University Secretary's Department Council

Council Meeting No 3/09

A meeting of the Council was held at the Melbourne Business School Centre for Executive Education, Mt Eliza, on Saturday, 21 February 2009 at 12.15pm.

Present

Members

The Chancellor (Hon. Alex Chernov)
The Deputy Chancellor (Ms R Storelli)
The Vice-Chancellor (Professor G Davis)
The President of the Academic Board (Professor G Stevens)
Ms E Alexander, Ms O Bishop, Professor G Bowes, Mr M Coyle, Professor P Dawkins,
Dr M Doig, Mr R Johanson,  Ms T Jonas, Associate Professor M Joshi, Ms L Landy,
Dr V Mansour, Mr M Myer, Ms E Ritchie, Hon David White.

Others Attending

Professor W Bebbington, Ms L Boston, Mr P Coats, Ms C Drakeford, Mr I Marshman,
Professor P McPhee, Mr T Peake, Professor P Rathjen, Mr D Speagle

In Attendance

The University Secretary (Ms J White)

Business

  1. FORMAL MATTERS

    1.1 Apologies and Leave of Absence Requests [Item A.01]

    Council noted that leave of absence had been granted for this meeting to Judge Irene Lawson.

    1.2 Welcome

    The Chancellor welcomed new Council members, Ms Onagh Bishop, Ms Tammi Jonas and Mr Martyn Myer.

    He also welcomed Mr Tony Peake as one of the prospective Governor-in-Council nominees.

  1. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS [Item A.1(a)]

    2.1 The Minutes of Council Meeting No. 8/08 held on 8 December 2008 were confirmed.

    2.2 The Minutes of Council Meeting No. 9/08, deemed to have been held on 8 December 2008, were confirmed.

    2.3 The Minutes of Council Meeting No. 1/09 held on 10 February 2009 were confirmed, subject to the addition of the Hon David White in the list of those present.

    2.4 The Minutes of Council Meeting No. 2/09, deemed to have been held on 17 February 2008, were confirmed.

  1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST [Item A.2(a)]

The Chancellor called for any declarations of interest for items on the agenda for the current meeting.  No declarations were received.

  1. CHANCELLOR’S REPORT [Item B.1]

    4.1 Appointments to Council Committee

    Council approved the proposed appointments to Council Committees, as shown on the attached list.  Council noted that the term of office for such appointments is from 1 March to 28 February  next except that the appointment of a member of Council would cease on cessation of their membership of Council or 28 February in the following year, whichever is earliest.

    The power to co-opt additional members was added to the terms of reference of the Student Systems Due Diligence Committee.

    4.2 Establishment of Indigenous Affairs Advisory Committee

    Council approved the establishment of a new standing committee, the Indigenous Affairs Advisory Committee, with terms of reference as set out in the paper attached.  It agreed to appoint Judge Irene Lawson as Chair of the Committee and Mr Paul Briggs and Ms Melanie Sloss as members with special expertise in Indigenous affairs and Professor Ian Anderson, the Director of the Melbourne Institute for Indigenous Partnerships. 

  1. MATTERS REFERRED FROM COUNCIL PLANNING CONFERENCE [Item B.2]

    5.1 Review of Internal Legislation

    Council endorsed the approach to University legislation as proposed in the Review of Internal Legislation provided as part of the Conference papers.  It noted that “in principle” approval of any legislation is referable to the substance of the provisions only, and does not preclude further revisions being considered or made by the Legislation and Trusts Committee or Council, or proposed by management for further consideration before being passed by Council as legislation of the University.

    5.1.1  Legislation approved in “principle”

    The following proposals for Statutes and accompanying regulations received “in principle” approval:

    1. The revocation and remaking of Statute 5.1 (Academic Structures); and
      1. Regulation 5.1.R2 (Bio 21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute) – reflecting current Regulation 6.1.R9;
      2. Regulation 5.1.R3 (Nossal Institute for Global Health) – reflecting current Regulation 6.1.R11;
    2. The revocation and remaking of Statute 8.1 (Semi-Autonomous Bodies); and
      1. Regulation 8.1.R3 (Melbourne Theatre Company) – replacing current Regulation 8.1.R3 – with some amendments as noted in the materials;
      2. Regulation 8.1.R4 (International House) – replacing current Regulation 8.1.R4 – with some amendments as noted in the materials;
      3. Regulation 8.1.R5 (The Medley Hall of Residence) – replacing current Regulation 8.1.R5 – with some amendments as noted in the materials;
      4. Regulation 8.1.R6 (The Ian Potter Museum of Art) – replacing current Regulation 8.1.R10 – with some amendments as noted in the materials;
      5. Regulation 8.1.R7 (Asialink) – replacing current Regulation 8.1.R11 – with some amendments as noted in the materials;
      6. Regulation 8.1.R8 (Melbourne University Bookshops) – replacing current Regulation 8.1.R13 – with some amendments as noted in the materials;
      7. Regulation 8.1.R9 (Melbourne University Sport) – the terms of which have been approved by the Provost;
      8. Regulation 8.1.R8 (Veterinary Clinic and Hospital) – replacing Regulation 6.1.R6 – and subject to the approval of the Faculty of Veterinary Science and the Senior Vice-Principal;
    3. The making of a new Statute 8.3 (University Services and Facilities); and
      1. Regulation 8.3.R1 (Library Rules) – reflecting current Regulation 8.1.R6;
      2. Regulation 8.3.R2 (Computing and Network Facilities Rules) – reflecting current Regulation 8.1.R7;
      3. Regulation 8.3.R3 (Traffic and Parking Rules) – reflecting current Regulation 8.3.R9;
      4. Regulation 8.3.R4 (Sport and Physical Recreation Rules) – reflecting current Regulation 17.1.R7;
      5. Regulation 8.3.R5 (Melbourne University Archives Rules) – reflecting Appendix II of the current Regulation 8.1.R6;
    4. The revocation and remaking of Statute 9.1 (Affiliated and Recognised Bodies); and
      1. Regulations 9.1.R1 to 9.1.R10 (Residential Colleges) – subject to the approval of the stated residential colleges;
      2. Regulation 9.1.R11 (Affiliation of Educational, Commercial, Cultural, Sporting or other Bodies) – subject to the review of the Schedule of Affiliated Bodies by relevant faculties;
      3. Regulation 9.1.R12 (Recognition of Institutions and other Bodies) – subject to review of the Schedule of Recognised Bodies by relevant faculties;

    5.1.2  Draft Legislation in Preparation

    Council noted that the following legislation was still in draft and awaited resolution of certain organisational matters prior to coming before it for approval:

    1. Statute 1.7 (University Governance) – pending review in particular of academic freedom issues;
    2. Regulation 5.1.R1 (Names of Faculties and Graduate Schools) – pending the outcome of proposed merger negotiations with Melbourne Business School Limited;
    3. Regulation 5.1.R4 (Faculty of Business and Economics) – pending the outcome of proposed merger negotiations with Melbourne Business School Limited;
    4. Regulation 5.1.R5 (Melbourne Executive Education) – based on current Regulation 6.1.R10 (Melbourne Consulting and Custom Programs) – pending the outcome of proposed merger negotiations with Melbourne Business School Limited;

    5.1.3  Approval of Melbourne University Sport Terms of Reference

    Council approved the terms of reference for Melbourne University Sport contained in revised Regulation 8.1R9.

    5.2 Review of University Trusts and Endowment Framework

    Council gave in principle approval to the making of a new Trusts Governance Statute 10.3 to govern trusts and the University’s obligations in relation to them, as set out in Appendix C to the papers.  It was noted that the new arrangements would require a change to the terms of reference of Legislation and Trusts Committee in due course.

    5.3 Laureate Professors

    Council agreed to request the Honours Committee to consider how to improve the visibility of the University’s Laureate professors both within and outside the University community.

    5.4 Farewell to Ms Lynne Landy

    As this was the last meeting of Council for Ms Lynne Landy, who had stepped down from the chair of the VCA Advisory Board and thus her membership of Council with effect from 21 February, the Chancellor moved a vote of thanks for her valuable contribution to the deliberations of Council over the past two years. In particular he noted her role in ensuring a smooth integration of the VCA into the University since their amalgamation in January 2007.

The meeting closed at 12.35pm.

 

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