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Council Meeting 6-2001

Meeting No. 6/2001 of the Monash University Council was held between 4.00 pm and 6.00 pm on Monday, 1 October 2001, in the Crofton Hatsell Room, Administration Building, Gippsland Campus

There were present:

Mr J K Ellis, Presiding

Dr J M Hearn, Deputy Chancellor

Professor D A Robinson, Vice-Chancellor and President

Professor A W Lindsay, Chair of Academic Board

Associate Professor L Adler

Mr G Barnes

Ms M Blencowe

Professor C Bourke MBE

Ms D Halstead

Mr J Hutchinson

Ms P Hutchinson

Mr J Laurie

Miss D R Pizzey AM

Dr M Schapper

Professor T Sridhar

Ms E Tava

In attendance were:

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

Ms A Crook AO, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources)

Professor B Mackenzie, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland Campus

Mr G Murray, Treasury Manager, Treasury and Corporate Receivables

Secretary:

Mr T Calder, Director, Secretariat and Executive Services

MINUTES

PART A

1. PROCEDURAL MATTERS

1.1 Apologies

Apologies were received from Mr Paul Ramler AM, Ms Ann Sherry and Dr Paul James.

1.2 Special Leave

At meeting 5/2001 (13 August), Council approved a request from Ms Wendy Peter for special leave for meeting 6/2001 (1 October).

1.3 Starring of Items

Items 1.1 Apologies, 1.2 Special Leave, 1.3 Starring of Items, 1.4 Approval of Non-Starred Items, 1.5.1 Vice-Chancellor’s Issues and Speculations, 2 Confirmation of Minutes of Previous Meeting, 3 Chancellor’s Business, 4 Vice-Chancellor’s Business, 5.1 Council Meeting Dates and Venues, 6.1 Receipt of Report of the Resources and Finance Committee and 8.1 Receipt of Report of the Equal Opportunity Committee were starred and discussed at the meeting.

1.4 Approval of Non-Starred Items

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’.

1.5 Confidential Items

1.5.1 Vice-Chancellor’s Issues and Speculations

The Vice-Chancellor spoke to this item and reported on the following:

  • advice given to all staff on the need to assess risk and exercise judgment when planning international travel;

  • the Vice-Chancellor informed Council that he had written to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan, indicating that Monash University would, within its sphere of influence, embrace, support and enact the Nine Principles of the Global Compact; and

  • the Minister for Post-Compulsory Education, Training and Employment, The Hon. Lynne Kosky MLA, had announced a review of commercial activities and corporate governance of Victoria’s universities to be conducted by the Secretary, Department of Education, Employment and Training, Mr Stuart Hamilton AO, together with three nominees from the Victorian Vice-Chancellor’s Committee.

1.5.2 Use of the University Seal

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/165

Council noted the report of the Vice-Chancellor dated 19 September 2001 on the affixing of the Common Seal to documents executed under Seal pursuant to Statute 8.1, Section 2.1.5.

(File RMO1997/0889)

For action or noting by: University Solicitor

1.6 Admission of Observers

Authorised observers were admitted to the meeting following confidential items.

2. Confirmation of Minutes of Previous Meeting

The Minutes of meeting No 5/2001 held on 13 August 2001 were circulated.

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/166

Council confirmed the Minutes of meeting No. 5/2001 held on Monday, 13 August 2001.

PART B STARRED ITEMS

3. Chancellor’s Business

The Chancellor proposed that the following statement be recorded on behalf of Council:

Monash University expresses its horror at the recent events in New York, Pennsylvania and Washington and extends its sympathy and support to those affected. While being totally opposed to terrorism, our resolve is to maintain the global values of Monash into the future – a racially, culturally diverse and mutually tolerant society.

The proposal to record the statement on behalf of Monash University Council was approved.

Other matters outlined by the Chancellor included:

  • the launch of the Monash Centre in Prato and the announcement of major benefactors of the University, Mr Rino Grollo and Mrs Diana Grollo;

  • the recent offshore graduation ceremonies which included 116 Monash University Malaysia students – the first students to undertake their degrees wholly in Malaysia; and

  • the role of Council members in the governance structure of the University and the importance of a soundly functioning Council focussed on the affairs of the University.

4. Vice-Chancellor’s Business

4.1 Gippsland Academic Plan

The Vice-Chancellor introduced the report and invited Professor Brian Mackenzie, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland Campus to speak to it.

Professor Mackenzie introduced the Gippsland Academic Plan and provided Council with an update on progress with implementing the recommendations of the Working Party on Gippsland and elaborated on the many new initiatives underway at Gippsland.

A member commented that the Plan made little reference to indigenous people/culture and noted that it was difficult to get a "feel for the make-up of the student body".

In response, the Chancellor requested that a paper containing a breakdown of the current student cohort including existing/possible scholarship programs developed with the assistance of the local indigenous community, be considered at a future meeting of Council.

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/167

Council received and noted the Monash University Gippsland Academic Plan and the update on progress with implementing the recommendations of the Working Party on Gippsland.

(Secretarial note: minute 7.4 of the Academic Board Report refers)

(File RMO2001/0662)

For action or noting by: Pro Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland Campus

4.2 Research Benchmarking

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Development), Professor Peter Darvall, spoke to the document Research Benchmarking.

Council was informed that the data provided a powerful tool for measuring research performance and would be used to develop strategies to improve various aspects of research performance.

Concluding discussion, the Chancellor noted that Council needed to receive regular reports on the research performance of the University.

(Secretarial note: minute 7.4 of the Academic Board Report refers)

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/168

Council received the report on research benchmarking.

(File RMO2001/1153)

For action or noting by: Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Development)

4.3 Berwick Campus

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources), Ms Alison Crook, spoke to the report.

Ms Crook’s report to Council noted that there were two major elements to the development of the Berwick Campus, namely:

(i) the submission of a Business Plan for the development; and

(ii) the Federal Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, The Hon. Dr David Kemp, announced a $2 million grant towards the campus in 2004 and indicated that a further grant of $2 million would be "sympathetically considered" in the context of the 2005 grants.

(Secretarial note: minute 6.1 of the Resources and Finance Committee Report refers)

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/169

Council received the report on the proposal for the Berwick Campus.

(Files RMO1998/0609, RMO2001/1009)

For action or noting by: Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources), Divisional Director, Corporate Finance, Campus Director – Berwick

4.4 Parkville Campus

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources), Ms Alison Crook, spoke to the report.

Council was informed that planning for the development of a six-level building at the Parkville Campus, though subject to an objection by the Parkville Residents Association, was continuing. Further, Council was advised that while various options were being explored, it might be necessary to use developers to build and own the facility and lease back space for the faculty and other tenants.

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/170

Council received the report on the proposal for the Parkville Campus.

(File RMO1999/2180)

For action or noting by: Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources), Divisional Director, Corporate Finance, Campus Director – Parkville

4.5 After Election 2001: Key Higher Education Issues

The Vice-Chancellor spoke to the report.

The document focussed on five key ‘gap’ issues that the next government needed to address if Australia was to participate fully in the increasingly knowledge-based global economy. The five key ‘gap’ issues highlighted were:

  • the research and development gap;

  • the student funding gap;

  • the opportunity gap;

  • the infrastructure gap; and

  • the international development gap.

(Secretarial note: minute 7.4 of the Academic Board Report refers)

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/171

Council endorsed the statement After Election 2001: Key Higher Education Issues with a view to it being issued to all Victorian candidates in the forthcoming Federal election and to all Ministers and Shadow Ministers in the current parliament.

(File RMO2001/0708)

For action or noting by: Manager, Vice-Chancellor’s Office

PART C ITEMS FOR APPROVAL OR INFORMATION

5. Matters Arising from the Minutes (not dealt with elsewhere in the agenda)

5.1 Council Meeting Dates and Venues

Council, at meeting 2/2001, endorsed a proposed meeting schedule for 2002. Revision of the schedule was necessary as Council, at meeting 5/2001, approved that meeting 5/2002 be held at Monash University South Africa Campus.

Council, at meeting 1/1996, provided for meetings to be held at Gippsland and Berwick Campuses every third year but did not address the Malaysia, South Africa, Parkville or Peninsula Campuses. Practice had been for one meeting to be held at the Caulfield Campus with the remainder held at the Clayton Campus.

As all campuses have appropriate facilities to accommodate meetings of Council, it was proposed that Council meet regularly on all campuses.

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/172

Council approved that meetings of Council be scheduled at Caulfield and Clayton Campuses every year, Berwick and Peninsula Campuses every second year with the next meeting to be held in 2002, Gippsland and Parkville Campuses every second year with the next meeting to be held in 2003, and Malaysia and South Africa Campuses at least once every five years.

It was also agreed that additional mechanisms be investigated to enable Council members to exercise their responsibilities in relation to offshore campuses.

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/173

Council endorsed the proposed Council meeting schedule for 2002 as follows:

1/2002 Monday, 18 February Special meeting Clayton
2/2002 Monday, 18 March Normal meeting  Berwick
3/2002 Monday, 6 May Normal meeting  Peninsula
4/2002  Monday, 24 June Normal meeting  Caulfield
5/2002 Monday, 16 September Normal meeting South Africa
6/2002 Monday, 14 October Special meeting   Clayton
7/2002 Monday, 11 November Normal meeting Clayton
8/2002 Monday, 9 December Normal meeting Clayton

(File RMO1997/1217)

For action or noting by: Campus Directors, Secretary to Council

6. Report of the Resources and Finance Committee

6.1 Receipt of Report

In response to a question relating to the Victorian Rural Robotics Facility, Council was advised that if the funding application to the Victorian Government was unsuccessful then the matter would be further considered by the Resources and Finance Committee.

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

  • Berwick Campus Development (Secretarial note: minute 4.3 Vice-Chancellor’s Business refers)

  • Victorian Rural Robotics Facility

  • South African Campus – Residential Accommodation

  • South African Investment

  • Monash University Forecast Statement of Financial Performance 2001

  • Monash University Malaysia Financial Results for 6 months to 30 June 2001

  • Monitoring of Monash University Companies:

Presentation by Sir John Monash Business Centre Pty Ltd

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/174

Council received the report and noted the proceedings of the Resources and Finance Committee meeting held on 10 September 2001.

(Files RMO2001/1052, RMO2001/050, RMO1997/0611, RMO1999/1375, RMO1999/1488, RMO1998/0392)

For action or noting by: Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources), Dean and Head of Administration – Engineering, Divisional Director, Corporate Finance, Minute Secretary to Resources and Finance Committee

7. Report of the Academic Board

7.1 Receipt of Report

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/175

Council received and noted the report of Meeting 5/2001 of the Academic Board held on Wednesday, 5 September 2001.

(File RMO2001/0552)

7.2 Academic Appointments

7.2.1 Proposal to establish and fill a new Chair of Applied Sciences

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/176

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Science to establish and fill a new Chair of Applied Sciences.

(Secretarial note: minute 10.1.2.1 of the Report of Senior Appointments refers)

(File Personnel)

For action or noting by: Dean and Faculty Manager – Science, Manager, Senior Appointments

7.2.2 Proposal to establish and fill the Louis Waller Chair in Law

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/177

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Law to establish and fill the Louis Waller Chair in Law.

(Secretarial note: minute 10.1.2.2 of the Report of Senior Appointments refers)

(File Personnel)

For action or noting by: Dean and Faculty Manager – Law, Manager, Senior Appointments

7.3 Proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Art and Design to:
  • Merge the existing Departments of Fine Arts and Applied Arts into the Department of Fine Arts; and
  • Establish a Department of Multimedia and Digital Arts

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/178

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Art and Design to:

  • merge the existing Department of Fine Arts and the Department of Applied Arts into the Department of Fine Arts; and

  • establish the Department of Multimedia and Digital Arts.

(File RMO1998/0174)

For action or noting by: Dean and Faculty Manager – Art and Design, Manager, Senior Appointments, Policy and Technology Officer, University Secretariat

7.4 Receipt of Proceedings

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 Proposal

  • Other matters include:

    • After Election 2001: Key Higher Education Issues (Secretarial note: minute 4.5 of Vice-Chancellor’s Business refers)

    • Monash University Gippsland Academic Plan (Secretarial note: minute 4.1 of Vice-Chancellor’s Business refers)

    • Institutional self review

    • Benchmarking Monash Research Performance (Secretarial note: minute 4.2 of Vice-Chancellor’s Business refers)

    • Monash Global Scholarship Program

    • Allocation of new University places

    • Funding for Major National Research Facilities

    • Academic Board nominations to fill vacancies on the Honorary Degrees Committee

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/179

Council noted the proceedings of meeting 5/2001 of the Academic Board held on Wednesday, 5 September 2001.

(Files RMO1997/1365, RMO2001/1152, RMO2001/1180, RMO2001/0271, RMO1998/2788, RMO2001/0686, RMO1998/0220)

For action or noting by: Secretary to Academic Board

8. Equal Opportunity Committee

8.1 Receipt of Report

Professor Colin Bourke MBE, Chair of the Equal Opportunity Committee advised Council of the following:

  • Monash had been short listed in the following Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) National Work and Family Awards categories:

    • First Steps Large Business Award

    • Large Business Category.

  • Monash was one of ten organisations short listed in the Equal Opportunity for Women (EOWA) Business Achievement Awards for the following:

    • Leading CEO

    • Diversity Leader

    • Leading employer with greater than 500 employees.

  • The development of two new policies to support Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace:

    • Breast Feeding Policy

    • Home Based Work Policy

  • Other matters raised included a forthcoming review of the Equal Opportunity Plan and a package of information relating to equal opportunity at Monash was provided to Council members.

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/180

Council received the report and noted the proceedings of the Equal Opportunity Committee Meeting 3/2001 held on 10 September 2001.

(File RMO1997/1578)

For action or noting by: Secretary to Equal Opportunity Committee

9. Gippsland Advisory Council

9.1 Receipt of Report

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/181

Council received the report and noted the proceedings of the Gippsland Advisory Council meeting 4/2001 held on 28 August 2001.

(File RMO1997/0888)

For action or noting by: Secretary to Gippsland Advisory Council

10. General Business

10.1 Senior Appointments

10.1.1 Acceptance of Offers

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/182

Council noted that the following had accepted their respective offers of appointment and wished to pass on their thanks to Council:

  • Professor John Redmond – Dean, Faculty of Art and Design.

  • Mr Julian Smith – Professor of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

  • Dr Robert Lewis – Chair of X-Ray and Synchrotron Physics, Faculties of Engineering and Science.

(File Personnel)

10.1.2 Appointment of Selection Committees

10.1.2.1 Chair of Applied Sciences, Monash Gippsland (Secretarial note: minute 7.2.1 of the Academic Board Report refers).

10.1.2.2 The Louis Waller Chair in Law, Faculty of Law (Secretarial note: minute 7.2.2 of the Academic Board Report refers).

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/183

Council approved the establishment of the selection committees for a Chair of Applied Sciences and The Louis Waller Chair in Law as detailed in the document presented.

(File Personnel)

For action or noting by: Pro Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland Campus, Deans and Faculty Managers – Science and Law, Manager, Senior Appointments

10.1.3 Council Nominees to Selection Committees

10.1.3.1 Chair of Applied Sciences, Monash Gippsland

10.1.3.2 The Louis Waller Chair in Law, Faculty of Law

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/184

Council approved the nomination of Council members as Council’s nominees to the selection committees as detailed in the document presented.

(File Personnel)

For action or noting by: Pro Vice-Chancellor, Gippsland, Campus, Deans and Faculty Managers – Science and Law, Manager, Senior Appointments

10.2 Legislation

10.2.1 Statute 6.1.2 Courses and Degrees (Amendment No 2 2001)

RESOLUTION CL6/2001/185

Council made the statute entitled Statute 6.1.2 – Courses and Degrees (Amendment No 2 2001).

(File RMO1999/1141)

For action or noting by: Deans and Faculty Managers/Director of Administration/Registrars/Head of Administration/Director of Academic Programs – all faculties, University Solicitor

10.3 Report of the Returning Officer – Council Elections

Council was invited to note that Council elections had taken place with the following results:

Election of a graduate student member of Council

Ms Eleina Tava was elected unopposed for a term commencing 1 January 2002 and ending 31 December 2002.

Election of an undergraduate or diploma student member of Council

Ms Manisha Blencowe was elected unopposed for a term commencing 1 January 2002 and ending 31 December 2002.

(Files RMO2000/1523, RMO2000/1343)

10.4 Next Meeting

The next meeting of Council is scheduled to be held at 5.00 pm on Monday, 12 November at the Clayton Campus.