Council Meeting 2-1990

Meeting No. 2/90 of the Monash University Council was held on Monday, 26 February 1990, in the Council Room, University Offices, between 3.40 and 4.35 pm.

There were present:

The Chancellor, The Hon. Sir George Lush, in the Chair

The Deputy Chancellor, Mr J.A. Hancock

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor M.I. Logan

In attendance were:

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor J.A. Hay

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor I.J. Polmear

The Registrar, Mr A.L. Pritchard

The Comptroller, Mr P.B. Wade

The Secretary, Mr M.D. Watson

The Information Officer. Mr T.P. Thwaites

Apologies were received from:

M I N U T E S

1. INTRODUCTORY AND FORMAL BUSINESS

1.1 Special Leave

Special leave was requested by and granted to Mr Wallace for the 26 February meeting and to Mr Ellis and Mr Grayson for the 9 April meeting of Council.

1.2 Minutes

The minutes of Meeting No. 8/89 held on 11 December, copies of which had been circulated, were confirmed and signed, subject to it being recorded that recommendations had been approved in the following additional items of the Professorial Board's report:

8.3 Subject Quotas - Faculty of Law;

12. Award of the Degree of Doctor of Medicine.

1.3 Matters Arising from the Minutes

1.3.1 Union Board

In response to a question from Professor Melbourne in regard to item 3.5.1 of the minutes, the Vice-Chancellor confirmed that the legal opinion on the interpretation of section 1.4 of the Monash-Chisholm Heads of Agreement was in hand and available for consideration by the Union Board at its next meeting.

1.4 Gifts and Grants

Council noted with appreciation the attached listing of gifts and grants received by the University during December and January.

1.5 Donations to the Library

Council noted with appreciation the attached listing of books presented to the University Library since last reported.

1.6 University Seal

Council noted and approved the attached listing of documents to which the University Seal had been affixed since the report submitted to its previous ordinary meeting.

1.7 Australia Day Honours

Council noted with pleasure that Professor Paul Korner, Professor of Medicine, Director of the Baker Institute of Medical Research, and President of the Amalgamated Alfred Hospital Board of Management, had been created an Officer in the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours list

2. REPORT OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR

2.1 Montech Pty Ltd

The Vice-Chancellor spoke to the attached report summarising the performance of Montech Pty Ltd in its first three years of operation. Professor Logan said the comparatively modest success enjoyed by the Company in its formative years had to be viewed in the context of the problems besetting small business of late and a lack of incentives that might encourage research staff, particularly in the Faculty of Science, to seek out its services.

2.2 Merger Matters

The Vice-Chancellor informed Council that, since the special meeting on 16 February, he had met with Mr Haddon Storey, who had pledged Opposition support for the merger legislation in Parliament given the continued agreement of all parties involved.

Professor Logan also informed Council that he had just come from a meeting with Mr Evan Walker, who was anxious to introduce the Bill in the Upper House as soon as possible, but not before it had the formal endorsement of the Chisholm and Gippsland Councils. There was no reason to believe, he said, that this support would not be forthcoming at the next scheduled meetings of both bodies.

On a peripheral matter, in response to a question from Mrs Strauss, the Comptroller undertook to circulate to members with the minutes of the meeting written advice on any financial implications for Monash of taking on staff from Chisholm and Gippsland with continuing membership of the Victorian State superannuation scheme.

3. REPORTS OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES

3.1 Professorial Board

Council received and noted the attached report of the meeting of the Professorial Board held on 14 February, together with the following appendix:

A - Diploma in Art History/ Film Studies.

3.1.1 Recommendations

Council approved the recommendation at item 2.1 of the report for a new postgraduate diploma course in Art History/Film Studies and, in so doing, commended the Faculty of Arts on a comprehensive and well-presented proposal.

3 1.2 Legislation

Council made the attached legislation arising from recommendations in the following items of the report:

1.1 Courses and Degrees (Faculty of Education) (Diploma in Educational Policy and Administration) Regulations:

1.2 Courses and Degrees (Faculty of Education) (Diploma in Teaching Asian Languages) Regulations;

1.3 Courses and Degrees (Faculty of Education) (Diploma in Second Language Education) Regulations; and

1.4 Courses and Degrees (Faculty of Medicine) (Degree of Master of Venereology) Regulations.

3.2 Reports or Standing Committees

3.2.1 Executive Committee

Council was informed that, on 22 December, the Executive Committee, following a postal ballot of its members conducted in accordance with section 7 of its constitution, had approved an offer of appointment being made to Acting Professor P.J. Thomson for the Chair of German Studies.

3.2.2 Buildings Committee

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meeting of the Buildings Committee held on 30 November, together with the appended architects' brief for the new Computer Science and General Teaching Buildings.

In response to comments from several members, the Vice- Chancellor agreed that the siting and allocation of teaching space in the new buildings, particularly the 300-seat lecture theatre, was in need of further review given the pressures being experienced in many parts of the University.

3.2.3 Bookshop Board

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meeting of the Bookshop Board held on 11 December.

3.2.4 Occupational Health and Safety Policy Committee

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meeting of the Occupational Health and Safety Policy Committee held on 15 December, together with the appended:

report on the first two years of the Committee's proceedings; and

Policy on Incident Reporting, Investigation and Recording.

In approving the policy on incident reporting, investigation and recording, Council requested that further information be provided at its next meeting on follow-up machinery to ensure that recommended remedial action or the like was actually monitored through to completion.

3.2.5 Patents Committee

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meeting of the Patents Committee held on 11 December.

4 GENERAL. BUSINESS

4.1 Chair and Decanal Appointments

4.1.1 Acceptance of Offers

Council was informed of the acceptance of the following offers of appointment further to recommendations approved at recent meetings and, in the case of the Chair of German Studies, by the Executive Committee:

Deanship of the Faculty of Science Associate Professor I.D. Rae;

Personal Chair in Philosophy Professor F. C. Jackson;

Chair Or German Studies Acting Professor P.J. Thomson; and

Chair of Music Acting Professor M.J. Kartomi.

4.1.2 Offer of Appointment

Council received the attached report from the selection committee established at Meeting No. 8/89 for appointment to the Henry Bournes Higgins Chair of Law, and approved the recommendation therein that an offer of appointment be made.

4.2 Appointment Or Chair Selection Committees

Council appointed the following chair selection committees for the positions indicated:

4.2.1 Chair of Meteorology

(Approved at Meeting No. 2/89)

Vice Chancellor, Chairman;

Registrar;

Dean;

Chairman;

Professorial representatives:

Professor J.J. Monaghan

Professor B.R. Morton;

Non-professorial representatives:

Dr D. J. Karoly

Dr A. W.-C. Lun;

Professorial Board nominee:

Professor G.L. Clark

Council nominees:

Mr H.A. Grayson

Mrs W. McDonell;

Member of Department of Earth Sciences:

Dr G A. Houseman;

Two nominees of the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology.

4.2.2 National Australia Bank Chair in Finance and Ernst & Young

Chair in Accounting

(Approved at Meeting No. 8/89)

Vice-Chancellor, Chairman;

Registrar;

Dean;

Chairman;

Professorial representatives:

Professor C.G. Peirson Professor R.M. Parish;

Non-professorial representatives:

Dr A.A. Farley Mr A.L. Ramsay:

Professorial Board nominees:

Professor R.P. Tisher (NAB Chair)

Professor N. W. Murray (E & Y Chair);

Council nominees:

Dr J.M. Hearn

Mr J.A. Hancock:

One nominee of National Australia Bank (for NAB Chair);

One nominee of Ernst & Young (for E & Y Chair).

4.3 Appointment of Chair Validation Committees

Council is asked to appoint the following validation committees for the positions indicated:

4.3.1 Personal Chair in Biochemistry

Vice-Chancellor, Chairman:

Registrar;

Dean;

Chairman;

Professorial representatives:

Election pending;

Non-professorial representatives:

Election pending;

Professorial Board nominee;

Professor P.LeP. Darvall;

Council nominees:

DrA.R. Moore

Mrs W. McDonell.

4.3.2 Honorary Chair in Microbiology

Vice-Chancellor, Chairman;

Registrar;

Dean;

Chairman;

Professorial representatives:

Election pending;

Non-professorial representatives:

Election pending;

Professorial Board nominee:

Professor W.R. Jackson;

Council nominees:

Dr A.R. Moore Dr S.A. Crossley.

4.4 Staff Appointments and Resignations

Council noted the attached details of recently appointed members of staff and listing of resignations of University personnel.

4.5 Legislation

Council made the following Statute, an explanatory memorandum and copy of which are attached, and authorised the affixing thereon of the University Seal and its submission to the Governor in Council for approval:

4.5.1 Stature 2.5 - Committee, Boards of Studies and Institute (Amendment No. 19) Statute.

4.6 Delegation of Power to Confer Degrees

In accordance with established procedure, Council resolved as follows:

'That pursuant to Section 27 of the Monash University Act 1958, at each graduation ceremony to be held in 1990, the power given to Council to confer any degree or award any diploma in any faculty shall hereby be delegated to, and may be exercised by, the Chancellor or, in his absence, the Deputy Chancellor or, in the absence of both of them, the Vice- Chancellor.'

4.7 Reports on Outside Studies Programmes and Overseas Leave

Council received and noted the attached reports on outside studies programmes and overseas leave from the following members of the University staff:

4.7.1 Associate Professor M. Balson, Faculty of Education;

4.7.2 Professor A.L.A. Boura, Department of Pharmacology;

4.7.3 Mr R.G. Fox, Faculty of Law;

4.7.4 Ms E.J. Gaze, Faculty of Law;

4.7.5 Dr P.C. Gronn, Faculty of Education;

4.7.6 Dr J.B. Kerr, Department of Anatomy;

4.7.7 Dr G.C. Leder, Faculty of Education;

4.7.8 Professor R. Porter, Faculty of Medicine;

4.7.9 Dr C.F. Sharpley, Faculty of Education;

4.7.10 Professor F.A. Trindade, Faculty of Law; and

4.7.11 Dr P.J. Wright, Department of Microbiology.

5. ITEMS REPORTED

5.1 Meeting Dates for 1990

Members were reminded that Council had agreed to meet at 3.00 pm on the following dates for the remainder of 1990:

Monday, 9 April

Monday, 21 May

Monday, 2 July

Monday, 13 August

Monday, 24 September

Monday, 5 November

Monday, 17 December