Monash University

Education Committee Extraordinary Meeting - December 2004

An extraordinary meeting of the Education Committee was held on Wednesday, 15 December 2004, in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton campus, between at 12:35 pm and 2.05 pm.

Professor A Lindsay (chair), Associate Professor K Bensley, Dr H Kreutz, Associate Professor A Farley, Dr G Hildebrand, Professor R Alfredson, Professor W Young, Associate Professor J Hurst, Professor J Waincymer, Associate Professor T Luff, Dr L McCall, Associate Professor M Page,
Dr T Patti, Dr D Taylor, Professor D Kirkpatrick, Professor G Webb, Mr T Szalek, Ms M Rahman,
Mr D Taft and Mr C Avram (via teleconference).

Mr C Vernon, Mr P Yates, Mr L Ostroburski, Ms B Jacoby, Ms A Birmingham, Ms T Mier, Ms S Stafford, Ms S Chong (Secretary) and Mr J Munoz.

MINUTES OF MEETING

Agenda items were addressed in the following order: 6, 5 and 7.

Apologies were received from Professor C Browne, Professor M King, Associate Professor I Snyder, Associate Professor Y Ryan, Mr D Secomb, Ms M Aldred and Associate Professor V Clifford.

The Committee welcomed Professor Jeff Waincymer, Faculty of Law, and Ms Amanda Birmingham, Student and Staff Services, who were invited to attend this meeting. On behalf of the Committee, the chair welcomed incoming members Ms Marina Rahman, MPA, Mr David Taft, MSA and Mr Leo Ostroburski, MONSU Caulfield, who was invited to attend for item 6.

Documentation was previously circulated.

*5.1 STUDENT EVALUATION OF UNITS

Documentation was circulated. Professor Graham Webb, pro vice-chancellor Quality, introduced this item for discussion.

Members noted Professor Webb’s advice that the implementation of student evaluation of units had significant implications both in relation to the Learning and Teaching Performance Fund and in anticipation of the AUQA audit in 2006.

As background on issues associated with unit evaluation, members noted that the topic had been discussed both at Academic Board 6/2004 and by the Quality Subcommittee at its meeting held on 1 December 2004. Members noted the discussion of this item at Academic Board 6/2004 included the use of the term "reasonable", communication skills and the issue of whether the unit achieved its objectives.

In the context of the discussion at this present meeting of Education Committee, the chair proposed, and members agreed, to focus on the broad areas that should be covered and to consider the effectiveness of the questions (previously circulated) for the purpose of the evaluation.

In doing so, the Committee discussed in detail related matters, including:

• A recommendation that unit evaluation include an additional question on the ease of access by students to information / resources necessary to complete the unit was widely supported by members;
• Feedback on relevance of the curriculum was noted and supported by some members;
• Consideration was given to inclusion of an item specifically relating to evaluation of exams;
• Attaching filtering questions on items to produce more accurate responses was suggested;
• Consideration of alternative mechanisms to evaluate communication skills, noting that this was rated by employers who participated in the Monash Employer Survey as the single most important graduate attribute; and
• The evaluation form should include an explanatory preamble to assist students to interpret aspects of the unit evaluation that were potentially problematic, for example, what should be regarded as "timely feedback".

Members discussed the difficulties in differentiating, for the purposes of unit evaluation, the evaluation of individual teaching staff from the evaluation of pedagogy in the unit. Members acknowledged that there may be little or no distinction between these two aspects from a student perspective.

In the broad discussion regarding wording of items, members noted that the wording of the common items was intended to avoid double descriptors such as "focus and scope", or "information and resources", as noted in the discussion. The following items were highlighted in the discussion, including:

• suggested use of a broader term than "content" in item 1;
• the term "interest" in item 2 should be substituted with "intellectually engaging" or "stimulating"; and
• in item 6, members considered the proposal to re-word the item to read: "the unit helped develop my problem solving skills".

Members were asked to forward any further comments to Professor Webb and were advised by the chair that Professor Webb would initiate further consultation in relation to wording and content of the common items, as necessary.

From an operational perspective, members noted that the University had approved the purchase of "Teleforms", used for the evaluation answer sheet and online evaluation forms. This purchase would be useful for character recognition and minimise the manual input of data.

Mr Leo Ostroburski, 2005 Education Officer, MONSU Caulfield, was invited to attend for this item. The chair provided a background statement to this item and introduced Ms Amanda Birmingham, Manager, Workplace Policy, Student and Staff Services, to speak to this item.

The chair introduced this item and commented that the issue of English Language competency of staff had been considered and addressed previously in the context of regular faculty-level staff selection and performance review processes. The chair advised that this issue had also been formally brought to his attention by Mr Michael Josem, President, MONSU Caulfield. The matter was introduced for discussion at the meeting to explore faculty perspectives and approaches to this issue. Student experiencing problems in understanding the delivery of lectures and classes as a result of staff difficulties in speaking English, poor elocution and articulation were the main issues raised for discussion.

Members were requested to provide input on what measures could be adopted in the recruitment of new staff and provision of remedial or teaching support services for existing staff with verbal language difficulties, as part of the preliminary discussion on this issue. The Committee was in support of developing staff policies in this area and the following points were initially noted:

• That the approach taken be open and honest and conducted in a positive way;
• An acknowledgment that these problems extended from academic staff to PhD students;
• Engaging the involvement of these groups and managing solutions in a highly inclusive manner was essential;
• Staff English language competency was an issue across the university and, particularly in those faculties experiencing high student demand and increasing numbers;
• The use of focus groups might provide valuable opportunities to gain feedback on these issues;
• The solutions to these issues should acknowledge and incorporate cultural differences and barriers, as well as language difficulties; and
• The need for English language competency to be incorporated appropriately in staff performance management and review and contractual renewal processes.

Members noted that work had commenced on coordinating a policy in this area and this would be supplemented by availability of other supporting measures including staff development opportunities. The chair informed members that UAPS, led by Ms Sally Stafford, was working in collaboration with Ms Birmingham and Professor Denise Kirkpatrick, Director Learning and Teaching, in developing a policy framework.

Some of the mechanisms for dealing with selection and staff development proposed by the Committee included either a diagnostic testing of English language competency or English language test for all staff. Provisional appointment of staff with English language difficulties would be based on referral to English language intensive programs, including the Monash University English Language Centre courses, and continuing appointment appropriately linked to demonstrable progress in this area. The chair advised that Ms Birmingham would investigate this matter over the ensuing months and members would refer any further comments or staff that may provide insight to these issues to Ms Birmingham via email (amanda.birmingham@adm.monash.edu.au ). Members noted that deans, language and learning services, a wide range of staff and appropriate student representation should be included in the consultation process.

The chair thanked Mr Ostroburski and Ms Birmingham for their input in the discussion.

*7.1 OBSERVATIONS MADE BY THE ASSOCIATE DEAN TEACHING, FACULTY OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

The chair granted permission for Associate Professor John Hurst, Faculty of Information Technology (FIT), to make some final comments, noting that this meeting of Education Committee would be his last in his capacity as Associate Dean Teaching.

Associate Professor Hurst provided some observations on developments within FIT and expressed concern at the process by which the faculty was developing new courses.

The chair acknowledged Associate Professor Hurst’s service to the Committee and his deep commitment to high quality teaching at Monash, always evident in Associate Professor Hurst’s input to the Education Committee during his membership of many years.

On behalf of the Committee, Professor Lindsay expressed his thanks to Associate Professor John Hurst.

Professor Lindsay also paid tribute to Mr Chris Avram’s long and active service as a member of the Committee as Associate Dean Teaching in particular through his leadership roles in core areas of academic and policy development.

*7.2 GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES AND REVIEW OF COURSE AND UNIT APPROVALS

The chair foreshadowed the implementation of Graduate Attributes for the Committee’s consideration in 2005 and the revision of course and unit approval procedures, following consultation with faculty deans in the new academic year.

*7.3 RELEASE OF EXAMINATION RESULTS

The chair expressed the university’s acknowledgment and his personal thanks for the long hours of work and efforts of all staff involved in processing, approving and releasing students’ examination results.

The next meeting of the Education Committee (Meeting 1/2005) will be held at 2.15pm on Wednesday, 16 February 2005.

Professor Alan Lindsay (chair)

Associate Professor Karen Bensley

Dr Heinz Kreutz

Associate Professor Alan Farley

Associate Professor Sally Joy

Dr Gaell Hildebrand

Associate Professor Ilana Snyder

Professor Robin Alfredson

Professor William Young

Professor David Arnott

Professor Jeffrey Waincymer

Associate Professor Tony Luff

Dr Louise McCall

Dr Cristina Varsavsky

Dr Tony Patti

Associate Professor Louis Roller

Dr David Taylor

Professor Max King

Professor Chris Browne

Professor Merran Evans

Professor Denise Kirkpatrick

Professor Graham Webb

Mr Leo Ostroburski (MONSU – Caulfield)

VACANT (MONSU – Peninsula)

Mr David Taft (MSA – Clayton)

Mr Max Ribitzky (MUBS – Berwick)

Mr Benjamin Batten (MUGSU – Gippsland)

VACANT - Pharmacy Students Association

Ms Marina Rahman (MPA – masters by coursework)

(MPA – graduate diploma) – position vacant

Mr Clive Vernon

Ms Glenda Key

Mr Peter Yates (alternate for Mr P Marshall)

Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree

Associate Professor Valerie Clifford

Associate Professor Yoni Ryan

Associate Professor Marg Lindorff

Ms Shana Chong (Secretary)

Faculty Managers/Registrars (*9)

Mr T Calder

Ms K Wilson-Reid

Ms P Williams

Ms P Herman

Ms S Stafford

Ms B Le Grand