Monash University

Education Committee Meeting 3-2002

Meeting No. 3/2002 of the Education Committee was held on Wednesday, 8 May 2002 in the Sir George Lush Room, Administration Building 3A, Clayton Campus, between 2:15pm and 4 pm.

Ms K Wilson-Reid

Executive Officer

Professor A Lindsay (Chair), Associate Professor D Garrioch, Mr K Bensley, Professor A Farley, Professor S Joy, Dr D Corrigan, Professor W Young, Associate Professor J Hurst, Mr C Avram, Professor S Campbell, Associate Professor T Luff, Ms G Ives, Associate Professor M Page, Dr T Patti, Associate Professor L Roller, Professor M King, Professor M Evans, Professor J Harris, Professor G Webb, Mr M Josem, Mr C Brooks, Ms S Narayanasamy, Ms N Lo’Ngok and Mr R Morgan.

Professor C Browne, Dr H Kreutz, Mr C Vernon, Mr P Yates, Associate Professor M Lindorff, Ms C Harboe-Ree, Associate Professor H Edwards, Dr L Webster, Ms K Wilson-Reid and Ms S Stafford.

The Chair, Professor A Lindsay, welcomed new members Professor C Browne (noting membership approval requirements by Academic Board), Mr M Josem, Ms S Narayanasamy and Mr R Morgan.

Professor Lindsay farewelled and thanked retiring member Associate Professor D Garrioch, for his substantial and solid contribution to the work of the Committee.

Professor Lindsay also welcomed Dr H Kreutz, who would take up the position of ADT Arts from 1 July, and Associate Professor H Edwards, Dr L Webster and Ms C Harboe-Ree, who were invited to attend the meeting.

This item was added at the meeting.

Professor Lindsay advised the Committee that the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Honourable Dr B Nelson MP, had released the first of a series of discussion papers entitled Higher Education at the Crossroads.

Noting that the Group of 8 (Go8) and the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee (AVCC) had indicated that they would respond to the request for submissions, Professor Lindsay informed the Committee that the university Council would put forward a broad-based response that would include input from Academic Board, Council, student and staff associations. The focal issues would be international activities, research and regional engagement. The Committee noted detail about the background to the paper, current government perspectives, possible issues for consideration and potential outcomes. The Chair advised that the paper was available on the relevant government website. (Secretarial Note: Refer to: http://www.dest.gov.au/crossroads/ )

Professor Lindsay advised that further update would be provided as more information became available.

Apologies were received from members Dr D Cuthbert, Dr P Richardson and Associate Professor I Prince, and Mr P Lawford (regular attendee).

The Committee noted that certain items were starred as requiring discussion. No further items were starred at the meeting.

A document was presented (pp 1-4).

Professor Lindsay introduced this item noting the importance of the task at hand and the pressing timelines involved.

Professor C Browne, Associate Chair of Academic Board, informed the Committee about the background to this issue and noted that the university was in a strong position to update the Plan taking into account developments since the last iteration and the mature Monash strategic planning environment. Members noted the initial work plan and time lines, and noted that appropriate and experienced people would need to be involved to move the update and the planning process forward.

Following meetings with heads of non-faculty units (eg. CHEQ), Professor Browne would facilitate the establishment of relevant working parties and focus groups. Associate Deans Teaching (ADTs) would play a core role in those teams and would also identify appropriate staff in faculties for involvement. The Committee of Associate Deans Teaching (CADeT) would act as a reference group for the update. Members noted information regarding the schedule for consideration of the exposure draft and approval of the revised Plan through Education Committee, Academic Board and Council.

Discussion occurred and the following points and suggestions were noted:

• the possibility of making the revised Plan available in XML. Associate Professor Hurst agreed to assist the process if appropriate;

• pairs of faculties would be identified on each Australian campus to sponsor campus focus groups;

• consultation would occur shortly with the Electronically Supported Teaching and Learning (ESTL) Steering Committee.

Action/Information: Associate Deans Teaching; Professor C Browne

Documentation was presented (pp 5-32). The new ‘Guidelines for Course Review’ were also attached. These provided specific information about courses further to the broader ‘Guidelines for Academic Review’ that went to Academic Board Meeting 3/2001. (As detailed in the Education Policy, course reviews are encompassed in faculty reviews.)

Professor G Webb, Director, Centre for Higher Education Quality (CHEQ), and Associate Professor H Edwards, Quality Advisor, Academic Programs, CHEQ, informed the Committee about the latest developments regarding quality trends and initiatives at the international and national levels and within Monash. Members were strongly encouraged to contribute to the 2003 Australian Universities’ Quality Forum (AUQF), with queries and input to Associate Professor Edwards. Members noted also that copies of the university’s quality support documentation was available on request to CHEQ.

Associate Professor Edwards advised the Committee about the draft ‘Guidelines for Course Review’, including background and the processes involved. Comments about the draft were received regarding the need to further flesh out process relating to double and multi-faculty degrees, reiteration of the cycle for review of units, a query about whether the guidelines covered research courses and addition of reference to student involvement for reviews from the relevant student associations.

Professor King commended the quality report and requested that a similar update be provided to the Monash Research Graduate School Committee. Professor King also noted the need for a schedule for review of research areas.

Associate Professors H Edwards, T Luff and M Page and Dr L Webster, informed the Committee about the pilot faculty-wide quality management systems that were underway in the Faculties of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Science and Law. It was agreed that information about the faculties’ approaches to this pilot project would be distributed to members by CHEQ.

Action/Information: Professor G Webb; Associate Professor H Edwards; Members; Executive Officer; Ms P Herman

A document was presented (pp 33-34).

Professor M Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs, provided an report regarding progress with the Academic Policy Bank Project. (Members noted that this would be the last report provided by Professor Evans on the project as her role now combined responsibilities as Director of the London Centre.) Members noted that existing academic policies relating to coursework matters had been re-cast into the new format based on the style and framework that had previously been approved. Professor Evans advised that the new academic policy framework would be basis for future coursework policy update and amendment. The Committee noted that policy gaps and more significant amendments (ie. new or substantially amended material) would later proceed to the appropriate committees.

Brief discussion occurred and the Committee noted that transferral of re-formatted policies into the new policy site, monitoring of the site, quality issues and procedure for review of policies would be managed by the University Secretariat. The Chair noted that policies under development currently or in the near future would need to be identified and cast (or re-cast) into the new policy format during the transition to the new site. Relevant proformas for policy and procedures and support for those casting policy would need to be made available.

Action/Information: Mr T Calder; Ms K Wilson-Reid

A document was presented (pp 35-44).

This report was initially considered by CADeT at its Meeting 5/2001. The working party agreed to consider issues that were raised at that meeting. Liaison occurred with the Examinations Branch and the Student Equity and Access Committee and a revised version of the report was considered at this Education Committee meeting.

Associate Professor M Page, Working Party convenor, spoke to this item and informed the Committee about background, proposed policy, definitions and applicability, timing of processes, implications for Language and Learning Services (LLS) and timing for implementation (for inclusion in the 2003 Student Resource Guide). Associate Professor Page recommended that the policy apply to undergraduate students.

Support for the report was expressed and discussion about the policy and recommendations occurred. Points raised included:

• the need to extend the timing of identification and application processes from the end of weeks four and eight, in order for students to receive feedback from assessment and for language difficulties to be adequately identified. It was noted that consideration and consultation about this would be required as timelines would have implications for LLS processes;

• the relevance of not achieving a credit average in first semester. Members were advised that the policy was intended to assist students in the pass/fail bracket. The Committee noted concern that instances may occur where English language skills were not tested until later years due to the nature / sequence of the units undertaken;

• process involved for dealing with relevant off-campus students.

A related admissions matter was highlighted that entry requirements could be tracked if particular records were kept during this process. Mr Avram noted that a sub-committee of Admissions Committee was currently looking into issues relevant to this matter.

Action/Information: Associate Professor M Page; Associate Deans Teaching; Student Members

A document was presented (pp 45-48).

The Committee noted the Chair’s advice that a change to the original recommendation under this item was required as reflected in the minute below.

Mr P Yates, Director, Services and Systems, took members through each of the previously approved recommendations about transcript matters and the status of their implementation. Further, Mr Yates’ informed members about the additional recommendations 7A to 7B that were included for approval. In relation recommendation 7B, Mr Yates advised that recording ranking of student results was intended to showcase strong results (rather than record the rank of all results). With regard to recommendation 7C, the Student and Staff Services Division (SSSD) and MONYX would consult further about possibilities for recognition of non-academic achievements.

Brief discussion occurred. It was noted that details of transfer information from other institutions were not intended for inclusion on Monash transcripts. Other institutions’ transcripts would contain relevant information. In addition, the Monash transcript could not appropriately provide interpretation of other institutions’ results.

The Chair noted that the Executive Officer would look at resolution of relevant administrative issues arising from the recommendations involving committee roles / terms of reference (eg. Scholarships Committee).

[Secretarial Note: Relevant matters regarding committee roles/procedural implications will be put to the next meeting of the Scholarships Committee for consideration.]

Action/Information: Executive Officer; Mr P Yates

At its Meeting 6/2001, the Education Committee endorsed a set of recommendations from the Working Party on Protection of Courseware on the Web. These were put to Academic Board Meeting 1/2002, where discussion occurred regarding the potential for conflict between enabling information to be widespread, accessible and accurate and the retention of control and copyright over the information.

On referral from the Chair, Professor A Lindsay, the Deputy University Solicitor provided information that was considered by the original Working Party. Minor modification was made to the original recommendations to clarify copyright issues. The amended recommendations were considered at this meeting.

Associate Professor J Hurst, convenor of the Working Party, spoke to this item and highlighted the amended references. Recommendation 1 had been clarified and recommendation 5 had been amended in relation to impact on copyright / intellectual property issues.

The Chair advised that a document had been prepared by SSSD that dealt with individual and other web pages and it was noted that this may provide valuable information in relation to the preparation of guidelines.

Action/Information: Executive Officer; Associate Professor J Hurst; Ms A Lazar; Mr P Marshall

The Education Committee membership structure was presented (pp 49-50).

Action/Information: Executive Officer; Professor C Browne

There were no items under this section.

The next scheduled meeting of the Education Committee (Meeting 4/2002) will be held at 2:15pm on Wednesday, 24 July 2002. Final submissions for the agenda for that meeting are due by no later than Wednesday, 10 July 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

 _________________________________________________________________________________

Professor Alan Lindsay (Chair)

Associate Professor David Garrioch (until end semester 1/2002)

Dr Heinz Kreutz (from 1 July 2002)

Dr Denise Cuthbert

Mr Karen Bensley

Professor Alan Farley

Professor Sally Joy

Dr Debbie Corrigan & Dr Paul Richardson

Associate Professor Ian Prince

Professor William Young

Associate Professor John Hurst

Mr Chris Avram

Professor Susan Campbell

Associate Professor Tony Luff

Ms Glenice Ives

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 Michael Josem (MONSU-Caulfield)

Mr Chad Brooks (MONSU – Peninsula)

Ms Shen Narayanasamy (MSA - Clayton)

Ms Natalie Lo’Ngok (MUBS - Berwick)

Mr Terry Pritchard (MUGSU - Gippsland)

(Pharmacy Students Association) – position vacant

Mr Richard Morgan (MPA – masters by coursework)

(MPA – Masters) – position vacant

Mr Clive Vernon

Mr Peter Lawford

Mr Peter Marshall (alternate - Mr Peter Yates)

Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree

Ms Kerri Wilson-Reid (Executive Officer)

Dr M Lindorff

Mr T Calder

Faculty Managers/Registrars (*9)

Ms P Herman

Ms S Stafford

Mr D Mernagh

Ms P Williams

Ms B Le Grand