A meeting of the Council was held in the Council Chamber, University, on Monday 7 September 1992 at 3.30 pm.
Present
Mrs A W Blainey, Mr M J Blamey, Mr T P Bruce, Mr T C Borgeest, Mr L J Carden, Mr A Chernov, Dr R B Cullen, Dr N G Curry, Dr B K Evans, Dr K E Forward, Mrs B M Hamer, Professor T W Healy, Professor T A McMahon, Mr C Muir, Dr D J Philips, Mr F J P Robotham, Mr G N Rundle, Mr J P Ryan, Mr K C Stone, and Mr H S Wragge.
Ms E O`Keefe, and Mr P O`Keefe were in attendance.
The Vice-Chancellor took the Chair and advised members that in the absence of the Chancellor, under the provisions of Section 12 of the University Act, one of the Deputy Chancellors elected by the meeting presides. Mr Justice Northrop was duly elected and took the Chair.
2.1 Apologies for absence were received from Mrs Calvert-Jones, Ms Fry, Professor Saunders, Mr Stockdale and Mr Tricks.
2.2 Leave of absence for this meeting had been granted to the Chancellor, Ms Davies, Mr Dollis, Mr Finemore and Rev. Dr Manley.
2.3 Leave of absence for the October meeting was granted to Mrs Blainey and Mr Stockdale, and for the October and November meetings to Mrs Hamer.
The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 3 August 1992, copies of which had been circulated, were confirmed.
Items B.1, D.7, and D.10 were starred for discussion.
5.1 Council received the Vice-Chancellor`s Report.
Council adopted the following recommendations:
that Professor A G Klein be appointed as the Head of the School of Physics for the period 1 January, 1993 to 31 December, 1995;
that Professor R Evans be appointed as the Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering for the period 1 January, 1993 to 31 December, 1995;
that the Sir William Upjohn Medal be awarded to Professor Emeritus Priscilla Kincaid-Smith;
that the assets of The Melbourne University Graduate School of Management Foundation be transferred to the successor Foundation and thereafter the existing Foundation be terminated, and that the Vice-Chancellor be authorised to take whatever steps are required to implement this resolution; and
Council resolved that the 1993 December meeting of Council be held on Monday, 6 December,1993.
6.1 Council received the report of the Joint Committee on Policy meeting 7/92 held on 10 August, 1992.
Council adopted the recommendation that, in principle, Chairs be established in The Graduate School of Management in the following fields:
and noted that, upon receipt of further advice from The Graduate School of Management, the Joint Committee on Policy will consider and bring forward recommendations relating to titles appropriate to these chairs;
Council adopted the recommendation that a Chair of Physics be established, as set out in Appendix B to the report.
The Committee`s recommendation on Freedom of Speech was considered in the Open Section of the meeting (Minute 28 below refers)
7.1 Council received the report of the Academic Board meeting 7/92, held on 27 August, 1992.
Council adopted the recommendation that Her Excellency Mary Robinson, President of Ireland, be awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.
8.1 Council received the report of the Finance Committee meeting 7/92, held on 26 August, 1992.
8.2.1 Council made the fee determinations as set out in Attachment 1 of Appendix A to the report.
Council noted that the level of the fees had been set by Finance Committee. If, after receipt and consideration of a student submission on the matter, Finance Committee decides to reduce the Late Payment fee, this would be reported to Council at a later meeting.
8.2.2 Council adopted the recommendation that amendments be made to Statute 10.1 to provide for a reinstatement charge and to permit the partial refund of the Amenities and Service Fee.
8.3.1 Council adopted the following recommended allocations, based on a cost adjustment factor of 1.224;
8.3.1.1 that the Central Budgets Committee be authorised to make initial allocations for 1993 within a total of $222.597 million;
8.3.1.2 that an initial allocation of $10.988 million be made to the Victorian College of the Arts;
8.3.1.3 that an initial allocation of $9.513 million be made to Hawthorn Institute of Education; and
8.3.1.4 that an initial allocation of $9.191 million be made to the Victorian College of Agriculture and Horticulture.
8.3.2 Council resolved that authority be given to amend the allocations in line with movements in the cost adjustment factor.
8.3.3 Council resolved that authority be given to the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar to amend the above allocations due to agreed changes to the adjustment amount within the combined University relating to obligations incurred by the University of Melbourne as a result of the amalgamation process.
Council adopted a recommendation that the membership, functions and terms of reference of the Music Bequests Committee be amended, as shown in Appendix C of the report.
Council received the report of the Central Budgets Committee meeting 3/92 held on 7 August, 1992.
Council received the report of the Libraries Committee meeting 5/92, held on 4 August, 1992.
11.1 Council received the report of Administrative Committee meetings 25/92 - 27/92.
11.2 Council adopted the recommendation that a Student Services Advisory Committee be established, with membership and terms of reference as set out in Appendix A to the report.
12.1 Council received the report of the Committee of Convocation meeting 6/92, held on 19 August, 1992.
Council noted the concerns of the Committee of Convocation regarding the library fee proposal, and that arrangements had been made for the Acting Librarian to attend the next meeting of the Committee of Convocation to discuss the fee structure, and the final proposal of the Libraries Committee, before it is submitted to Council.
13.1 Council received the report of the Standing Committee for the Chair of Economic History meeting 2/92 held on 4 August, 1992.
13.2 Council adopted the recommendation that the person whose career statement was distributed at the meeting be offered appointment to the Chair of Economic History.
14.1 Council received the report of the Committee of Deans of Faculties meeting 7/92, held on 20 August, 1992.
Council adopted the following recommendations:
14.2.1 that the general University academic year dates for 1994, be as set out in Appendix A to the report, and
14.2.2 that the 1994 year dates for the third and fourth years of the Bachelor of Veterinary Science course and the fourth year of the Bachelor of Science (Optometry) course be set out in Appendix B to the report.
15.1 Council received the report of the Equal Opportunity Standing Committee meeting 5/92, held on 21 August, 1992.
Council noted the recommendation on childcare, and agreed to defer consideration of the recommendation until Council has received the report of the Child Care Policy Committee to which it refers.
Council noted Equal Opportunity Standing Committee concerns on gender balance in the membership of the Academic Promotions Committee and Sub-Committees, and referred the matter back to the Equal Opportunity Committee for a broader review of the equal opportunity issues, for report back to the Chair of the Promotions Committee in association with the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources) and President of the Academic Board
16.1 Council received the report of the Legislation Committee meeting 5/92 held on 31 August, 1992.
16.2 Council made the following items of legislation, as detailed in the report.
(1) Amendment - Statute 5.1 Statute 5.2 To make an editorial amendment (76/92)
(2) Amendment - Statute 10.1 To clarify provisions relating to fees (81/92)
(3) Amendment - Statute 12.8 To add the colours for two new degrees to the statue governing academic dress (82/92)
16.3 Council made the following "R Series" Standing Resolutions as detailed in the report.
(1) Amendment - Standing Resolution R6.37 To make a consequential amendment to the provisions governing the award of R.G. Wilson Scholarships (5/92)
(2) Amendment - Standing Resolution R7.64 To alter membership of The Dental Alumni Research Foundation (70/92)
(3) Revocation and re-making Standing Resolution R6.170 To revise The Ackman Trust (79/92)
(4) Making - Standing Resolution R6.72 To establish the J.S. Anderson Prize (46/92)
(5) Amendment - Standing Resolution R6.32 To vary eligibility for the award of the Keith Levi Memorial Scholarship (69/92)
(6) Making - Standing To establish the degree of master of Resolution R3.216 Psychology (58/92)
(7) Amendment - Standing Resolution R3.177 To change the name of an award course (65/92)
(8) Amendment - Standing Resolution R3.166 To add another prerequisite for admission to the graduate diploma in Surveying Science (72/92)
(9) Amendment - Standing Resolution R3.158 To add another prerequisite for admission to the graduate diploma in Geographic Information Systems (73/92)
(10) Amendment - Standing Resolutions R3.149, R3.150, R3.151 To append temporary standing resolutions to three course resolutions as a consequence of the introduction of a new course (71/92)
(11) Amendment - Standing Resolution R3.98 To correct an error (74/92)
16.4 Council made the following "O Series" Standing Resolutions as detailed in the report.
(1) Amendment - Standing Resolution 5.14 Membership of the Academic Board
(2) Amendment - Standing Resolution 5.23a Guidelines for Sexual Harassment Advisers
(4) Amendment - Standing Resolution 9.3 Delegations in Relation to Financial Matters
(5) Amendment - Standing Resolution 2.13 Biohazards Committee
(6) Amendment - Standing Resolution 2.35 Appointment of Conciliator of Disputes
(7) Making - Standing Resolution 9.10 University Transport Policy
(8) Making - Standing Resolution 2.40 National Macaque Facility - Committee of Management
(9) Amendment - Standing Resolution 2.21 Music Bequests Committee
Reports on Special Studies Programmes and Conference Leave from the following members of staff were available to Council members.
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 the reports of Conferring Ceremonies which were authorised by Council and held on Saturday 1 August 1992 at 2.30 p.m and 7.30 p.m.
Council received the report of a Conferring Ceremony of the Victorian College of the Arts which was authorised by Council and held on Friday, 17 July 1992 at 8.00 p.m.
Council received the report of the Medley Hall Council Executive Committee meeting 1/92, held on 4 August 1992.
Council received the report of the Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management meeting 6/92 held on 24 July, 1992.
Council received the report of the Investment Committee meeting 3/92 held on 28 July,1992.
Council received the report of the Information Technology Policy Advisory Committee meeting 4/92 held on 17 August, 1992.
Council received the report of the Standing Committee for the Max Crawford Chair of History meeting 1/92 held on 14 August, 1992.
Council received the report of the Working Group on Student Discipline meeting held on 27 July, 1992.
Council received the report of the Victorian School of Forestry and Land Management Liaison Committee meeting 2/92 held on 25 August, 1992.
28.1 Council considered Item 3 of the Joint Committee on Policy report entitled "Defending Freedom of Speech".
28.2 Council affirmed its belief that a commitment to freedom of speech is central to the functions of the University and agreed that it intended to introduce processes which would permit disciplinary action to be taken against any member of the University who willingly and wittingly engages in action, the purpose of which is to prevent the expression of views by recognized speakers in the course of formal lectures or meetings conducted in the University.
28.3 Council noted that consideration of how this can be implemented would need to follow discussion with student and staff unions.
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 T.C. Brown and Professor R.E. White were introduced to Council and welcomed to the meeting.