A meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber, University, on Monday, 7 March 1994 at 4.00 pm.
Present
Ms G M Blood, Mr L J Carden, Ms N E Davies, Mr J C Finemore, Dr K E Forward, Mrs B M Hamer, Professor T W Healy, Professor Emeritus P S Kincaid-Smith, Mr P Kirby, Ms K McCoy, Professor T A McMahon, The Rev Dr K R Manley Associate Professor P T McTigue, The Rev Dr K R Manley, Dr A M O'Brien, Mr R M Parris, Mr I A Renard, Professor C A Saunders, Mr K C Stone, Mr M Taylor, Mr D V C Tricks, Mr D D Westmore and Mr H S Wragge.
The Academic Secretary (Mr I L L Powell) Mr B Donovan and Ms E O'Keefe were in attendance
The Chancellor drew attention to changes in the membership of Council since its last meeting and welcomed new members, namely Ms Blood, Professor Kincaid-Smith, Mr Renard, and Mr Westmore (elected by the Graduates), Associate Professor McTigue and Dr O'Brien (elected by the Academic Staff other than Professors), Ms McCoy (elected by the Members of Staff other than Academic Staff), Ms Hegarty (elected by the Graduate Students), Mr Parris (elected by the Undergraduates), The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) (Professor C B Schedvin), and Ms Peniston-Bird (President of the Student Union).
2.1 Apologies for absence were received from Mr Chernov, Mr Forwood, Mrs Fry, Ms Hegarty, Mr Perton, Mr Priestley and Professor Prescott.
2.2 Leave of absence was granted for the April meeting to Mrs Fry.
The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 6 December 1993, copies of which had been circulated, were confirmed.
Items A.6 (c), A.6 (d), B.3, and B.6 (i) were starred for discussion.
5.1 Council received the reports of the Executive Committee meetings 2/93 and 1/94 held on 20 December, 1993 and 7 February 1994 respectively.
Council approved in principle the Membership, Functions and Terms of Reference of the Finance Committee Audit Sub-Committee, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
The recommendation from the Executive Committee was withdrawn in favour of a revised recommendation from the Finance Committee - Minute 9.2 below refers.
6.1 Council received the Vice-Chancellor's Report.
Council adopted the following recommendations:
that Professor C Nettelbeck be appointed as Head of the Department of French and Italian Studies for the period 1 February, 1994 to 31 December, 1996;
that Professor A Davies be appointed as a Professorial Fellow in the Department of Applied Linguistics and Language Studies, and as Director of the Language Testing Unit, for the period 1 August 1994 to 31 July 1996; and
that the general thrust of the recommendations from the review by the Boston Consulting Group of central management and administration, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be endorsed noting that the detail of the Review Report would be considered by a working group led by the Chancellor and that more detailed recommendations are expected to be presented to the April meeting of Council.
The Vice-Chancellor informed Council of the following additional matters:
The Vice-Chancellor reported on the most recent developments in the dispute with the National Tertiary Education Union. In response to a request, he undertook to provide Council in due course with information about the staff declared redundant, in terms of the numbers who made decisions to accept offers of redeployment, to take early retirement, to accept voluntary redundancy, or to go through the appeal process.
The Vice-Chancellor advised Council that he had approved on its behalf the appointment of Professor D Samson as a Director of the Transport Accident Commission.
7.1 Council received the report of the Joint Committee on Policy Meeting 1/94, held on 14 February, 1994.
Council agreed that, in view of the consultations that had been held with academic staff, students and the related professions, and noting that these consultations produced good will and an understanding of the Faculty of Architecture and Planning Review Group's Report and its recommendations, the recommendations set out in Chapter 5 of the Report of the Review Group now be implemented.
Council noted in particular, that the Working Groups referred to in Recommendations 5.6, 5.7 and 5.8 should be convened in the near future, with appropriate student representation from the Faculty of Architecture and Planning.
Council further noted that the Department of Geography would change its name to the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies as from 1 January 1995, subject to the formal agreement of the Faculty of Arts.
Council adopted the following recommendations:
that a continuing Chair in Industrial Relations and Labour Studies be established, as set out in Appendix B to the report;
that the position of Professor/Director of Dermatology at St. Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, and the Skin Cancer Foundation (Victoria) be established, and that an appointment as Professorial Associate with the title of Professor under Statute 7.4 be approved, as set out in Appendix C to the report;
that the title Professor of Inorganic Chemistry be changed to Professor of Chemistry as set out in Appendix D to the report;
that a Centre for Rural Medicine of the University of Melbourne at Ballarat Base Hospital be established, as set out in Appendix E to the report; and
that a multi-disciplinary Centre for Food Science and Engineering be established to replace the Interim Centre established by Council at its meeting in July 1993, as set out in Appendix F to the report.
8.1 Council received the reports of the Academic Board meetings 11/93 and 1/94, held on 16 December 1993 and 24 February 1994, respectively, together with a Report from the President, Academic Board, and a paper from the President of the Student Union.
Council approved in principle the revised procedures for the award of the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws set out in the December report.
Council adopted the following recommendations:
that an honorary degree of Doctor of Science be awarded to a person whose career statement was circulated at the meeting of Council;
that honorary degrees of Doctor of Forest Science be awarded to three persons whose career statements were circulated at the meeting of Council;
that a joint selection committee for the post of Professor/Director of Dermatology be established as set out in Appendix A to the February report, with St Vincent's Hospital and the Skin & Cancer Foundation;
that the Mackay Prize in Beginners Ancient Greek be established, as set out in Appendix B to the February report; and
that a Bachelor of Visual and Performing Arts course be established in the School of the Victorian College of the Arts for 1995, as set out in Attachment A to the report from the President of the Academic Board.
A motion by the President of the Student Union regarding University policy on student organisations was withdrawn.
Council adopted the following revised motion:
The University of Melbourne acknowledges the valuable role played by Melbourne University Student Union in the life of the University, particularly in the provision of services to students and in the necessary representation of student interests.
Council considers it important that both these functions continue to be served by Melbourne University Student Union. In the event that legislation is introduced in Victoria which disallows compulsory union membership, this Council would seek to use whatever means are available to secure the continued ability of Melbourne University Student Union to serve the above functions.
9.1 Council received the report of the Finance Committee meeting 1/94, held on 23 February 1994.
Council noted that the Purchasing Procedures and Delegations in relation to Financial Matters as presented to Executive Committee meeting 2/93 on 20 December 1993 had been withdrawn and replaced with a more comprehensive document.
Council adopted the recommendation that the document entitled Purchasing Procedures and Delegations in Relation to Financial Matters, as set out in Attachment A to the report, be approved.
Council noted the call for nominations for membership of the Standing Committee on Staff Salaries.
Council received the report of the Buildings Committee meeting 1/94, held on 21 February 1994.
12.1 Council received the reports of Administrative Committee meetings 42/1993 and 2/1994 to 6/1994.
Council considered a recommendation and agreed that the Careers and Appointments Board be disbanded and that Statute 8.3 be revoked.
Council noted that the second part of the recommendation (for the establishment of a reference group) had been withdrawn for further consideration and submission in revised form to a subsequent meeting.
Council received the report of the Committee of Convocation meeting 10/93 held on 15 December 1993.
14.1 Council received the report of meeting 5/93 of the Information Technology Policy Advisory Committee (ITPAC) held on 18 October, 1993.
14.2 Council adpopted the recommendation that the membership of the Committee be supplemented by the addition of two student members, as detailed in the report.
15.1 Council received the report of the Students' Loan Fund and Bursaries Committee meeting 2/93 held on 12 November 1993.
Council adopted the following recommendations:
that the "normal rate" of interest for 1994 be fixed at 14% per annum, and that interest be partially waived if the repayment schedule is met; and
that the Student Loan Ceiling for 1994 be set at $1,063,000, made up as follows:
$'000
Students' Loan Fund (long-term loans) 300
CTEC Student Fund (long-term funds) 300
CTEC Student Fund (medium-term loans) 450
CTEC Student Fund (grants) 8
1973 Special Assistance Fund (grants) 5
$1,063
16.1 Council received the report of meeting 1/94 of the Committee for Appointment of a Professorial Associate with the Title of Professor held on 22 February 1994.
16.2 Council adopted the recommendation that in the event that the person whose career statement was circulated at the meeting of Council accepts an offer of appointment as Director of Clinical Orthodontics at the Royal Dental Hospital, the University invite him to accept the position of Professorial Associate with the title of Professor in the Department of Dental Science (Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne) for a term of five years or for the period in which he holds the appointment of Director of Clinical Orthodontics, whichever is the shorter.
17.1 Council received the report of meeting 1/94 of the Standing Committee for the Mooroolbeek Chair of Early Childhood Studies.
17.2 Council agreed that the person whose career statement was circulated at the meeting of Council be offered appointment to the Mooroolbeek Chair of Early Childhood Studies.
17.3 Council noted the intention of the Vice-Chancellor to appoint that person as Head of the School of Early Childhood Studies if the offer were accepted.
18.1 Council received the report of the Equal Opportunity Standing Committee meeting 1/94 held on 11 March 1994.
Council resolved that Dr Murray Seiffert, of the School of Mathematics and Science Education in the Institute of Education, be appointed as Senior Sexual Harassment Adviser for a two year period, commencing 1 April 1994.
19.1 Council received the report of the meeting of the Selection Committee for the GIO Professorial Fellow in Insurance.
19.2 Council agreed that the person whose career statement was circulated at the meeting of Council be offered appointment to the position of GIO Professorial Fellow in Insurance.
20.1 Council received the Report of the Legislation Committee Meeting No 1/94 held on 28 February 1994, together with a tabled supplementary paper.
(2) Amendment of Statute 7.2 - To re-name a chair (3/94)
(3) Repeal of Statute 9.29 - To repeal the statute evidencing the former affiliation between the University and Ballarat College of Advanced Education (5/94)
(5) Repeal of Statute 8.3 - To repeal the statute governing The University of Melbourne Careers and Appointments Service (12/94)
Amendment of Statute 12.7 - To alter the provision governing the honorary degree of doctor of Laws (86/93
(1) Making - Standing Resolution R6.191 To establish The Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop Asia Awards (95/93)
(Council confirmed that section 3, which leaves terms and conditions flexible, is intended to enable details of arrangements for individual fellowships and lectures to be completed as they change from time to time, but that the general purposes of the awards as provided in section 2 are not subject to variation.)
(2) Amendment - Standing Resolution R6.72 To amend the Year in which one of the Rosemary Merlo Prizes may be awarded (4/94)
(1) Amendment - Standing Resolution 2.4 Heritage Committee
(2) Amendment - Standing Resolution 2.12 Appendix 3 Audit Sub-Committee
(3) Amendment - Standing Resolution 2.25 Special Professorial Appointments and Awards Committee
(4) Amendment - Standing Resolution 2.38 Childcare Policy Committee and Management Committee
(5) Amendment - Standing Resolution 5.3 Delegation of Powers to Members of the Vice-Chancellor's Office
(7) Amendment - Standing Resolution 2.36 Information Technology Policy Advisory Committee
(8) Amendment - Standing Resolution 2.16 Appendix A Human Research Ethics Committee
Item Deferred
(6) Amendment - Standing Resolution 5.23 Sexual Harassment Policy and Procedures
Council received the summary of reports on matters dealt with by the Vice-Chancellor, as set out in Items D.2(a) and D.2(b).
Council received the reports of Conferring Ceremonies which were authorised by Council and held on Tuesday 7 December 1993 at 5.30 p.m., Saturday 11 December 1993 at 10.30 a.m. and 3.00 p.m. and on Thursday 13 January, 1994 at 7.30 p.m.
Council received the Annual Reports from Deans of Faculties for 1993, and in accordance with Standing Resolution of Council 3.23 the Chancellor asked members of Council to advise before the April meeting if there were matters they wished to discuss with any Dean at a Council Briefing Session.
Council received the report of the Investment Committee meeting 5/93, held on 30 November, 1993.
Council received the report of meeting 1/93 of the Standing Committee for the Chair of Computer Science, held on 23 December 1993.
Council received the report of the Information Technology Policy Advisory Committee meeting 4/93, held on 16 August, 1993.
Council received the report of the Abbotsford Campus Joint Management meeting 2/93, held on 13 December, 1993.
Council received the reports of the Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management meetings 9/93 and 10/93, held on 26 November 1993 and 17 December 1993, respectively.
Council received the report of the International House Council meeting 4/93.
Council received the report of the Committee of Deans of Faculties meeting 1/94, held on 17 February, 1994.
In accordance with established procedure it was formally agreed that the items of business that had not been specifically discussed should be adopted where containing recommendations or received where containing reports.
Professor P A Grimshaw was introduced to Council members and welcomed to the meeting.