Education Committee Meeting 2-2007

Meeting No. 2/2007 of the Education Committee was held on Wednesday 18 April 2007, in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton campus, between 2.15 and 4.45pm.

Professor M Evans (Chair), Ms S Bell, Associate Professor G Codner, Associate Professor B Doecke, Ms C Harboe-Ree, Associate Professor J Hurst, Associate Professor S Joy, Dr Kariippanon, Ms G Key, Professor M King, Associate Professor H Kreutz, Associate Professor T Luff, Professor D Murphy, Associate Professor P O’Connor, Dr T Patti, Ms A Phelan, Ms K Roth, Professor P Stewart, Dr D Taylor, Dr C Varsavsky, Professor G Webb, Ms E Wilson, Professor W Young, Mr P Yates.

By invitation:

Dr Cecilia Hewlett, Ms Lisa Smith

Professor D Arnott, Professor T Dingle, Ms Caitlin Grigsby, Professor O Hughes, Mr T Masocco, Professor M Peel

Observer:

Ms S Arnott

Ms M Soederberg (Secretary)

The Chair welcomed the new members and those invited to attend.
 

Additional starring of items 6.2, 7.2 and 13 was proposed.

Two new items were added to the agenda:

16.2 Changes to the General Skilled Migration Program

16.3 Addition to Education Committee membership, PVC (Campus Coordination)

4.1  Complaints and Grievances of Coursework Students Procedures

RESOLUTION 2-07/3:

Education Committee noted the amendments to the Academic and Administrative Grievance Procedure.

Action/Information: Dr Cecilia Hewlett
 

6.1  Establishing, Disestablishing and Amending Coursework Courses and Units Policy and Procedure

RESOLUTION 2-07/6:

Education Committee endorsed the following items for consideration at the next meeting of Academic Board:

1. Establishing, Disestablishing and Amending Coursework Course and Unit policy; and
2. Pro Vice-Chancellor Campus Initiated Proposal Flowchart – Gippsland, Malaysia and South Africa; and
3. Faculty Initiated Course Proposal Flowchart
4. Education Committee approved the following items:
5. Establishing, Disestablishing and Amending Coursework Course procedures – which includes the technology impact statement;
6. Establishing, Disestablishing and Amending Coursework Unit procedures;
7. Inclusion of ‘Amendments to courses falling within the six defined categories of university-level strategic significance’ to the course proposal template; and
8. Changes to section ‘3.4 Education Design (a)’ and ‘Section 3.6 – Handbook Entry’ of the university course proposal template.

Action/Information: Ms Shona Arnott

*6.2  Access to Monash Courseware Policy and Procedure

RESOLUTION 2-07/7:

Education Committee endorsed the Access to Monash Courseware policy for consideration at the next meeting of Academic Board.

Education Committee approved the Access to Monash Courseware procedure.

Action/Information: Ms Megan Deacon

6.3  EPPC membership

Director, International Education, is a new position in the Office of the DVC (International) (ODVCI). The position has recently been added to the membership of Education Committee and a position description was presented at Education Committee meeting 1/2007.

The membership of EPPC currently include a representative of the ODVCI "as necessary". Due to the restructuring of the ODVCI and creation of the new position, EPPC endorsed a proposal that the Director, International Education, become a regular member of EPPC.

RESOLUTION 2-07/8:

Education Committee approved the proposal to include the Director, International Education, in the regular membership of EPPC.

Action/Information: Ms Kate Roth

6.4  EPPC student membership

The new postgraduate student member of Education Committee, Dr Kishan Arun Kariippanon, had expressed interest of being a member of EPPC and a formal nomination from Monash Postgraduate Association had been received by the secretary.

The membership structure for EPPC currently include one student representative, derived from the student membership of Education Committee. The current student member on EPPC is Ms Alexandra Phelan, MSA.

RESOLUTION 2-07/9:

Education Committee approved the proposal to include both Dr Kariippanon and Ms Phelan in the membership of EPPC while they are members of Education Committee.

Action/Information: Ms Madeleine Soederberg

6.5  Multi-Level and Cross-Listed Units

RESOLUTION 2-07/10:

Education Committee noted the briefing paper on Multi-Level and Cross-listed Units.

Action/Information: Mr Gerard Toohey
 

7.1  Commonwealth Learning Scholarships Amendment

RESOLUTION 2-07/12:

Education Committee approved the proposal to align the ongoing eligibility criteria (retention criteria) for students holding Commonwealth Learning Scholarships with the university’s academic progress practices.

Action/Information: Mr Kai Jensen

*7.2  Equity and Access Categories

A query was raised in regards to how the category ‘People of Mature Age’ would be assessed. It was suggested that this issue be clarified before reporting of this matter to Academic Board. Education Committee requested that Mr Jensen liaise with Ms Glenda Key in regards to this matter.

Secretary’s note: Clarification on how ‘People of Mature Age’ would be assessed – applicants aged 21 or more, who satisfy university entry requirements and course-specific prerequisites, and who demonstrate that they have had been disadvantaged in their education by having to absent themselves from study, may receive some additional consideration through the Monash University Special Admission Scheme bonus process.

RESOLUTION 2-07/13:

Education Committee approved:

1. That the following DEST equity categories and category of personal disadvantage be considered for equity scholarships.

Equity categories

1. People experiencing low socio-economic circumstances
2. People from rural and isolated areas
3. People of Australian Indigenous descent
4. People with a disability
5. People from a non-English speaking background
6. Personal disadvantage categories
7. People experiencing long term family difficulties

2. That, in addition to the above categories, the personal disadvantage category ‘People of mature age’ be included under the Monash University Special Admissions Scheme for additional consideration for entry to courses.

Action/Information: Mr Kai Jensen
 

10.1  Establishing the Employability and Employment Outcomes Committee (EEOC)

Ms Wilson presented the background for the proposal and a document was circulated. Ms Wilson proposed that the membership be limited to a core group of members. Other people would be co-opted to the committee as required or included in working parties to handle specific issues. It was noted that there were two nominations for faculty staff, from Business & Economics and Science respectively and it was proposed that there be a further nomination from one of the professional faculties. It was agreed that this person could be an Associate Dean (Teaching) who is a member of the EPPC, thereby obviating the need for a further representative from the EPPC.

Associate Professor Heinz Kreutz would be on the Committee in his capacity of Director, EPIC and would be the acting Chair until the commencement of the new DVC(E). Ms Eileen Wilson would be the Executive Officer to the EEOC.

It was agreed that the EEOC will focus on developing an Employability and Employment Outcomes Strategic Plan for the university by December 2007. After that time the EEOC terms of reference and structure will be reviewed.

RESOLUTION 2-07/16:

Education Committee established the Employability and Employment Outcomes Committee as a subcommittee of Education Committee.

RESOLUTION 2-07/17:

Education Committee determined the membership structure for the Employability and Employment Outcomes Committee and approved the nominated members:

1. DVC(E) or nominee (Chair)
2. A Head of School - Prof Kim Langfield-Smith
3. An Associate Dean (Teaching) - Dr Cristina Varsavsky
4. An Associate Dean (Teaching) member of EPPC
5. Director, International Education - Ms Kate Roth
6. Director, Careers and Employment - Ms Eileen Wilson
7. Nominee relevant to the area of student experience - Mr P Yates / Ms Sam Jacobs
8. Director, EPIC - A/Prof Heinz Kreutz (Acting Chair)
9. Director, CHEQ - Ms Robyn Harris
10. University Librarian - Ms Cathrine Harboe-Ree

RESOLUTION 2-07/18:

Education Committee endorsed the following Terms of Reference for the Employability and Employment Outcomes Committee:

• Based on analyses of the Graduate Destination Survey (GDS) results, recommend courses of action to assist faculties to improve their results.
• Recommend ways to monitor and improve the KPIs and Internal Performance Indicators relating to the GDS.
• Develop guidelines to enable faculties to develop their own employability and employment outcomes strategies.
• Identify the generic and industry-specific employability skills and attributes that are sought by employers and industry.
• Identify ways that these skills and attributes can be incrementally incorporated into course curricula.
• Identify ways to ensure that the operations of areas such as Careers & Development and Learning Skills are appropriately aligned to the goal of improving employment outcomes for Monash students during, and on completion of, their studies.
• Identify ways to increase the ‘reach’ of these areas to ensure that as many students as possible benefit from their services (e.g. via on-line and interactive web-based programs).

Action/Information: Ms Eileen Wilson

10.2  Strategic Plan for Employability and Employment Outcomes

At meeting 7/2006 Education Committee established a Working Party to review the Strategic Plan for Employability and Employment Outcomes and to consider feedback received from members.

RESOLUTION 2-07/19:

Education Committee noted the revised Strategic Plan for Employability and Employment Outcomes and referred it to the Employability and Employment Outcomes Committee for further consideration.

Action/Information: Ms Eileen Wilson
 

Associate Professor Heinz Kreutz introduced the item and invited feedback from members. During discussion the following issues were raised:

• Part 2 of the report, Background, does not accurately reflect the previous work done in this area and needs rewriting.
• Delivery through stand-alone modules, rather than embedding attributes, may work better in some disciplines. It was suggested that the statement promoting embedding of attributes be softened.
• It was suggested that an indication of measurement or assessment be incorporated in the second graduate attribute, Research-led teaching. The ensuing discussion highlighted that there would be an advantage for this be considered during the implementation stage and best be achieved at faculty level
• Members noted that there will be a need for teaching staff to be able to demonstrate possession of the graduate attributes. The university may need to offer staff development and training in these areas.
• Part 7, Next steps, need updating before further submission to Academic Board.
• Responsibility for implementation of the attributes rests with Education Committee.

Dr Cecilia Hewlett introduced the policy and briefed the committee on updates made since the last discussion. During discussion the following issues were raised:

• Procedure, para 4 and 6: there may be situations when staff are unable to contact a student. Amendment proposed (additions in italics, deletions struckthrough): must discuss the issue with put the matter to the student.
• The assessment cover sheet should be amended to suit group assignments as well as individual assignments.
• Students should be informed about the existence of a plagiarism register.
• Students should also be warned that plagiarism software is being used and what the possible disciplinary actions may be taken. This could be done by including a URL in the information part of the assessment cover sheet.

The Chair briefed the members on the development of a National Diploma Supplement. A workshop will be held in Melbourne on 3 May. Mr Terry Hogan, Student and Community Services, is attending and there is one more place available. Members were asked to notify the Chair if they are interested in attending.

Ms Lisa Smith gave a presentation on the new Learning Skills unit. During discussion, the committee raised the issue of how to measure the outcomes of the Learning Skills Unit. It was proposed that this could be built in to the Service Level Agreements for the Library and CALT.

Associate Professor Heinz Kreutz briefed the committee on the work of the Review of Coursework Committee. Five key principles intended to guide decision making related to coursework were articulated:

1. Breadth and depth
2. Integration
3. Cross-boundary
4. Choice
5. Transferability

During discussion the following points were made:

• The difference between Cross-boundary and Transferability could be made clearer
• Members found the idea of "maximising the student’s choice" appealing.
• The message of choice would be attractive to prospective students and the university should try to use this in the coming recruitment process.
• The key principles provides a concept of where Monash is heading
• Some students may need guidance in making the appropriate choice.

16.1  Appointment of a new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education)

The Chair updated the committee on the appointment of a new Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education).

16.2  Changes to the General Skilled Migration Program

Ms Roth provided a verbal update on recent changes to international students’ opportunities of obtaining a visa after finishing their studies. An 18 month post study visa is being introduced which aims at lifting graduates’ English skills and work experience.

16.3  Addition to Education Committee membership, PVC (Campus Coordination)

RESOLUTION 2-07/24:

Education Committee endorsed for submission to Academic Board the proposal to include the PVC (Campus Coordination) in the membership of Education Committee.

Action/Information: Professor Phil Steele

16.4  Week 13 Policy

A member raised the issue that some units will need to schedule lectures and present new material in week 13 of semester, to catch up for lectures cancelled due to the recent power outage at Clayton campus. The scheduling of new material in week 13 is against policy and an exemption from the policy would be needed for this particular problem.

It was suggested that a global email should be sent out to notify staff of this issue.

Action/Information: Professor Merran Evans
 

Final submissions for the agenda for Meeting 3/2007 are due by Wednesday, 16 May 2007. Meeting 3/2007 will be held on Wednesday 30 May 2007 at 2.15pm in the Sir George Lush Room, building 3a, Clayton Campus.