1998

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

COUNCIL MEETING NO 3

A meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber, University, on Monday 4 May, 1998 at 4.00 p.m.

Present

The Chancellor, Sir Edward Woodward (in the Chair)
The Deputy Chancellor (Dr N G Curry)
The Vice-Chancellor (Professor A D Gilbert)
The President of Student Union (Ms S Marshall)
The President of University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association (Ms A Chinn)
Mr T L Anning, Mr L J Carden, Mr Justice Chernov, Hon B Forwood, Dr B H Lochtenberg, Mr G J Spring, Associate Professor M R Theobald, Mr D V C Tricks and Professor S A Walker

The President of Convocation (Dr T Latham)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Professor C B Schedvin)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (Professor F P Larkins)
The Registrar (Mr J B Potter)
The Academic Registrar (Mr I Marshman)
The Director of Financial Operations (Mr D Percival)
The Director of Information Technology Services (Mr N Reidl)
The Director of Human Resources (Ms E Baré)
The Director of Property Services (Mr M Bell)
The Director of Recruitment and Admissions (Dr I Irvine)
The Director of Executive Services (Mr L N Currie)
The General Manager, Vice-Chancellor’s Office (Ms M O’Keefe)
The Manager, Central Secretariat (Mr J A Goodwin)
Ms C Buckridge and Mr A Heslop were in attendance.

Business

 

1. Leave of Absence (Item A.01)

An apology was received from Mrs Marles.

Leave of absence for this meeting had been granted to Lord Dearing, Professor Healy, Professor Lim Pin, Ms Proust, Mr Renard and Ms Walter.

Leave of absence for the July meeting was granted to Lord Dearing and Professor Lim Pin, and Dr Lochtenberg.

2. Minutes of Meeting 2/98 (Item A.1)

The minutes of meeting of Council 2/98, held on 6 April 1998, copies of which, including one replacement page, had been distributed, were confirmed.

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

Items A.7.3 and B.3.3 were starred for discussion.

4. 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.

5. Chancellor’s Matters (Item A.3)

The Chancellor advised that the Council Briefing Session scheduled for 4 p.m on 1 June 1998 would now in fact be held on Wednesday 24 June at 2 p.m., immediately prior to the next meeting of the Finance Committee, scheduled for 3.30 p.m. on that day. The session will be devoted to the consideration of certain financial aspects associated with Melbourne University Private. The Vice-Chancellor advised that any member of Council unable to attend the session would be invited to discuss these matters with him privately.

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

6.1 Council received the Vice-Chancellor's Report, together with a tabled supplementary paper entitled "University Sesquicentenary" and a tabled report on on the 1998 Annual Meeting of Universitas 21.

Council adopted the following recommendations:

6.2 The Institute of Land and Food Resources

that Mr Val Pollard be appointed as Deputy Dean (Vocational Training) and Director of TAFE until 31 December 1998, and that Professor Malcolm Hickey be appointed as Deputy Dean of the Institute for the same period;

6.3 VCA Graduation Ceremony

that Council invest in the Deputy President of VCA, Ms Sue Nattrass the authority necessary to confer certain degrees and diplomas of the University of Melbourne; and

that the Deputy Vice-President of the Academic Board of the University, Professor James Angus, be authorised to make a Formal Statement regarding the University Council’s vesting of authority in the Deputy President of the VCA, Ms Sue Nattrass to confer the awards at a Graduation Ceremony, and to make the Official Declaration regarding candidates for awards having met all requirements prescribed for admission to certain degrees and diplomas of the University, and to the rank, privileges and responsibilities thereof.

6.4 University Sesquicentenary

Council agreed to form a Sesquicentenary Working Party, comprising the Chancellor, the Deputy Chancellors, the Presidents of the Melbourne University Student Union and the University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association, the President of Convocation, the Vice-Chancellor, the President and Vice-President of the Academic Board, and Mr Ian Renard to prepare preliminary advice for submission to Council at a meeting later in the year.

6.5 Strategic Plan

Council endorsed two planning documents - Strategic Plan Perspective 1998 and Planning Budget and Accountability, after agreeing upon a minor amendment to an item on page 7 of the Planning, Budget and Accountability document, by adding the words "Non-Executive" to indicate that the Chair of the Finance Committee does not have an executive role, and noting the significance of paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 on page 26 of Strategic Plan Perspective 1998.

6.6 Cultural Diversity Policy

The Vice-Chancellor agreed to a request that the composition of the Cultural Diversity Forum include two representatives from each of the student bodies and two Koori students.

6.7 University’s Koori Support Services

Council noted the briefing note from the Academic Registrar advising Council on action taken to date to implement the Report on the University’s Koori Support Services, and the specific request from the President of the Student Union that the proposed new Centre in the Student Union building should not suffer in comparison with the present Centre.

Council further noted that the role of the Access and Equity Sub-Committee of the Human Resources Committee would be to review the operation of the Cultural Diversity Policy rather than to carry out an audit function.

6.8 Universitas 21

The Vice-Chancellor reported on the 1998 Annual Meeting of Universitas 21, and agreed to a request that the names associated with each University be distributed to the members of Council.

6.9 Melbourne University Private

The Vice-Chancellor advised that Professor Sheehan had taken up his new position as CEO of Melbourne Uniiversity Private and paid tribute to Professor Sheehan for the superb contribution he had made in his role as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources). Council formally congratulated Professor Sheehan, thanked him for his efforts on behalf of the University, and wished him well in his new endeavours.

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

Council received the report of the Administrative Committee meetings 9/98 to 11/98 inclusive.

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

8.1 Council received the report of meeting 3/98 of the Planning and Budget Committee, held on 8 April 1998.

8.2 Department of Learning and Educational Development

Council adopted the recommendation that the Department of Learning, Assessment and Special Education and the Department of Early Childhood Studies be amalgamated to form a single Department of Learning and Educational Development as from 1 July 1998.

8.3 Academic Year Dates - Veterinary Science

Council approved the variations to academic year dates in 1999 for years three and four of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science course, as set out in Attachment 1 to the report.

9. Committee of Convocation (Item A.7)

9.1 Council received the report of meeting 298 of the Committee of Convocation, held on 22 April 1998, together with the 1997 Annual Report of the Committee of Convocation and a tabled paper re "Fee Education".

9.2 "Fee Education"

Members of Council were advised that a number of statements in the article in The Age of 18/4/98 entitled "Fee Education" were incorrect, and noted that a letter of rebuttal from the Academic Registrar had been forwarded to The Age for publication. The Vice-Chancellor agreed to a suggestion that an article be published in the University Gazette, explaining how the University’s selection procedures operate.

10. Academic Board (Item B.1)

10.1 Council received the report of meeting 3/98 of the Academic Board, held on 23 April 1998, together with the report of meeting 5/97 of the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee, held on 11 December 1997 and the report of meeting 2/97 of the National Macaque Facility Committee of Management, held on 27 November 1997.

Council adopted the following recommendations:

10.2 Student Awards

Council approved the establishment of the following new awards as set out in Appendices to the report:

The Pharmacia & Upjohn Award in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (Appendix A)

The Peter Brownell PhD Scholarship (Appendix B)

The Davies Collison Cave Solicitors - Prize in Copyright and Design and the Davies Collison Cave Prize - 730-413 Research Project (Appendix C).

10.3 Trinity College Foundation Program

Council approved the pre-requisites and scores required for guaranteed entry of Trinity College Foundation Program graduates to University courses in 1999 as set out in Appendix D to the report.

10.4 Selection into New Medical Course

Council approved the procedure for undergraduate selection into the MBBS course for 1998/99 as set out in Appendix E to the report.

11. Finance Committee (Item B.2)

11.1 Council received the report of meeting 3/98 of the Finance Committee, held on 22 April 1998.

11.2. Acquisition of Property

Council approved the allocation of a further $3.6 million to acquire the deferred and priority properties as listed in the confidential document identified as Attachment 1 to the report.

12. Human Resources Committee (Item B.3)

12.1 Council received the report of meeting 2/98 of the Human Resources Committee, held on 24 April 1998.

12.2 Standing Resolutions 2.3.6 and 2.3.7

Council approved the revised Council Standing Resolutions 2.3.6 (Senior Appointments Committee) and 2.3.7 (Committees for Appointment as Professorial Fellow), as set out in Appendices A and B to the report, respectively.

12.3 Sexual Harassment Policy

Council approved an amendment to the review clause of the Sexual harassment Policy so that it reads:

The policy and procedures on sexual harassment will be reviewed as recommended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee in consultation with staff and student bodies.

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

13.1 Council received the report of meeting 3/98 of the Buildings and Estates Committee, held on 6 April 1998.

13.2 Campus Master Planning Committee

Council approved the following appointments to the Campus Master Planning Committee:

Dr N G Curry, as Chairperson for a further term from July 1998; and
Mr T L Anning, as a member of Council appointed by Council.

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

Council received the report of meeting 3/98 of the Committee on Staff Salaries, held on 20 April 1998.

15. Legislation Committee (Item C)

Council made the following Regulation as detailed in the report:

Making of Regulation 5.1.R1 To change the membership of the Faculty (40/98)

16. 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).

17. Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management (Item D.5[a] and D.5[b])

Council received reports of meetings 3/98 and 4/98 of the Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management, held on 20 March 1998 and 17 April 1998, respectively.


Copyright © 1998, The University of Melbourne
Access: Unrestricted.
Date created: 18 May 1998
Last modified: 11 June 1998
Authorised by: Len Currie, Director of Executive Services
Maintainer: Manju Lumb