Meeting No. 8/2001 of the Monash University Council was held between 4.30 pm and 6.50 pm on Monday, 17 December 2001, in the Sir George Lush Room, Administration Building 3a, Clayton Campus

Mr J K Ellis, Chancellor, Presiding

Mr P H Ramler AM, Deputy Chancellor

Dr J M Hearn, 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 and Vice-President (Research and Development)

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

Professor A Lucas, Principal, King’s College, London

Professor D White, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Monash Centre London

Mr Tony Pollock, Executive Director, Office of International Affairs

Mr J Matthews, Divisional Director, Corporate Finance

Dr B Robinson, Chairman, Environment Protection Authority

Ms A Lazar, Deputy University Solicitor

Professor M Evans, Director, Planning and Academic Affairs

Ms S Stafford, Executive Officer to Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Planning)

Mr T Calder, Director, Secretariat and Executive Services

Apologies were received from Dr Mark Schapper and Ms Wendy Peter.

No requests for special leave were received.

Items 1.1 Apologies, 1.2 Special Leave, 1.3 Starring of Items, 1.4 Approval of Non-Starred Items, 1.5.2 Report of the Honorary Degrees, 2 Confirmation of Minutes of Previous Meeting, 3 Chancellor’s Business, 4 Vice-Chancellor’s Business, 5.1 Report of the Council Working Party into issues relating to Statute 6.2 – Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress and Regulations, 5.2 Report of the Council Working Party into issues relating to Statute 6.3 – Exclusion for Health Reasons, 6. Update on Monash Commercial and 11 Report of the Equal Opportunity Committee 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’.

No matters were raised under this item.

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/218

Council received and noted the report of the Honorary Degrees Committee Meeting 1/2001 held on Tuesday, 27 November 2001.

(File RMO1997/1110)

The Chancellor advised that the Honorary Degrees Committee would bring to a meeting of Council in early 2002, additional recommendations for the award of honorary degrees with an emphasis on recognising the contribution of women through scholarship, professional distinction, outstanding service to the community, or contribution to the arts, industry or the business world or through public recognition to the outstanding service which women have rendered to the University.

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/219

Council approved, without discussion, the recommendation of the Honorary Degrees Committee for the award of honorary degrees as presented orally by the Chancellor, Mr Jerry Ellis.

(File RMO1998/0220)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/220

Council received and noted the report of meeting 3/2001 of the Membership Committee of Council held by way of circulation of papers on Wednesday, 5 December 2001.

(File RMO1997/1107)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/221

Council appointed Professor Robert Chenhall as a member of the Audit Committee.

(File RMO1998/0044)

Authorised observers were admitted to the meeting following confidential items.

The Minutes of meeting No 7/2001 held on 12 November 2001 were circulated.

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/222

Council confirmed the Minutes of meeting No 7/2001 held on Monday, 12 November 2001.

The Chancellor noted that 2001 had been an outstanding year of achievement with many milestones. These included the first group of graduates from Monash University Malaysia, the first student intake at Monash South Africa, the launch of The Monash Centre in Prato and the Monash College in China, the Synchrotron, the launch of the concept for the science innovation precinct, construction of the Monash Science Centre, new partnerships with a number of sporting associations, construction of a new building for Monash International and the opening of the International Institute of Forensic Studies.

On behalf of Council, the Chancellor thanked the Vice-Chancellor and his team on the range and number of notable achievements in 2001.

The Chancellor also noted that Council members raised the following matters during discussions:

Concluding the report, the Chancellor informed Council that the proposal to convene meeting 5/2002 at Monash South Africa Campus was no longer viable as the World Environment Summit to be held in Johannesburg had been rescheduled to the time of the proposed Council visit and due to the large number of people attending, arrangements for the Council meeting could not be guaranteed. Accordingly, members were advised that a Council meeting towards the end of 2002 would be rescheduled for Monash South Africa.

Introducing the papers, Global Development Framework and Global Development: 2002-2006, the Vice-Chancellor informed Council that the Global Development Framework provided the framework and guiding principles for Monash’s international activities for a number of years. The document, Global Development: 2002-2006 identified priorities over the next five years and included key strategies and expected outcomes.

A supporting document, Monash in North America was provided and expanded on Monash’s activities, partnerships and strategies for North America.

Mr Tony Pollock, Executive Director, Office of International Affairs provided a demonstration of the Global Development web site.

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/223

Council approved the Global Development Framework and Global Development: 2002-2006 and noted the paper Monash In North America.

(File RMO2000/0343)

Professor Alan Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Planning) informed Council that in accord with the directions established by Leading the Way: the Monash Plan, and the Learning and Teaching Plan, a key focus had been the development of appropriate technologies that enhanced the teaching and learning process. Further, that projects undertaken by faculties and the University to explore on-line and electronically-supported tools had resulted in WebCT being adopted as the most suitable platform to support flexible teaching and learning across the University.

Council was advised that the paper The Use of Online Technologies to Support Flexible Learning provided a snapshot of the ways faculties were developing and adapting technologies to meet their specific needs and the outcomes would be included in the revision of the Learning and Teaching Plan in 2002.

Members commented on the need to ensure that students were suitably informed of any additional costs relating to web enhanced units, the need to ensure web enhanced delivery had a sound pedagogical basis and that web literacy/fluency was considered a fundamental attribute required of all students graduating from Monash.

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/224

Council received and noted the report Future Directions Report: The use of on-line technologies to support flexible learning as presented by Professor Alan Lindsay.

(File RMO2000/0746)

Professor Alan Lindsay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Planning) presented an update to the Future Directions Report: Development of the Curriculum: Engagement with Stakeholders initially presented to Council at meeting 2/2001 (19 March).

In response to questions raised by members, Professor Lindsay informed Council that faculties were engaged in a wide range of additional activities that supplemented the range of community links detailed in the paper.

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/225

Council received and noted the update report on Development of the Curriculum: Engagement with Stakeholders as presented by Professor Alan Lindsay.

(File RMO2000/0611)

Professor Peter Darvall, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Development) presented a report on Monash Involvement in Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs).

Professor Darvall, noting that involvement in CRCs helped strengthen links between researchers and was a "measure of academic-research health", informed Council that Monash had participated in successful bids in all CRC rounds since their launch in 1990 and following the establishment of the five new CRCs announced in the recent seventh round, Monash would be involved in more CRCs than any other Australian university.

(Secretarial note: minute 10.4 Report of the Academic Board refers)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/226

Council noted the report of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Research and Development) on Monash involvement in CRCs.

(File RMO1998/2005)

The Vice-Chancellor informed Council of the outcomes of university-wide deliberations on how best to improve research performance at Monash.

In response to questions, the Vice-Chancellor emphasised the important contribution made by postgraduate research students, the need to ensure that internal research grants were appropriately targeted and for faculties to address any shortfalls identified during the research benchmarking process.

(Secretarial note: minute 10.4 Report of the Academic Board refers)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/227

Council received the report on Strengthening Research: Advancing Monash.

(File RMO1997/1152)

The Chancellor introduced the Reports of the Working Party into issues relating to Statute 6.2 Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress and Regulations and 6.3 Exclusion for Health Reasons and reminded Council that the proposed amendments resulted from an extensive review process undertaken in 1999 and 2000 with the final report approved by Academic Board at meeting 2/2000.

During discussion, some members suggested that it was inappropriate to accept the use of a report from the security branch of the University as a basis for any exclusion proceedings instituted under Statute 6.3 Exclusion for Health Reasons.

In summarising the discussion, the Chancellor noted that there was some dissent expressed by some Council members but that the body of opinion was to make the statutes and regulations as detailed in the recommendations.

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/228

Council made the Statute entitled Statute 6.2 – Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress (Substitution).

Council made the Exclusion for Unsatisfactory Progress (Substitution) Regulations.

(File RMO2001/0500)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/229

Council made the Statute entitled Statute 6.3 – Exclusion for Health Reasons.

(File RMO1999/1767)

Mr Paul Ramler AM, Deputy Chancellor, introduced this item.

Mr Ramler noted that at meeting 7/2000 (13 November), Council resolved to establish Monash Commercial as a way of exercising appropriate governance and management oversight over the University’s increasing number of commercial activities. Monash Commercial was incorporated on 13 February 2001 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Monash University.

Ms Alison Crook, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources) advised Council that meetings of the Monash Commercial Board had established a supporting committee structure consisting of Audit, Remuneration, and Commercialisation Executive Committees. Further, Council was advised that the agenda papers included a chart detailing the most recent structure of the University’s commercialisation activities.

In response to matters raised by members, Council was informed that people on the Monash payroll who may serve in their normal role on the boards of Monash subsidiaries will not normally be eligible to receive directors fees and that the University’s controlling interest in Learning Fast Pty Ltd, subsequently renamed Monash Learning Fast Pty Ltd, provided synergies with Monash online learning initiatives.

(File RMO2000/106)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/230

Council received the report of the Deputy Chancellor, Mr Paul Ramler AM, and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Resources), Ms Alison Crook.

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/231

Council noted the proposed role and responsibilities of the Commercialisation Executive Committee of Monash Commercial Pty Ltd; and invited the University Solicitor’s Office to bring to Council meeting 2/2002 any resultant necessary amendments to the Intellectual Property regulations relating to the role of the Intellectual Property Committee.

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/232

Council noted that in 2002 it would receive a report following each of the three scheduled Monash Commercial Pty Ltd Board meetings.

Council noted that the Executive Committee of Council, acting under its delegation from Council, met on 6 December 2001 and approved offers of appointment as: Professor and Head, Department of Business Law and Taxation, Faculty of Business and Economics, a Professor of Early Childhood Education, Faculty of Education; the establishment of a Chair of Econometrics, Department of Econometrics, Faculty of Business and Economics; offers of appointment to: two Chairs of Econometrics, Department of Econometrics, Faculty of Business and Economics, two Professors of Financial Accounting and Auditing, Department of Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Business and Economics and a Professor of Management Accounting, Department of Accounting and Finance, Faculty of Business and Economics to the persons named in the document circulated to members of the Executive Committee of Council.

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/233

Council noted the approvals granted by the Executive Committee of Council at its meeting held on 6 December 2001.

(Files Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/234

Council received and noted the Report of meeting 3/2001 of the Audit Committee held on 3 December 2001.

(File RMO1997/1579)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/235

Council approved the revised membership and terms of reference of the Audit Committee.

(File RMO1998/0044)

Council members were invited to refer to the proceedings of the Report of the Audit Committee. Items included:

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/236

Council noted the proceedings of the Audit Committee meeting held on 3 December 2001.

(Files RMO2000/1603, RMO1998/0044, RMOR2001/021, RMO1998/0241, RMO2000/1699, RMO2001/0164, RMO2001/1729, RMO1997/1526, RMO2001/1142, RMO1998/1893, RMO1997/1579)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/237

Council approved the following executive arrangements for the Resources and Finance Committee for the period between 26 November 2001 and 5 March 2002:

1. That an Executive Sub-Committee is established and empowered to make decisions on behalf of the Resources and Finance Committee, with meetings called at the discretion of the Chairman or Vice-Chancellor.

2. That any decisions by the Executive Sub-Committee are subsequently ratified at the next full Committee meeting of Resources and Finance Committee

3. That the Executive Sub-Committee comprise any three of the following (two of the three must be members of Resources and Finance Committee):

(File RMO2001/1730)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/238

Council:

(Files RMO1997/0173, RMO1997/0561, RMO1997/0877, RMO1997/0887

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/239

Council approved the loan forgiveness as detailed in the document presented.

(File RMO1998/0392)

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

Items included:

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/240

Council noted the proceedings of the Resources and Finance Committee meeting held on Monday, 26 November 2001.

(File RMO1999/1488, RMO1998/2897, RMO2001/1731, RMO2000/0343, RMO1997/0611, RMO1997/0356, RMO1998/0609, RMO2001/1009, RMO2001/0975, RMO1998/2448)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/241

Council received and noted the Report of Meeting 7/2001 of the Academic Board held on Wednesday, 28 November 2001.

(File RMO2001/0552)

10.2.1 Proposal to Establish and Fill a Chair of Linguistics (Secretarial note: minute 12.1.4.5 of the Report of Senior Appointments refers)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/242

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Arts to establish and fill a Chair of Linguistics, in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics.

(File Personnel)

10.2.2 Proposal to Establish and Fill the Position of Research Professor in the School of Political and Social Inquiry (Secretarial note: minute 12.1.4.6 of the Report of Senior Appointments refers)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/243

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Arts to establish and fill the position of Research Professor in the School of Political and Social Inquiry.

(File Personnel)

10.2.3 Proposal to Re-establish and Fill the Position of Professor/Director of Cardiovascular Medicine (Secretarial note: minute 12.1.4.1 of the Report of Senior Appointments refers)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/244

Council approved the proposal of the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to re-establish and fill the position of Professor/Director of Cardiovascular Medicine.

(File Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/245

Council approved the proposal of the Board of the Faculty of Information Technology to establish a research Centre for Mobile Commerce.

(File RMO2001/1623)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/246

Council approved the proposal for the establishment of an Institute for Regional Studies.

(File RMO2001/1639)

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

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/247

Council noted the proceedings of meeting 7/2001 of the Academic Board held on Wednesday, 28 November 2001.

(Files RMO2001/0552, RMO2000/0343, RMO2000/0746, RMO2001/0960, RMO1997/1152, RMO1998/2005, RMO2000/0879, RMO2001/1674, RMO1997/0898)

Professor Colin Bourke MBE, Chairman, Equal Opportunity Committee informed Council that the Monash Transition Coordinator was reviewing the issue of students exiting programs mid stream. The Chancellor responded that he looked forward to Council receiving an analysis of the issue and receiving suggestions for Council consideration.

Further, Professor Bourke informed Council that Monash was eligible to use the branding Employer of Choice for Women and a Council member suggested that the University include the statement on its website.

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/248

Council received the report and noted the proceedings of the Equal Opportunity Committee meeting 4/2001 held on 3 December 2001.

(File RMO1997/1578)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/249

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

(Files Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/250

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

(Files Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/251

Council approved an offer of appointment to a Chair of Political Science, School of Political and Social Enquiry, Faculty of Arts, as per the report of the selection committee, be made to the person named in the document presented.

(File Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/252

Council approved an offer of reappointment as Pro Vice-Chancellor, Monash South Africa, for the period from 1 March 2002 to 31 December 2003, be made to the person named in the document presented.

(File Personnel)

12.1.4.1 Professor and Director of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Alfred Hospital and the Central and Eastern Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (Secretarial note: minute 10.2.3 of the Report of Academic Board refers)

12.1.4.2 Professor (or Associate Professor) and Director, Monash University Bendigo Clinical School, Bendigo Health Care Group and the School of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (Secretarial note: minute 12.2.2 of Academic Appointments refers)

12.1.4.3 Professor (or Associate Professor) and Director, Monash University Gippsland Clinical School, Latrobe Regional Hospital and the School of Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (Secretarial note: minute 12.2.3 of Academic Appointments refers)

12.1.4.4 Professor (or Associate Professor) of Fine Arts, Department of Fine Arts, Faculty of Art and Design (Secretarial note: minute 12.2.1 of Academic Appointments refers)

12.1.4.5 Chair of Linguistics, School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, Faculty of Arts (Secretarial note: minute 10.2.1 of the Report of Academic Board refers)

12.1.4.6 Research Professor, School of Political and Social Enquiry, Faculty of Arts (Secretarial note: minute 10.2.2 of the Report of Academic Board refers)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/253

Council approved the establishment of the selection committees for a Professor and Director of Cardiovascular Medicine, Professor (or Associate Professor) and Director, Monash University Bendigo Clinical School, Professor (or Associate Professor) and Director, Monash University Gippsland Clinical School, a Professor (or Associate Professor) of Fine Arts, Chair of Linguistics and a Research Professor, as detailed in the document presented.

(Files Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/254

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

(File Personnel)

12.2.1 Proposal to establish and fill the position of Professor (or Associate Professor) of Fine Arts, Faculty of Art and Design (Secretarial note: minute 12.1.4.4 of the Report of Senior Appointments refers)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/255

Council approved the proposal to establish and fill the position of Professor (or Associate Professor) of Fine Arts, Faculty of Art and Design as detailed in the document presented.

12.2.2 Proposal to establish and fill the position of Professor (or Associate Professor) and Director, Monash University Bendigo Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (Secretarial note: minute 12.1.4.2 of the Report of Senior Appointments refers)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/256

Council approved the proposal to establish and fill the position of Professor (or Associate Professor) and Director, Monash University Bendigo Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences as detailed in the document presented.

12.2.3 Proposal to establish and fill the position of Professor (or Associate Professor) and Director, Monash University Gippsland Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (Secretarial note: minute 12.1.4.3 of the Report of Senior Appointments refers)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/257

Council approved the proposal to establish and fill the position of Professor (or Associate Professor) and Director, Monash University Gippsland Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences as detailed in the document presented.

(Files Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/258

Council made the regulations entitled The D K and G Anderson Prize Fund Regulations (Amendment No 1 2001).

(File RMO2000/0262)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/259

Council noted promotions approved by the University Readership/Associate Professorship Committee, in accordance with delegated authority and effective from 1 January 2002 as detailed in the document presented.

(Files Personnel)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/260

Council noted promotions approved by Deans on the recommendation of the Faculty Lectureship/Senior Lectureship Committees, in accordance with delegated authority, and effective from 1 January 2002 as detailed in the document presented.

(Files Personnel)

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

Ms Dale Halstead was elected for a term commencing 1 January 2002 and ending 31 December 2003.

(File RMO2001/0059)

RESOLUTION CL8/2001/261

Council received reports from the following staff:

• Ms Wendy Doube, Gippsland School of Computing and Information Technology

• Dr Ann Nicholson, School of Computer Science and Software Engineering

• Associate Professor Jim Breen, School of Computer Science and Software Engineering

• Dr Craig Hassed, Department of General Practice

• Dr (Robert) Malcolm Clark, School of Mathematical Sciences

• Dr Trevor Hicks, School of Physics and Materials Engineering

• Professor Pat Vickers-Rich, School of Geosciences

(File RMO1999/1608)