| A meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber,
University, on Monday 7 December, 1998 at 4.00 p.m. Present
The Chancellor, Sir Edward Woodward (in the Chair)
The Deputy Chancellor (Dr N G Curry)
The Deputy Chancellor (Mrs F S Marles)
The Vice-Chancellor (Professor A D Gilbert)
The President of Academic Board (Professor T W Healy)
The President of the Student Union (Ms S Marshall)
The President of University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association (Ms A Chinn)
Mr T L Anning, Mr L J Carden, Mr Justice Chernov, Mr I A Renard, Mr G J Spring, Associate
Professor M R Theobald, Mr D V C Tricks, Professor S A Walker and Ms C M Walter.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Professor C B Schedvin)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Professor K C Lee Dow)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (Professor F P Larkins)
The Registrar (Mr J B Potter)
The Academic Registrar (Mr I Marshman)
The Director of Financial Operations (Mr D Percival)
The Director of Human Resources (Ms E Baré)
The Director of Executive Services (Mr L N Currie)
The Acting General Manager, Vice-Chancellor’s Office (Ms W Lawler)
The Manager, Central Secretariat (Mr J A Goodwin)
Ms E Blandthorn and Mr G McLeay were in attendance
Business
1. Leave of Absence (Item A.01)
Apologies were received from Hon. B Forwood, Professor Lim Pin, Dr
Lochtenberg, and Ms Proust.
Leave of absence for this meeting had been granted to Lord Dearing.
Leave of absence for the March 1999 meeting was granted to Lord Dearing
and Professor Lim Pin.
2. Welcome
The Chancellor noted that the 1999 President of the Student Union, Ms Elizabeth
Blandthorn, was attending the meeting as an observer and welcomed her to the meeting.
3. Returning Officer’s Report
The Registrar, as Returning Officer, advised that only one nomination had been received
for the office of Deputy Chancellor, (Mrs Fay Marles), and formally declared Sir Edward
Woodward re-elected as Chancellor for a term of office ending on 31 December 2001, and Mrs
Fay Marles as Deputy Chancellor for a term of office ending 31 December 2000.
He informed Council that the 1999 President of the Postgraduate Association would be Ms
Sarah Roberts.
4. Minutes of Meeting 7/98 (Item A.1)
The minutes of meeting of Council 7/98, held on 2 November 1998, copies of which had
been distributed, were confirmed, subject to the addition of the name of Ms Walter to
those who had been granted leave of absence for the meeting.
5. Starring of Additional Items (Item A.2[a])
Items B.2.2 and B.4.1 were starred for discussion.
6. 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.
7. Chancellor’s Matters (Item A.3)
7.1 Council Self-Evaluation
Council received a paper headed "Council Self-Evaluation", and agreed
that the paper should be discussed at length at the Council Planning Conference in
February.
7.2 Appointment to Council
Council resolved that Mr Justice Chernov and Professor Lim Pin be re-appointed for a
further term ending 31 December 2001.
7.3 Appointment to Council Committees, Statutory Committees &
Outside Bodies
Council received a paper containing recommended Council appointments to committees and
other bodies for 1999, and approved the recommendations for appointment, subject to the
replacement of Professor Officer by Professor Houghton on the Council of International
House, and after noting that Mr J Eddey would not be available to serve on the Audit
Committee.
8. Vice-Chancellor's Report (Item A.4)
8.1 Council received the Vice-Chancellor's Report, together with a
tabled supplementary paper, which provided a copy of the advertisement in The Australian
of 5 December 1998 for three senior positions with Melbourne University Private.
Council also received a paper dated 25 November 1998 submitted to the Vice-Chancellor
from the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee, and headed "Council Appointment of
Anti-Discrimination Advisers".
8.2 Eastern Precinct Development
Council agreed that authority be given to the Vice-Chancellor to sign the Eastern
Precinct Heads of Agreement, and to enter into a Design and Construct contract with the
Becton Corporation on terms and conditions specified in the Heads of Agreement document.
8.3 Chair of Food Production Horticulture
Council adopted the recommendation that a Chair of Food Production
Horticulture be established, and that the membership of the Selection Committee for the
Chair be the same as for the Selection Committee for the Professorial Fellow in Food
Production Horticulture.
Council noted that the new Chair would not be in addition to the vacant Professorial
Fellow position, but would replace that position.
8.4 Melbourne Enterprises International Ltd.
Council approved the renaming of Hawthorn International Education Ltd to Melbourne
Enterprises International Ltd from 1 February 1999.
8.5 Compliance
In response to a request, it was agreed that the Compliance Matrix should be amended to
include more specific sub-headings under the general heading of National Competition
Policy, dealing with the Trade Practices Act to include sub-headings for Restrictive Trade
Practices and Consumer Protection.
8.6 Audit of Environmental Due Diligence
Council noted a report dated 24 November 1998 from Kinhill Pty Ltd on environmental
due diligence (Appendix C to the Vice-Chancellor's Report) and a response (Appendix D)
prepared by the consultant engaged by the University to assist in the implementation of
its Environmental Management System (EMS).
A member of Council requested more specific information on actions arising from the
Kinhill report, including the proposed timing of the EMS Audit, the appointment of
Environmental Job Representatives and the formulation of their training plan.
Professor Larkins advised the University was not adopting all of Kinhill’s
suggestions, but had its own program and timetable to demonstrate due diligence in this
area. The University was still moving to a target of June 1999 for ISO 14001
accreditation, and was on track to meet that target.
It was agreed that a progress report on the two matters raised in the Kinhill report
would be provided to the next meeting of Council in March 1999.
8.7 1999 Rhodes Scholarships
Council was advised that of the three "Australia at Large" Rhodes
Scholarships awarded recently, two were awarded to University of Melbourne students –
Ms Lorryn Ward, an Arts graduate and Ms Catherine Button, a Law graduate. Council
expressed its pleasure with this outcome and requested that the congratulations of Council
be forwarded to the two successful students.
8.8 CSIRO Medal
The Vice-Chancellor reported with pleasure that Professor David Boger had been
awarded the 1998 CSIRO Medal for excellence in Australian research by a non-CSIRO
scientist or engineer. Council expressed its pleasure with this outcome and requested that
the congratulations of Council be forwarded to Professor Boger
8.9 Appointment of Vice-Principal (University Development)
The Vice-Chancellor announced that the position of Vice-Principal (University
Development) had been offered to Mr Roger Peacock.
8.10 Appointment of Anti-Discrimination Advisers
Council approved the appointment as Anti-Discrimination Advisers, of the twenty-seven
nominated staff listed in the paper from the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee of 25
November 1998.
9. Administrative Committee (Item A.5[a])
Council received the report of the Administrative Committee meetings 27/98 to
29/98 inclusive, together with the half-yearly report of the Risk Management Committee.
10 Endowments and Trusts Committee (Item A.5[b])
10.1 Council received the report of meeting 3/98 of
the Endowments and Trusts Committee, held on 23 October 1998.
10.2 Joyce Lambert Antarctic Research Fund
Council adopted the recommendation that the net annual income of the Joyce Lambert
Antarctic Research Fund be expended on the Antarctic Geological and Glaciological research
project.
10.3 Anna Lodewyckx Icelandic Scholarship Fund
Council adopted the recommendation that the Anna Lodewyckx Icelandic Scholarship
be increased in 1998 from $4,800 to $5,000, to be awarded to Ms Katerine Heslop, and that
no award be made in 1999 to allow for an increase in the amount available for award in the
following years.
11. Planning and Budget Committee (Item A.6)
11.1 Council received the report of meeting 10/98 of the
Planning and Budget Committee, held on 11 November 1998, amended by a revised page 2,
which was tabled.
Council adopted the following recommendations:
11.2 1999 Teaching Load Targets and Course Quotas
Council approved the teaching load targets and quotas for 1999, as shown in
Attachment 2 to the report.
11.3 Variation to Academic Year Dates in 2000 - Faculty of Veterinary
Science
Council approved the variations to academic year dates in 2000 for the third and
fourth year undergraduates in the B V Sc course, Faculty of Veterinary Science, as set out
in Attachment 3 to the report.
11.4 Recognition Agreements - Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and
Health Sciences
Council approved the recognition agreements with the Bernard O’Brien Institute of
Microsurgery and the Heart Research Centre, as set out in Attachment 4 to the report.
12. Committee of Convocation (Item A.7)
Council received the report of meeting 7/98 of the Committee of Convocation, held on 18
November 1998.
13. Academic Board (Item B.1)
13.1 Council received the report of meeting 8/98 of the Academic
Board, held on 26 November 1998, together with the report of meeting 3/98 of the
Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee, held on 24 August 1998.
13.2 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Medicine
that, pursuant to Statute 12.7.2, the honorary degree of Doctor of
Medicine be awarded to the person whose career statement was tabled at the meeting.
13.3 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws
Council resolved that, pursuant to Statute 12.7.3, the
award of an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws be awarded to the person whose career
statement was tabled at the meeting.
13.4 New Courses
Council approved the following new courses in the
Victorian College of the Arts, as set out in the appendices to the report:
- Graduate Diploma in Dramatic Art (Sound Design) (Appendix A)
- Graduate Diploma in Dramatic Art (Production and Events Management) (Appendix B)
- Graduate Diploma in Dramatic Art (Lighting Design) (Appendix C)
- introduction of a fourth, Honours year in the Bachelor of Dance.
13.5 Guaranteed Entry of Students from Informatics
Holdings Limited, Singapore
Council approved guaranteed entry, under Principle
of Selection 9.1(d), for students from Informatics Holdings Limited, Singapore, who
satisfy entrance requirements for admission to the Bachelor of Information Systems degree.
For guaranteed entry to the second year of the Bachelor of Information Systems degree,
Informatics Holdings Limited students will have achieved an average grade of B in the
Advanced Diploma of Computer Studies. Guaranteed entry will apply for a period of three
years.
13.6 Amendment of Principles of Selection for Entry to Courses
(Regulation 11.1R3)
Council agreed that a new clause (6), as set out below, be
incorporated in the Principles of Selection for Entry to Courses, under Section 7
(Selection of Australian Government Subsidised Students):
7(6) Council may establish targets for the entry of particular
categories of Technical and Further Education applicants to specified courses. To be
eligible for selection to such a course, an applicant in one of those categories must have
completed one of the courses stipulated for that category of applicants by resolution of
the Academic Board which is published with this regulation, achieving a standard of
performance set by the Academic Board and published with this regulation. The applicants
for places in the category will not be ranked with other applicants for places in any
quota for the course. The selection committee will report to the Academic Board on the
qualifications of those selected in those categories, and will later report on the
performance of those selected in those categories compared to those otherwise selected for
the course.
13.7 Amendment of Academic Board Resolutions on
Selection
Council adopted the following recommendations:
13.7.1 Revised English Language Requirements
for Full-Fee Overseas Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students
that the following amendment be made to Academic Board
Resolutions on Selection for undergraduate and postgraduate entry full-fee for
overseas students, sections 1 (a) (ii) and 1 (b) (ii) respectively:
(ii) satisfactorily completed at least first year of a tertiary course
in the English language in a country where English is the official second
main language of instruction in the tertiary institution;
13.7.2 Admission to Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies Course in
the Faculty of Education
that the following addition be made to the Academic Board
Resolution on Selection for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, Second or Later
Year Entry:
Students who have successfully completed the Diploma in Community
Services (Child Care), a two year course at an Institute of Technical and Further
Education (TAFE), are eligible for selection, pursuant to Section 7.6 of Regulation
11.1.R3, for entry into the second year of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies.
Pursuant to Regulation 11.1.R5.1, students are deemed by successful completion of the
Diploma in Community Services (Child Care) to have satisfied the English prerequisite.
13.7.3 Admission to Bachelor of Information Systems
Course in the Faculty of Science
that, to provide for the selection of TAFE students into the second
year of the Bachelor of Information Systems, the following section be added to the Academic
Board Resolutions on Selection for the Bachelor of Information Systems, Second or
Later Year Entry:
Students who have achieved an average of 60% in all the modules in
Certificate IV in Information Systems, a one year course at Kangan and Box Hill Institutes
of TAFE, and satisfied the prerequisites for the Bachelor of Information Systems, are
eligible for selection in a quota, established pursuant to Section 7.5 of Regulation
11.1.R3, for entry into the second year of the Bachelor of Information Systems.
13.7.4 Additional English Language Requirements for Full-Fee
Overseas Undergraduate Students in Certain Courses
that the Academic Board Resolutions on Selection for the
Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, Faculty of
Science, and the Faculty of Veterinary Science, for overseas students who are required to
undertake additional English language studies as part of their undergraduate course, be as
outlined in Appendix D to the report.
13.8 Trinity Foundation Program Studies: Entrance
Requirements Year 2000
Council approved entry levels for the admission of Trinity Foundation
Program graduates to undergraduate courses in 2000 as outlined in Appendix E to the
report.
13.9 Student Award
Council approved the establishment of the following new award:
- Astra Prize (as set out in Appendix F to the report)
13.10 Guaranteed Academic Entry Standards: International Undergraduate
Fee Paying Programs
Council adopted the recommendation that, to be guaranteed entry
into the Bachelor of Urban Planning and Development degree, international undergraduate
fee paying students must have obtained an ENTER, or equivalent, of 88.
14.Finance Committee (Item B.2)
14.1 Council received the report of meeting 10/98 of the Finance
Committee, held on 25 November, 1998.
14.2 1999 Capital Plan and Minor Works Plan
Council approved the 1999 Capital Plan and Minor Works Plan, as set
out in Attachment 1 to the report.
14.3 Acquisition by Hawthorn International
Education Ltd
Council noted that a subsidiary company, Hawthorn International
Education Ltd (HIE), wished to borrow a substantial sum from the University in order to
purchase an additional business.
After some discussion, during which it was noted that due diligence processes in
respect of the purchase were the responsibility of the Board of HIE, Council adopted the
recommendation that the University approve the borrowing and provide the necessary sum
from its cash flow, as detailed in the report.
15. Buildings and Estates Committee (Item B.4)
15.1 Council received the report of meeting 10/98 of the Buildings
and Estates Committee, held on 9 November 1998.
15.2 1999 Capital Plan
In response to a question about the relationships of the Capital Projects Committee,
Buildings and Estates Committee, Finance Committee and Council in the establishment of
minor works priorities, the Vice-Chancellor replied that under the present arrangements it
would be difficult for Council itself to deal with the minor works program, which often
includes items of an urgent or ad hoc nature.
He went on to stress the necessity for a framework of strategic analysis to inform
capital planning, for the appropriate relationship between the Master Plan and the Capital
Plan to be established, and for a review of the structure and terms of reference of the
committees involved in capital planning. The role that Council could perform in the
setting of minor works priorities should be considered in that context. The
Vice-Chancellor undertook to prepare a paper on these matters for the Council Planning
Conference in February 1999.
16. Legislation Committee (Item C)
16.1 Council received the report of meeting 7/98 of
the Legislation Committee, held on 30 November 1998.
16.2 Council made the following Regulations as detailed in the report:
| (1) |
Amendment of Regulation12.6.R1 |
To alter the regulation governing academic
dress (79/98) |
| (2) |
Amendment of Regulation 12.6.R1 |
To correct an error in the regulation
governing academic dress (80/98) |
| (4) |
Making of Regulation R3.343 |
To establish the degree of master of TESOL
(82/98) |
| (5) |
Making of Regulation R3.344 |
To establish the degree of master of Training
and Development (83/98) |
| (6) |
Amendment of Regulation R6.177 |
Arthur Gordon Whitlam Bequest (84/98) |
17. Summary of Reports on Matters dealt with by the Vice-Chancellor
(Item D.2[a])
Council received the summary of reports on matters dealt with by the
Vice-Chancellor, as set out in Items D.2[a] and [b].
18. Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management (Item D.3)
Council received the report of meeting 10/98 of the Melbourne Theatre Company Board of
Management, held on 22 October, 1998.
19. Amendment to the Master Plan
Council was reminded that any amendment of the Master Plan required that the
proposed amendment lie on the table for three months. Council was given notice of a
proposed amendment to the Master Plan to enable the construction of The Asia Centre on the
Swanston Street boundary, despite the fact that under the Master Plan the proposed
building line is set back three metres from Swanston Street.
20. Farewell to Retiring Members
The Chancellor advised that the meeting was the last meeting of Council for Mr
Denis Tricks, who would be retiring from Council after eleven years of service, including
many years as a member and later Chair of the Investment Committee, as a member of the
Finance Committee, the Committee on Staff Salaries, the Board of Management of the
Australia Centre Foundation and countless Chair Selection committees.
He also pointed out that Professor Healy, President of the Academic
Board, was retiring as a member of staff at the end of the year after many years of
service to the University, including fourteen years on Council, and that Ms Shelley
Marshall would complete her one-year term on Council at the end of the year.
In each case Council expressed its appreciation by a round of applause.
21. Introduction of New Professor (Item F.2)
Professor Alun Jackson, Chair of Social Work, was introduced to Council members and
welcomed to the meeting.
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