Monash University

Education Committee Meeting   6-2001

No apologies have been received to date.

• Ms Amanda Lazar, Deputy University Solicitor (in attendance for items)

• Ms Deanna de Zilwa, Policy and Planning Analyst (in attendance for Academic Policy Bank Project item)

• Ms Meredith Lyons, Undergraduate Studies Administrator, Faculty of Business and Economics (in attendance as an observer)

The Committee should note that certain items have been starred as requiring discussion.

Additional items may be starred at the discretion of the Committee.

RECOMMENDATION:

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee approve the Minutes of Meeting 5/2001, held 26 September 2001, that were circulated separately.

Members are invited to note that all items forwarded by the Committee from Meeting 5/2001 were approved or noted by the Academic Board as recommended.

Item 5 below contains further detail regarding consideration by the Board of management of plagiarism at Monash.

At Meeting 4/2001 of the Education Committee, members noted the schedule for 2002 meetings as approved by the Chair, Professor A Lindsay.

Meeting 4/2002 of the Education Committee has subsequently had to be re-scheduled due to a change to Council and Academic Board meeting dates.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee note the amended 2002 schedule for meetings of the Education Committee, including a change to Meeting 4/2002, as set out below:

(All meetings of the Committee will be held in the Sir George Lush Room, ground floor of Administration Building 3A, Clayton campus.)

5.2 Final Year Honours Components / Marks and Grades p 1-2

At Education Committee Meeting 4/2001, a query was raised regarding the university’s position on whether it was necessary to divide honours courses into assessable components (refer minute 11.1). It was noted that whilst the university’s ‘Fourth Year Honours Programs - Guidelines for Good Practice’ currently permitted more than one structure for honours for the recording of results, it was preferable and in the students’ best interests to divide honours into assessable components. The Committee asked Professors M King and M Evans, Associate Professors M Page and T Luff and interested student members, to draft an appropriate position statement with a view to its inclusion in policy.

A paper from the working group is attached. For further reference, the policy on ‘Fourth Year Honours Programs – Guidelines for Good Practice’ is located at:

http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/unisec/pol/acad11.html

RECOMMENDATION:

At its Meeting 6/2001, the Academic Board approved the recommendations that were forwarded by the Education Committee regarding management of plagiarism at Monash. (Refer Education Committee Minutes 5/2001 item 7.)

Discussion occurred at the Board about the importance of educating students about plagiarism generally at the faculty/unit level and about highlighting to students the meaning of unauthorised collusion at the unit or discipline level.

The Board also discussed the possibility of faculties creating a simple and effective register to record plagiarism incidents, especially occasions when feedback/warning about plagiarism had been given to students. It was agreed that Associate Deans Teaching would identify an appropriate process for recording warnings. An elaboration of this matter, provided by Professor S Willis, Dean of the Faculty of Education, is set out below:

"I think that in essence when a staff member sees an example of what appears to be either plagiarism and/or cheating but judges either that the case is minor or that it probably occurred but was not advertant, that is, the student did not understand or whatever, then the staff member needs to put it in the register simply indicating that the student was counselled and advised about the nature of plagiarism and cheating and directed to the University policy.

HOWEVER, equally important is that if another staff member has to deal with the student, s/he needs to know whether it has occurred before and a warning or counselling given and so before a staff member decides not to proceed s/he needs to check the register! Otherwise the students could be in the register many times and no one notice. This should not be on the student's record but in an alphabetised secure register only available in secure circumstances."

RECOMMENDATION:

5.4 Course Titling and Abbreviation Conventions p 3-6

At its Meeting 4/2001, the Education Committee approved a set of university standards for course titling and abbreviation that were proposed by IAS. Subsequent to the meeting, it was noted that the Research Graduate School Committee (RGSC) would also need to consider these standards as they applied to coursework and research courses. Before consideration by the RGSC, IAS had further consultation with faculty and central staff and made minor amendments to the document.

An amended version of the university and faculty standards for course titling and abbreviation is attached for information. The RGSC has endorsed these standards. These standards will be lodged on the Secretariat website at:

http://www.adm.monash.edu.au/unisec/pol/polaca.html

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee note the standards for university and faculty course titling and abbreviation, incorporating minor amendments as made by IAS following further consultation with faculty and central staff, set out in the document presented.

6. AMENDMENTS TO STATUTE 4.1 - DISCIPLINE p 7-22

Ms A Lazar, Deputy University Solicitor, has been invited to the meeting for this item.

The proposed amendments under this item relate to provisions for the hearing of discipline and appeal cases for students outside Australia, clarification of the quorum for the Central discipline committee (appeals), provision for the university to have the same general right to representation as the student; empowerment of the DV-C (Resources) to impose fines for certain offences involving university property, minor drafting corrections and an amendment to the powers of faculty and central discipline committees to impose specified conditions on the continuing candidature of the students concerned.

Documentation is attached including:

• a background memorandum from Ms A Lazar, Deputy University Solicitor;

• a strikeout version of Statute 4.1 – Discipline, showing the proposed amendments; &

• the proposed formal amending legislation ‘Statute 4.1 – Discipline (Amendment No 2 2001).

RECOMMENDATION:

*7. ACADEMIC POLICY BANK PROJECT p 23-54

A report from the Academic Policy Bank Project, together with relevant attachments, is circulated for consideration.

At its Meeting 7/99 the Committee discussed a draft proposal for a ‘Monash Qualifications Framework’. The MQF aimed to specify appropriate standards for all award qualifications offered by the university. It focussed particularly on award levels and their inter-relationships. The Academic Policy Bank Project has further developed these principles and seeks endorsement for the draft ‘Qualifications Categories Policy’ that is presented under this item.

Professor M Evans, head of the Academic Policy Bank Project and Director, Planning and Academic Affairs, will speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee:

• note the advice of Professor Evans and the report presented by the Academic Policy Bank Project;

• consider and endorse for submission to Academic Board:

  • the proposal contained in the report for an appropriate approval process for amended policies and procedures. This relates to the two types of re-drafted policies and procedures including conversions or collations of existing approved material into a standard template (minor editorial changes only) and new drafts for some topics that have previously been discussed but the principles have not yet been approved. For the first category where re-approval is not required, Education Committee could either designate a reference group for endorsement or the DV-C(A&P) could sign off on these policies and procedures on behalf of the Committee. The second type will need to be endorsed by the Education Committee and approved by the Academic Board as appropriate; and

  • the draft ‘Qualifications Categories Policy’ presented, noting that this policy will also require endorsement by the Monash Research Graduate School Committee.

*8. QUALITY p 55-56

A document is attached.

Professor G Webb, Director of the Centre for Higher Education Quality (CHEQ), will provide an update on the university’s quality agenda.

RECOMMENDATION:

That Education Committee note the report provided by Professor G Webb regarding the university’s quality agenda and the progress made during 2001.

At Meetings 3/2001 and 4/2001 of the Committee of Associate Deans (Teaching) (CADeT), the Committee discussed the question of whether courseware pages (web based unit materials) put on the web should be Authcate protected. After further discussion at Meeting 5/2001 of CADeT, it was decided that the recommendations of the relevant CADeT working party be considered by the Education Committee and that these directions be implemented as soon as possible. The ITS Division has been formally consulted during this process and has advised that implementation of the working party's recommendations will be possible.

Final recommendations from the working party are set out below. (The working party included Associate Professor J Hurst, Professors J Harris, A Farley and S Joy, and consultation with Ms D James and Mr A Treloar, ITS Division.)

RECOMMENDATION:

*10. SINGLE UNIT ENROLMENTS AT OFFSHORE COURSE DELIVERY PARTNERSHIPS p 57-58

A memorandum from Associate Professor R Pollard, Associate Dean (International) and Associate Professor J Hurst, Associate Dean (Teaching), Faculty of Information Technology, is attached for consideration.

The Faculty of Information Technology intends to prohibit single unit enrolments at offshore partnered (non-campus) locations unless such enrolments are specifically covered by a legally binding agreement. This will be done in order to avoid confusion for students offshore about the distinction between enrolment in a course and enrolment in single units (especially where admission to a course was not successful). This direction would also be more consistent with enrolments within Australia where, under the ESOS Act 2000 and visa regulations, international students are not able to enrol in single units.

Associate Professor J Hurst will speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee consider the policy of the Faculty of Information set out below for adoption as a university-wide policy:

Professor M Evans and Ms A Lazar have prepared an entry for the Student Resource Guide (SRG) titled ‘course materials’ that relates to fees for ancillary or additional services. The website for the DETYA guidelines for Higher Education Institutions on Fees for Ancillary or Additional Services is included in the SRG entry set out below: The DETYA guidelines only apply to HECS students. However, at Monash students are treated equally regardless of fee status.

It is the responsibility of all on-campus students to attend classes and take notes. Lecture notes, where provided by the faculty in on-line or print formats, are an additional and optional service. Other supplementary course materials may be provided from time to time. Copies of these materials normally will be made available in the Department/library/on-line for students who do not wish to purchase their own copy.

See http://www.hecs.gov.au/manual/01/htm/guidelines/advice_o.htm for guidelines for Higher Education Institutions on Fees for Ancillary or Additional Services."

Associate Deans Teaching have provided responses about the materials and services that are provided by their faculties that will be analysed by Ms Lazar.

RECOMMENDATION:

12. BIANNUAL FACULTY REPORT ON APPROVED COURSE & UNIT DEVELOPMENTS p 59-72

The biannual report of the Faculty of Education, for the first half of 2001, is attached for noting. (The first biannual reports of the other faculties were noted at the previous two meetings.)

RECOMMENDATION:

That Education Committee receive and note the biannual report, for the first half of 2001, of approved course and unit developments in the Faculty of Education.

13. SUBJECT QUOTAS p 73-74

A document is attached regarding subject quotas for 2002 in the Faculty of Law.

In accordance with Statute 6.1.1 – University Entrance and Admission to Courses and a resolution of the Academic Board made at Meeting 4/99, the Education Committee is responsible for the approval of subject quotas proposed by faculties.

RECOMMENDATION:

That Education Committee approve the subject quotas for 2002 in the Faculty of Law as detailed in the attached proposal forwarded by the Board of that Faculty.

The next scheduled meeting of the Education Committee (Meeting 1/2002) will be held at 2:15pm on Wednesday, 30 January 2002. All final submissions for the agenda for that meeting are due by 16 January 2002.

Other information about the Committee can be located on the Secretariat web site at:

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

Ms L Davies