A meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber, University, on Monday 5 May, 1997 at 4.00 p.m.
Present
Mr T L Anning, Professor W A Bebbington, Professor Emeritus D G Beswick, Mr T C Borgeest, Mr L J Carden, Mr A Chernov, The Rev. Dr G A Cole, Mr N D Cole, Mrs N E Davies, Mr J V Eddey, Hon. B Forwood, Ms J Hirst, Professor Emeritus P S Kincaid-Smith, Professor A G Klein, The Very Rev. Dr P J L'Estrange, Dr B Lochtenberg, Professor S F Macintyre, Associate Professor P T McTigue, Mr V Perton, Mr I A Renard, Mr G J Spring, Mr M Taylor, Associate Professor M R Theobald, Mr D V C Tricks, Ms C M Walter and Mr D D Westmore.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (Professor F P Larkins)
The Registrar (Mr J B Potter)
The Academic Registrar (Mr R I A Marshman)
The Director of Financial Operations (Mr D Percival)
The Director of Human Resources (Ms E Baré)
The Director, Recruitment and Admissions (Ms I Irvine)
The Director of Executive Services (Mr L N Currie)
The Manager, Central Secretariat (Mr J A Goodwin)
The Academic Secretary (Mr I. Powell)
Ms C Buckridge and Ms J Wood were in attendance.
1. Welcome to Acting President of the University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association
The Chancellor welcomed Ms Joanne Wood, Acting President of the University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association, who was attending the meeting as an observer.
2. June Meeting of Council
The Chancellor advised that there is to be an unscheduled meeting of Council on Monday 2 June to deal with a number of important matters that will require the consideration of Council at that time.
3. Open Section
The Chancellor advised that the meeting would not include an Open Section as indicated in the notice-paper, as no requests had been received from people wishing to attend the Open Section as observers.
4. Leave of Absence (Item A.01)
Apologies were received from Ms Grant and Associate Professor Nott.
Leave of absence for this meeting had been granted to Ms Blood and Mrs Hamer.
Leave of absence for the June meeting was granted to Mrs Hamer and Assoc Prof Theobald
Leave of absence for the June and July meetings was granted to Professor Klein
5. Minutes of Meeting 3/97 (Item A.1)
The minutes of meeting of Council 3/97, held on 7 April 1997, copies of which had been distributed, were confirmed.
6. Starring of Additional Items (Item A.2[a])
Items B.1(9) and B.2 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. Principles on Fee-Paying Local Undergraduate Students (Item A.3)
8.1 Council received a Motion on Notice from the President of the Student Union, containing two resolutions, together with a tabled supplementary paper, amending the wording of the second motion to read "Entry requirements must not be lower for any prospective student on the basis that they are applying for a fee-based place.".
8.2 In speaking to the first motion, the Vice-Chancellor pointed out that publicly-funded schemes for higher education systems have themselves been shown to be inequitable, involving cross-subsidies from lower socio-economic groups to the rest of the community because the former are under-represented in higher education. He expressed the view that to move to a fee-paying basis and to expect this move to achieve a totally equitable system from the outset would be to place the University in the impossible situation of trying to achieve an outcome that the public funding of the system had never managed to achieve. He supported the notion that the University should not lower its entry requirements to enable it to accommodate somebody willing to pay fees, but strongly opposed the notion that somebody with the capacity to pay fees who meets the entry requirements should be denied entry on purely doctrinaire grounds.
The Vice-Chancellor supported the second motion in its amended form.
The first motion, proposing that no prospective local undergraduate students who are unable to pay tuition fees will be denied opportunities for admission that would otherwise be available to them, was LOST.
The second motion, proposing that entry requirements must not be lower for any prospective student on the basis that they are applying for a fee-placed place, was ADOPTED.
9. Vice-Chancellor's Report (Items A.4 and A.4[b])
9.1 Council received the Vice-Chancellor's Report, a tabled document (Ranking of Environmental Actions) to replace a less comprehensive document with the same title in Appendix B to the Report, a tabled supplementary paper on the Amenities and Services Fund, and two additional tabled papers on Universitas 21.
9.2 Melbourne Scholarships - Arrangements for 1998
Council agreed to the revision of the objectives, strategies and categories of the Melbourne Scholarships program for 1998 as detailed in Appendix A to the report.
Council noted that within each of the components of the program some variation in proposed arrangements may occur as a result of more detailed planning by the Melbourne Scholarships Policy Committee.
Council agreed to the allocation of annual interest earned in the Melbourne Scholarships Fund (anticipated to be in the order of $1.5 million) for undergraduate elements of Melbourne Scholarships.
Council noted that the currently budgeted shortfall in funds will be overcome as a result of sponsorship arrangements to be secured during 1997 or, in the event that they prove inadequate, by a curtailment of the number of scholarships to be actually awarded in 1998.
Council also noted that the Fundraising Co-ordination Committee would report on sponsorship arrangements not later than the December meeting of Council.
9.3 Institute of Land and Food Resources
Council adopted the recommendation that, with effect from 1 July 1997, a new entity be established based on a merger of the VCAH with the Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Horticulture, to be constituted as a faculty of the University to be known as the Institute of Land and Food Resources, and with an Institute Board to carry out the overall management of the Institute.
9.4 Amenities and Services Fund
Council agreed to approve the additional allocation of $600,000 from the Amenities and Services Fund as outlined in the attachment to the supplementary report, and that the Academic Registrar be authorised to finalise supplementary funding agreements to be made with MUSUI and UMPA, subject to the submission of satisfactory budget documentation, which will enable the University to meet its statutory obligations.
9.5 1997 Enterprise Agreement
The Vice-Chancellor reported on the successful conclusion to the negotiations associated with the 1997 Enterprise Agreement. He expressed his gratitude to his colleagues in the University for the tolerance the University had shown during the long, arduous and challenging process of achieving a satisfactory outcome. The Vice-Chancellor made particular mention of the contribution made by Professor Sheehan, who had borne the executive burden of the negotiations, and asked that Professor Sheehan relay the gratitude of the Council to his colleagues in the Department of Human Resources.
9.6 Environmental Audit Report
Council noted the findings of the Environmental Audit Report, the legal opinion on due diligence, and the Action Plan to deal with the matters raised in the report.
Council noted a suggestion that every six months a report should be provided to Council on progress made in resolving the concerns raised in the report.
A request was made that Council be provided with a general report on legislative compliance to those Acts which are the most obvious and material Acts which affect the University, providing Council with assurances that reasonable enquiries had been made indicating an adequate level of compliance.
10. Administrative Committee (Item A.5[a])
10.1 Council received the May report of Administrative Committee meetings 8/97 to 10/97 inclusive.
10.2 Dissolution of the Hawthorn Institute of Education Ltd.
Council approved the transitional arrangements outlined for 1997-1999 for the conferring of Diplomas and Certificates for students enrolled at the Hawthorn Campus and authorised the ceremonies scheduled for 23 May and 30 May as being ceremonies at which Diplomas and Certificates may be conferred.
Council agreed to delegate to the Dean, Faculty of Education, the authority to preside at the Hawthorn Campus ceremonies and to award the relevant Diplomas and Certificates on its behalf.
Council noted that the President of the Academic Board or nominee will be in attendance at the 1997 ceremonies to certify the candidates.
Council agreed that this matter be deferred to the next meeting of Council..
12. Planning and Budget Committee (Item A.6)
Council adopted the following recommendations:
12.2 Centre for Management of Information Technology
that the name of the Key Centre for Technology Management be changed to the Centre for Management of Information Technology;
12.3 The Contemporary Europe Research Centre
that The Contemporary Europe Research Centre be established within the Faculty of Arts and supported by the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Economics and Commerce; and
12.4 Professor/Director in the National Centre for War-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (North Eastern Health Care Network)
that the position of Professor/Director in the National Centre for War-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (North Eastern Health Care Network) be refilled with an appointment as Professorial Associate with the title of Professor.
13. Committee of Convocation (Item A.7)
Council received the report of meeting 2/97 of the Committee of Convocation, held on 16 April, 1997.
14. Academic Board (Item B.1)
14.1 Council received the report of meeting 3/97 of the Academic Board, held on 24 April, 1997, together with the report of meeting 1/96 of the Biohazards Committee held on 13 December, 1996 (Appendix C to the report), and the report of meeting 2/96 of the National Macaque Facility Committee of Management held on 10 December, 1996 (Appendix D to the report). The report of meeting 1/97 of the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee, held on 27 February, 1997 (Appendix B to the report, which was withdrawn, is to be replaced by an amended version).
Council adopted the following recommendations:
14.2 Professor/Director of National Centre for War-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders, North Eastern Health Care Network
that a joint University/Network selection committee for the post of Professor/Director of the National Centre for War-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders be established, as set out in Appendix A to the report;
14.3 Changes to Selection for Entry to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science Course in 1998
that the Faculty of Veterinary Science be permitted to offer ten places to Year 12 students through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre system for entry in 1998;
that the Tertiary Entrance Requirements for the 'pre-veterinary' group of students be as follows:
Prerequisite units 3 and 4: A grade average of at least B in each of English, Mathematical Methods, Chemistry and in one of the following: Biology, Geology, one additional Mathematics, Physics.
Selection mode: Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) and two stage process with a middle band of 20%.
Middle Band Selection: Re-ranking will be based on the level of performance in the prerequisites studies and in the externally assessed CATs for each of the prerequisite studies.
14.4 Changes to Pre-Requisites for Entry to the Engineering Course in 2000
that, for entry to the Bachelor of Engineering course in 2000, students who have not completed Specialist Mathematics but who have a TER of 95 or greater be deemed to have satisfied the Specialist Mathematics prerequisite; and
14.5 Changes to International Baccalaureate Pre-Requisites for Entry to Courses in the Faculty of Science in 1998
that, for entry in 1998 and beyond to the Bachelor of Science, combined courses with Science and the Bachelor of Optometry course, prerequisites for International Baccalaureate students be as follows:
English, Higher Level Mathematics and one of Biology, Chemistry and Physics
or
English, Subsidiary Level Mathematics and two of Biology, Chemistry and Physics
15. Finance Committee (Item B.2)
15.1 Council received the tabled revised report of meeting 2/97 of the Finance Committee, held on 23 April, 1997.
15.2 Purchasing Procedures and Delegations in Relation to Financial Matters
Council approved amendments to the Purchasing Procedures and Delegations in Relation to Financial Matters, as set out in Attachment A to the report.
15.3 Funding Capital Infrastructure
Council approved the expenditure of up to $2 million from the University's Reserve Funds should it prove necessary, to meet a possible contingent liability which may result from rental guarantees or lease arrangements made on behalf of the University by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources) in the provision of appropriate student housing in 1998/99.
Council agreed that the University should seek to acquire a property in Carlton, should it be available at a reasonable price, within a defined price range.
16. Human Resources Committee (Item B.3)
16.1 Council received the report of meeting 3/97 of the Human Resources Committee, held on 11 April, 1997.
16.2 Completion of Contracts
Council approved the amended Section 20.5 of the Personnel Policy & Procedures manual, as set out in Attachment A to the report, which had been expanded to include new rules in relation to staff completing fixed-term contracts.
16.3 Promotions Policy
Council approved the following changes to the Promotions procedures for implementation in the 1997 Promotions Round:
that the Dean not be required to provide a recommendation to the Panel on cases for promotion from their own Faculty;
that the Dean be a full member of the Panel for consideration of all cases, including those from their own Faculty. The Dean may not introduce any new material that has not been tested or raised with the applicant;
that, for single Department Faculties, the Dean will nominate another senior officer within the Faculty to be deemed "Head of Department" for the purpose of academic promotion matters and who will take responsibility for consulting with senior colleagues and providing the report and recommendation to the Panel;
that the Head of Department will consult widely with senior colleagues within the Department and will provide a recommendation to the appropriate Academic Promotions Panel for promotion to Level C (Senior Lecturer) or Level D (Associate Professor or Associate Professor and Reader); and
that if a Head of Department is a member of a Panel, he or she may remain with the Panel during the discussion of the case but will not participate in the decision making process. The Head may clarify information for the Panel, but may not introduce any new material that has not been tested or raised with the applicant.
17. Buildings and Estates Committee (Item B.4)
Council received the report of meeting 3/97 of the Buildings and Estates Committee, held on 14 April, 1997.
18. Legislation Committee (Items C[a] and C[b])
18.1 Council received the reports of meetings 1/97 and 2/97 of the Legislation Committee, held on 24 February 1997 and 28 April 1997, respectively.
18.2 Regulations
18.2.1 Council made the following regulation, subject to the Legislation Committee satisfying itself that the items were within power.
(2) Making of Regulation 5.1R4 - To establish the Institute Board of the Land and Food Resources (11/97)
(The Legislation Committee subsequently was satisfied on this question on the basis that Council's action rested on a legal opinion from the University's Solicitors.)
18.2.2 Council made the following regulations:
(1) Making of Regulation 5.1.R3 To establish the Institute of Land and Food Resources(10/97)
(3) Making of Regulation R7.196 To establish the Joyce Melrose Crickmer Fund (25/97)
(4) Making of Regulation R3.31 To alter a provision governing entry to candidature for the degree of bachelor of Veterinary Science (26/97)
(5) Making of Regulation 8.1R1 To constitute membership of the Archives Advisory Board (27/97)
(6) Making of Regulation 12.6.R1 To add to the regulation governing academic dress(29/97)
(7) Making of Regulation R7.76 To clarify the purposes for which funds from the Edward Stevens Trust may be applied (30/97)
(8) Making of Regulation 7.1.R2 To establish a chair of Taxation Law (32/97)
19. University of Melbourne Annual Report 1996
Copies of the University of Melbourne Annual Report 1996 were distributed to Council members.
20. Summary of Reports on Matters dealt with by the Vice-Chancellor (Items D.2[a] and D.2[b])
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).
21. Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management (Item D.3)
Council received the report of the Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management meetings 3/97, held on 21 March 1997.
22. Introduction of New Professors
Professor M Tilbury, Edward Jenks Chair of Law and Professor P Austin, Foundation Chair of Linguistics, were introduced to Council members and welcomed to the meeting.
Copyright © 1997, The University of Melbourne
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Date created: 14 May 1997
Last modified: 22 May 1997
Authorised by: Len Currie, Director of Executive Services