1998

THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE

COUNCIL MEETING NO 6

A meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber, University, on Monday 5 October, 1998 at 4.00 p.m.

Present

The Chancellor, Sir Edward Woodward (in the Chair)
The Deputy Chancellor (Dr N G Curry)
The Deputy Chancellor (Mrs F S Marles)
The Vice-Chancellor (Professor A D Gilbert)
The President of Academic Board (Professor T W Healy)
The President of the Student Union (Ms S Marshall)
Mr T L Anning, Mr L J Carden, Mr Justice Chernov, Lord Dearing, Hon B Forwood, Dr B H Lochtenberg, Mr I A Renard, Mr D V C Tricks, Professor S A Walker and Ms C M Walter

The President of Convocation (Dr T Latham)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Professor C B Schedvin)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Professor K C Lee Dow)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (Professor F P Larkins)
The Registrar (Mr J B Potter)
The Academic Registrar (Mr I Marshman)
The Deputy Registrar and Director of Financial Operations (Mr D Percival)
The Director of Information Technology Services (Mr N Reidl)
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 Acting General Manager, Vice-Chancellor’s Office (Ms W Lawler)
The Manager, Central Secretariat (Mr J A Goodwin)

Mr Tawee Achintharungkoon, Associate Professor Nongnuch Raksakultha, Ms W Cooper, Ms J McQuillan, Mr Victor Stojcevski, and Mr P O’Keefe were in attendance

Business

1. Welcome

The Chancellor welcomed Lord Dearing, who was making a brief visit to Australia to give the Menzies Oration. He also welcomed two visitors from Thailand, Mr Tawee Achintharungkoon, Associate Dean of Administration, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology (North Bangkok), and Associate Professor Nongnuch Raksakulthai, Associate Dean, Faculty of Fisheries, Kasetsart University, Bangkok.

The Chancellor advised that Mr Victor Stojcevski, Acting President, UMPA, was attending the meeting as an observer and welcomed him to the meeting.

2. Leave of Absence (Item A.01)

Apologies were received from Ms Chinn, Professor Lim Pin, Ms Proust and Mr G J Spring.

Leave of absence for this meeting had been granted to Associate Professor Marjorie Theobald.

Leave of absence for the November meeting was granted to Lord Dearing and Professor Lim Pin.

3. Returning Officer’s Report

The Registrar, as Returning Officer, advised that the term of office for a number of members of Council would end at 31 December, that elections for the two student members was currently in train, and that voting for a general staff member on Council would close on 23 October, 1998.

He advised that Professor Sally Walker, the member of Council representing the professors, would become an ex officio member of Council next year in her capacity as President of the Academic Board, and the call for nominations for her replacement to represent the professors for the remainder of her term of office, ending 31 December 1999, would close on Friday 9 October.

He also reminded members that the call for nominations for the office of Chancellor, which had been forwarded to all members, would close on Thursday 8 October.

4. Minutes of Meeting 5/98 (Item A.1)

The minutes of meeting of Council 5/98, held on 7 September 1998, copies of which had been distributed, were confirmed, subject to an amendment to Minute 7.7 - Melbourne Theatre Company, as follows:

Council noted, in respect of comments in that report concerning the activities of the Australia Council, that Ms Walter had an interest as a member of the Major Organisations Fund of the Australia Council.

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

A.5(a) Item 2, A.7 (a) Item 1, B.2 Item 2 , and B.6 (b) Item 1 were starred for discussion.

6. 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.

7. Chancellor’s Matters (Item A.3[a])

The Chancellor advised that he had received a very limited response to a letter he had sent to all members of Council inviting comments on the performance of Council members, and encouraged members to provide him with their responses as soon as possible.

8. Motion on Notice (Item A.3[b])

This matter was dealt with in the Open Section of the meeting - Minute 22 below refers.

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

9.1 Council received the Vice-Chancellor's Report, together with a confidential supplementary report entitled "The Development of University Square - A Modified Proposal"

9.2 Appointment of Pro Vice-Chancellors

Council adopted the recommendation that Professor S A Walker and Professor J A Angus be appointed as Pro Vice-Chancellors in 1999.

9.3 Operational Plan 1999

Council adopted the 1999 Operational Plan as set out in Appendix A to the report, subject to an amendment to Target 5.3 to read:

The introduction in 1999 of a new Enterprise Agreement based on fair, progressive incentives, on the commitment of the University to being an exemplary employer, and on terms which assist the University to meet its Strategic Plan.

Ms Marshall asked that her dissent from Targets 4.4 to 4.8 be recorded.

9.4 University Square Development

Council received the Due Diligence Report (Item B.7) and considered it in conjunction with the Vice-Chancellor’s modified proposal.

Council agreed that authority be given to the Vice-Chancellor to negotiate contractual arrangements with Equiset Pty Ltd for the construction of the three academic buildings within the parameters established and supported by the outside consultants retained for the Due Diligence Committee and to negotiate the appropriate financial arrangements for the project subject to obtaining all necessary government approvals and the approval of a sub-committee of the Finance Committee consisting of the following members:

Mr John Carden
Mr Denis Tricks
Mr John Eddey
Dr Norman Curry

9.5 SafetyMAP Implementation

The Vice-Chancellor drew to the attention of Council members the report of the Finance Committee in relation to SafetyMAP implementation.

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

10.1 Council received the report of the Administrative Committee meetings 23/98 to 24/98 inclusive.

10.2 Recruitment and Selection

Council agreed to delegate authority to Heads of Department to approve nominations for selection committees for fixed-term appointments.

10.3 Staff Turnover

Council noted the report that there is a high level of turnover in the first three years of employment, particularly amongst the junior levels of the administrative staff, and requested a short briefing paper on this matter.

11. Endowments and Trusts Committee (Item A.5 [b])

11.1 Council received the report of meeting 2/98 of the Endowments and Trusts Committee, held on 11 September 1998.

11.2 E S Hills Memorial Scholarship

Council adopted the recommendation that the E S Hills Memorial Scholarship be awarded to Ms Julie Dickson as set out in the report.

11.3 Velma Stanley Award

Council noted that the Velma Stanley Award had an accumulated balance of $18,844, and adopted the recommendations:

  1. that $10,000 be transferred from accumulated income to capital; and

  2. that the remaining accumulated income balance be made available for research in the field of addiction.

12 Planning and Budget Committee (Item A.6)

12.1 Council received the report of meeting 8/98 of the Planning and Budget Committee, held on 9 September 1998.

12.2 Recognition of General Practice Divisions - Victoria Ltd

Council adopted the recommendation that General Practice Divisions - Victoria Ltd be recognised as an educational body of significance to the University in teaching and research, pursuant to Regulation 17.1.R19.

12.3 International Programs Committee

Council approved a recommendation that the co-option category for membership of the International Programs Committee be amended to read: "The committee may co-opt up to four members"

13. Committee of Convocation (Item A.7)

Council received the report of meeting Special Meeting 2/98 of the Committee of Convocation held on 19 August, 1998, and Meeting 5/98, held on 16 September 1998.

14. Academic Board (Item B.1)

14.1 Council received the report of meeting 6/98 of the Academic Board, held on 24 September 1998, after noting that the first dot point of Report Item 13 - Principles and Guidelines for Development of Academic Programs, had been withdrawn.
Council also received a Supplementary Report.

14.2 Award of Honorary Degree of Master of Science

Council resolved that, pursuant to Statute 12.7.2, an honorary degree of Doctor of Science be awarded to the distinguished graduate of the University whose career statement was tabled.

14.3 Award of Degree of Master of Science Without Examination

Council resolved that, pursuant to Statute 12.7.1, a degree of Master of Science be awarded without examination to a person whose career statement was tabled.

14.4 Professor and Co-ordinator of Australian Indigenous Studies

Council agreed that the membership of the selection committee for the post of Professor and Co-ordinator of Australian Indigenous Studies be as set out in Appendix A to the report.

14.5 Policy on Student Organisations

Council endorsed the policy contained in the AVCC policy paper on student organisations, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

14.6 Student Awards

Council agreed to the establishment of the following new student awards, as set out in appendices to the report:

  • Hawthorn Institute of Education Staff Association Prize (Appendix C)
  • Thiess Contractors Engineering Prize (Appendix D)
  • Murray Goulburn Agricultural Science Scholarship (Appendix E)
  • Forestry Tasmania Honours Prize (Appendix F)
  • Helen Ormiston-Smith Prize in Astrophysics (Appendix G)

14.7 Use of VCE English Subjects in Calculating Tertiary Entrance Aggregates

Council gave in principle approval for Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) to construct ENTER including any of English, English as a Second Language, English Literature, and English Language as the compulsory English component, subject to:

  1. demonstration by VTAC that there is not likely to be a substantial change in the scaling of other subjects as a result of the different cohort structure that might result; and

  2. confirmation of arrangements by the Board of Studies which are designed to ensure that the English communication and comprehension skills of those achieving a study score in English Language or English Literature are at least as good for the equivalent study score in English.

14.8 Increase in Course Lengths for Graduate, Postgraduate and Higher Degree Programs in the Faculty of Education

Council adopted the recommendations:

(a) that where it is necessary to accommodate the needs of international students required to undertake additional English language studies as part of their course, graduate, postgraduate and higher degree courses in the Faculty of Education be extended by up to six months; and

(b) that Academic Board Resolution on Selection for extended graduate, postgraduate and higher degree programs in the Faculty of Education for overseas students who are required to undertake additional English language studies as part of their course be as outlined in Appendix H to the report

14.9 Guaranteed Entry in 1999 to International Undergraduate Fee Paying Programs

Council approved guaranteed academic entry standards for admission to international undergraduate fee-paying programs in 1999 based on 1998 entry standards, as set out in Appendix I to the report.

14.10 Minimum Level of Performance for Admission to Fee Paying Programs for Australian Undergraduate Students in 1999

Council approved the minimum academic entry standards for admission to fee-paying programs for Australian undergraduate students in 1999 based on 1998 entry standards, as set out in Appendix J to the report.

14.11 Amendment of Principles of Selection for Entry to Courses (Regulation 11.1R3)

14.11.1 Introduction and Applicability

Council adopted the recommendation that Principle of Selection 1 be amended by the deletion of section (3) to read as follows:

  1. The University is committed to maintaining high international academic standards in its courses.

  2. The University would select from those students likely to succeed in its courses.

14.11.2 Eligibility

Council adopted the recommendation that Principle of Selection 5(1) be amended to read as follows:

5(1) The Academic Board may require applicants to have obtained a minimum grade average or study score in certain studies at the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), or its equivalent, or in studies completed at university level, as a prerequisite for selection into a course. A selection committee must give due credit to an applicant who has successfully completed at or above the required grade a subject which is judged by the selection committee to be at least equivalent in content, standard and assessment to the prerequisite study prescribed, including a subject completed in a course at a tertiary institution.

14.12 Amendment of Academic Board Resolutions on Selection

14.12.1 Definition of Full-Fee Overseas Student

Council adopted the recommendation for the inclusion of the following definitions of overseas student and full-fee overseas students in section 1 of the Academic Board Resolutions on Selection, as follows:

In these Resolutions:

  1. the term ‘overseas student’ means a person who has been or may be permitted to enter Australia as a temporary resident for the purposes of pursuing a course of study at a tertiary institution and whose home in the opinion of the selection committee or the authorised officer is overseas but does not include a student who is an Australian citizen resident overseas or a student who is a citizen of New Zealand;

  2. the term ‘full-fee overseas student’ means an overseas student who is selected and enrolled subject to payment of a fee determined by the University.

14.12.2 Targeted Access Program

Council adopted the recommendation that the existing section of the Academic Board Resolutions on Selection concerned with the Targeted Access Program be replaced by a new section, as set out in Appendix K to the report.

14.13 1999 International Entry Level and Prerequisites

Council approved the 1999 international entry levels and prerequisites for the Bachelor of Biomedical Science course and the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences course, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

15. Finance Committee (Item B.2)

15.1 Council received the report of meeting 8/98 of the Finance Committee, held on 23 September 1998, together with the report of Meeting 4/98 of the Investment   Council Committee, held on 18 August 1998.

15.2 Amendment of Investment Guidelines Limits

Council agreed to an amendment to the University’s investment guidelines to permit a maximum investment in the ordinary shares of certain companies, as detailed in the report of the Investment Committee.

15.3 1999 Budget

Council adopted the following recommendations:

15.3.1 that the draft 1999 Budget be adopted as the University’s 1999 Budget; and

15.3.2 that the detail of the Capital Plan, contained in Section 5 of the draft 1999 Budget, where approval does not already exist, be confirmed by the Finance Committee after receiving any advice from the Building and Estates Committee.

15.4 Strategic Property Acquisitions

Council adopted the recommendation that the nominated additional property related matters to the value of $16.637 million, as set out in the confidential attachment to the report, be pursued to advance the University Square project, and that the required funding be provided from the University’s Reserve Funds.

16. Buildings and Estates Committee (Items B.4[a] and B.4[b])

Council received the reports of meetings 7/98 and 8/98 of the Buildings and Estates Committee, held on 10 August 1998 and 14 September 1998, respectively.

17. Committee on Staff Salaries (Item B.6 [a] and B.6[b])

17.1 Council received the reports of meetings 5/98 and 6/98 of the Committee on Staff Salaries, held on 3 September 1998 and 1 October 1998 respectively.

17.2 Remuneration of Deans

Council approved an increase of approximately 3.5% to the remuneration ranges applying to Deans, as set out in the report.

17.3 Workforce Planning Policy

Council approved, with effect from 1 November 1998:

  • the removal of Clause 20.3 from the Personnel Policy and Procedures;
  • the creation of a 20% loading for a pre-retirement contract, and a lump sum payment of up to 60% of salary for an early retirement incentive;
  • the adoption of the policy on Workforce Planning outlined in Attachment A to the report.

18. University Square Development Due Diligence Sub-Committee Report (Item B.7)

This matter was dealt with in conjunction with the Vice-Chancellor’s Report - see Minute 9.4 above.

19. Legislation Committee (Item C)

19.1 Council received the report of meeting 5/98 of the Legislation Committee, held on 28 September 1998.

19.2 Council made the following Regulations as detailed in the report:

(1) Amendment of Regulation R3.122  - To change periods of candidature for the graduate diploma in Music Therapy (61/98)

(3) Amendment of Regulation 17.1.R3 -  To add to a definition (64/98)

(5) Amendment of Regulation R6.72  - To establish the Monica Elizabeth Reum Memorial Prize (71/98)

( 6) Amendment of Regulations 5.1.R1 & 5.1.R3 - To change the regulations governing membership of the faculties (72/98)

(8) Making of Regulation R7.203 - To establish the Philippa Marion Gray Russell Bequest (73/98)

(9) Making of Regulation R6.202  - To establish the Elizabeth and Vernon Puzey Foundation (54/98)

19.3 Matter for Review

Council noted that in regard to Regulation R7.201 - Harold Stanley Symons Bequest, the Legislation Committee, after careful consideration of a proposal for re-wording from the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, had agreed not to change the wording of the legislation.

20. Summary of Reports on Matters dealt with by the Vice-Chancellor (Item D.2[a])

Council received the summary of reports on matters dealt with by the Vice-Chancellor, as set out in Items D.2[a] and [b].

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

Council received the report of meeting 8/98 of the Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management, held on 21 August 1998.

22. Relocation of the Law School (Item E.1 - [A.3(b)] )

(The Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor B M L Crommelin, and a number of representatives from the Law Students’ Society joined the meeting for this item.)

Council received a paper setting out a number of related motions, together with a tabled paper from the Melbourne University Law Students’ Society and a letter dated 2 October 1998 from the Acting Chairman of the Victorian Bar Council.

22.2 After a lengthy discussion, during which a representative of the Law Students’ Society and the Dean of the Faculty of Law addressed the meeting, the motion that the decision of the Law Faculty to re-locate to ‘Building C’ in the University Square be rescinded, was LOST.

22.3 Discussion of the foreshadowed motions on notice ensued, in the course of which the Vice-Chancellor indicated that, while he could not agree to place a specific restriction on the future use of any University building, in his view it would not be appropriate for the head office of Melbourne University Private to be located in Building C. A member who was also a member of the board of Melbourne University Private added that he believed it was important that Building C become clearly associated with, and known as, the Faculty of Law. The mover did not proceed with the foreshadowed motions.

Copyright © 1998, The University of Melbourne
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Date created: 13 October 1998
Last modified: 18 November 1998
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