor Lindsay foreshadowed that a report back to the Committee of updated faculty devolved procedures might be done later in the year following a reasonable period of implementation. Further development of the University’s Course Administration System would have occurred and at that time it may be appropriate to discuss potential for standardisation of the faculty devolved procedures where required for that system.

The Education Committee:

Refer also to item 5.

Taking into account that the new integrated planning approach would involve faculty-level approval of all course and subject developments, it was noted that the current Education Committee approval/reporting system would need to be replaced by a simple proforma that would be used to inform Education Committee of all course and subject developments and amendments (including disestablishments), approved by deans and faculty boards.

A draft of this proforma, prepared by the Secretary to the Education Committee, Ms K Wilson-Reid, was circulated (p 57-60).

Following brief discussion, the Committee requested that the following amendments be made to the proforma:

The Education Committee:

Action/Information: Ms K Wilson-Reid; Faculty Registrars/Managers

Professor G Webb, Director of the Centre for Higher Education Quality (CHEQ), provided an oral report on progress with the quality agenda. (It was foreshadowed that this item would become a standing item on the Education Committee agenda from this meeting.)

The Education Committee noted the verbal report provided by Professor G Webb on progress with the quality agenda, including advice about:

Feedback and interest from faculties was welcomed in relation to the points above about the possibility of Monash self-nominating for national quality audit, faculty use of the CEQ and the University’s graduate attributes.

A draft Monash University Global Equal Opportunity Policy, forwarded by Ms K Gardner, Manager, Student Equity and Access, was circulated (p 61-62).

The Chair welcomed Ms Gardner, who was invited to attend the meeting for this item. Professor Lindsay provided a brief outline of Ms Gardner’s work at Monash from 2000 to date. The Committee noted that Ms Gardner was currently also acting as Manager of Equal Opportunity. Members noted that this draft had previously had exposure in areas such as Student and Staff Services, Planning and Academic Affairs and the Offices of the Deputy Vice-Chancellors (Academic and Planning) and (Resources). Comment was invited from the Education Committee at this meeting. It was anticipated that the draft policy would also be considered at the Committee of Deans and other relevant University committees.

Ms Gardner commented about the significance of embedding equity and access issues in Monash practice. Ms Gardner’s suggestion was noted that it may be useful for faculties to account for consideration of these issues in the devolved faculty course and subject/unit approval procedures that were previously discussed at this meeting. Members also noted Associate Professor L Nethercott’s comments, supported by Professor W Young, regarding the relevance of equity and access to teaching and learning and the importance of understanding and awareness by Associate Deans Teaching about relevant issues.

The Education Committee considered the draft Monash University Global Equal Opportunity Policy, and commented on the draft. A query was raised regarding the notion of "unlawful" action. Clarification was provided that the draft policy covered requirements set out in legislation. In response to a further query, Ms Gardner highlighted the difference between "promoting" as far as possible, and "enforcing", the institution’s ideas of fair practice in other countries, taking into account the laws and standards of those countries.

A memorandum was circulated dated 7 March 2001, together with a draft amendment to two specific sections in Statute 4.1 – Discipline, from Ms A Lazar, Deputy University Solicitor (p 63-64). The memorandum set out specific issues in relation to penalties for academic misconduct and requested Education Committee endorsement of a draft amendment to two sections in Statute 4.1 – Discipline.

The Education Committee endorsed the principles set out in Ms Lazar’s memorandum, dated 7 March 2001, regarding Statute 4.1 – Discipline and penalties for academic misconduct and endorsed the subsequent, informal draft amendments proposed to sections 14.3.2 and 14.3.3 of Statute 4.1 – Discipline. (These amendments would be drafted in the formal manner by the University Solicitors Office and submitted to the Academic Board.)

A proposal to the Committee, in the form of a memorandum from Ms A Lazar, dated 7 March 2001, was circulated (p 61-66).

The Education Committee endorsed the proposal presented by Ms A Lazar, Deputy University Solicitor, that copyright warnings be included in course materials across the University as set out in the memorandum presented.

At Academic Board Meeting 3/2000, the following statement was endorsed as proposed by the Education Committee:

The Education Committee requested that each faculty provide a report on the processes in place in the faculty to ensure implementation of the above statement.

A Library Impact Statement was circulated (p 67-68).

The Education Committee noted the Library Impact Statement presented for the period January to December 2000.

A document was circulated (p 69-70).

The Education Committee received and noted the Report of a meeting of the Board of the Faculty of Arts, held 7 March 2001, and considered each item requiring action for submission to the Academic Board.

Members noted that this meeting of the Board of the Faculty of Arts was inquorate and that all matters forwarded under this report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Faculty Board, to be held 18 April 2001, for ratification.

This course amendment was included for approval under the Report of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics.

A document was circulated (p 71-72).

Subject to endorsement by the Board of the Faculty of Arts at its next meeting, Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Faculty of Arts to amend the structure of the Bachelor of Arts (International Communication) as detailed in the document presented.

An explanatory paper for this item, prepared by the Associate Dean (Teaching) of the Faculty of Arts, was circulated (p 73-74).

Subject to endorsement by the Board of the Faculty of Arts, Education Committee:

A document was circulated (p 75-78).

The Education Committee received the Report of Meeting 1/2001 of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics, held 19 February 2001, noted the Proceedings and considered each item requiring action for submission to the Academic Board.

Refer also to item 13.1.1.

A document was circulated (p 79-80).

This course proposal had cross-faculty involvement with the Faculty of Arts, with the Faculty of Business and Economics as the managing faculty. The proposal under this item had been endorsed by the Board of the Faculty of Arts. However, that meeting of the Arts Faculty Board was inquorate and the proposal would be returned to the next Faculty Board meeting for ratification.

Subject to endorsement by the Board of the Faculty of Arts, Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Arts to make a major amendment to the course structure of the Bachelor of Business and Commerce / Bachelor of Communication as detailed in the document presented.

Documentation was circulated (p 81-86).

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

The Education Committee noted the decision of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to make amendments to subjects as detailed under items 5 and 6 of the Faculty Board Report presented.

A document was circulated (p 87-88).

The Education Committee received the Report of a meeting of the Board of the Faculty of Engineering, held 13 February 2001, and considered each item requiring action for submission to the Academic Board.

A document was circulated (p 89-90).

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Engineering to change the title of the Master of Engineering Maintenance Management, to become the Master of Maintenance and Reliability Engineering.

Documentation was circulated (p 91-108).

(The subject amendments under Faculty Board Report items 2.1 and 2.2 involved an extension of the mode of offering to also include off-campus delivery.)

The Education Committee noted the amendments to subjects made by the Board of the Faculty of Engineering as detailed under item 2 of the Faculty Board Report and the documentation presented.

A document was circulated (p 109-116).

The Education Committee received the Report of Meeting 1/2001 of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology, noted the Proceedings and considered each item requiring action for submission to the Academic Board.

Documentation was circulated (p 117-122).

The course proposal under this item had cross-faculty involvement with the Faculty of Art and Design. Cross-faculty consultation had occurred.

Associate Professor J Hurst highlighted at the meeting that further cross-faculty consultation and agreement was required in relation to the breakdown of resource implications for the Faculties of Information Technology and Art and Design.

Subject to appropriate resolution of cross-faculty issues between the Faculties of Information Technology and Art and Design, the Education Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology to establish the Bachelor of Multimedia (Honours), to be offered as an on-campus course at the Berwick campus, commencing semester one, 2001.

Documentation was circulated (p 123-126).

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology to amend the Master of Network Computing as detailed in the documentation presented, from semester one 2001, to:

Documentation was circulated (p 127-128).

The Education Committee noted the decision of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology to amend the Bachelor of Software Engineering to:

Documentation was circulated (p 129-130).

The Education Committee noted the decision of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology to amend the Bachelor of Computing, to authorise the course leader of the Bachelor of Computing, after consultation with the course leader of the Bachelor of Information Management and Systems, to permit a variation to progression of SYS major students in the Bachelor of Computing (course code 0961 only), by the substitution of a CSE subject at second or third year level for a SYS or IMS subject when it was not feasible for the student to enrol in a SYS or IMS subject because of timetabling constraints.

Documentation was circulated (p 131-132).

The Education Committee noted the decision of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology to amend the Master of Digital Communications, to include CSE5302 'Digital Video Coding and Compression' as an approved communications subject.

Documentation was circulated (p 133-134).

The Education Committee noted the decision of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology to amend the structure of the Information Systems Development specialisation within the Master of Information Management and Systems, to remove IMS5029 Managing Legacy Systems from the prescribed list, cancel its proposed offering in first semester, and permit students to take either IMS5026 Data Warehousing, or IMS4401 Developing Multimedia Systems, instead.

Documentation was circulated for the new subjects proposed for establishment under this item (p 135-144).

The new subject proposal below coded IMS4401 had cross-faculty involvement with the Faculty of Art and Design. The required consultation for this proposal had occurred. Additional consultation had occurred between the Faculties of Information Technology and Business and Economics in relation to the subjects BUS2710, BUS5960 and BUS4710.

(Subsequent to submission of the Faculty Board Report, the Faculty advised that the proposals contained in that report for the new subjects MMS4401 Introduction to Multimedia Research, and BTW3641 Information Law, should be withdrawn from consideration at that time.)

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology to approve the following subjects:

Documentation was circulated (p 145-158).

The Education Committee noted the decision of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology to amend subjects as detailed under item 4 of the Faculty Board Report and the documentation presented.

The Faculty of Information Technology advised that it had endorsed the subject proposals of the Faculty of Art and Design listed below. The proposals MMS4001, MMS5002 and VCM4101 were approved by the Academic Board at its Meeting 1/2001. VCM4002 was approved at Academic Board Meeting 8/98.

The Education Committee noted that the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology had ratified the proposals of the Faculty of Art and Design for the following subjects:

Documentation in relation to the Proceedings of this Report was circulated for information (p 159-170).

A document was circulated (p 171-172).

The Education Committee received the Report of the Executive Committee of the Faculty of Law, held 6 March 2001, and considered each item requiring action for submission to the Academic Board.

Handbook entries were circulated for the proposals under this item (p 173-178).

Members noted that the subject below titled LAW7262 Goods and Services Tax: Complex Issues and Planning, was proposed to be taught in partnership with the Australian Taxation Studies Program at the University of New South Wales (ATAX).

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

A document was circulated (p 179-180).

The Education Committee received the memorandum dated 26 February 2001 from Mr M Lewenberg, Director of Academic Programs for the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, together with the attached major amendment to course proposal, and considered the item for submission to the Academic Board.

A proposal for major amendment to the Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) was circulated (p 181-196). Members noted further detail about the processes followed during the development of this proposal in the covering memorandum from Mr Lewenberg. Cross-faculty consultation about this proposal had occurred with the Faculties of Arts, Science and Law.

At the Chair’s invitation, Associate Professor T Luff, Associate Dean (Teaching) for the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, introduced this item. Members noted Associate Professor Luff’s advice regarding the major aspects of the proposal that involved the significant move by the Faculty (and the University) from a six year to a five year medical curriculum. Associate Professor Luff thanked Associate Professors Hurst and Roller for their evaluations of the proposal. Brief discussion occurred and Associate Professor Luff provided further advice regarding the reaction of hospitals to the changes, trends within other universities and the process of AMC accreditation. It was also noted that the Dean, Professor N Saunders, would provide an introduction to this item to the Academic Board.

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to amend the Bachelor of Medicine / Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), to change the structure of the course, as detailed in the documentation presented, to become a five year medical curriculum.

A document was circulated (p 197-200).

The Education Committee received the Report of Meetings 5/2000 and 1/2001 of the Board of the Faculty of Science, held 4 October 2000 and 7 March 2001, and considered each item requiring action for submission to the Academic Board.

A document was circulated (p 201-210).

Refer also to the item "New Subjects" below.

The proposal under this item had cross-faculty involvement with the Faculty of Medicine. Relevant cross-faculty consultation had occurred. Members noted that Monash University (the Departments of Psychology and Physiology), the University of Melbourne (Institute of Land and Food Resources) and Agriculture Victoria (Victorian Institute of Animal Science) would combine to provide teaching resources under the auspices of the Animal Welfare Centre, a joint Centre between the three institutions.

Members noted that, under the section of the proposal titled "Admission Requirements", students may be admitted to this Graduate Certificate who possessed a Bachelor’s degree (pass), or equivalent, or 3 years relevant work experience at an appropriate level (to be determined at the discretion of an academic selection panel).

Members noted advice from Dr T Patti, Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) for the Faculty of Science), that preparation of the relevant cross-institutional / partnership agreement was in hand. However to take into account the further approval requirements, the commencement date for this course would need to be amended from semester 2/2001, to become semester 1/2002.

Subject to the approval of appropriate cross-institutional/partnership agreements between Monash University and the external institutions/partners mentioned above, Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Science to establish the Graduate Certificate in Animal Welfare, to be offered as an off-campus course from the Caulfield campus (including two weekend on-campus workshops) from semester one, 2002.

(Secretarial Note: The commencement date for this course was amended as detailed above prior to submission of the proposal to the Academic Board.)

Documentation was circulated (p 211-214).

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Science to amend the Master of Psychology as detailed in the documentation presented, including:

Documentation was circulated (p 215-236). (The Faculty of Science had used a trial of the new course development software under the integrated planning approach for this course amendment proposal documentation.)

This course was offered in 2000 on-campus at the Caulfield campus. The Faculty of Science reported that the proposal under this item had received endorsement by the Offshore Quality Assurance Committee (OQAC) and accreditation from the Australian Psychological Society (APS).

The Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Science to amend the Bachelor of Psychology and Management / Marketing as detailed in the document presented, including extension of the offering of the course to off-campus via distance education, with off-campus offshore distance education in Singapore in partnership with the TMC Educational Group.

Handbook entries were circulated for the new subjects under this item (p 237-240).

Refer also to the item "New Course" above.

The proposals under this item had cross-faculty involvement with the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences. Relevant cross-faculty consultation had occurred. The subjects were all to be offered off-campus from the Caulfield campus, including a small (7 hour) on-campus attendance requirement.

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

The Education Committee noted that the Board of the Faculty of Science had made amendments to subjects listed under item 3 of the Faculty Board Report presented for its Meeting 1/2001.

The next scheduled meeting of the Education Committee (Meeting 3/2001) will be held at 2:15 pm on Wednesday, 9 May 2001.

For further information about the Education Committee including meeting dates and the submission schedule, please refer to the University Secretariat website at the following address:

http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/unisec/com/ec/information.html

Professor Alan Lindsay (Chair)

Dr Mark Peel (Acting)

Associate Professor David Garrioch (OSP 1/2001)

Dr Denise Cuthbert

Mr Karen Bensley

Associate Professor Alan Farley

Associate Professor Les Nethercott

Dr Ian Walker

Associate Professor Ian Prince

Professor William Young

Associate Professor John Hurst

Mr Chris Avram

Professor Susan Campbell

Associate Professor Tony Luff

Associate Professor Malcolm Sim

Associate Professor Michael Page

Dr Tony Patti

Associate Professor Louis Roller

Professor Peter Stewart

Professor Max King

Professor Merran Evans

Professor John Harris

Professor Graham Webb

Mr Kenny Lee (MONSU – Caulfield)

Mr Colin Wolfe (MONSU – Peninsula)

Mr Eyal Miller (MUBS)

Ms Deb Brown (MSA)

Mr Sharn Juster (MUGSU)

Ms Marian Mahat (MPA – Masters)

Mr Clive Vernon

Mr Peter Lawford

Mr Peter Marshall (alternate Mr Peter Yates)

Ms Kerri Wilson-Reid (Executive Officer)

Faculty Registrars/Managers (*9)

Mr B Eddy

Ms M Fairbanks

Dr A Mitchell

Mr P Siggins

Ms C Holland

Ms P Herman