Meeting No. 3/99 of the Monash University Council was held between 5.00 pm and 6.55 pm on Monday, 10 May 1999, in the Sir George Lush Room, Administration Building 3a, Clayton Campus.

Dr G A Knights, Deputy Chancellor (presiding)

Mr P H Ramler AM, Deputy Chancellor

Professor D A Robinson, Vice-Chancellor and President

Professor A W Lindsay, Chair of Academic Board

Professor P LeP Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development)

Professor J E Maloney, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International & Public Affairs)

Mr P B Wade, General Manager

Professor N Saunders, Dean, Faculty of Medicine

Mr P Marshall, Assistant General Manager (Personnel Services) for item 4.3

Mr S Dee, Executive Director, Public Affairs for item 12.2 and 12.3

Mr P Siggins, Manager, University Secretariat

An apology was received from Ms Louise Adler.

A request for special leave from meeting 3/99 for the Chancellor was approved at Council meeting 2/99. Council approved requests for special leave from meeting 4/99 for Dr Mark Schapper and Mr Paul Ramler.

Items 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2, 3, 4, 8.2, 8.4, 9.6, 10.2, 12.2 and 12.3 were starred and discussed at the meeting.

Council resolved on the motion of the Deputy Chancellor:

‘that all items on the agenda not starred be adopted without discussion, and the action recommended be taken or the information therein noted’.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/64

Council noted the report of the Vice-Chancellor dated 28 April 1999 on the affixing of the Common Seal to documents executed under Seal pursuant to Statute 8.1, Section 2.1.5.

(File RMO97/0889)

Authorised observers were admitted to the meeting following confidential items.

The Minutes of Meeting No 2/99 held on 15 March 1999 were circulated.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/65

Council confirmed the Minutes of Meeting No. 2/99 held on Monday, 15 March 1999.

At meeting 2/99, the Chancellor advised that in light of an important religious holiday, it was proposed to move the September meeting from Monday, 20 September 1999 to Monday, 27 September 1999. Subsequent to the meeting, the Chancellor endorsed a proposal that the September meeting be held on 17 September 1999 at Monash University Malaysia Campus.

The Chair opened discussion noting that both the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor supported the move that the September meeting of Council be held at the Malaysia Campus. The Chair invited the Vice-Chancellor to comment.

Professor Robinson observed that it was appropriate that Council meet on the University's seventh campus and that, in general, it was appropriate that Council rotate its meetings to ensure that all campuses were visited. The Vice-Chancellor said that the meeting would take place on Friday, 17 September and this would afford Council members opportunities to take part in the graduation ceremony on Saturday, 18 September, to meet Monash alumni, to inspect the campus infrastructure and attend a careers fair that would also be held over that weekend. Arrangements would be made by the Council Secretary and Mr Siggins would write to Council members confirming the details.

In discussion, members asked about the costs associated with holding the meeting in Malaysia. The Vice-Chancellor confirmed that the University would meet standard costs such as air fares and accommodation. Some elected Council members expressed reservations about how the arrangements might be perceived within the University community.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/66

Council noted that meeting 6/99 of Council would be held on Friday, 17 September 1999 at Monash University Malaysia Campus.

(File RMO97/1217)

The Chancellor had received a letter of resignation from Mr Frank Peck who advised that he has retired from the Department of Education and was unable to continue to serve on Monash University Council.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/67

Council noted Mr Frank Peck's resignation from Council and recorded its gratitude for his contribution to the work of Council and the University.

(File RMO98/2755)

At meeting 1/99 of Council (15 February), the Chancellor announced that consideration would be given to holding a gathering of Council members for a day, around mid year, to discuss the role of Council and to provide an opportunity for an exchange of views on a range of matters relevant to Council's operation. The Vice-Chancellor noted that Council members had submitted suggested topics for discussion at the Retreat and he advised that these would be incorporated into a program for the day. The Retreat would take place on 16 August 1999 at the Monash Conference Centre located at 30 Collins Street, Melbourne. The Vice-Chancellor indicated that the program for the Retreat would be circulated in the near future.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/68

Council noted the holding of the Council Retreat on 16 August 1999 at the Monash Conference Centre located at 30 Collins Street, Melbourne.

(File RMO97/1217)

At meeting 1/99 (15 February 1999), the Vice-Chancellor presented a paper titled Monash and the Australian Higher Education Sector: The Year Ahead. The Vice-Chancellor had circulated, for meeting 3/99, a paper which followed up three matters:

Monash Mt Eliza School of Business

The Vice-Chancellor briefed Council members regarding discussions relating to Monash Mt Eliza School of Business to date and the position the University brought to the Board of Monash Mt Eliza School of Business. Members noted advice that a range of information was being sought and that several members of Council were involved in key deliberations. In discussion, the Vice-Chancellor confirmed that an important issue was the need for the University to have control over its awards.

Strategy for the Gippsland Campus

The Vice-Chancellor advised that there was a need for a small, high-powered group to examine and define the role and functioning of the Gippsland campus and to this end a small group, chaired by Dr Knights, had been established.

Dr Knights explained that the group was examining the best way of developing the campus in the interests of the University and the wider community. A data package was being prepared profiling the campus and input was being sought from faculties, staff, students and the community.

The Group of Eight (G08)

The Vice-Chancellor briefed Council on meetings of the Group of Eight research-intensive universities where the issue of increased differentiation within the Australian Higher Education was discussed.

The Vice-Chancellor commented on the need for establishment of a G08 Secretariat to ensure a more coherent presentation and representation of G08 interests and to provide support services to G08 Vice-Chancellors.

The Vice-Chancellor also commented on the G08 and the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (AVCC) in the context of their maturing relationship.

(File RMO99/0556, RMO1997/0312, RMO99/0795)

The Vice-Chancellor advised that the University General Manager, Mr Wade, had indicated his intention to retire as University General Manager on or before 31 October 1999. Accordingly, it was timely to bring this matter before Council. The Vice-Chancellor advised that Ms Sherry had agreed to serve on the selection committee as the external member of Council nominated by the Vice-Chancellor.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/69

Council approved the proposed recruitment process and selection committee for the General Manager position as detailed in the document presented.

(File RMOR99/038)

Professor Nick Saunders, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, presented a report on future directions for the Faculty of Medicine, the first of five such decanal presentations to Council in 1999.

Dr Knights invited the Vice-Chancellor to introduce Professor Saunders' report. The Vice-Chancellor reported that at the June 28^th meeting of Council, the Monash Plan 2000-2004 would be presented and it would be very different from earlier versions of the Monash Plan. It would seek to take a longer term view of the University's development and to envision the future of Monash over the next two decades. The Vice-Chancellor indicated that such a focus was possible because of the successful development of operational planning for the faculties and administrative areas of the University. Professor Saunders' presentation was to be considered in that broader planning context.

Professor Saunders then presented his report. Professor Saunders outlined the position of the Faculty of Medicine highlighting its characteristics as widely distributed (the faculty operates at a wide number of locations and in a complex set of working relationships with other providers), as diverse, covering a wide range of programs and awards, middle-sized in comparison with other medical faculties across Australia, resource intensive and constrained by, for example, professional accountabilities and quotas on the number of admissions permitted to the undergraduate medical course.

Professor Saunders drew attention to the mission statement for the faculty which seeks to define the attributes of its graduates. It was the faculty's intention to link the mission statement to programs, student selection and recruitment.

Professor Saunders then presented the future directions of the faculty noting that they were represented in substantial detail in the faculty's operational plan. A major priority for the faculty was reforming the undergraduate medical course to bring it to the forefront of medical education nationally and internationally.

Further directions of great importance to the faculty were:

• strengthening research, building relationships with other faculties through degree programs and other 'science' initiatives in teaching and research;

• increasing international activities on and off-shore at undergraduate and postgraduate levels;

• strengthening the organisational structure of the faculty through the appropriate resourcing of clinical schools, centres and faculty institutions;

• staff development with particular reference to areas of learning and teaching and in information technology to reflect the faculty's strong commitment to the University's Learning and Teaching Operational Plan; and

• strengthening the faculty's partnership with the health care system, particularly the Health Care Networks, Hospitals and Divisions of General Practice.

Professor Saunders concluded his presentation commenting that the Faculty of Medicine was well placed in the Higher Education system overall but that it would improve its ranking in the next few years with initiatives in a number of areas.

In discussion, Council members raised with Professor Saunders issues related to the foreshadowed curriculum for the undergraduate medical course, transition to the new shortened five year undergraduate medical course, indigenous issues and the participation of medical graduates and undergraduates in third world countries.

A member commented on the excellence of the mission statement of the faculty and Professor Saunders confirmed that it would be utilized in evaluating the success of the faculty's operation.

On behalf of Council, Dr Knights thanked Professor Saunders for his presentation.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/70

Council received and noted the report of the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine on future directions for the Faculty of Medicine.

(File RMO98/0673)

There were no matters arising.

The Executive Committee of Council, acting under its delegation from Council, met on 16 April 1999 and approved the establishment of the selection committee for the Sun Microsystems Chair of Network Computing.

The Executive Committee of Council, acting under its delegation from Council, met on 16 April 1999 and approved the nomination of Council members as Council's nominees to selection committees.

The Executive Committee of Council, acting under its delegation from Council, met on 26 April 1999 and approved the following recommendations:

that the General Manager be delegated authority to approve the amendments to wording of notes to the Financial Statements related to the accounting treatment of the unfunded superannuation liability and the corresponding asset; and

that the 1998 Consolidated Financial Statements are adopted subject to the above amendments, if any, and the Auditor-General's report.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/71

Council noted the approvals granted by the Executive Committee of Council at meetings held 16 April and 26 April 1999.

(File RMO98/0598)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/72

Council received and noted the report of the Corporate Planning Committee of Council meeting held on Monday, 29 March 1999.

(File RMO97/0884)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/73

Council received and noted the report of the meeting of the Resources and Finance Committee held on Monday, 26 April 1999.

(File RMO98/0946)

At the request of a member, the General Manager, Mr Peter Wade, commented on the process and circumstances leading to the amending of the Financial Statements. Members noted that the net position of the University was unchanged.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/74

Council received and accepted the recommendations from the Resources and Finance Committee that:

the General Manager be delegated authority to approve the amendments to wording of notes to the Financial Statements related to the accounting treatment of the unfunded superannuation liability and the corresponding asset; and

the 1998 Consolidated Financial Statements are adopted subject to the above amendments, if any.

(File RMO97/0611)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/75

Council received and accepted the recommendation of Resources and Finance Committee that Monash University subscribe to 28,572 shares in Open Learning Agency of Australia Pty Ltd and members noted the increase of $0.5M in the contingent liability to the Commonwealth.

(File RMO98/1143)

Council members were invited to refer to the Proceedings section of the report of the Resources and Finance Committee. Items included:

Monash University Gippsland Student Union Inc (MUGSU) Status Report Oral Update - J E Matthews.

1999 Insurance Program

Monitoring of Monash Companies - Monash University Foundation Pty Ltd.

1998 Budget Performance Reports

Integrated Administrative System - Progress Report

Year 2000 - Monash University and Controlled Entities

Shareholding in Metabolic Pharmaceuticals Limited

RESOLUTION CL3/99/76

Council noted the Proceedings of the meeting of the Resources and Finance Committee held on Monday, 26 April 1999, as detailed in the document presented.

(File RMO98/0946)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/77

Council received and noted the report of meeting 3/99 of the Academic Board held on Wednesday, 21 April 1999.

(File RMO99/0550)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/78

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Arts to appoint the following staff member as Associate Dean for the term specified:

Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) – Dr Paul James for a term expiring 31^st December 1999.

(File RMO99/0568)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/79

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Business and Economics to appoint the following staff member as Associate Dean for the term specified:

Associate Dean (Research) – Professor Amrik Sohal for a term from 1^st March 1999 to 31^st December 1999.

(File RMO99/0566)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/80

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Victorian College of Pharmacy to appoint the following staff members as Associate Deans for a term of 12 months:

Associate Dean (Research) - Professor Mark von Itzstein

Associate Dean (Graduate Studies) - Professor Peter Stewart

Associate Dean (Teaching) - Associate Professor Louis Roller

Faculty Director of International Affairs - Mr Michael Watson

(File RMO99/0766)

All legislation under this item was prepared and forwarded by the University Solicitor’s Office and had been endorsed by the Academic Board.

A copy of the legislation and explanatory memorandum for this item was distributed.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/81

Council made the legislation titled Victorian College of Pharmacy (Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Pharmacy) Regulations 1999.

(File RMO98/1686)

A copy of the legislation and explanatory memorandum for this item was distributed.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/82

Council made the legislation titled Faculty of Medicine (Bachelor of Biomedical Science) Regulations (Amendment No. 1 1999).

(File RMO98/0883)

A copy of the legislation and explanatory memorandum for this item was distributed.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/83

Council made the legislation titled Statute 6.1.2 – Courses and Degrees (Amendment no. 3 1999).

(File RMO97/1038)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/84

Council, on the recommendation of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology, approved the appointment of Dr R Pose and Ms D Pickett to fill casual vacancies on the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology.

(File RMO97/1603)

The proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine to fill the established position of Professor/Director or Associate Professor/Director Adult Psychiatry was endorsed by Academic Board and the Committee of Deans at its meeting on Friday 23 April 1999.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/85

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine to fill the position of Professor/Director or Associate Professor/Director, Adult Psychiatry, Southern Health Care Network.

(File Personnel)

Council members were invited to refer to part B of the Academic Board report and to note the Proceedings of the Board. Items included:

New Course Proposals

Major Amendments to Courses

Monash Plan 2000-2004

Faculty of Business and Economics and Monash Mt Eliza Business School

Monash University Sunway Campus Malaysia - Report by the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor J Warren

Co-operative Research Centre Funding.

Undergraduate guaranteed entry scheme

Future Directions Report - Dean of the Faculty of Medicine (Secretarial note: item 4.4 refers)

Reports of LTOP Working Parties Reporting to Academic Board

New Subject Proposals

RESOLUTION CL3/99/86

Council noted the Proceedings of meeting 3/99 of the Academic Board held on 21 April 1999, as detailed in the document presented.

(File RMO99/0550)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/87

Council received and noted the report of the Equal Opportunity Committee meeting no. 1/99 held on Monday, 12 April 1999.

(File RMO97/1578)

Dr Knights introduced discussion of the Affirmative Action Plan and Ms Katherine Lock, Manager, Performance Development Training and Communications, answered queries concerning participation by staff in relation to the women's leadership and advancement scheme.

Ms Sherry asked whether it was believed that by 2010 there would be evidence of real change. Dr Knights and the Vice-Chancellor gave assurances that every effort was being made to implement the Plan effectively. In further discussion, it was noted that the Faculties' approach to the issue of the promotion of women was central to the effective implementation of the Plan.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/88

Council received and endorsed the Affirmative Action Plan 1999 - 2001.

(File RMO97/0610)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/89

Council noted the Proceedings of meeting no. 1/99 of the Equal Opportunity Committee held on Monday, 12 April 1999.

(File RMO97/1578)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/90

Council received and noted the report of meeting AC1/99 of the Gippsland Advisory Council held on 1 March 1999.

(File RMO97/0888)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/91

Council approved the appointment, under section 1.2.8 of Statute 2.13 - Special provisions for the governance of Monash University (Gippsland campus), of Mr Peter Greenwell, Assistant General Manager - Schools within the Directorate of School Education at the Regional Office in Moe, to the Advisory Council.

(File RMO98/1492)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/92

Council noted the Proceedings of meeting AC1/99 of the Gippsland Advisory Council held on 1 March 1999.

(File RMO97/0888)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/93

Council noted that Professor Homer Le Grand, Dean, Faculty of Arts, had accepted his offer of appointment and wished to pass on his thanks to Council.

(File Personnel

RESOLUTION CL3/99/94

Council noted the acceptance of offers of appointment approved by the Special Professorial Appointments Subcommittee as detailed in the document presented.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/95

Council approved the establishment of the Chair Selection Committee for a Professor/Director or Associate Professor/Director of Adult Psychiatry, Department of Psychological Medicine and Southern Health Care Network as detailed in the document presented.

(File Personnel)

The Playbox Theatre Centre of Monash University ("the Centre") was established by resolution of Council on 17 September 1989 and commenced operations on 1 January 1990. A resolution for the disestablishment of the Playbox Theatre Centre of Monash University, with effect from 31 December 1999, had been prepared by the University Solicitor at the request of the Executive Director, Public Affairs. A copy of the resolution was distributed. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Public Affairs), Professor John Maloney, advised that decisions taken in respect to the Playbox Theatre Centre and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art Incorporated were in the context of the University's overall cultural policy framework. The University was now moving into a more flexible mode with a focus on project funding rather than more rigid commitments. These moves had been undertaken in consultation with the Ministry for the Arts. The University would continue support of the Playbox Theatre and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art Incorporated activities.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/96

Council resolved that, with effect from 31 December 1999, all university support, linkages and formal relationships would be terminated and the Centre would be disestablished.

(File RMO97/1063)

On 29 December 1990, pursuant to the provisions of Statute 10.1 - Affiliation, Monash University entered into an Affiliation Agreement with the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art Incorporated ("ACCA").

Clause 2 of the Affiliation Agreement provided for it to remain in force until 31 December 1992 and thereafter to continue in force until either party gives to the other party not less than six (6) months' notice in writing of its intention to terminate the Agreement.

At the request of the Executive Director, Public Affairs, the University Solicitor had prepared a resolution giving written notice to the ACCA to terminate its Affiliation Agreement with Monash University with effect from 31 December 1999. A copy of the resolution was distributed.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/97

Council authorised the giving of written notice to ACCA to terminate its Affiliation Agreement with Monash University with effect from 31 December 1999.

(File RMO99/0821)

RESOLUTION CL3/99/98

Council received reports from the following staff:

Faculty of Medicine

Ms Glenice Ives, School of Nursing

Associate Professor Graham Jenkin, Department of Physiology

Associate Professor Malcolm Sim, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine

Faculty of Education

Professor Richard White, Dean of Education

Faculty of Arts

Professor Philip Ayres, Department of English

Dr Bob Birrell, Department of Anthropology and Sociology

Associate Professor Ian Copland, Department of History

Dr David Dunkerley, Department of Geography and Environmental Science

Dr Edina Eisikovits, Department of Linguistics

Ms Rachel Fensham, Centre for Drama and Theatre Studies

Associate Professor Katherine Gibson, Department of Geography and Environmental Science

Ms Mary Griffiths, School of Humanities, Communications and Social Sciences

Associate Professor David Mercer, Department of Geography & Environmental Science

Associate Professor Brian McFarlane, Department of English

Dr Anthony McMahon, Department of Anthropology and Sociology

Dr Annamaria Pagliaro, Department of Romance Languages

Ms Yoko Pinkerton, Department of Japanese Studies

Dr Catherine Rigby, Department of German Studies

Professor Chin-Liew Ten, Department of Philosophy

Faculty of Business and Economics

Mr Ming Wei Zhang, Department of Accounting and Finance

Dr Nicholas Beaumont, Department of Management

Ms Deirdre O'Neill, Department of Management

Faculty of Law

Professor Richard G Fox

Ms Sarah Joseph

Ms Elizabeth Lanyon

Professor HP Lee

Ms Jenny Schultz

(File RMO97/0028)

Council was invited to note that Section 6.1 of Statute 2.3 provided the only mechanism by which vacancies on Faculty Boards were filled. In light of general agreement that the Faculties should be empowered to make their own arrangements for the filling of casual vacancies on their own Boards, it was recommended that Council request the University Solicitor to draft appropriate amendments to delegate this power to Faculties.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/99

Council appointed the following to fill casual vacancies on the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Science:

Dr G Yelland (Department of Psychology, Clayton) under subsection 7.2.5;

Associate Professor P Rayment (School of Applied Sciences, Gippsland) under subsection 7.2.8;

Associate Professor N Wreford (Department of Anatomy) under subsection 7.3.2; and

Ms S McNamara (Faculty of Science) under subsection 7.6.3.

RESOLUTION CL3/99/100

Council requested the University Solicitor to draft appropriate amendments to relevant legislation to delegate to Faculties the power to fill casual vacancies on Faculty Boards.

(File RMO99/0846)