Present:

Professor A Shoemaker (Chair), Ms Sue Bell, Associate Professor Gary Codner, Professors Mark Davison, Tony Dingle, Associate Professor Brenton Doecke, Professor Merran Evans, Associate Professor John Hurst, Ms Dash Jayasuriya, Ms Glenda Key, Professor Max King, Dr Stephen Legg, Professor Tony Luff, Ms Jane Maher, Mr Terry Masocco, Professor David Murphy, Associate Professor Pamela O’Connor, Dr Tony Patti, Ms Kate Roth, Professors Phillip Steele, Peter Stewart, Ms Kim Styles, Dr David Taylor, Dr Cristina Varsavsky.

Apologies:

Ms Robyn Harris, Associate Professors Sally Joy, Louise McCall, Mr Sean Murphy, Dr Julie Roberts, Professor Graham Webb.

In attendance:

Ms Clare Holland (Acting Secretary). Invited for item 8.6, Mr Robert Barrett and Ms Cathryn Bunney.

Observers:

Mr D Eckstein, Mr Tom Ford, Dr Cecilia Hewlett, Mr Kendall Williamson

The Chair noted the following changes to membership:

• Faculty of Arts – The Chair thanked Professor Mark Peel (outgoing member) for his valuable contribution to the committee and welcomed Dr Jane-Maree Maher and Dr Stephen Legg who will be sharing the Education Committee role.

• Faculty of Information Technology – The Chair thanked Ms Kim Styles (outgoing member) for her valuable contribution to the committee and welcomed Dr Angela Carbone.

• MSA membership representative – The Chair thanked Ms Alexandra Phelan (outgoing MSA Clayton campus representative) for her valuable contribution and welcomed Ms Dash Jayasuriya.

Additional starring of items 8.1, 8.2, 8.3, 8.4, 8.6, 8.7, 10, 17, 18, noted.

RESOLUTION 7-2007/1:

Education Committee noted that some items had been starred for discussion and approved the recommendations for all other items.

RESOLUTION 7-2007/2:

Education Committee confirmed the minutes of meeting 6/2007 held on 10 October 2007 to be a true and accurate record.
 

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

Members noted that the following matters had been considered and approved by Academic Board at its meeting held on 21 November.

• Academic Board’s Terms of Reference.
• Annual Plan and Budget for 2008 (subsequently approved by Council)
• Reports on Load and Admissions, LTPF, University rankings.
• Schedule of Qualifications (Qualifications Categories Policy).
• Special Consideration Policy. (see item 10 of agenda)
• Coursework Scholarships Policy.
• Revised Grading Scales.
• Recognition of Prior Learning Procedures.
• Report of Meeting 6/2007 of the Education Committee.

RESOLUTION 7-2007/3:

Education Committee recommended to Academic Board that the following amendment be made to the membership of Education Committee:

membership of the Education Committee to include:

• a representative from the Academic Advisory Board Sunway campus

• a representative from the Board of Studies, Monash South Africa

• Following a question regarding Gippsland campus having similar representation on Education Committee, it was agreed that the matter be brought back to the Committee for further consideration.

For information/action: Ms C.Holland, Ms R Hinds, Prof H Ballis

7.1  Receipt of Report

RESOLUTION 7-2007/4:

Education Committee received and noted the report of meeting 7/2007 of the Learning, Teaching and Quality Committee.

For action/information: Mr M Fenaughty

8.1  Receipt of Report

RESOLUTION 7-2007/5:

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

8.1.1  Length of semester, SWOT VAC and release of results

A question regarding the working party report on the length of semester, SWOT- VAC and the release of results was raised (item 3 of Proceedings). It was agreed that the Director Student Administration and Systems, Gerard Toohey, provide a brief explanation of the relevant deadlines affected by this change to the next meeting of the committee. In the interim an explanatory document would forwarded to members.

(Secretarial postscript: following discussions subsequent to the meeting, it was agreed that the matter be returned to EPPC for further discussion and recommendation to the EPPC in early 2008)

For information/action: Professor M Evans, Assoc Prof O. Hughes, Mr G. Toohey Ms C Holland

8.1.2  Academic Progress hearings

A question regarding the definition of what constituted a ‘hearing’ as defined in the by the relevant statute was raised. It was agreed that further clarification be sought from the Solicitor’s Office and advice sent to APC secretaries as soon as practicable.

[Secretarial postscript – the following advice was received from the University consulting solicitor and sent to APC secretaries prior to Christmas shutdown:

• In order to have a ‘hearing’ that will suffice for the purpose of the Academic Progress legislation, it is not necessary for the student be present or that the student make a written submission.

• It is sufficient for the ‘matter’, (record/file) to have been presented to the committee for discussion and decision.

• As a result, Faculty APC’s should, as a matter of procedural practice, list all students who have received a notice of referral on the APC’s agenda and the committee will then have regard in its proceedings to the student academic record, student file and any submissions by the student made in response to the Notice of Referral. In some instances this may amount to one document (an academic record) which can form the basis of the decision of the APC to impose conditions or to exclude in accordance with the powers listed in 6.1.1.]

8.2  Grading Scale Policy and Procedures

RESOLUTION 7-2007/6:

Education Committee:

• endorsed the deletion of the reference to ‘Degrees with Honours’ from the Grading Scale Policy (item D of the policy document).

[Secretarial postscript: This matter will be further clarified at Education Committee 2/08]

• approved the grading scale procedures, noting that they were effective from 2008.

For information/action: Professor M Evans, Mr G Toohey, Ms N Mitchell

Clarification was sought on the use of the NP (Near Pass) grade. It was noted that its application varied depending on course regulations and professional course requirements.

8.3  Course Structure Policy and Procedures

The following matters were raised in relation to the Course Structure Policy document:

1. Offering compulsory course units. Concerns were expressed about the staffing implications of the policy recommendation, particularly where specialised 3^rd and 4^th year units had one staff member with unit expertise or where an offering related to changing the semester of offering. An amendment to the policy wording was agreed (see resolution below).

2. Offering elective units. Concerns were expressed about the amendments to this section of the policy, particularly the reference to maintaining course flexibility, academic breadth and professional accreditation by offering electives within course regulations. It was agreed an amendment be made to this section (see resolution 9 below)

RESOLUTION 7-2007/7:

Education Committee:

• endorsed the Course Structure Policy for transmission to Academic Board, subject to the following amendments:

1. Under the section entitled "Offering of compulsory Course Core Units", an amendment be made as follows (amendment noted in italics)

Compulsory units must be offered at least once each academic year. If a compulsory unit is cancelled in one standard semester in any academic year, it must be offered in the following standard semester. In this situation, there cannot be an interval of more than one standard semester between offerings of any compulsory unit.

2. Under the section entitled "Undergraduate Programs and Unit Electives", the existing section is to be replaced with the following: At least 24 points of undergraduate electives, including 12 units from the relevant unit offering of other faculties, will be made available to students in undergraduate courses unless there are professional accreditation requirements which dictate otherwise or where endorsed by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education). [Secretarial note to amendment 2 above: subsequent to the meeting it was advised that faculty boards approve changes to course requirements which may then be endorsed by the DVC (Education)]

For information/action: Ms N Mitchell

• approved the Course Structure Procedures, subject to changes arising from policy amendments approved at the meeting.

For information/action: Ms N Mitchell

8.4  Course and Unit Handbook Policy and Procedures

RESOLUTION 7-2007/8:

Education Committee:

• endorsed the Course and Unit Handbook Policy for transmission to Academic Board, with the following amendment in the Policy Statement to dot point 2, second sentence which is to read: ‘no other campus, faculty, school or department curriculum publication may use the term ‘handbook’ in its title or description;

• approved the Course and Unit Handbook Procedures

For action/information: Mr G Toohey, Mr M Hartwell

8.5  ESOS Student under Age 18 Policy and Procedures

RESOLUTION 7-2007/9:

Education Committee:

1. endorsed the ESOS Student under Age 18 Policy for transmission to Academic Board;
2. approved the ESOS Student under Age 18 Procedures

For information/action: Mr R. Barrett, Ms C Holland

8.6  ESOS Student transfer between Registered Providers Policy and Procedures

The committee was advised that in relation to students seeking a transfer from Monash (refer to the policy statement regarding issuing of release letters, item 2), the policy statement section be amended as noted in the following resolution.

RESOLUTION 6-2007/10:

Education Committee:

• endorsed the "ESOS Student transfer between Registered Providers Policy" for transmission to Academic Board with the deletion of the reference to course ‘appropriateness’ from the policy statement.

• approved the ‘ESOS Student transfer between Registered Providers Procedures’, subject to any changes as a result of amendments to the policy noted.

For action/information: Mr R. Barrett

8.7  Academic Progress Intervention Strategy Procedures

It was noted that the policy document to which the procedures referred was the ESOS Act and that the Intervention Strategies Procedures had been devised in response to the National Code requirement to provide additional intervention for mid-year intake students. A number of issues were raised in relation to the intervention strategy procedures, including the APC referral options.

RESOLUTION 6-2007/11:

It was agreed that the document be redrafted and returned to EPPC and Education Committee noting suggestions made by members and advice from Mr Robert Barrett regarding compliance issues.

For action/information: Mr R Barrett, Ms C Holland

8.8  Collaborative Coursework Arrangements Policy and Procedures

RESOLUTION 6-2007/12:

Education Committee:

• endorsed the Collaborative Coursework Arrangements Policy for transmission to Academic Board;
• approved the Collaborative Coursework Arrangements Procedures

For action/information: Ms C Holland

Members noted that Academic Board meeting 7/2007, 21 November:

• approved the abolition of mark adjustment as an outcome of special consideration application;
• approved the revised Special Consideration Policy.

RESOLUTION 6-2007/13:

Education Committee Members approved the revised Special Consideration Procedures and noted that further amendments to the procedures would be made through the normal committee process to include:

• a definition of "mark adjustment"
• changes relating to recommendations 3-11 of the Special Consideration Working Party

For information/action: Professor Merran Evans, Professor Mark Davison, Mr David Eckstein

RESOLUTION 6-2007/14:

In response to a question about whether procedural responsibility should lie with the teaching faculty or managing faculty, the Faculty Managers’ representative was invited to convene a working party to consider the use of the terms "teaching faculty", "managing faculty" and "owning faculty" in relation to University policy and procedure in general.

For information/action: Ms G Key

RESOLUTION 6-2007/15:

Education Committee referred the proposed Academic Review Policy and Procedures to the EPPC and the LTQC for further consideration.

For information/action: Prof M Evans, Prof G Webb, Ms C Holland

The committee noted that the final meeting for 2007 of the Coursework Admissions and

Scholarship Committee reported to meeting 6-07 of the Education Committee.

RESOLUTION 6-2007/16:

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 information/action: Ms K Duyvestyn

The Chair advised there would be some amendments to the nomenclature of a number of sub-committees reporting to Education Committee which would better reflect the Key Education Priorities for 2008 and beyond.

For information/action: Chair, Ms C Holland

RESOLUTION 6-2007/17:

Education Committee noted the University Education Policies and Procedures Compliance rates and findings from the October 2007 compliance audit.

For information/action: Prof M Evans

RESOLUTION 6-2007/18:

Education Committee reviewed and noted the distribution of grades 2002-2006.

For information/action: Prof M Evans

RESOLUTION 6-2007/19:

Education Committee noted:

• the memorandum regarding the Cultural Calendar which supports inclusive teaching practice at Monash;

• that, where student requests based on religious observance cannot easily be accommodated, the Equity and Diversity Centre may be contacted for advice and support.

For information/action: Ms L Zaks

RESOLUTION 6-2007/20:

Education Committee agreed that the statement of intentional purpose be refined

and returned to meeting 1-08 for noting.

For information/Action: Ms K Roth, C Holland

RESOLUTION 6-2007/21:

Education Committee received and noted the Inclusive Practices Student Equity Plan.

For information/action: Ms M Heagney

There were no additional items of business.
 

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

RESOLUTION 6-2007/22:

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

For information/action: Mr A Evans, Ms D Kimberley, Ms A Jackson
 

Meeting 1/2008 will be held on Wednesday 05 March 2008 at 2.15pm in the Sir George Lush Room, Building 3A, Clayton Campus. Final submissions for the agenda for this meeting are due by Wednesday 20 February 2008.