Council Meeting 3-1990

Meeting No. 3/90 of the Monash University Council was held on Monday, 9 April 1990, in the Council Room, University Offices, between 3.00 and 5.40 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 (Research), Professor I.J. Polmear

The Registrar, Mr A.L. Pritchard

The Comptroller, Mr P.B. Wade

The Secretary, Mr M.D. Watson

The Director of External Relations and Alumni Affairs, Miss J.M. Beck

The Information Officer. Mr T.P. Thwaites

Apologies were received from:

1. INTRODUCTORY AND FORMAL BUSINESS

1.1 Special Leave

Special leave was requested by and granted to Dr Vaughan for the 9 April and 21 May meetings, to Mr Hancock for the 21 May meeting, and to Professor Crossley for the 2 July meeting of Council.

1.2 Minutes

The minutes of the special Meeting of Council held on 16 February and Meeting No. 2/90 held on 26 February, copies of which had been circulated, were confirmed and signed.

1.3 Matters Arising from the Minutes

No matters were raised from the minutes.

1.4 Gifts and Grants

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

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 meeting.

1.7 The Late Sir Douglas Wright and Sir Hermann Black

Council noted with sadness the deaths since its last meeting of the former Chancellor of The University of Melbourne, Professor Emeritus Sir Roy Douglas Wright AK, and the Chancellor of The University of Sydney, Sir Hermann David Black AC. The Chancellor reported that he had attended, on the University's behalf, memorial services for both men, each of whom had been well honoured by their respective institutions.

2. REPORT OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR

2.1 Merger Matters

The Vice-Chancellor reported that the Monash-Chisholm-Gippsland merger had now been formally approved by the Councils of the three institutions, and that a draft Bill was being put to Cabinet on that day by Mrs Joan Kirner, who had assumed responsibility for post-secondary education in the recent reshuffle of the Cain Ministry. He said the enabling legislation, although in a different format to the draft Bill approved by Council on 16 February, had been amended in substantially only. Things were proceeding moderately well, Professor Logan said, and he was fairly confident of the outcome. Council noted that the

Vice-Chancellor and Professor Hay would be seeing Mrs. Kirner in the following week to discuss the second reading speech for the Bill, which would provide an opportunity for any remaining doubts or concerns to be raised.

2.2 Appointment OF Planning Deans

On the recommendation of the Vice-Chancellor, Council appointed the following Planning Deans for the three new faculties arising from the Monash-Chisholm merger. to serve from forthwith to 30 June 1990:

Faculty Or Business

Mr P. Chandler;

Faculty of Computing and Information Technology

Dr C J. Bellamy; and

Faculty of Professional Studies

Mr R.J. Snedden.

The Vice-Chancellor then foreshadowed that, at the first meeting of the transitional Council of the enlarged University on 2 July, he would recommend:

the appointment of Mr Chandler and Mr Snedden as Deans of their respective faculties for three years; and

the appointment of Dr Bellamy as Dean of his Faculty for one year, with the deanship to be advertised prior to the end of 1990.

2.3 Academic Planning Update

The Vice-Chancellor informed Council of action he had set in train to review the University's academic priorities as it enters an important new phase in its development. This process, he said, would involve the Committee of Deans and would be largely coordinated by the Professorial Board's Development Committee. Professor Logan said he also envisaged a role for Council's Planning Committee in his bid to involve Council more in the University's academic planning process. While acknowledging the key role of Deans in the University's academic decision-making structure, Professor Logan said he intended to communicate more directly with staff so there could be a collective feeling of ownership in Monash's up-dated strategy plan. He undertook to report further to Council at future meetings.

2.4 VCE Developments

The Vice-Chancellor drew Council's attention to the recent series of public discussions Monash had sponsored on the Victorian Certificate of Education. From the universities' point of view, he said, three areas of concern remained:

the five-point grading system; the content of subjects and the comparability of standards between them; and

the forms of assessment proposed.

Professor Logan said he had informed the Minister and VCAB of these concerns in his capacity as Chairman of the Victorian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, and intended to pursue them further with Mrs Kirner in the following week.

2.5 Nomination for an Honorary Professorship - Faculty Or Education

The Vice-Chancellor informed Council that he had received a nomination for appointment to an honorary professorship in the Faculty of Education from the Dean and other professors in the Faculty in accordance with approved procedures, and was satisfied that a prima facie case clearly existed for the appointment. Accordingly, he sought and gained Council's approval to establish an honorary chair validation committee to consider the nomination and bring a recommendation to Council. On Professor Logan's recommendation, Council appointed Mrs. McDonell and Mr Wood as its representatives on the validation committee.

2.6 CIRCIT

The Vice-Chancellor referred to the proposal he had canvassed with Council last year to establish a Centre for International Research for Communication and Information Technology by Melbourne and Monash Universities, RMIT, and the Victorian Government. Earlier moves to establish the Centre first by forming a company then by legislation had foundered, he said, but action was now being revived to form a company by limited guarantee to manage the Centre on behalf of the participating parties. Questions remained, he said, about the financial liabilities of CIRCIT, and how its operation might cut across existing Monash initiatives. Professor Logan undertook to bring a paper to the next meeting of Council with a firm proposal on whether and, if so, how Monash should participate in the operation of CIRCIT.

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 28 March, together with the following appendices:

A - Proposal for a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration:

and

B - Proposed MBA (International Business).

3.1.1 Recommendations

Council approved the recommendations arising from matters dealt with in the following items of the report:

2.1.1 Graduate Diploma in Business Administration;

2.1.2 Master of Business Administration (International Business);

3 Awards of the Degree of Doctor of Medicine;

4.1 Department of Indonesian and Chinese Studies:

4.2 Graduate School of Librarianship; and

5 Membership of Faculty Boards.

In the case of item 2.1.1, Council noted that no projected enrolment levels were included in the proposal for the new graduate diploma programme, and approved its establishment subject to the Vice- Chancellor being satisfied and reporting to the next meeting that there would be no adverse impact on the Library or other student support services as a consequence of its introduction. It was Council's view that such shortcomings in new course proposals should normally be picked up and dealt with by the Professorial Board.

In addition, Council noted and endorsed the action of the Board in suggesting that, from henceforth, the Registrar and Comptroller report annually to Council as has traditionally been the case for Deans and the Librarian.

Finally, Council noted the attached addendum to the proceedings of the Professorial Board's report with information about the new Centre for the Synthesis and Evaluation of Advanced Chemicals and Materials included as Appendix C.

3.1.2 Legislation

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

1.1 Faculties (Amendment No. 102) Regulations;

1.2 Courses and Degrees (Faculty of Economics and Politics) (Degree of Bachelor of Information Systems) (Amendment No. 5) Regulations;

1.3 Faculties (Amendment No. 101) Regulations; and

1.4 Courses and Degrees (Faculty of Science) (Degree of Bachelor of Science) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations.

3.2 Reports Or Standing Committees

3.2.1 Finance Committee

Following a meeting of the Finance Committee on 6 April, Council received and noted the attached 1988 audited accounts for the University and accompanying Auditor-General's report.

3.2.2 Buildings Committee

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meetings of the Buildings Committee held on 8 February and 1 March.

In response to a series of comments about the new building to be erected on campus for the Australian Council for Educational Research, Senator Patterson sought and gained an assurance that she or the Chairman of the Committee of Wardens would be consulted about the siting of and access

to the car-park for the building insofar as it might affect traffic flow and disruption in the vicinity of the nearby Halls of Residence.

3.2.3 Biosafety Committee

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meeting of the Biosafety Committee held on 28 February.

3.2.4 Bookshop Board

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meeting of the Bookshop Board held on 26 February.

3.2.5 Equal Opportunity Advisory Committee

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meetings of the Equal Opportunity Advisory Committee held on 7 February and 21 March.

In response to a question from Mrs Strauss, the Secretary confirmed that provision had been made in the amending legislation currently before Parliament to enable part-time members of general staff to vote in University elections, as had been recommended by the Equal Opportunity Advisory Committee some time ago.

3.2.6 Naming Committee

Council approved the naming of two rooms in the Monash Medical School at Box Hill Hospital as proposed in the attached report from the secretary of the Naming Committee.

3.2.7 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 16 February.

In addition, Council approved the attached amended Investigation Procedures section for the Incident Reporting, Investigation and Recording Policy that took account of comment made by Council at its previous meeting.

Finally, Council in the course of an extensive discussion and after being informed of the University-wide consultative processes that had been adopted, approved the attached Policy in Respect to Smoking, subject to the following amendments:

page 1, second paragraph

substitution of 'effects' for 'affects' in the first line; and

section 6.2

deletion of all words following 'Union Building' in the second and third lines.

3.2.8 Parking Committee

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meeting of the Parking Committee held on 19 December.

Several members gave notice of questions they would be asking at the next meeting of Council upon receipt of the minutes of the following meeting of the Parking Committee that was held on 26 March.

3.2.9 Patents Committee

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meeting of the Patents Committee held on 26 February.

3.2.10 Students' Grants and Loans Committee

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meeting of the Students' Grants and Loans Committee held on 6 February.

3.3 Reports or Ad Hoc Committees

3.3.1 Deanship of the Faculty of Arts Selection Committee

Council received the attached report from the selection committee established at Meeting No. 8/89 to consider applications received for the Deanship of the Faculty of Arts, and approved the recommendation therein that an offer of appointment be made.

3.3.2 Chair of Forensic Psychiatry Selection Committee

Council received the attached report from the selection committee established at Meeting No. 4/89 to consider applications received for the Chair of Forensic Psychiatry, and approved the recommendation therein that an offer of appointment be made.

3.4 Reports of Other Committees

3.4.1 Discipline Committee

Council received and noted the attached report of the meeting of the Discipline Committee held on 6 March.

3.4.2 Superannuation Trustees

On the recommendation of the Trustees, Council made the attached Supplementary Trust Deed to the Monash University Superannuation Scheme (M Scheme} Trust Deed.

3.4.3 Union Board

Council received and noted the attached minutes of the meeting of the Union Board held on 1 March.

The meeting deferred action in regard to the recommendation at item 9.2.1 of the minutes - Bookshops on Campus - 1990 Rentals, in order ts allow the Bookshop Board an opportunity to present its case and pending the receipt of additional information, through the Finance Committee, at the next meeting of Council.

4. GENERAL BUSINESS

4.1 Chair Appointment

Council was informed that Mr A.J. Duggan had accepted appointment to the Henry Bournes Higgins Chair of Law offered, as agreed, at the previous meeting.

4.2 Staff Appointments and Resignations

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

4.3 Appointments Made by the Vice-Chancellor

Council ratified the action of the Vice-Chancellor in making the following appointments:

4.3.1 Graduate School of Librarianship

Dr D.R. Harvey as Deputy Chairman as of 12 March 1990: and

4.3.2 Department or Linguistics

Dr H.J. Bowe as Deputy Chairman for 1990.

4.4 Personnel Services Report

Council received and noted the attached report on matters dealt with by Personnel Services since November 1989.

4.5 Annual Reports Of Deans

In accordance with the provisions of Statute 3.3, Council received and noted the attached 1989 Annual Reports from Deans, as follows:

4.5.1 Faculty of Arts;

4.5.2 Faculty of Economics and Politics;

4.5.3 Faculty of Education;

4.5.4 Faculty of Engineering;

4.5.5 Faculty of Law;

4.5.6 Faculty of Medicine; and

4.5.7 Faculty of Science.

4.6 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:

4.6.1 Mrs T.L. Bryant, Faculty of Law'

4.6.2 Associate Professor T.R. Carney, Faculty of Law;

4.6.3 Dr J.D. Chapman, Faculty of Education;

4.6.4 Professor P.J. Fensham, Faculty of Education;

4.6.5 Professor N.A.J. Hastings, Department of Information Systems;

4.6.6 Professor J.G. Head, Department of Economics;

4.6.7 Mr L.C. Ingvarson, Faculty of Education;

4.6.8 Dr A.D. Spaull, Faculty of Education; and

4.6.9 Dr D.M. White, Department of Politics.

5. ITEMS REPORTED

5.1 Legislation

Council was informed that Statute 3.7- The Disability Pensions Fund (Amendment No. 1) Statute had been approved by the Governor in Council on 6 February.

5.2 Next Meeting

Members were reminded that the next ordinary meeting of council was scheduled to be held on Monday. 21 May. commencing at 3.00 pm.