• Support services forum

All staff are invited to attend an open forum to discuss the Support Services Strategic Plan.

The two-hour open forums will be held at:

• Clayton - three sessions on 31 July at 2 pm, and on 1 August at 10 am and 2 pm, Campus Centre Cinema.
• Caulfield - two sessions on 7 August at 11 am in the Link Theatre (S Building) and at 2 pm in A2.14 (A Building).
• Gippsland - one session on 14 August at 12 noon in lecture theatre 4N120.
• Peninsula - one session on 17 August at 2 pm in lecture theatre room E2.09.
• Berwick and Parkville staff are requested to attend meetings at a campus most suitable to them. Malaysia staff and those who cannot attend any forums can still have input by emailing their comments to kerrie.edwards@adm.monash.edu.au

Staff are invited to view the plan online at www.monash.edu.au/staff/

Background information is available at www.monash.edu.au/staff/announce/2000-07/

• Short courses at Berwick

The Short Courses Centre is offering computer training at the Berwick campus for the first time, due to public demand.

Liaison officer Ms Rebecca Redfern said courses conducted by experienced and qualified tutors were available for Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Endnote.

The first course will start on 9 August and is open to Berwick staff, students and members of the community.

"All classes are held in a fully equipped computer training laboratory and are 'hands-on', with each participant having their own computer," she said.

"Class sizes are limited to 10 students to ensure an effective learning environment is maintained."

Ms Redfern said this was the first time the centre was offering short courses away from Clayton campus.

"We've had a lot of inquiries from staff and students at Berwick and quite a few from the public too, so we thought we should expand in that direction," she said. Inquiries extn 53180.

• 25 years at Monash

Medals will be presented to staff who have given 25 years or more service to the university as at 31 May 2000 at a ceremony in September.

This year's presentation on Tuesday 19 September will be made by Monash chancellor Mr Jerry Ellis, while Monash vice-chancellor and president Professor David Robinson will deliver the occasional address.

Anyone wishing to attend the ceremony should contact Ms Darlene Freame, Staff Development Unit, on extn 56959 or email darlene.freame@adm.monash.edu.au by Friday 18 August.

Members of staff who believe they are eligible for an award and have not received a personal letter from the vice-chancellor inviting them to attend the ceremony should contact Ms Freame as soon as possible.

• New lunch spot

A new fully licensed coffee shop/bistro is now open in the tunnel under the Matheson Library on the Clayton campus.

The Den, owned by Joe Vitale and Chris Nastas, is open from 7 am to 6 pm, Mondays to Fridays, with possible variations in future.

On offer are home-made cakes, hot food, fresh fruit salads and juices, foccacias and salads with other additions to come.

For further information, contact 9544 6611.

• Did you know?

The Monash South Africa campus construction is progressing at great speed. Currently there are 180 workers on site, laying the number of bricks daily that would build three suburban houses. The campus is due to take its first students next February.

• IT access for disabled students

Staff who teach students with disabilities can refer them to 'adaptive technology rooms' to assist with access to computers.

These rooms are available in the Matheson Library at Clayton, the Caulfield, Peninsula and Gippsland campus libraries, and at the Hargrave Andrew Library in the Alfred Hospital.

These rooms provide a range of adaptive software, equipment and furniture including large screen monitors and ergonomic chairs.

For more information, contact the Disability Liaison Office on 9905 5704, TTY 9905 5391.