Present

Members

The Chancellor, Sir Edward Woodward (in the Chair)
The Deputy Chancellor (Ms F S Marles)
The Deputy Chancellor (Dr N G Curry)
The Vice-Chancellor (Professor A D Gilbert)
The President of Academic Board (Professor S A Walker)
Mr T L Anning, Mr L J Carden, Mr Justice Chernov, Ms A Chinn, Lord Dearing, Hon B Forwood, Mr I A Renard, and Ms C Walter.

Others Attending

The 1999 President of Convocation (Mr T Latham)
The 2000 President of the Student Union (Mr B Cass)
The 2000 President of the Postgraduate Association (Mr S Booth)

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Management) (Professor C B Schedvin)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students & Staff) (Professor K C Lee Dow)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (Professor F P Larkins)

The Vice-Principal (Administration) (Mr I Marshman)
The Vice-Principal (University Development) (Mr R Peacock)

The University Secretary (Mr L N Currie)
The Deputy Principal, Administration (Ms J Stephens)
The Deputy Principal, Human Resources (Ms E Baré)
The Director of Policy, Planning and Projects, ITS (Mr S Young)
The General Manager, Vice-Chancellor's Office (Ms M O'Keefe)
The Manager, Central Secretariat (Mr J A Goodwin)
The Media Liaison Officer (Ms C Buckridge).
The Protocol Officer (Mr P O'Keefe)

Business

1. Welcome

The Chancellor welcomed Mr Benjamin Cass, 2000 President of the Student Union, and Mr Simon Booth, 2000 President of the Postgraduate Association, and advised that they would be attending Council meetings as observers in 2000.

2. Leave of Absence (Item A.01)

Apologies were received from Mr Allen, Professor Angus, Mr Crawford, Mr Doyle, Dr Lochtenberg, and Ms E M Proust.

Leave of absence for this meeting had been granted to Professor Lim Pin and Associate Professor Theobald.

Leave of absence for the March 2000 meeting was granted to Professor Lim Pin.

3. Returning Officer's Report (Item A.02)

The University Secretary, as Returning Officer, declared Dr Curry re-elected unopposed as Deputy Chancellor for a two-year term from 1 January, 2000.

He also reported that Mr Tom Bruce, a former member of Council had been elected as the President of Convocation for a two-year term from 1 January, 2000.

4. University Seal (Item A.03)

Council noted that the University's preparations for the year 2000 included arrangements to enable it to continue with limited essential operations if there were significant interruptions to supplies of electricity and other services.

To allow for the possible unavailability of electricity during early January 2000, Council adopted the recommendation that the manual seal in use until 6 September 1999, an impression of which is now made on this page of the minutes, be adopted as the common seal of the University in pursuance of Section 4 (2) of the Melbourne University Act 1958 from the 7th day of December 1999, for use only on such occasions as the electronic press and seal is not operational.

5. Minutes of Meeting 8/99 (Item A.1[a] )

The minutes of Council meeting 8/99, held on 1 November, 1999, copies of which had been distributed, were confirmed.

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

Items A.5(a)2, A.6.1, A.6.6, B.3 and B.6 were starred for discussion.

7. 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.

8. Chancellor's Matters (Item A.3)

8.1 Council Appointees and Council Committees

The Chancellor advised that the names of the Governor-in-Council appointees for 2000 were still not known, and that in the circumstances it was preferable to also delay one of the Council appointments for 2000. Council agreed to appoint Ms Fay Marles to Council for a further three-year term of office from 1 January 2000, and also agreed to delegate to a sub-committee consisting of the Chancellor, the two Deputy Chancellors and the Vice-Chancellor, the authority to bring forward a recommendation for the other Council appointment to the meeting of Council Executive on 20 December. Council agreed, should it not prove possible to make such a recommendation in time for the Executive Committee meeting, that the sub-committee make the appointment on behalf of Council.

The Chancellor also reminded members that he was responsible for nominating the membership of Council committees for 2000, and asked members to inform him of any preferences they might have for changes in their committee memberships.

8.2 150th Anniversary Celebrations

Council received the tabled replacement report of the Working Party planning the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the University in 2003.

8.3 Conferring Ceremony in Bangkok

The Deputy Chancellor, Ms Fay Marles, had led a delegation from the University to Thailand, primarily to present the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa to Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in the Dusit Palace in Bangkok on 26 November 1999.

Ms Marles reported to Council on the conferring ceremony, and other highlights of the visit, including a meeting with the University of Melbourne alumni in Thailand. Council received a tabled paper on Community Based Integrated Rural Development, which included a summary of University of Melbourne Senior School Scholarships for young women of Thailand.

9. Vice-Chancellor's Report (Item A.4)

9.1 Council received the Vice-Chancellor's Report, together with a one-page excerpt from The Chronicle of Higher Education of 3 December, 1999, and a tabled confidential report on recent developments in the University Square project.

9.2. Committee for Cultural and Community Development

Council adopted the recommendation that the number of Committees that report to the Committee for Cultural and Community Development be reduced to two, namely the Theatre Board and the Steering Committee, and approved the proposed amendments to Regulation 17.1.R14, as set out in the report of the Legislation Committee.

Council adopted the recommendation that responsibility for approval of expenditure on works of art from the C D Lloyd Bequest be transferred from the Committee for Cultural and Community Development to the Board of the Ian Potter Museum of Art.

Council adopted the recommendation that responsibility for approval of expenditure against music bequests be transferred to a committee under the auspices of the Faculty of Music, on condition that membership of that committee include at least one person who is not a staff member of the faculty.

9.3. Intellectual Property

Council approved the proposed new Intellectual Property Statute 14.1, as set out in the report of the Legislation Committee, but noted that a footnote in the Statute at the time it was approved by the Academic Board was no longer shown in the proposed legislation, and requested that the Legislation Committee consider this matter, and advise if it had any objection to the Statute being amended to include the footnote.

Council requested that the Statute be given further consideration, with a view to amending the arrangements regarding University rights to a share of revenue from intellectual property, to introduce a sliding scale to apply when amounts of over a million dollars are involved.

9.4 Universitas 21

The Vice-Chancellor referred to the report in the Chronicle of Higher Education on five corporations said to be negotiating agreements with Universitas 21. He advised that although the article quoted him, his statement had not been quoted in full, and had omitted the most important point he had made.

The full text of his statement to the Chronicle had been:

"We are talking to multinational corporations about arrangements in which U21 adds value to the strategies such corporations are developing. There may be a major role for us in providing educational content as part of a global education partnership, but the most important things that Universitas 21 is offering are branding, quality assurance and accreditation".

9.5 University Square

The Vice-Chancellor explained that he had provided Council with a detailed report on recent developments on the University Square project because he had authorised the agreement with Equiset Pty Ltd, on behalf of Council and authorised the immediate issue of a Notice to Proceed as set out in the report, decisions on behalf of council which in normal circumstances would have been taken to Council for approval.

He stressed that the decision to go ahead was taken because delay would have increased overall costs to the University very considerably, and only after consultation with a number of Council members. The Vice-Chancellor added that both authorities were in accord with the general authorisation that the Project Review Group, appointed at the Council Meeting in July 1998, had previously approved.

9.6 Industrial Relations

The Vice-Chancellor reported that it had not been possible successfully to conclude an Enterprise Bargaining Agreement during 1999, the sticking point being the unwillingness of the NTEU to accept the principle of salary increases contingent upon successful generation of revenue to fund the additional costs involved.

He advised that he was unwilling to consider a trade-off of jobs for salary increases, which would have increased the workload for the remaining staff. He also stressed the dangers of applying non-recurrent funds to service recurrent liabilities, and rejected any suggestion that the infrastructure of the University should be allowed to run down to provide the funds for unsustainable salary increases.

He reiterated his view that the staff was underpaid by international standards. The appropriate strategy to remedy the situation must be to increase the revenue of the University, and to use 30-50% of new, recurrent revenue for purposes of salary increases. He referred to the impressive track record of the University since 1997 of honouring promises and delivering outcomes.

The Vice-Chancellor went on to refer to the rapid increase in the number of international fee-paying students enrolled at the University in the past three years, which had been significantly greater than the overall increase for other Victorian and Australian universities, and had improved University revenue

9.7 Regional Strategies and the ILFR

The Vice-Chancellor then went on to talk about pressure on the University to develop coherent workable regional strategies, and a proposal to establish a Goulburn Valley University Centre at Shepparton. He spoke about the strong presence of the University in the region, where the University's Department of Rural Health and one of the ILFR campuses, Dookie, are located. He also referred to the significant Koori population in the Goulburn Valley, and the ongoing role of the University in providing educational services to that population.

A related strategic initiative could be to locate the Office of Director, ILFR in Shepparton, and to redesignate the position as "Director, ILFR and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Regional Victoria).

9.8 Bio21 Project

Bio21 is a major strategic opportunity centred on the Parkville precinct. The vision of Bio 21 is to create an internationally significant critical mass of research expertise and infrastructure providing a seamless transition from world-class basic science to commercial developments in biotechnology, supported by the clinical trial management expertise of a large teaching hospital, and resulting in world-competitive diagnostic, pharmaceutical and clinical outcomes. Through an essentially federal structure, Bio 21 will operate as a consortium of independent organisations committed to securing high levels of synergy through structured, long-term collaboration. The funding implication, if the Bio21 project proceeds as planned, is that the University will need to invest a minimum of around $60 million.

9.9 Float of Melbourne IT

The Vice-Chancellor reported that the float of Melbourne IT had been successful and that the issue of shares had been fully subscribed. This has resulted in a cash profit for MEI of around $80 million. Some part of this amount could be used to fund the University's contribution to Bio 21. It might also be possible to fund the proposed Goulburn Valley University Centre.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed his wish that MEI be permitted to retain around $30 million of the $80 million windfall from the float of Melbourne IT, on the understanding that MEI provides a return of 6-8% per annum to the general operating income of the University, which in turn would help support University salary increases.

10. Administrative Committee (Item A.5[a])

10.1 Council received the report of Administrative Committee meetings 18/99 to 20/99.

10.2 The University of Melbourne Compliance Policy

Council endorsed the University of Melbourne Compliance Policy as set out in Appendix A to the report.

10.3 Amendments to Regulation 17.1.R12

Council approved in principle the following new wording of section 4 (5) of Regulation 17.1.R12:

(5) All ex-gratia payments, grants and loans from the Staff Welfare Fund up to the sum of $5,000 may be authorised by the deputy principal (Human Resources) and reported to the administrative committee, unless the deputy-principal refers the matter to the committee. All such decisions are to be reported to the finance committee.

10.4 Amenities and Services Fees 2000

Council approved the recommendations related to the amenities and services fees for 2000, the distribution of the fee income for 2000 and the distribution of surplus funds, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

Council agreed that authority to make decisions on the allocation of the funds be delegated to Administrative Committee.

11. Planning and Budget Committee (Item A.6)

11.1 Council received the report of meeting 10/99 of the Planning and Budget Committee, held on 10 November 1999.

11.2 2000 Faculty Teaching Load Targets and Course Quotas

Council approved the following, as set out in the tables in Attachment 1 to Appendix 1 of the report:

• the 2000 HECS-based teaching load targets for each Faculty, as set out in Table 2;
• the 2000 HECS-based commencing undergraduate course quotas and Targeted Access Program targets, as set out in Table 3;
• the 2000 teaching load targets for international fee-paying commencing undergraduate course quotas, as set out in Table 4;
• the 2000 international fee-paying commencing undergraduate course quotas, as set out in Table 5;
• the 2000 teaching load targets for domestic fee-based students, as set out in Table 6;
• the 2000 domestic fee-paying commencing undergraduate course quotas, as set out in Table 7.

Council authorised the Vice-Chancellor to approve variations to teaching load targets and course quotas on the advice of the President of the Academic Board and the Vice-Principal (Administration).

11.3 Additional Chairs of Law

Council approved the establishment of three Chairs in the Faculty of Law and the appointment of a Chair Selection Committee for these Chairs.

11.4 Chair in Software Engineering

Council approved the establishment of a Chair of Software Engineering to be located in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering.

11.5 Future Use of the Quadrangle

In response to a question, the Vice-Chancellor advised that based on the present schedule for completion of University Square, the Faculty of Law would not be vacating the Quadrangle until Christmas 2001, and that no decision had been made for the future use of the quadrangle when it becomes available in 2002. He assured Council that, in due course, an appropriate recommendation on the matter, endorsed by the Academic Board, would be submitted to Council from the Planning and Budget Committee.

12. Committee of Convocation (Item A.7)

Council received the report of meeting 9/99 of the Committee of Convocation, held on 17 November, 1999.

13. Academic Board (Items B.1[a] and B.1[b])

13.1 Council received the report of meeting 8/99 of the Academic Board, held on 25 November 1999, together with a supplementary report.

Council adopted the following resolutions:

13.2 Chairs of Law

that a selection committee be established for the Chairs of Law, as set out in Appendix A to the report;

13.3 Chair of Software Engineering

that a selection committee be established for the Chair of Software Engineering, as set out in Appendix B to the report; and

13.4 New Courses

that the following new courses be introduced:

• Master of General Practice Psychiatry (as set out in Appendix C to the report)
• an Honours year in Food Science in the Bachelor of Applied Science.

13.5 Trinity College Foundation Studies Program: Entrance Requirements Year 2001

Council approved the entry levels and prerequisites for the admission of Trinity College Foundation Studies Program graduates to undergraduate courses in 2001, as set out in Appendix D to the report.

13.6 Selection Issues - Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

13.6.1 English Language Requirements for Fee-Paying International Applicants

Council agreed that, for fee-paying international applicants in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the following statement be included in the Academic Board Resolutions on Selection for English Requirements:

"Fee-paying international applicants for courses in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences seeking to meet English requirements who complete secondary studies in a country where English is the official language must enrol in final year English and must either gain a pass which is deemed by the Academic Board to be at least at the level specified in 1(f)(i) pursuant to (d)(i), or must otherwise satisfy English requirements pursuant to (d)(ii)-(viii)."

13.6.2 Graduate Selection

Council approved an amended Academic Board Resolution on Selection for the selection of graduates into Medicine, as set out in Appendix E to the report..

13.7 Foundation Programs

Council endorsed the arrangements whereby Monash University Foundation Year program graduates who have completed a 12-month foundation studies program, but have completed only the equivalent of Year 10 in their home country, will be considered for admission to the University for the first time in 2000, provided the President of the Academic Board considers cases made for the admission of such students on a case-by-case basis.

13.8 Student Awards

The following new student awards were approved, as set out in the appendices to the report:

• Robert Yee Prize in Medicine (Appendix F)
• Yin Leong Family Trust Prize (Appendix G)
• Australian Dental Association Prize (Dental Hygiene) (Appendix H)

13.9 Honorary Degrees

Council adopted the recommendation that, pursuant to Statute 12.7.3, the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws be awarded to the persons whose career statements were tabled at the meeting.

14. Finance Committee (Item B.2)

14.1 Council received the report of meeting 10/99 of the Finance Committee, held on 24 November, 1999.

14.2 Oral Report by the Chair of the Finance Committee

Mr Carden advised that, despite his representations on the matter, the Victorian Auditor-General's Office continues to insist that the accounts be qualified, because in the opinion of the Auditor-General's Office, the University fails to make proper allowance in the accounts for the contingent superannuation liability. He also expressed his concern over the unsatisfactory financial position of the Melbourne Theatre Company.

The Chancellor reminded members that Mr Carden was retiring from the Council and thanked him for his leadership and guidance in the financial affairs of the University over the past decade. Mr Carden, in response, advised that the University was being well served by the financial operations staff, and paid tribute to Mr Percival, Vice-Principal (Corporate Services).

15. Human Resources Committee (Item B.3)

15.1 Council received an Interim Report of meeting 4/99 of the Human Resources Committee, held on 3 December, 1999. 15.2 Oral Report by the Chair of the Human Resources Committee Ms Fay Marles, spoke to the interim report on staff turnover.

16. Buildings and Estates Committee (Item B.4)

16.1 Council received the report of meeting 9/99 of the Building and Estates Committee, held on 15 November 1999.

16.2 Master Plan 2000

The Master Plan, as tabled, was adopted unanimously, subject to the amendments listed in the report.

17. Committee on Staff Salaries (Item B.6)

17.1 Council received the report of meeting 6/99 of the Committee on Staff Salaries, held on 17 November 1999.

17.2 Y2K Contingency Planning - Staff Support

Council adopted the recommendation for salary loadings as set out in the report, for staff required to be On Call, on Call Back, on Roster or on Emergency Call Back, over the period from 31 December 1999 to 2 January 2000.

17.3 Adjustment to Salary Packages

The Chancellor, as the Chair of the Committee, reported on a meeting held on 2 December 1999, at which it was agreed that the senior officers of the University should have their salaries increased from 1 September 1999 by the same 2.6% as all other members of staff.

All but two of the senior positions are within the delegated authority of the Committee, the positions of University Secretary and Director, Legal Services. Council adopted the recommendation that the salary package of the University Secretary be increased by 2.6% from 1 September 1999, and that of the Director, Legal Services be increased by 2.6% from 6 September 1999, the date of his appointment.

18. Legislation Committee (Item C)

18.1 Council received the report of meeting 7/99 of the Legislation Committee, held on 29 November 1999.

18.2 Council made the following Legislation as detailed in the report:

(1)	Repeal of Statutes 9.33 & 9.34	To repeal two affiliation statutes (93/99)
(2)	Repeal and re-enactment of Statute 14.1	To introduce a new Intellectual Property Statute (95/99)

Council noted that amendments to the Intellectual Property Statute would be brought forward early in the new year (minute 9.3 above refers).

18.3 Council made the following Regulations as detailed in the report:

(1)	Revocation of Regulations R3.5, R3.14, R3.17, R3.20, R3.21, R3.22, R3.27, R3.31, R3.35, R3.41, R3.45, R3.56, R3.56A, R3.71, R3.76, R3.79, R3.83, R3.93, R3.96, R3.102, R3.103, R3.152, R3.153, R3.157, R3.162, R3.196, R3.199, R3.200, R3.202, R3.205, R3.213, R3.231, R3.232, R3.237, R3.250, R3.258, R3.260, R3.274, R3.322 and R3.339	To provide for a generic award (78/99)
(2)	Revocation of Regulations R3.6,R3.12, R3.15, R3.18, R3.23, R3.24, R3.28, R3.32, R3.37, R3.38, R3.42, R3.44, R3.46, R3.49, R3.49A, R3.54, R3.63, R3.67, R3.70, R3.72, R3.74, R3.75, R3.77, R3.78, R3.84, R3.86, R3.87, R3.94, R3.95, R3.105, R3.123, R3.163, R3.165, R3.194, R3.198, R3.216, R3.217, R3.224, R3.227, R3.228, R3.240, R3.243, R3.248, R3.249, R3.253, R3.257, R3.259, R3.262, R3.263, R3.264, R3.285, R3.289, R3.292, R3.299, R3.305, R3.306, R3.307, R3.308, R3.309, R3.310, R3.311, R3.312, R3.318, R3.319, R3.320, R3.321, R3.323, R3.327, R3.328, R3.330, R3.333, R3.337, R3.338, R3.341, R3.342, R3.343, R3.344, R3.345, R3.346, R3.347, R3.348, R3.349, R3.350 and R3.352	To provide for a generic award (79/99)
(3)	Revocation of Regulations R3.244, R3.245, R3.252, R3.261 and R3.273	To provide for a generic award (82/99)
(4)	Revocation of Regulations R3.255, R3.268 and R3.294	To provide for a generic award (83/99)
(5)	Revocation of Regulations R3.195, and R3.251	To provide for a generic award (84/99)
(6)	Amendment of Regulation 17.1.R12 R3.268 and R3.294	To add a delegation (81/99)
(7)	Amendment of Regulation 7.1.R3	To establish a a category of visiting professors (87/99)
(8)	Amendment of Regulation 7.1.R2	To establish a new chair (88/99)
(9)	Amendment of Regulation 8.1.R2	To make some changes to the regulations governing the Melbourne University Press (89/99)
(10)	Amendment of Regulation R6.151	To add a recital to the Sir Charles Lowe Prize (90/99)
(11)	Amendment of Regulation 7.1.R2	To establish four new chairs (91/99)
(12)	Amendment of Regulation R3.60	To change two provisions in the regulation governing the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (92/99)
(13)	Revocation and re-making of Regulation 12.6.R1	To revise and simplify academic dress (94/99)
(14)	Amendment of Regulation 17.1.R14	To change the terms of reference and modify the sub-committee structure of the Cultural and Community Development Committee (96/99)
(15)	Making of Regulation 17.1.R22	To establish an Alumni Relations Committee (97/99)

19. Summary of Reports on Matters dealt with by the Vice-Chancellor (Item D.2[a])

Council received a summary of reports on matters dealt with by the Vice-Chancellor, as set out in Items D.2[a] and [b].

20. Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management (Item D.3)

Council received the report of meeting 9/99 of the Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management, held on 15 October 1999.

21. Medley Hall Council (Item D.4)

Council received the report of meeting 2/99 of the Medley Hall Council, held on 26 October 1999.

22. The Ian Potter Museum of Art (Item D.5)

Council received the Report to Council of the Ian Potter Museum of Art dated October 1999.

23. Appreciation

The Chancellor noted that, in addition to Mr John Carden , the term of office of Mr Joseph Doyle, Ms Alana Chinn, Lord Dearing, and Associate Professor Theobald ended at the end of the year, and expressed his appreciation for their contribution. Lord Dearing and Ms Chinn responded.

24. Introduction of New Professors

Professor David Macmillan, Chair of Zoology, and Professor Terence Nolan, Chair of Paediatrics, were introduced to Council members and welcomed to the meeting.