Council Meeting No 7 /05

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A special meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber, 1 st Floor, Old Quadrangle on Monday 9 August 2005 at 4.00p.m.

Present

The Chancellor, Mr I A Renard (In the Chair)
The Deputy Chancellor (Justice A Chernov)
The Vice-Chancellor (Professor G Davis)
The President of Academic Board (Professor L Skene)
Ms E Alexander, Mr T L Anning, Mr B Barnett, Dr M Doig, Judge I Lawson,
Professor Pattison, Ms E Ritchie, Ms R Storelli, Mr E Thornley and Hon Mr D White.

Others Attending

The President of Convocation (Dr R Condron)
The President of the Postgraduate Association (Mr W Watson)
The Chair of the Interim Student Representative Committee (Mr P Donegan)
Professor M Elgar

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor ( R esearch) (Professor F Larkins)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) (Professor P McPhee)
The Senior Vice-Principal (Mr I Marshman)
The Vice-Principal (Property & Buildings) (Dr D Daines)
The Acting Vice-Principal and Academic Regis t rar (Dr M Emison)
The Vice-Principal (Human R esources) (Ms E Baré)
The Vice-Principal (Information) (Ms L O’Brien)
The Vice-Principal and General Counsel (Mr C Penman)

The University Secretary (Mr L Currie)
The Assistant University Secretary (Mr J Green)
The Director, Office of the Vice-Chancellor (Ms M O’Keefe)
The General Manager Planning and Infrastructure (Ms F de Preu)
The Senior Media Adviser (Ms C Buckridge)
Dr N Buch

Business

1. Formal Matters [Item A.01]

Apologies had been received from Justice Crennan, Mr Hehir, Professor Li and Dr Lochtenberg. Leave of absence for the September meeting was granted to Dr Lochtenberg.

2. Returning Officer’s Report

The University Secretary reported that he had received advice that Mr Belleghem had resigned his position on Council as the member elected by the postgraduate students. That election had been conducted under delegation by the University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association according to their electoral rules. Under those rules, casual vacancies are filled by the next highest polling unsuccessful candidate, provided that he or she remains eligible and willing to serve. The highest polling unsuccessful candidate was Ms Lydia Ooi, who remained eligible and willing to serve, and consequently she would be declared elected to the position.

3. Starring of Additional Items [Item A.2 (a)]

Items A.4(b).1, 7 & 8 were starred for discussion.

4. Motion to Adopt or Receive “Unstarred Items of Business” [Item A.2 (b)]

In accordance with established procedure, it was formally agreed that the items of business that were not to be specifically discussed should be adopted where containing recommendations or received where containing reports.

5. Listing of Key Issues and Documents for discussion [Item A.4 (a)]

The following item was listed under Key Issues and Documents for Discussion –

Recognition of a New Student Representative Body

5.1 Justice Chernov introduced the report from the Council Working Group on proposals for a New Student Representative Body, and led Council in an analysis of the draft constitution for a body to be entitled University of Melbourne Student Union Incorporated (UMSU).

5.2 Council adopted the recommendation to recognise the University of Melbourne Student Union Incorporated, constituted as shown in Appendix A of the report, as a student organisation of the University, provided that it is approved in a plebiscite of students to be conducted under the aegis of the University Secretary. Council agreed that in the Statement of Purposes introducing the UMSU constitution, and in the listing of purposes under Rule 3, it would be acceptable to the University for the words “but in all cases only in accordance with agreements made with MU Student Union Limited or the University” to be replaced by “but in all cases not inconsistent with agreements made with MU Student Union Limited or the University”.

5.3 Council agreed to request

• that the University Secretary proceed to conduct the plebiscite,

and further, assuming that the result of the plebiscite is in favour of establishment of UMSU -

• that Council receive a report on the election of office bearers for the organisation, and
• that the Senior Vice-Principal report to Council at its October meeting on progress with negotiation of the Agreement between MU Student Union Limited and UMSU, and provide advice on the desirability of the University also being a party to that agreement.

5.4 Council resolved to record its grateful acknowledgement of the contributions of the Chair and members of the Interim Student Representative Committee, the Vice-Principal and General Counsel, and the University Secretary in bringing this complex task to this stage.

6. Vice-Chancellor’s Report [Item A.4 (b)]

Council received the Vice-Chancellor’s Report.

6.1 Research and Research Training

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) briefed Council on actions taken and planned in response to issues raised by Professor Vicki Sara’s Due Diligence review of research and research training in the University.

6.2 Dean of Music

Council adopted the recommendation that Professor Warren Bebbington be re-appointed Dean of the Faculty of Music from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2010 .

6.3 Dean of Graduate Studies

Council adopted the recommendation that Professor Barbara Evans be re-appointed Dean of the School of Graduate Studies from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2010 .

Council asked that advice to the Deans make reference to Council’s gratitude for their work and congratulations on their reappointment

The meeting then closed.