Education Committee Meeting 7-2006

Meeting 7/2006 of the Education Committee was held on Wednesday 13 December 2006, in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3A, Clayton campus, between 2:20 and 3:14 pm.

There were present:

Professor M Evans (Acting Chair), Ms J Allen, Ms S Bell, Ms L Smith, Professor T Dingle, Ms G Funes, Mr C Holmes, Associate Professor J Hurst, Ms Caitlin Grigsby, Ms G Key, Professor M King, Associate Professor T Luff, Mr T Masocco, Dr L McCall, Professor D Murphy, Associate Professor P O’Connor, Associate Professor M Peel, Associate Professor L Roller, Dr G Romeo, Drs D Taylor, C Varsavsky, Professor G Webb, Mr L Whiteley, Professor W Young.

By invitation:

Ms R Harris, Ms Sam Jacob, Associate Professor H Kreutz, Ms B Shields

Apologies:

Professor S Parker, Associate Professor G Codner, Associate Professor B Doecke, Mr M Hayes, Professor O Hughes, Associate Professor S Joy, Dr T Patti, Mr K Slywa

In attendance:

Ms M Soederberg (Secretary)
 

MINUTES

Part A  Procedural and Policy Matters

*1.  MEMBERSHIP AND ATTENDANCE

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair welcomed those invited to attend and new student representative member Ms Caitlin Grigsby.

The Chair thanked student representatives who have notified that they will not continue as members of the Education Committee in 2007 – Mr Les Whiteley, Ms Geraldine Funes, Mr Chris Holmes, Mr Michael Hayes (in absentia) and Mr Kirk Slywa (in absentia) – for their contribution.

The Chair noted that this was the last Education Committee meeting for Associate Professor Louis Roller and thanked him for his contribution over many years.
 

*2.  STARRED ITEMS

Members noted the following changes to the agenda:

• Item 4.1 – Learning and Teaching Performance Funding, tabled paper for noting

• New item, item 12 – Letter from Professor Parker

• New item, item 13 – Meeting dates for 2007, for approval

All items on the agenda had been starred as requiring discussion.
 

*3.  MINUTES

RESOLUTION EC7-06/1

The minutes of Education Committee Meeting 6/2006 held on 11 October 2007 were approved.

Action/Information: Secretary
 

*4.  MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES

*4.1  2007 Learning and teaching performance indicators

At the last meeting it was noted that the outcome of the learning and teaching performance funding would be known after 7 December. A briefing paper on the funding allocations across universities had been circulated to members.

RESOLUTION EC7-06/2

Education Committee noted the briefing paper on Learning and Teaching Performance Funding allocations.

Secretary’s note: The briefing paper with corrections mentioned at the meeting was circulated to members after the meeting.

For Action/Information: Professor M Evans, Ms N Mitchell

*5.  ITEMS OF INTEREST FROM ACADEMIC BOARD MEETING 7/2006

The Academic Board noted the reports of Education Committee meetings 5/2006 and 6/2006.

The Academic Board also:

• Approved the GPA/WAM methodologies.

• Approved the Credit Policy.

• Approved the reformatted English Language Requirements, Deferment and Internal Transfer Policies.

• Approved the proposal to introduce the Refugees Access Bursary.

• Approved the revised Vacation Scholarship Policy.
   

*6.  MATTERS ARISING FROM COURSEWORK ADMISSIONS AND SCHOLARSHIPS COMMITTEE

*6.1  Alumni Scholarship

Professor Max King gave a brief introduction to the revised proposal to introduce Alumni Scholarships prepared by the Working Party.

RESOLUTION EC7-06/3

Education Committee approved the proposal to introduce the Monash Alumni Scholarship.

Action/Information: Chair & Secretary - Coursework, Admissions and Scholarship Committee,

Director – Student Administration & Systems.
 

* 7.  MATTERS ARISING FROM LEARNING, TEACHING AND QUALITY COMMITTEE (LTQC)

RESOLUTION EC7-06/4

Education Committee noted the reports from Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee Meetings 2 and 3, confirmed Minutes of Meeting 2/2006, held on 21 September 2006, and unconfirmed Minutes of Meeting 3/2006, held on 9 November 2006.

Action/Information: Chair and Secretary - Learning Teaching and Quality Committee
 

* 8.  MATTERS ARISING FROM EDUCATION POLICY AND PROGRAMS COMMITTEE (EPPC)

RESOLUTION EC7-06/5

Education Committee noted the report and unconfirmed Minutes of Education Policy and Programs Committee Meeting 4/2006, held on 28 November 2006.

Action/Information: Chair and Secretary - Education Policy and Planning Committee
 

* 9.  MATTERS ARISING FROM THE BOARD OF STUDIES OF MONASH SOUTH AFRICA

It was proposed that the Board of Studies of Monash South Africa and the Academic Advisory Board of Monash University Malaysia be included in the circulation list for the Education Committee.

RESOLUTION EC7-06/6

Education Committee noted the Minutes of the Board of Studies of Monash South Africa Meeting 5/2006 held on 7 September 2006.

RESOLUTION EC7-06/7

Education Committee approved the proposal to include the Board of Studies of Monash South Africa and the Academic Advisory Board of Monash University Malaysia in the circulation list for the Education Committee.

Action/Information: Chair and Secretary - Board of Studies Monash South Africa, Chair and Secretary - Academic Advisory Board Monash University Malaysia, Secretary
 

* 10.  STRATEGIC PLAN FOR EMPLOYABILITY AND EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES

Ms Bronwyn Shields was invited to introduce the strategic plan. During discussion the following issues were raised:

Committee members were invited to send feedback on the strategic plan to Ms Shields before the end of January 2007. It was proposed to establish a Working Party to review the strategic plan and consider feedback received from members. The Working Party to consist of:

Ms Bronwyn Shields
Dr Cristina Varsavsky
Ms Robyn Harris
Associate Professor Heinz Kreutz
Mr Terry Hogan (Chair)

Careers and Employment has recently been reviewed and is undergoing changes to its organisational structure. Ms Sam Jacob, Acting Director, invited members to send feedback on Careers and Employment provision of services and make suggestions for improvement.

RESOLUTION EC7-06/8

Education Committee established a Working Party to review the Strategic Plan for Employability and Employment Outcomes and to consider feedback received from members. The Working Party will report back at the next meeting of the Education Committee.

Secretary’s note: The Careers and Employment review report summary was circulated to members after the meeting.

Action/Information: Mr T Hogan, Ms B Shields, Ms S Jacob, Members
 

* 11.  STUDENT EMPLOYMENT OUTCOMES

The Chair relayed a message from Professor Stephen Parker proposing that Student Employment Outcomes should be a standing item on every Education Committee agenda, and that the Director of Monash University Careers and Employment should become a member of Education Committee.

RESOLUTION EC7-06/9

Education Committee approved the proposal to have Student Employment Outcomes as a standing item on every agenda.

RESOLUTION EC7-06/10

Education Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal to include the Director of Monash University Careers and Employment in the membership of the Committee.

Action/Information: Director Monash University Careers and Employment, Secretary
 

* 12.  LETTER FROM PROFESSOR PARKER

A letter from Professor Parker had been circulated to members.

Members reflected on the tremendous work done by Professor Parker and the Committee noted with acclamation his service to the University.
 

* 13.  MEETING DATES FOR 2007

A paper had been circulated to members proposing the following meeting dates for 2007:

1/07, Wednesday 7 March 2007
2/07, Wednesday 18 April 2007
3/07, Wednesday 30 May 2007
4/07, Wednesday 8 August 2007
5/07, Wednesday 5 September 2007
6/07, Wednesday 10 October 2007

RESOLUTION EC7-06/11

Education Committee approved the meeting dates for 2007.

Action/Information: Members, Secretary

* 14.  OTHER BUSINESS

*14.1  Expanded membership of Education Committee

Associate Professor John Hurst proposed that the Director, Centre for Higher Education Quality be added to the membership of the Education Committee and that the membership for "Director, Learning and Teaching" be updated to reflect organisational changes.

RESOLUTION EC7-06/12

Education Committee endorsed for submission to the Academic Board the proposal to include the Director, Centre for Higher Education Quality in the membership of the Committee.

Secretary’s note: The current membership list includes the correct title for the Director, Centre for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching and updates have since the meeting been made to the relevant web pages.

Action/Information: Director CHEQ, Director CALT, Secretary

*14.2  AUQA report

Professor Graham Webb and Ms Robyn Harris briefed the Committee on developments in regards to the AUQA report. The report is expected to be officially released on 20 December 2006.

*14.3  ESOS legislation

Professor Tony Dingle raised the issue of how the University is dealing with changes to the ESOS legislation. The Chair advised that she would look into the matter in her role as Pro Vice-Chancellor, Planning.

PART B:  FACULTY REPORTS AND PROPOSALS

There were no faculty reports.

PART C:  NEXT MEETING

The next scheduled meeting of the Education Committee (Meeting 1/2007) will be held at 2:15 pm on Wednesday 7 March 2007 in the Sir George Lush Room, Ground floor, Building 3a, Clayton campus.