Education Committee Meeting 1-2006

Meeting No. 1/2006 of the Education Committee will be held on Wednesday, 8 March 2006, in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton campus, commencing at 2.15pm.

Apologies: Please telephone: 9905 5049, or e-mail to: shana.chong@adm.monash.edu.au

Shana Chong, Secretary

Professor Robin Alfredson, Faculty of Engineering (in absentia)

Dr Debbie Corrigan, Faculty of Education (in absentia)

Associate Professor Marg Lindorff, Faculty of Business and Economics (in absentia)

Mr Tim Brown, MONSU Peninsula

Associate Professor Gary Codner, Associate Dean Teaching, Faculty of Engineering

Ms Emily Greco, MONSU Caulfield

Mr Michael Hayes, MUBS

Mr Chris Holmes, MSA

Associate Professor John Hurst, President, Academic Board

Dr Jeannie Paterson, Faculty of Law

Ms Sue Bell, Principal, Monash College

Mr Mark Hatwell, Manager Policy and Publications, Student Administration, for item 8

Ms Shona Le Grand, Executive Officer, University Planning and Statistics, for items 4.5 and 7

Associate Professor Michael Page, Faculty of Science, for item 7.3

Ms Ann Shelton, Solicitor, for item 4.4

Professor Phillip Steele, Pro Vice Chancellor (Campus Coordination), for item 9

Mr Noel Wilkins, Plagiarism Education and Prevention Project Officer, for item 12

None have been received at this time.

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:

The unconfirmed minutes of Meeting 6/2005, held on 26 October 2005, were circulated in hard copy on 5 December 2005 and are attached.

RECOMMENDATION:

*4.1 Education Committee Terms Of Reference p 13-14

As foreshadowed at the last meeting, the proposed amendments to the committee’s terms of reference are presented for consideration. The Chair will speak to the item.

RECOMMENDATION:

4.2 Education Plan 2006-10 p 15-26

Documentation is attached for noting. This final version will be presented to Council 2/06. The updated plan incorporates comments that came forward following discussion at Senior Management Committee, Academic Board and Council in November to December 2005 (the version approved by Council 8/05 was circulated to members via email on 15 December 2005).

RECOMMENDATION:

*4.3 Biannual Faculty Reports On Approved Course And Unit Developments p 27-36

The Faculty of Education biannual report on approved course and unit developments for December 2004, as approved from Faculty Board Meetings 3/04 and 4/04, is attached. This completes the biannual faculty reports for 2004 and 2005.

RECOMMENDATION:

*4.4 Status Report On The Update Of Faculty Awards Regulations p 37-38

A summary document is attached. Ms Ann Shelton, Solicitor’s Office, will provide an update of this item, as a pending item from Meeting 5/05.

RECOMMENDATION:

*4.5 Grading and Assessment

At Education Committee 6/2005, faculty summaries on policies, procedures and practices were considered.

An analysis of grade distributions across the university and a survey of grade descriptors for Group of Eight (Go8) will inform the development of Monash policy.

*4.5.1 2000-2004 Distribution Of Grades And Average Marks Analysis p 39-56

Documentation is attached, following a request to faculties for updated grading data on 2 February 2006, a summary analysis of grade distributions by faculty, campus and course. This data is available at: http://www.ups.monash.edu/academic/analyses/grading/

The analysis of the 2000-2004 distribution of grades and average marks is presented by:

• Distribution of Grades and Average Marks (2004) by Managing Faculty and by Campus;
• Distribution of Grades (2004) by Managing Faculty and courses with ≥ 30
  student enrolments; and
• Distribution of Grades (2004) by Managing Faculty and courses – including all student enrolments.

Professor Merran Evans, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Planning), will speak to this item. Ms Shona Le Grand, UPS, is in attendance.

RECOMMENDATION:

*4.5.2 Survey Of Group Of Eight (Go8) Grading Scales And Descriptors p 57-70

A survey of grading descriptors from Go8 universities prepared by University Planning and Statistics is attached.

RECOMMENDATION:

The Academic Board noted all matters that were reported for information from Meeting 6/2005 of the Education Committee.

In 2006 the Office of the PVC Planning will oversee the further development of education policy and review processes. Outcomes will be reported to Academic Board through Education Committee. The attached paper provides a status report on policy review and a proposed review schedule for 2006.

RECOMMENDATION:

*7.1 Report On The Review Of Course Proposals, New Units And Course Amendments p 77-96

As reported in Meeting 6/05, a review of new course proposals, new units and course amendments was undertaken in 2004. A report from the consultant commissioned for the review is attached.

The key recommendations from the report are outlined below.

That the University provide further explanation about reporting responsibilities in terms of the Strategic Significance Categories (SSC).

That the course approval template be redesigned.

That the attachments be embedded in the document.

That the position regarding sign-off of course proposals be clarified, especially in relation to budget costing models.

That faculties be made aware of the Course Profitability Model as a tool for evaluating new courses after the first year of operation.

That a mechanism be considered for cross-checking whether similar units exist in other parts of the University at the time of proposing a new unit proposal.

That mechanisms be considered for notifying other faculties that may be affected by the introduction of a new unit.

That, if appropriate, the university clarifies the position in regard to maintaining a distinction between minor and major change proposals and, concomitantly, whether there is a need for separate forms at the faculty level.

That mechanisms be considered for notifying other faculties that may be affected by course amendments.

RECOMMENDATION:

*7.2 Course Approval Processes In Other Australian Universities p 97-110

An analysis by Ms Shona Le Grand, University Planning and Statistics, on the course approval processes in other Australian Universities, is attached.

A suggested framework and criteria for course approvals from Professor Stephen Parker is also attached. The Chair will introduce the item.

RECOMMENDATION:

*7.3 Bachelor Of Biotechnology With Honours p 111-114

A key recommendation from the Biotechnology Education at Monash review (2004) was that a new four-year cross-faculty Bachelor of Biotechnology with a compulsory honours year be established for intake in 2006.

There are four stages in the course progression. The course requirements for students to proceed to stage 4 of the course require an average mark of at least 70 in at least 24 points of level 3 units. Students who have completed all of the stage 1-3 progression requirements but do not meet the requirement to proceed to stage 4 will be able to graduate with the pass-degree qualification [Bachelor of Science (Biotechnology). In accordance with the Assessment of Coursework policy

(http://www.adm.monash.edu/unisec/academicpolicies/policy/assessment.html ),

approval for a hurdle requirement above a pass level for progression within a course requires faculties to present a justifiable case to the Education Committee.

The paper proposes:

that Education Committee approves that the Bachelor of Biotechnology with Honours course, being ‘professionally-based’ and having been developed following detailed industry consultations, is consistent with the key requirements for a ‘Bachelor Degree with Honours’ course at Monash University and may be offered under that qualification category.

that Education Committee approves that to progress to stage-4 of the Bachelor of Biotechnology with Honours course, students must have completed all of the stage 1-3 requirements and have achieved an average mark of at least 70 in at least 24 points of level-3 units (including BTH3022).

Associate Professors Tony Luff and Michael Page will speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

Documentation recommending changes to Special Consideration is attached. The Working Party on Special Consideration Applications has been working on refining procedures to develop a consistent approach between faculties to evaluate special consideration applications. The procedures are located at:

http://www.adm.monash.edu/unisec/academicpolicies/procedures/specialconsideration.html.

The Chair will introduce the item. Mr Mark Hatwell, Working Party on Special Consideration Applications, will speak to the item.

RECOMMENDATION:

A proposed policy on academic programs offered from multiple campuses is attached. To illustrate the unit offerings across campus in 2005, a summary document is attached. It highlights the distribution of units that are presented at more than one campus.

Professor Phillip Steele, Pro Vice Chancellor (Campus Coordination), will speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

The attached briefing paper provides a "snapshot" of the international student profile within Monash University.

RECOMMENDATION:

A paper regarding the delivery of Open University Australia (OUA) course and units offered by Monash University is attached. Professor Merran Evans, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Planning), will speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

*12.1 PEP Project Evaluation Recommendations And Findings p 159-164

Documentation is attached. The Chair will speak to this item. Mr Noel Wilkins, Project Officer, is in attendance.

RECOMMENDATION:

*12.2 Policy And Procedures p 165-172

Documentation is attached. The Chair will introduce the item. Mr Noel Wilkins, Project Officer, is in attendance.

RECOMMENDATION:

The Commonwealth Learning and Teaching Performance Fund (LTPF) will allocate more than $250 million over a three-year period as part of the focus on teaching quality in Australian universities. A summary of the allocations for 2006 and 2007 funding process is attached.

University Planning and Statistics has prepared a series of documents on a comparison by field of study of Go8 universities from 2000-2004. These cover:

Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) - Good Teaching, Generic Skills and Overall Satisfaction measures,

Graduate Destination Survey (GDS) - measures for full time employment and further full time study.

The Learning and Teaching Performance Fund papers can be located at:

http://www.ups.monash.edu.au/academic/analyses/LTPF/LTPF-edited.pdf

Professor Merran Evans, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Planning), will speak to this item.

RECOMMENDATION:

Faculties will report their approved courses and units to the Education Committee for noting biannually. The last round of reports was submitted to Meeting 5/2005.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the Committee approve the schedule for submission of biannual reports of approved course and unit developments for noting by Education Committee:

• 1^st round – all faculties – Meeting 2/2006 (submissions due 29 March)

• 2^nd round – all faculties – Meeting 5/2006 (submissions due 23 August)

Professor Stephen Parker (Chair)

Ms Jenny Allen

Dr Heinz Kreutz

Professor Tony Dingle

Associate Professor Sally Joy

Associate Professor Brenton Doecke

Associate Professor Gary Codner

Professor William Young

Professor David Arnott

Dr Jeannie Paterson

Associate Professor Tony Luff

Dr Louise McCall

Associate Professor Louis Roller

Dr David Taylor

Dr Cristina Varsavsky

Dr Tony Patti

Professor Max King

Associate Professor John Hurst

Professor Merran Evans

Professor Graham Webb

Dr David Murphy

Ms Glenda Key

Ms Emily Greco, MONSU - Caulfield

Mr Tim Brown, MONSU Peninsula

Mr Chris Holmes, MSA – Clayton

Mr Michael Hayes, MUBS – Berwick

Mr Kirk Slywa, MUGSU - Gippsland

Pharmacy Students Association – position vacant

Mr Leslie Whiteley, MPA – masters by coursework

MPA – graduate/postgraduate diploma – position vacant

Mr Clive Vernon

Mr Peter Yates (alternate for Mr P Marshall)

Ms Christine Cooze (alternate for Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree)

Ms Sue Bell

Ms Shana Chong (Secretary)

Faculty Managers/Registrars (*9)

Mr T Calder

Ms P Williams

Ms P Herman

Ms B Le Grand