A meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber, University, on Monday 6 May, 1996 at 4.00 p.m.
Present
Mr T L Anning, Professor Emeritus D G Beswick, Miss G M Blood, Mr T C Borgeest, Mr L J Carden, Mr A Chernov, Mr N D Cole, Mrs N E Davies, Mr J V Eddey, Hon B Forwood, Mrs B M Hamer, Professor A G Klein, Mr J Li, Dr B Lochtenberg, Professor S F Macintyre, Associate Professor P T McTigue, Associate Professor M Nott, Mr I A Renard, Associate Professor M R Theobald, Mr D V C Tricks and Mr D D Westmore.
The Registrar (Mr J B Potter)Mr B Donovan, Ms M Grant, Ms P McKay, and Mr P O'Keefe were in attendance.
The Chancellor welcomed Ms Megan Grant, President-elect of the Postgraduate Association, who was attending the meeting as an observer.
Apologies were received from Professor Bebbington, Dr Cole, Mr Perton, Professor Sheehan and Mr Taylor.
Leave of absence for this meeting had been granted to Professor Kincaid-Smith and Dr L'Estrange.
Leave of absence for the July meeting of Council was granted to Mrs Hamer.
The Registrar, as Returning Officer, advised that with the election of Ms Megan Grant as the new President of the Postgraduate Association from 1 June 1996, Mr David Cook would be replaced as an ex-officio member of Council from that date.
He also advised that he had received several suggestions from Council members for possible co-optees to Council. (This matter was further dealt with under the Vice-Chancellor's Report - Minute 6.9 below refers.)
The minutes of meeting 2/96 of Council held on 1 April 1996, copies of which had been distributed, were confirmed, subject to two amendments:
Items B.1(1), B.1(7), C and D.12 were starred for discussion.
6.1 Council received the Vice-Chancellor's Report.
6.2 Terms of Reference of Committees
6.2.1 Finance Committee
Council adopted the recommendation that the terms of reference of the Finance Committee be altered in the following way (additional wording in italics):
"2. Receive the annual budget from the Planning and Budget Committee, and convey it to Council together with any comments and recommendations it wishes to make"
6.2.2 Committees reporting to the Human Resources Committee
Council approved, as a matter of policy, the terms of reference of the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee as set out in Appendix 1 to the report and the Access and Equity Committee, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.
6.3 Associate Professor
Council approved the recommendation that the title of Associate Professor be conferred upon Mrs June Gassin, Director of the Horwood Language Centre, effective from 1 January 1996 for a term of five years or until Mrs Gassin ceases to hold the position of Director of the Horwood Language Centre, whichever is the sooner;
6.4 International Benchmarking
Council endorsed, in principle, the establishment of an international association of research and teaching universities, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report;
6.5 Asia-Pacific Institute
Council adopted the following recommendations:
6.5.1 that the Vice-Chancellor, in consultation with the President of the Academic Board, establish an Asia-Pacific Institute Advisory Board and develop initial terms of reference for it;
6.5.2 that, when established, the Advisory Board be invited to provide advice on possible changes to the Terms of Reference and to develop a Strategic Plan for approval by Council;
6.5.3 that the Vice-Chancellor be invited to commission a design for the Asia-Pacific Building; and
6.5.4 that an amount of not more than $15 million of the balance of the Reserve Investment Fund be set aside for the Asia-Pacific Institute building and for cognate programs and activities.
6.6 Melbourne Scholarships
6.6.1 Council endorsed the proposal for the Melbourne Scholarships program, which brings together and expands the University's scholarship activities along the lines set out in Appendix 5 to the report
6.6.2 Council approved the proposal that the interest derived from the residue of the Reserve Investment Fund after allocating $15 million to the Asia Pacific Institute (a residue of approximately $30 million) be used to fund the Melbourne Scholarships Program.
6.6.3 Council noted that the detailed arrangements for the Program, which were under consideration by the Planning and Budget Committee, would be reported to Council in due course.
6.7 Dean, Faculty of Engineering
Council agreed that a Chair/Dean Selection Committee be established as follows:
6.8 Student Union Petition
6.8.1 Council noted a petition signed by students of the University and the interim response from the Vice-Chancellor, as set out in Appendices 6 and 7 to the report, and endorsed the following statement:
The University of Melbourne acknowledges the valuable role played by the Melbourne University Student Union and the University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association 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 and the University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association. In the context of the introduction of legislation in Victoria which disallows compulsory union membership, this Council will seek to use whatever lawful means are available to secure the continued ability of Melbourne University Student Union and the University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association to serve the above functions.
6.8.2 Council requested the Academic Registrar to work with student leaders to determine, within the provisions of the Tertiary Education (Amendment) Act, the best means of preserving strong, independent, adequately resourced student associations with a full range of the functions and responsibilities required to preserve the richness of campus life.
6.9 Co-option of a Council Member
Council agreed that this matter be deferred to the July meeting of Council. The Vice-Chancellor advised that it was not essential that the co-optee have expert knowledge in the drafting of legislation. He asked members of Council to continue to put forward the names of people who might be suitable for co-option, and expressed the view that the ideal person would be a woman with experience in business or industry.
7.1 Council received the report of meeting 1/96 of the Planning and Budget Committee, held on 10 April, 1996.
Council approved a recommendation that the name of the Department of Economic History be changed to the Department of Business Development and Corporate History, as set out in Appendix A to the report.
Council noted the proposed establishment of an Economic History Unit.
Council adopted the recommendation that the Foundation Chair of Agribusiness be restyled The National Australia Bank Foundation Chair of Agribusiness, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.
Council adopted the recommendation that the name of the School of Forestry be changed to the School of Forestry and Resource Conservation, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report:
Council noted that a request that the name of the Department of Agriculture be changed to the Department of Agriculture and Resource Management was unnecessary, as an earlier recommendation to this effect had been approved at the July 1995 meeting of Council.
Council approved the establishment of the position of Professor/Director of Cardiology at St. Vincent's Hospital, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report, and an appointment as Professorial Associate with the title of Professor under Regulation 7.1 R.4.5 be approved.
Council agreed that the Stevenson Chair of Paediatrics (Royal Children's' Hospital) be filled, as set out in Appendix 5 to the report.
Council approved the establishment of a Centre for Cultural Studies in Health, as set out in Appendix 6 to the report.
8.1 Council received the report of meeting 3/96 of the Academic Board, held on 18 April 1996.
Council adopted the following recommendations:
that an honorary degree of Doctor of Commerce be conferred on the person whose career statement was tabled at the meeting of Council;
that a joint University/Hospital selection committee for the position of Professor/Director of Cardiology at St Vincent's Hospital be established, as set out in Appendix A to the report:
that a standing committee for the Stevenson Chair of Paediatrics be established as set out in Appendix B to the report, and that Professor Kincaid-Smith be appointed to the committee as a member of Council not currently a member of the salaried staff of the University;
Advanced Financial Accounting Prize, as set out in Appendix C to the report;
The Medical Officers of Health Prize, as set out in Appendix D to the report;
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners' Prize in Community Medicine, as set out in Appendix E to the report;
Crawford Mollison Prize in Community and Forensic Medicine, as set out in Appendix F to the report;
that a combined Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Information Systems degree be established, as set out in Appendix G to the report; and
that the Principles of Selection, as set out in Appendix H to the report, be approved.
9.1 Council received the report of Finance Committee meeting 2/96, held on 24 April,1996.
Council agreed that Mr I Renard be appointed as a member of the Finance Committee for 1996 as one of the two external members with financial or business expertise appointed by Council.
Council noted that the appointment of Mr J Eddey had been previously approved on behalf of Council by the Vice-Chancellor.
Council approved an amendment to the Delegations in Relation to Purchasing Procedures and Financial Matters, as indicated in Attachment 2 to the report.
In response to a query about the last paragraph of this item, the Vice-Chancellor advised that it should read:
"The Vice-Chancellor expressed the hope that in future the budget of The Melbourne Theatre Company would not include productions involving planned deficits."
Council noted a request that as soon as possible the accounts of the Melbourne Theatre Company be prepared on an accrual accounting basis.
10.1 Council received the report of Administrative Committee meetings 11/96 to 14/96 inclusive.
Council approved the membership and terms of reference for the following sub-committees:
Council received the report of the Committee of Convocation meeting 2/96, held on 17 April, 1996.
12.1 Council received the report of meeting 1/96 of the Standing Committee for the Chair of Building, held on 30 April, 1996.
Council adopted the following recommendations:
12.2 that the appointment to the Chair of Building be made as a five-year renewable contract; and
12.3 that the candidate, whose career statement was distributed to the meeting of Council, be offered appointment to the Chair of Building, initially for a five year period.
13.1 Council received the report of the Legislation Committee meeting 3/96, held on 29 April 1996.
13.2 Council made the following item of legislation, as detailed in the report.
(1) Amendment of Statute 12.7 To correct a provision governing voting the Academic Board (39/96)
13.3 Council made the following Regulations as detailed in the report.
(1) Revocation of Regulation R7.3 To revoke and remake the Regulation for the 1920 Appeal Fund (36/96)
(2) Making of Regulation R3.286 To establish the Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Optometry (37/96)
(3) Amendment of Regulation 7.1.R2 To re-style a chair (38/96)
(4) Amendment of Regulation 7.1.R4 To relax a provision governing the title of some Professorial Associates (41/96)
(5) Regulation 6.1.R7 To substitute a section in a regulation (42/96)
13.4 Council made the following item as detailed in the report.
Amendment of Special Principles of Selection for Entry for First Year Undergraduate Courses in Science
13.5 Council made the following Standing Resolution as detailed in the report.
To establish the new committee structure (40/96)
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 reports on Conferring Ceremonies 7/96 to 9/96, authorised by Council, and held on Wednesday 27 March 1996 at 7.30 p.m. and Saturday 30 March 1996 at 10.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m., respectively.
Council received the report of meeting 1/96 of the National Macaque Facility Committee of Management, held on 2 April, 1996.
Council received the report of meeting 2/96 of the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee, held on 4 April, 1996.
Council received the report of meeting 1/96 of the Standing Committee for the Professorial Fellow in Food Production Horticulture, held on 28 March, 1996.
Council received the report of meeting 2/96 of the Equal Opportunity Standing Committee, held on 19 April 1996.
Council received the report of meeting 2/96 of the Standing Committee on Staff Salaries, held on 2 April 1996.
Council received the report of meeting 2/96 of the International House Council, held on 25 March 1996.
Council received the report of meeting 2/96 of the Committee for Sport and Physical Recreation, held on 2 April 1996.
Council adopted the University of Melbourne Annual Report 1995.
Council received the report of meeting 1/96 of the Standing Committee for the James Stewart Chair of Surgery, held on 24 April, 1996.
25.1 Council received the report of the Committee on Amenities and Services Fee (Item B.9).
25.2 Council agreed that the Report of the Amenities and Services Fee Committee should lie on the table until the July meeting of Council to allow for further discussion with the interested organisations and for any consequent amendments to be made.
25.3 Council noted that at that time the following recommendation will be considered:
that the Funding Principles set out in Section 5 of the report be endorsed and the Background Principles set out in Section 4 be seen as guiding principles for the administration of the Amenities and Services Fee.
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 B Galligan, Chair of Political Science, Professor J Griffiths, Chair of Music, and Professor R O Watts ICI Australia- Masson Chair of Chemistry were introduced to Council members and welcomed to the meeting.
The Chancellor drew members' attention to the fact that Mr Cook would complete his term of office as UMPA President on 31 May and thanked him for his work on Council.
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Date created: 13 May 1996
Last modified: 23 May 1996
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