The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed those invited to attend.

The Chair thanked Professor Merran Evans for her sterling job as Acting Chair of the Committee over the last year. Professor Evans was thanked by the Committee with acclamation.

The Chair also thanked Professor Phil Steele for chairing the previous meeting of the Committee in the absence of himself and Professor Evans.

The Committee was informed that the Secretary, Ms Soederberg, would be on leave for a year and members would be notified of the name of the replacement via email.
 

Additional starring of items 7.1, 7.2, 8.4, 9.3, 13 and 14 was proposed.

Two new items were added to the agenda under item 19, Other Business:

19.1 Learning, Teaching and Performance Fund outcome

19.2 Academic Calendar 2008

Item 12, Academic progress and exclusion – Amendment to statute and regulations, was removed from the agenda.

RESOLUTION 6-2007/2:

4.1  Good Universities Guide

A paper providing further explanation to the definitions and data of the Good Universities Guide 2008 Edition was included in the agenda. Professor Evans pointed out that the reliability of staff qualification data was dependent on staff members providing details. Although there has been an improvement, qualification information is still missing for a number of staff.
 

There was nothing to report from Academic Board meeting 6/2007 in relation to the Education portfolio.
 

RESOLUTION 6-2007/3:

* 7.1  Receipt of Reports

Professor Webb drew the Committee’s attention to the launch of the unit and course profiling tool at LTQC meeting 6/2007.

RESOLUTION 6-2007/4:

Education Committee received and noted the reports of meetings 5 and 6/2007 of the Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee.

* 7.2  Education Technology Framework

Professor Murphy outlined the background and process for constructing the Education Technology Framework. Professor Murphy thanked all those who had contributed to the process and provided feedback on the way. The Committee was asked to note in particular:

• the proposed governance structure where the DVC(E) is responsible for education technology governance;

• that the education technology policy will be reviewed in 2008;

• the establishment of an Education Technology Innovation and Development Group (ETIDG) and associated resource implications;

• that the my.monash portal is to be the main access point to online services.

In response to a question from Professor King, Professor Murphy replied that the framework would apply equally to HDR students as to undergraduate and graduate/postgraduate students.

Professor Hughes raised the issue of equipment in teaching spaces and in particular "flexible teaching spaces". Professor Steele advised members that a taskforce for learning spaces had been established that would ensure input from both lecturers and students of all campuses and faculties.

The Chair suggested that the ETIDG and the learning spaces taskforce liaise on the relevant issues. The ETC was requested to report directly to Education Committee.

RESOLUTION 6-2007/5:

Education Committee approved the Education Technology Framework.

For action/information: Professor Murphy, Professor Steele
 

8.1  Receipt of Report

RESOLUTION 6-2007/6:

Education Committee received and noted the report of meeting 6/2007 of the Education Policy and Programs Committee.

8.2  Recognition of Prior Learning Procedures

RESOLUTION 6-2007/7:

Education Committee approved the Recognition of Prior Learning Procedures.

For Action/Information: Ms J Perdriau, Dr K Macrae

8.3  Australian and International Professional Accreditation for Monash University Courses

RESOLUTION 6-2007/8:

Education Committee approved the following recommendations:

• Faculties enter all mandatory and voluntary Australian and international professional accreditation requirements into CUPID;

• Faculties to differentiate between mandatory and voluntary professional accreditation requirements into CUPID; and

• Faculties review the CUPID professional accreditation extract for completeness, and identify additional mandatory and voluntary professional accreditation bodies which would be beneficial for students, courses/disciplines and the university to be associated with.

For Action/Information: Ms S Arnott

* 8.4  Special Consideration Policy

RESOLUTIONS 6-2007/9:

1. Education Committee endorsed the abolition of mark adjustment as an outcome of Special Consideration.

2. Education Committee endorsed the draft Special Consideration Policy for approval by Academic Board.

3. Education Committee approved the Special Consideration Procedures.

4. Education Committee noted that EPPC will further consider recommendations 2-11 of the working party report.

For Action/Information: Professor M Davison, Mr D Eckstein, Dr K Macrae

8.5  Grading Scale

RESOLUTION 6-2007/10:

Education Committee approved:

1. the Monash Grading Scales, including new grades of NGO and WNGO in the Competency Grading Schema, and the disestablishment of the grades Merit, Faculty Pass, and Not Applicable

2. that a two-stage clean-up process for outstanding WH, DEF and NS grades is implemented as follows:

   1. any WH/DEF/NS grade existing prior to 1 July 2005 to be systematically changed in bulk to Fail, and

   2. any WH/DEF/NS grade assigned after 1 July 2005 to be examined by faculties and converted to a final grade by 31 October 2007.

For Action/Information: Mr G Toohey, Ms S Arnott
 

9.1  Receipt of Report

RESOLUTION 6-2007/11:

Education Committee received and noted the report of meeting 4/2007 of the Coursework Admissions and Scholarships Committee held on 20 September 2007.

For Action/Information: Ms J Perdriau

9.2  Coursework Scholarships Policy and Procedures

RESOLUTION 6-2007/12:

Education Committee endorsed the Coursework Scholarships Policy for submission to the Academic Board.

Education Committee approved the Coursework Scholarships Procedures.

For Action/Information: Ms J Perdriau, Ms K Duyvestyn, Dr K Macrae

* 9.3  Monash University Jubilee Honours Scholarships

During discussion the following comments were made:

• students at both overseas and local campuses are eligible for the scholarships and this should be reflected in information about the scholarship;

• the minimum mark requirement is a criteria for eligibility rather than selection;

• the minimum mark requirement could be clarified further (minimum mark of 80% in e.g. third year units, or units in the relevant discipline only);

• timing of the release of results and the application deadline;

• possibility of reserving some scholarships for students commencing their honours in semester 2;

• scholarships for "with honours" degrees (where the honours is not a separate course) are not covered by this proposal;

• funding for the scholarships is 50% from a central jubilee fund and 50% from central scholarships;

• students can not hold the Jubilee Honours Scholarships while holding another scholarship, however bursaries can be held in conjunction with the scholarships.

The Chair pointed out to members that the list of courses to which the Jubilee Honours Scholarships apply is not complete. The full list will be circulated after the meeting.

RESOLUTION 6-2007/13:

Education Committee noted the establishment of the Monash University Jubilee Honours Scholarships, to be offered in 2008 to mark the 50^th anniversary of the university.

For Action/Information: Dr C Hewlett
 

Professor Steele provided a progress report on the implementation of the policy.

In the report some faculties had questioned whether the five point maximum variation in the clearly-in ENTER for a course is too restrictive. In relation to this issue, members made the following comments:

• some courses at overseas campuses wanted to raise the ENTER score to match local competitors;

• the clearly-in ENTER score should be seen as a quality floor. Lowering the score could have negative effects in the longer term;

• there are currently mechanisms in place that allows significant flexibility (up to 12 points) to consider applicants with scores below the clearly-in ENTER;

• during a three year test period applicants may use the General Admissions Test (GAT) in addition to their ENTER scores.

• It was agreed that the minimum Monash ENTER score of 70 would continue to be observed for admission at all campuses, now and into the future.

This item was deferred to a later meeting.
 

Members raised questions in relation to what the faculties’ responsibilities are in relation to some of the learning skills KPIs and/or service statements. It was agreed that the library and faculties discuss these issues further to gain clarification.

The Committee requested that the learning skills KPIs and service statements be revisited at the next meeting.

Ms Harris presented the employer survey results and the background to the survey.

The Chair suggested further discussion on how to maintain communication with employers between the surveys which are to take place every five years.

RESOLUTION 6-2007/16:

RESOLUTION 6-2007/17:

A report from the Review of Coursework will be given at a later meeting. Associate Professor Kreutz thanked all those who had been involved during the review.

17.1  Overview of student retention at Monash, 2005/6

Professor Willis gave a presentation of student retention data for 2005-2006. A briefing paper with detailed information had been sent out with the agenda.

RESOLUTION 6-2007/18:

Education Committee noted the findings of the investigation of data on student retention at Monash, undertaken as part of the University Retention Project.

For Action/Information: Professor R Willis, Dr M Hildebrandt, Mr A Devey

17.2  Proposal to trial Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) at Monash

RESOLUTION 6-2007/19:

Education Committee noted the information on the nature and benefits of the PASS scheme, and endorsed a trial of the program at Monash in 1st Semester, 2008 to be run jointly through the Office of the Academic Director, Clayton and Caulfield, and partner faculties, as part of the University Retention Project.

For Action/Information: Professor R Willis, Dr M Hildebrandt, Mr A Devey
 

19.1  Learning and Teaching Performance Fund outcome

A paper on the LTPF outcome was circulated to members before the meeting. The Chair congratulated everyone who had helped in achieving the improvements.

During discussion, members pointed out that due to the long lead times (i.e. 2006 CEQ/GDS data are based on 2005 completers; 2006 progression data are based on 2006 enrolments; and 2006 retention data are based on 2005 and 2006 enrolment data) any recent improvements are not reflected in the 2008 funding.

19.2  Academic Calendar 2008

Ms Key raised the issue that the semester two mid-semester break in 2008 is after week 11 of teaching.

The EPPC working party on length of semesters, swot vac and timing for the release of results has discussed the issue and will make a recommendation via EPPC.
 

20.1  Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences report on approved course and unit developments

RESOLUTION 6-2007/21:

Education Committee noted the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences report on approved course and unit developments.

20.2  12 Month Summary of Approved Course and Unit Developments

A summary report of approved course and unit developments during the last 12 months is attached.

RESOLUTION 6-2007/22:

Education Committee noted the summary of approved course and unit developments during the last 12 months.
 

Final submissions for the agenda for meeting 7/2007 are due by Wednesday, 28 November 2007. Meeting 7/2007 will be held on Wednesday 12 December 2007 at 2.15pm in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3a, Clayton Campus.