Council Meeting 4/99

There were present:

Dr J K Ellis, Chancellor (presiding)

Dr G A Knights, Deputy Chancellor

In attendance were:

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

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

Professor J Rosenberg, Dean, Faculty of Information Technology for item 4.4

Mr J Matthews, Assistant General Manager (Financial Services) for item 8

Professor M Evans, Associate Chair, Academic Board for 4.1 and 9

Ms D Lampard, Director, Quantitative Planning Support, Budget and Statistical Services for item 4.1

Mr P Yates, Manager, Student Admissions & Records for item 5.1

Secretary:

Mr P Siggins, Manager, University Secretariat

Apologies were received from Professor Alan Lindsay and the Chancellor noted that the General Manager, Mr Peter Wade would not be in attendance for this meeting.

Requests for special leave from meeting 4/99 for Mr Paul Ramler AM and Dr Mark Schapper were approved at Council meeting 3/99.

Items 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2, 3, 4, 5.1, 6, 8.4, 8.6 and 9.8 were starred and discussed at the meeting.

Council resolved on the motion of the 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 CL4/99/101

Council noted the report of the Vice-Chancellor dated 16 June 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 3/99 held on 10 May 1999 were circulated.

RESOLUTION CL4/99/102

Council confirmed the Minutes of Meeting No. 3/99 held on Monday, 10 May 1999.

RESOLUTION CL4/99/103

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

(File RMO97/1217)

The Secretary had received a letter of resignation from Professor Terry Threadgold who advised that she was leaving the University on 1 July 1999 to take up a Research Professorship at the University of Cardiff, Wales and as a consequence, was unable to continue to serve on Monash University Council.

RESOLUTION CL4/99/104

Council noted Professor Threadgold’s resignation from Council and recorded its gratitude for her contribution to the work of Council and the University.

(File RMO98/2753)

A program for the Council Seminar to be held on 16 August at the Monash Conference Centre (30 Collins Street) was circulated to Council members on Wednesday, 9 June 1999.

The Chancellor advised that henceforth, the Council Retreat would be referred to as the Council Seminar and that at the conclusion of the Seminar on 16 August, a dinner would be held solely for Council members. The Chancellor noted that members had expressed to him on an individual basis their enthusiasm for the Seminar and the Chancellor believed that it would be a productive and enjoyable occasion.

(File RMO97/1217)

In his introductory remarks, the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged the work of a number of people in developing Leading the Way.

Much of the substance of the earlier iterations of the Monash Plan were now embedded in the supporting operational plans of the University. The focus of the document before Council was the future and it set "sign posts" for Monash over the next twenty years. In this document, heightened emphasis had been placed upon two themes:

There was now greater confidence in the diversity to be found within Monash and it was possible to identify and utilize that variety of strengths and differing approaches to academic life within the system.

Leading the Way reflected the need for the University to establish as much autonomy and independence as possible. The Vice-Chancellor emphasized that the University was steadily decreasing its reliance on Commonwealth funding and by seeking to operate over several countries was lessening the operational risks of exposure to the vicissitudes of a single national economy.

The Vice-Chancellor commended Leading the Way to Council.

In opening the discussion, the Chancellor reminded members that Leading the Way was a living document and part of a broad pattern of iteration and continuous learning. The Chancellor noted the inspirational value of the document. The Vice-Chancellor advised Council that Leading the Way had a higher-level focus and will not necessarily be updated annually – rather, updates will occur in response to changes in the University’s overall operating environment.

Discussion then focussed on specific elements in the document. A member requested further consideration be given to the wording of the statement concerning applied research on page 11. The member also raised concerns about the aesthetics of the Clayton Campus and asked for consideration to be given to further campus planning in this regard. Another member requested supporting information in relation to projected development of revenue streams in the context of the University’s diversifying global operations. In response to this comment, the Vice-Chancellor advised that the Monash Global Plan, when produced, would display this information but such numbers would also be available in the rolling three year budget document.

In further discussion, members raised issues concerning:

the need for the University’s operational plans to be accountable to Leading the Way

a more prominent statement in the document concerning key partnerships and strategic alliances the need for a key phrase that registers in the public mind the Monash vision for 2020 concern about the use of "more" on page 16 of the document as qualifying ‘approach’ and ‘strategic’.

Throughout the discussion, members acknowledged the strengths and excellence of the documents before Council.

RESOLUTION CL4/99/105

Council received and adopted Leading the Way.

(File RMO97/0219)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/106

Council ratified an Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding between Monash University and King’s College, London.

(File RMOR99/001)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/107

Council noted with acclamation Queen's Birthday Honours awarded to the key individuals associated with Monash and Monash Alumni as follows:

Professor Ian Chubb, Vice-Chancellor of Flinders University former deputy vice-chancellor at Monash for service to the development of higher education policy & its implementation at state, national & international levels, as an administrator in the tertiary education sector, and to research, particularly in the field of neuroscience

Professor Eric Glasgow Honorary Professorial Fellow in Anatomy for service to medicine, particularly in the field of anatomy education in Australia & internationally, to medical research into renal disease, and to the community

Professor Marcia Neave Faculty of Law for service to the law, particularly in relation to law reform, in the area of social justice as it relates to issues affecting women, and to legal education

Hon. Peter T Anderson, BA(Police Studies) 1995 for service to the Parliament of NSW, to local government & to the community through arts, health & sporting groups

Peter S Barber, LLB(Hons) 1978 for service to town planning & the environment, particularly through the Victorian Planning & Environmental Law Association, and to professional education

Emeritus Professor Margaret J Bennett, BA 1977, BSc(Hons) 1977 former Dean of Nursing, RMIT for service to nursing, particularly as an educator & researcher, and to the establishment, maintenance & regulation of professional standards as a member of various boards & organisations, including the Nurses Board of Victoria

Professor Geoffrey J Bishop former professor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Monash for service to medicine in the field of obstetrics, gynaecology & women’s health, especially in the Asia/Oceania region

Leslie J Howard, BA(Hons) 1970, MA 1973 concert pianist, and winner of Monash Distinguished Alumni Award in 1994 for service to the arts as a musicologist, composer, piano soloist and mentor to young musicians

Joanne E Paddle-Ledinek, BSc 1970 professional officer, Department of Surgery, Alfred Hospital for service to medical science through research & development into skin & tissue re-growth culture techniques, and to the community

Associate Professor Anne Stonehouse Faculty of Education, Peninsula Campus for service to children & the development of child care practices & policies, particularly through the Australian Early Childhood Association’s code of ethics & quality assurance programs

Lt-Col Grant D Cavenagh, GradDipComp 1985 for exceptional service to the Australian Army in the field of logistics, particularly as the Commanding Officer of 2^nd Field Logistics Battalion and 10 Force Support Battalion

John Jacmon, MEd 1976 for service to the Greek community in the ACT, particularly through social & cultural organisations, assisting veterans and the aged

Dr John B Nunn, BEd 1977, PhD Educ 1992 for service to the community of the Wimmera region, and to the youth of Horsham, particularly in the area of public speaking

Dr Edward A Stephens, PhD Educ 1989 for service to youth, particularly through the Peer Support Foundation in Victoria

Albert Chih Tuan-Mu, BSc 1974 for service to the community, particularly through the Chinese Community Resource Centre and the Australian Chinese Achievers Award

Assistant Commissioner Noel Ashby, AssocDipA(PolSt) 1990, BA(PolSt) 1994

Det-Supt John A Whitmore, AssocDipBus(GenAdmin) 1996

(File RMO99/0190)

Professor John Rosenberg, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology, presented a report on future directions for the Faculty of Information Technology.

The Chancellor invited the Vice-Chancellor to introduce Professor Rosenberg’s report.

In commencing his presentation, Professor Rosenberg outlined the mission of the faculty which was to lead the way in the provision of high quality information technology education and research focussed on the needs of the national and international communities.

Professor Rosenberg advised Council that information technology was one of the youngest faculties and disciplines. Most universities have not recognised the need for a separate faculty of information technology and this historical situation placed the Monash faculty in a strong position. Consequently, the faculty was the largest information technology academic group in Australia and larger than others by factor of at least two. This situation provided the faculty with an opportunity to set the standard by which others are benchmarked. Over the past two years, the faculty had concentrated on putting in place efficient and effective organisational and academic structures and he reported that these were now working well.

Professor Rosenberg advised that the following issues would be addressed over the next three years:

Professional development and life-long learning

In his presentation, Professor Rosenberg emphasised a need for a co-ordinated approach for these activities. The Monash Information Technology Institute (MITI) would be launched later this year and would be marketed as a leading provider of professional information technology training and education at several levels including:

Executive education leading to executive certificates which articulate into masters programs

Professional and technical education which shares courses with undergraduate degrees

Technical training leading to industry certification

The last category would be provided in conjunction with an industry partner and the faculty and its schools would invest substantially in this new venture. Professor Rosenberg indicated that his faculty would work co-operatively with the Faculty of Business and Economics to exploit synergies.

Research Strengths

Professor Rosenberg advised that building a number of strong research groups would be a focus for the next three years. The success with the Enterprise Distributed Systems Technology Co-operative Research Centre, valued at $20 million over seven years would help as there would be over twenty-five research staff based in the Centre at Caulfield. It was expected that the faculty would grow in activities in multi-media with the appointment of a new chair in multi-media technology.

Professor Rosenberg also outlined support for a group established within the faculty, the Computer Education Research Group, which has a research officer assigned to it.

LTOP lead-site activity

Professor Rosenberg advised that the faculty views the Learning and Teaching Operational Plan as a very significant development and a key component within it is integration of use of technology into the learning and teaching process. The faculty had chosen as its lead-site activity, an investigation into new approaches to the management and organisation of documents so that the same base document can be used for the generation of student notes, computer presentations, web pages and other materials.

Development of new international markets

Professor Rosenberg advised Council that the faculty has developed a strong international market for its undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Over the next three years, the faculty would seek to develop new markets to minimise its risk and to attract the best students.

The Peninsula Campus and the Authorised Academic Java Campus

Professor Rosenberg reported on improvement in faculty activities at Peninsula including a rise in admission scores, the introduction of new programs and the establishment of an externally funded chair. He also reported that the faculty had been invited by Sun Micro Systems to establish Australia’s first Authorised Academic Java Campus which would provide access to all of Sun’s internal teaching material and a substantial equipment grant. Council noted that as such, this would provide a focus for establishing relationships with industry as Australia’s major centre of expertise on java and network computing.

Infrastructure

Professor Rosenberg outlined the difficulties the faculty had in meeting its space requirements and outlined initiatives to release some further space for teaching and research. Other infrastructure issues included resourcing computing laboratories and implications for the budget process.

At the conclusion of his presentation, Professor Rosenberg affirmed that the faculty is the largest information technology academic grouping in Australia and that during the coming year, the faculty would capitalise on its critical mass and move toward its goal of becoming the bench-mark by which other information technology groups both nationally and internationally measure themselves.

In the discussion that followed, Council members raised with Professor Rosenberg a number of issues including:

The faculty’s capacity to turn research outcomes into income

The utilisation of space not in the faculty’s specific buildings

Revenue raising by offering programs for people seeking information technology skills

The level of demand for the faculty’s program in Australia.

At the conclusion of discussion, the Chancellor, on behalf of Council, congratulated Professor Rosenberg on the excellence of the faculty’s progress and on his presentation.

RESOLUTION CL4/99/108

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

(File RMO98/0673)

At the request of a member, it was agreed that a further report on admissions would be provided to a future meeting when census date figures were settled. (Minute 10.5 of meeting 2/99 held 15 March Receipt of proceedings of Academic Board report refers).

The Manager, Student Admissions & Records, Mr Peter Yates, was in attendance for this item and at the Chancellor’s invitation, presented his report. Council noted that, overall, the university comfortably met targets for the number and quality of enrolments in 1999.

On the Chancellor’s advice, it was noted that in future reports the use of acronyms would be eschewed.

RESOLUTION CL4/99/109

Council received and noted the Admissions Report titled Enrolment Summary – June 1999.

(File RMO98/2788)

At meeting 3/99 (10 May), a member requested that a report of Year 2000 compliance be listed as a major standing agenda item for Council. (Secretarial note: Item 8 Report of the Resources and Finance Committee referred).

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Development), Professor Peter Darvall, spoke to this item. Professor Darvall commented that an enormous amount of work had been undertaken in preparing the University for the Year 2000 and that the documentation before Council addressed the concerns raised by members. Extensive interviews with leaders of each relevant area had been conducted. Crucial issues had been identified and work on them had been progressed; for example, Year 2000 issues in relation to admissions through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre.

In discussion, members highlighted the need for a formal sign-off process such as that which prevails in the larger corporate entities. Members acknowledged that a great deal of progress had been made but sought assurances for a future meeting that appropriate compliance standards would be met.

(FileRMO99/0557)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/110

Council received the report of the Corporate Planning Committee of Council meeting held on Monday, 14 June 1999.

(FileRMO97/0884)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/111

Council received and adopted Leading the Way (Minute 4.1 refers)

(File RMO97/0217)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/112

Council noted the proceedings of the meeting of the Corporate Planning Committee held on Monday, 14 June 1999.

(File RMO97/0884)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/113

Council received the report of the Resources and Finance Committee meeting held on 14 June 1999.

(File RMO98/0946)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/114

Council noted that Resources and Finance Committee received a report from the Manager, Estates Management.

Council received and accepted the recommendation of Resources and Finance Committee to sell Tully Road, Clayton and that further investigation of 221 Clayton Road, Clayton was warranted.

(File RMO99/1205, RMO99/1207)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/115

Council received and approved the report for submission to the Minister and publication in relevant university publications.

(File RMO97/0057)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/116

Council received and accepted the recommendation of Resources and Finance Committee to approve the involvement of the School of Geography and Environmental Science and the signing of the Heads of Agreement.

The Assistant General Manager (Financial Services), provided an oral report clarifying the nature of the Westpac Investment Management Environmental Fund and the service being provided by the School of Geography and Environmental Science.

(File RMO98/0878)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/117

Council received and accepted the recommendation of Resources and Finance Committee to endorse the actions of the Vice-Chancellor and Council ratified the Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding. (Minute 4.2 refers)

(File RMOR99/001)

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

Student Amenities Fee Setting Parameters for Year 2000

Monash University Gippsland Student Union (MUGSU) Status

Leading the Way (Minute 4.1 refers)

Metabolic Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd – Update

Foundation Accountability Reports

4 Months to 30 April 1999 Budget Performance Reports

Integrated Administrative System – Progress Report

Year 2000 – Monash University and Controlled Entities

RESOLUTION CL4/99/118

Council noted the proceedings of the Resources and Finance Committee meeting held on 14 June 1999 as detailed in the document presented.

(File RMO98/0946)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/119

Council received the report of meeting 4/99 of the Academic Board held on Wednesday, 2 June 1999.

(File RMO99/0550)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/120

Council approved that the position of Associate Dean (Student Affairs) be created and that Professor R Fox be appointed Associate Dean (Student Affairs) for the period 1 July 1999 to 30 June 2001.

Council approved that the position of Associate Dean be known as the Associate Dean (Resources) and that Professor M Neave be appointed Associate Dean (Resources) for the period 1 January 1999 to 31 December 2000.

(File RMO97/0722)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/121

Council made the legislation titled Statute 6.1.1 – University Entrance and Admission to Courses (Amendment No 1 1999).

(File RMO97/1134)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/122

Council made the legislation titled Faculty of Science (Undergraduate Degrees) Regulations (Amendment No. 1 1999).

(File RMO97/0541)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/123

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine to fill the position of Director, Centre for Graduate Studies in Clinical Nursing and Professor/Associate Professor of Nursing.

(File Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/124

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Education to fill two Chairs in Education.

(File Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/125

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Law to fill three Chairs in Law.

(File Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/126

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Arts to establish the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.

(File RMO99/0574)

In response to a question from a member, Council noted that there had been some delays in presenting the Centre to Council due to the need to obtain international approvals beforehand.

RESOLUTION CL4/99/127

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Medicine to establish the Food and Agricultural Organisation Centre of Excellence in Food Quality, Safety and Nutrition.

(File RMO98/3009)

Council noted that the Faculty regulations made pursuant to Statute 2.3 – The faculties, provided the mechanism by which vacancies on Faculty Boards were filled. Schedule 7 – Faculty of Law of the Faculty regulations provides for:

RESOLUTION CL4/99/128

Council approved, on the recommendation of the Board of the Faculty of Law, the following appointments to the Board of the Faculty of Law:

renewal of the membership of Judge Smith and Mr J Fajgenbaum QC for the term April 1999 to April 2002, and

appointment of Ms Kate Hammond as an external member of the Board for the term April 1999 to April 2000

(File RMO99/1027)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/129

Council approved, subject to the drafting of appropriate legislation, the following amendments to the constitution of the Board of the Faculty of Law:

Removal of the following membership categories:

One member of the Faculty of Law of the University of Melbourne, nominated by that faculty

One member of the Department of Legal Studies of La Trobe University, nominated by that department

One member of the Department of Law of Deakin University, nominated by that department

Inclusion of the following membership category:

Two members of the general staff of the faculty elected from among their number by the general staff of the faculty employed at and above .5 equivalent full time.

(File RMO99/0213)

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

New Course Proposals

Major amendments to courses

Disestablishment of courses

New subject proposals

Leading the Way (Minute 4.1 refers)

Future Directions Report – Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology (Minute 4.4 refers)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/130

Council noted the proceedings of meeting 4/99 of the Academic Board held on 2 June 1999, as detailed in the document presented.

(File RMO99/0550)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/131

Council received and noted the report of the Equal Opportunity Committee meeting 2/99 held on Monday, 31 May 1999.

(File RMO97/1578)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/132

Council received and noted the reports of the Gippsland Advisory Council of meeting AC2/99 held on 20 April 1999 and meeting AC3/99 held on 1 June 1999.

(File RMO97/0888)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/133

Council approved an offer be made of re-appointment as Dean, Faculty of Engineering, for the period 1 March 2000 to 31 December 2003.

(File RMO98/3122)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/134

Council noted that the following had accepted their respective offers of appointment approved by the Special Professorial Appointments Subcommittee:

Mr John Van Groningen - Adjunct Professor in Police and Justice Studies, Faculty of Arts.

Professor David Roberts - Emeritus Professor, Faculty of Arts.

Professor Man Sharma - Adjunct Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering.

(File Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/135

Council approved the establishment of the selection committees for two Chairs of Education, three Chairs of Law and a Professor/Director or Associate Professor/Director of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Southern Health Care Network, as detailed in the document presented.

(File Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/136

Council received and noted the 1998 Annual Report of the Director, Sports and Recreation Association.

(File RMO98/0913)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/137

Council made the legislation titled Statute 2.3 - The Faculties (Amendment No 1 1999).

(File RMO99/0213)

RESOLUTION CL4/99/138

Council resolved, pursuant to its power of delegation under section 24 of the Monash University Act 1958, to delegate to the Assistant General Manager (Facilities and Services) its power under section 77(4) of the Road Safety Act 1986 to appoint officers, generally or in any particular case, to take proceedings for any offence which relates to the parking or leaving standing of a vehicle, where the offence occurs on land or premises which are vested in, or under the control of, Monash University.

(File RMO97/1155)