1997

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

COUNCIL MEETING NO 8

A meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber, University, on Monday 6 October, 1997 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 Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources) (Professor B A Sheehan)
The President of Academic Board (Professor T W Healy)
The Vice-President of Academic Board (Professor S A Walker)
The President of Student Union (Mr J Varghese)
The President of University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association (Ms M S Grant)
Mr T L Anning, Professor Emeritus D G Beswick, Ms G M Blood, Mr L J Carden, The Rev. Dr G A Cole, Mrs N E Davies, Mr J V Eddey, Hon. B Forwood, Mrs B M Hamer, Ms J Hirst, Emeritus Professor 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, Associate Professor M Nott, Mr V Perton, Mr I A Renard, Mr G J Spring, Mr M Taylor, 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 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 General Manager, Vice-Chancellor’s Office (Mr C Wootton)
The Director of Executive Services (Mr L N Currie)
The Manager, Central Secretariat (Mr J A Goodwin)
Ms C Buckridge and Mr P O’Keefe were in attendance.

Business

1 Leave of Absence (Item A.01)

Apologies were received from Professor Bebbington and Mr Justice Chernov.

Leave of absence for this meeting had been granted to Mrs Marles, Professor Schedvin, and Associate Professor Theobald.

Leave of absence for the November meeting was granted to Mr Carden, Professor Kincaid-Smith and Mr Tricks.

2. Minutes of Meeting 7/97 (Item A.1)

The minutes of meeting of Council 7/97, held on 1 September 1997, copies of which had been distributed, were confirmed, after noting that Mrs Hamer had not requested leave of absence for the October meeting, as shown in the minutes.

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

Items A.6 (23) and B.4 (2) 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. Proposed Staff and Student Referendum (Item A.3)

A motion proposed by the President of the Student Union ‘That the University of Melbourne conduct a referendum in which all staff and students of the University may vote, with equal value, on the question: "Do you agree with the University of Melbourne’ decision to have fee-paying local undergraduate students?" was LOST.

6. University Governance

The Chancellor referred to the composition of the 1998 Council, in the light of Victorian Government legislation before Parliament to reduce the size of the Council to 21 from the end of the year. Under the new legislation, the Governor-in-Council will appoint six members to Council, and the Council itself will appoint six. As a result, not all of the present members of Council would continue to serve on Council in 1998.

The Chancellor advised that he planned to consult with the two Deputy Chancellors on the selection of the University appointments, and to submit to Council, as soon as possible, proposed names of members to be appointed from 1998, and their proposed terms of office. He thanked those members who had advised him of their intentions and preferences for further service, and sought the advice of those members who had not responded to his earlier invitation to consult with him on the matter. He also invited suggestions from Council members on approaches to dealing with this problem.

In response to a question in regard to student representation on Council under the new legislation, the Chancellor advised that the student representatives would not be ex officio members; that they would have to be elected to Council. He requested the advice of the student bodies on their view on the most appropriate sequence for such elections.

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

Council received the Vice-Chancellor's Report, together with a notice of motion for Council Meeting 9/97.

7.2 Appointment of Pro Vice-Chancellors

Council agreed that Professor T W Healy and Professor S A Walker be appointed as Pro Vice-Chancellors for 1998;

7.3 Amendments to the Articles of Association of the Australian Music Examinations Board (Victoria) Limited

Council approved in principle, amendments to the Articles of Association of the Australian Music Examinations Board (Victoria) Limited (AMEB), stipulating that in future Council nominates the Chairman of AMEB, along the lines as set out in Appendix A to the report, but subject to further minor changes to the satisfaction of the Vice-Chancellor.

7.4 Chair Selection Committees

Council adopted the recommendation that the following members of Council, who are not members of staff of the University, be appointed to Chair selection committees, as follows:

Mr D V C Tricks Accounting
Professor Emeritus P S Kincaid-Smith James Stewart Chair of Medicine
Ms C M Walter Women’s Health

7.5 Melbourne University

The Vice-Chancellor referred to a recommendation from the Academic Board that Council consider adding an Academic Board member to the Melbourne University Steering Committee. Council adopted his recommendation that Professor Tom Healy, President of the Academic Board, be added to the Steering Committee.

7.6 University Games

The Vice-Chancellor announced that the University of Melbourne team had won the Champion Trophy at the Australia-wide University Games held in Melbourne during September.

7.7 Overseas Travels

The Vice-Chancellor reported briefly on his five-week visit overseas from which he had just returned, and advised that he would be providing the next meeting of Council with a written report on his visit.

7.8 Notice of Motion

The Vice-Chancellor gave notice of a motion for the November meeting of Council in regard to the role of the AVCC in regulating the international marketing activities of universities.

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

8.1 Council received the report of meetings 18/97, and 22/97 to 25/97 of the Administrative Committee.

Council adopted the following recommendations

8.2 December 1998 Meeting of Council

that the December 1998 meeting of Council be held on Monday 7 December, 1998;

8.3 Institute of Land and Food Resources Campus Graduation Ceremonies

that the dates of the Institute of Land and Food Resources Campus graduation ceremonies, as shown in the report, be approved; and

8.4 Amenities and Services for Students

8.4.1 that the level of Amenities and Services Fee for 1998 be:

Full-time students $325
Part-time students $200

and the Amenities and Services Fee for various categories of students for 1998 be as shown in Attachment A to Attachment 1;

8.4.2 that subject to the provision of satisfactory budgetary documentation by UMPA, MUSUI, and SPRC, the allocations from the Amenities and Services Fund for 1998 be as shown in Attachment 1 to the report;

8.4.3 that an amount of $20,000 be held in reserve for additional child care rebates for needy students in 1998;

8.4.4 that the Academic Registrar be authorised:

8.4.5 Council approved the separate transitional arrangements proposed for the distribution of Amenities and Services Fee income in respect of students enrolled at the former VCAH campuses, as outlined in Attachment 1 to the report.

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

Council received the report of meeting 8/97 of the Planning and Budget Committee, held on 10 September 1997.

9.2 Exchange Agreements

Council approved exchange agreements as follows:

9.3 1998 Budget

This matter was considered in conjunction with the report of the Finance Committee, in which the Finance Committee expressed its support for the adoption of the draft 1998 Budget.

Council adopted the draft of the 1998 Budget as the University’s 1998 Budget. Some members of Council noted the lack of comparative information, and expressed a wish that such information be provided with future budgets.

Council adopted the following recommendations

9.4 Disestablishment of the Centre for Russian and Euro-Asian Studies

that the Centre for Russian and Euro-Asian Studies be disestablished:

9.5 Chairs in Accounting

that two Chairs in Accounting be filled;

9.6 The James Stewart Chair of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital)

that the James Stewart Chair of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital) be filled from 1 January, 1998;

9.7 Chair of Microbiology

that the second chair in Microbiology, occupied by Professor J McClusky since 1 January, 1997, be re-styled as a Chair of Microbiology and Immunology; and

9.8 Chair of Women’s Health

that a Chair of Women’s Health be established and filled. Council noted that the person appointed to this position will also be Director, Key Centre for Women’s Health in Society.

9.9 Recognition Agreements

that the following recognition agreements be approved:

9.10 The Meanjin Company

that the Meanjin Company be constituted as a subsidiary of the University as a company limited by guarantee. Council noted the University’s commitment to the continuity of Meanjin in the longer term.

9.11 The Institute of Land and Food Resources

that the following departments be established within the Institute of Land and Food Resources from 1 January, 1998:

- Department of Animal Production
- Department of Crop Production
- Department of Forestry
- Department of Environmental Horticulture and Resource Management
- Department of Food Sciences and Agribusiness

and that the following be disestablished from 31 December, 1997:

- Department of Agriculture and Resource Management
- Department of Forestry and Resource Conservation
- School of the VCAH.

9.12 Working Group on Departmental Arrangements - Faculty of Science

Council noted the following:

that the proposed terms of reference of the International Panel to review the Faculty of Science, as set out in Attachment 6 to the report, could be improved by further drafting, and

that the terms of reference would be brought back to November Council in an amended form.

10. Committee of Convocation (Item A.7)

Council received the report of meeting 7/97 of the Committee of Convocation, held on 7 September 1997.

11. Academic Board (Item B.1)

11.1 Council received the report of meeting 6/97 of the Academic Board, held on 25 September, together with the report of meeting 3/97 of the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee held on 12 August, 1997

Council adopted the following recommendations:

11.2 Award of Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws

that the award of an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws be offered to a person whose career statement was tabled at the meeting of Council;

11.3 Chairs in Accounting

that a selection committee be established for the Chairs in Accounting, as set out in Appendix A to the report;

11.4 James Stewart Chair of Medicine (Royal Melbourne Hospital)

that a selection committee be established for the James Stewart Chair of Medicine (RMH), as set out in Appendix B to the report;

11.5 Chair of Women’s Health

that a selection committee be established for the Chair of Women’s Health, as set out in Appendix C to the report.

11.6 New Courses

that the following new courses be established, as set out in the appendices to the report, as shown:

11.7 Student Awards

that the following new awards be approved:

11.8 Recognition of Foundation Study Programs and Other Programs

that, commencing in 1998, the following programs (details of which are set out in Appendix R to the report) be recognised for University entrance purposes:

Monash University Foundation Year
Prime Associate Diploma (Malaysia)
University (of NSW) Foundation Studies Certificate
Western Australian Universities Foundation Programme

that, commencing in 1998, the following programs (details of which are set out in Appendix S to the report) be recognised for University entrance purposes for trial periods as indicated:

RMIT Foundation Studies (3 years)
Unified Examination Certificate (Malaysia) (2 years)

11.9 English Language Requirements for Selection into Undergraduate Courses in Selected Faculties, 2000

(a) that for selection in 2000 into undergraduate courses in the Faculties of Economics and Commerce, Education, and Science, interstate students be required to have achieved a study score of 25 or equivalent in English; and

(b) that for selection in 2000 into undergraduate courses in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, interstate students be required to have achieved a study score of 35 or equivalent in English;

11.10 International Baccalaureate Prerequisites for Bachelor of Veterinary Science Course

that International Baccalaureate entrance prerequisites for entry in 1998 to the ‘pre veterinary’ year of Science be, as follows:

Either: English, Higher Level Mathematics, Chemistry or: English, Subsidiary Level Mathematics, Chemistry and either Biology or Physics;

11.11 Selection of International Students into Undergraduate Courses in Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences from 1999

that for selection of school-leaver-stream applicants into undergraduate courses in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences for 1999, international applicants be exempted from sitting the UMAT; and

11.12 Revised Entry Requirements for Trinity Foundation Program, 1998 and 1999

that the revised entry requirements for the admission of Trinity Foundation Program graduates to undergraduate courses in 1998 and 1999, as set out in Appendix T to the report, be adopted.

11.13 Melbourne University

A recommendation that Council consider appointing an academic member to the Steering Committee for Melbourne University was dealt with under the Vice-Chancellor’s Report - Minute 7.5 above refers.

12. Finance Committee (Item B.2)

12.1 Council received the report of meeting 8/97 of the Finance Committee, held on 24 September 1997.

12.2 Strategic Property Acquisition

Council authorised the Vice-Chancellor to continue negotiations for the purchase of a prime strategic location, as referred to in the report.

12.3 1998 Budget

The 1998 Budget was dealt with as a recommendation from the Planning and Budget Committee - Minute 9.3 above refers.

13. Human Resources Committee (Item B.3)

13.1 Council received the report of meeting 8/97 of the Human Resources Committee, held on 10 September 1997.

13.2 Devolution of Approval of SSP(L) Programs to Faculties

Council approved changes to the Special Studies Program (Long) policy, as contained in Attachment A to the report.

13.3 Responsibilities of University Staff

Council approved amendments to the document "Responsibilities of University Staff", as shown in Attachment B to the report.

14. Buildings and Estates Committee (Item B.4[a])

14.1 Council received the report of meeting 7/97 of the Buildings and Estates Committee, held on 11 August 1997.

14.2 Capital Plan 1998

Council approved the Capital Plan 1998, as shown in Section 5 of the 1998 Budget, with an understanding that the uncommitted capital of $169,000 be allocated to Minor Works for the Physics Annexe basement.

15. 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).

16. Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management (Item D.3)

Council received the report of meeting 8/97 of the Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management, held on 15 August, 1997.

17. Introduction of New Professor

Professor M J Aldred was introduced to Council members and welcomed to the meeting.

Copyright © 1997, The University of Melbourne
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Date created: 15 October 1997
Last modified: 22 October 1997
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