Present

Members

The Chancellor, Ms F S Marles (in the Chair)
The Deputy Chancellor (Dr N G Curry)
The Deputy Chancellor (Mr I A Renard)
The Vice-Chancellor (Professor A D Gilbert)
The President of the Academic Board (Professor J A Angus)
Mr T L Anning, Mr S Booth, Mr Justice Chernov, Mr P Coats, Hon B Forwood, Associate Professor C A McCarty, Professor P B McPhee, Ms R Storelli, Ms C M Walter and Hon Mr D R White

Others Attending

The President of Convocation (Mr T P Bruce)
The President of the Student Union (Ms E Bodsworth)
The President of the Postgraduate Association (Ms E Bexley)

The Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Professor S A Walker)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students & Staff) (Professor K C Lee Dow)
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) (Professor F P Larkins)
The Senior Vice-Principal (Mr I Marshman)
The Vice-Principal (Corporate Services) (Mr D R Percival)
The Vice-Principal (University Development) (Mr R Peacock)

The University Secretary (Mr L N Currie)
The Deputy Principal, Human Resources (Ms E Baré)
The Deputy Principal, ITS (Mr N Reidl)
The Director, Audit and Compliance (Mr P McGrath)
The General Manager, Vice-Chancellor's Office (Ms M O'Keefe)
The Manager, Central Secretariat (Mr J A Goodwin)
The Media Liaison Officer (Ms C Buckridge)

Business

1. Leave of Absence (Item A.01)

Apologies were received from Mr Allen, Mr Crawford, Ms Feely, Dr Lochtenberg and Ms Proust, Leave of absence for this meeting had been granted to Sir Alec Broers. Leave of absence for the April meeting was granted to Sir Alec Broers.

2. Minutes of Previous Meetings (Item A.1[a])

The minutes of Council meeting 8/00 and the tabled replacement minutes of meeting 1/01, held on 4 December 2000 and 24 February 2001 respectively, copies of which had been distributed, were confirmed.

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

Items A.3, A.5(a).1, B.1(a). 5, B.1(b).7, B.2 (a).2, B.4 (a).1, B.4 (o) and D.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[a])

5.1 Council Meeting Papers

Council agreed to the Chancellor's suggestion that in future there be only one distribution of Council meeting papers, and that would be on the Thursday immediately prior to a Monday meeting of Council.

5.2 Chair Selection Committees

The Chancellor expressed the importance of Chair selection meetings having the benefit of the opinions of external members of Council (in addition to those of the Chancellor). She asked that when dates are set for these meetings, greater emphasis be given to establishing times when Council members are able to attend. The Chancellor also asked Council members to give Chair selection meetings a high priority.

5.3 Resignation of Council Member

The Chancellor advised that Ms Nicole Feely had taken up a new position and had resigned from Council.

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

6.1 Council received the Vice-Chancellor's Report, together with a tabled report on student load 2001, as at 4 March 2001.

6.2 Confidentiality of Meeting Proceedings

The Vice-Chancellor expressed his disappointment and concern at a recent breach of confidentiality following a meeting of the Finance Committee, and advised that he would feel himself constrained from speaking candidly at committee meetings in future if he could not be confident that confidentiality would be respected.

He gave notice that he planned to introduce a discussion on the matter at a subsequent meeting of the Council.

6.3 University Administration - Staffing and Organisational Changes

Council confirmed the changes in title of Mr Ian Marshman to that of Senior Vice-Principal, and that of Mr David Percival to Vice-Principal and Chief Financial Officer.

Council noted that the Academic Registrar, Ms Vardon, would be absent for eight weeks from 12 March, 2001, and adopted the recommendations that Ms Helen Hayes be appointed Acting Academic Registrar for that period, and that for the duration of that period, the Senior Vice-Principal assume responsibility for matters concerning indigenous students.

6.4 Off-Shore Conferring Ceremonies

Council adopted the following recommendations: ·

• that arrangements be made to meet the immediate commitment in respect of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies Singapore conferring;
• that an instrument be brought forward to Council's April meeting to provide for Council to appoint a representative to officiate at a conferring in the event that neither the Chancellor nor a Deputy Chancellor are available;
• that all costs incurred by the University in respect of off-shore conferring ceremonies conducted in satisfaction of collaborative agreements with overseas educational bodies are to be borne by the relevant faculty;
• that all future agreements which may commit the University to conducting off-shore conferring ceremonies are to be submitted for the approval of Administrative Committee, following consultation with the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, and shall be reported to Council.

Council noted the possible future commitments to a Bachelor of Education and Training (Human Resource Development) conferring in Singapore and a Master of Educational Management conferring in Hong Kong.

6.5 Bio 21

The Vice-Chancellor reported that the Bio 21 founding parties, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute and the University of Melbourne were in the process of forming a Bio 21 corporate entity as a company limited by guarantee. The next step would be the establishment of the commercial arm of Bio 21. The Vice-Chancellor advised that there were provisions in the constitution of the company for additional members to be added, and it was hoped that a range of other research institutes would join Bio 21.

The Vice-Chancellor described the organisational arrangements for Bio 21 as a loose federal system, designed to encourage the entrepreneurial exploitation of research in biotechnology by pharmaceutical companies, R & D firms, and enterprises that could take advantage of the incubator space that would be provided. Like any successful federation, Bio21 would function to make the whole more than the sum of the parts. Bio 21 Corporate would not be running the whole of Bio 21, but would function as an umbrella entity. The individual members of Bio 21 would be free to make their own decisions about such matters as the allocation of research space, the direction of research, or the evolution of the Bio 21 idea within their own organisations. They would not lose sovereignty over their own assets.

6.6 Universitas 21

The Vice-Chancellor provided a brief progress report on the negotiations between the members of Universitas 21 and Thomson Learning.

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

7.1 Council received the report of meetings 20/00, 1/01 & 2/01 of the Administrative Committee.

7.2 Traffic and Parking Policy

Council approved in principle the revised Regulation 8.1.R9 - Parking and Traffic Rules, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

A query about the listed parking fee of $50 for After Hours student access in an attachment to the regulation was resolved once it was advised that the item as shown was incorrect, and had been previously approved in its correct form by Council.

Council adopted the following recommendations:

7.3 Revision of Central Committee Memberships and Regulations

7.3.1 that the following changes to the membership of University central committees, consequent on the appointment of Dr Daines as Vice-Principal (Property and Buildings), be approved.

1. Building and Estates Committee (Standing Resolution of Council 2.4)
   Replace "Vice-Principal (Administration) or nominee" with "Vice-Principal (Property and Buildings)".
   
   
2. Planning and Budget Committee (Regulation 17.1.R11)
   Add "Vice-Principal (Property and Buildings)" to the list of members.
   
   
3. Risk Management Committee (Sub-Committee 4.2.2 of Admin. Committee)
   Replace "Manager, Property Planning and Development" with "Vice-Principal (Property and Buildings)"

7.3.2 that the Council approve amendments to Regulation 8.1.R12 to include the area supervised by the vice-principal (property and buildings) in the division of the "vice-principal (administration)" as follows:

8.1.R12 - General Staff Divisions

1. There are the following general staff divisions-

1. division of the vice-chancellor
   
   
2. division of the vice-principal (administration), which includes those areas supervised by the chief financial officer, vice-principal (property and buildings) and the academic registrar
   
   
3. division of the vice-principal [University Development]
   
   
4. division of the vice-principal [Information], which includes the Department of the Library established under Regulation 8.1.R1

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

8.1 Council received the report of meeting 1/01 of the Planning and Budget Committee, held on 7 February 2001.

Council adopted the following recommendations:

8.2 Publications Sub-Committee Terms of Reference

that the revised terms of reference for the Publications Sub-Committee, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be endorsed.

8.3 Professorial Fellowship in Oral and Facial Sciences

that a salaried professorial fellowship in the field of oral and facial sciences be created, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

8.4 Chair Proposals

that the Chair of Audiology and Speech Science be re-filled as a 5-year limited term appointment, and that a five-year limited term Chair of Rural Emergency Medicine be established in association with Ballarat Health Services, as set out in Appendix 3 to the report;

8.5 Planning and Budget Executive

that the Planning and Budget Executive be disestablished;

8.6 Information Strategy Advisory Committee

that the revised terms of reference for the Information Strategy Advisory Committee be endorsed, as set out in Appendix 4 to the report;

9. Committee of Convocation (Item A.7[a])

9.1 Council received the report of meeting 10/00 of the Committee of Convocation, held on 20 December 2000.

9.2 Speaking Rights of President of Convocation

Council noted that at meeting 1/2001, Council resolved that the President of Convocation, when attending as an observer at meetings of Council, should have the privilege of speaking on matters of concern to graduates or of concern to the Committee of Convocation, as determined by the Chancellor.

The President of Convocation, Mr Bruce, spoke briefly about the three resolutions passed at the December meeting of the Committee of Convocation as set out in the report, and advised that he was not personally in favour of the third resolution.

The Chancellor reminded Council that the question of the election of graduates to Council had been raised by Council at the time that the Government had changed the legislation, but the Government had not been minded to further change the legislation to permit the election of graduates to Council. The Chancellor expressed the opinion that Council would be ill-advised to raise the matter again.

10. Academic Board (Item B.1[a], B.1[b], and B.1[c])

10.1 Council received the reports of meetings 10/00 and 1/01 of the Academic Board, held on 14 December 2000 and 22 February 2001, together with a tabled report.

Council adopted the following recommendations:

10.2 Student Award

that the Australian Nursing Solutions Critical Care Nursing Scholarship be established, as set out in Appendix A to the report of meeting 10/00;

10.3 Selection Committee for Professorial Fellowship in Oral and Facial Sciences

that a Selection Committee for the Professorial Fellowship in Oral and Facial Sciences be established, as set out in Appendix A to the report of meeting 1/01;

10.4 Chair Selection Committees

that Selection Committees for the Chair of Audiology and Speech Science and the Chair of Rural Emergency Medicine be established, as set out in Appendix B and Appendix C respectively, of the report of meeting 1/01;

10.5 English in the Victorian Certificate of Education

that the VCE English prerequisites for entry from 2002 be:

1. a study score of at least 25 in English (any); or
2. a study score of at least 30 in English (any); or
3. a study score of at least 35 in English (any)

where "any" refers to English, English as Second Language, English Literature and English Language;

10.6 Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws

that an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws be awarded to the person whose career statement was set out in Appendix A to the tabled report.

10.7 Quality of University Management and Administration 2000

In response to a request, the Senior Vice-Principal provided further information on the results of the annual survey of the Quality of University Management and Administration. A further request was made, that in due course, Council be provided with a simple chart listing those areas identified as needing improvement, the action taken to rectify the problems, and the outcomes.

The limitations of the present financial management system were also discussed briefly.

10.8 Oral Report by the President of the Academic Board

Professor Angus, President of the Academic Board, gave a brief oral report.

11. Finance Committee (Item B.2[a])

11.1 Council received the report of meeting 1/01 of the Finance Committee, held on 21 February 2001.

11.2 Revaluation of Art Collection

Council adopted the recommendation that the major part of the University's Art Collection, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, be revalued as at 31 December 2000, in accordance with the valuations made as at 30 November 2000.

11.3 Digital Harbour Project

The University of Melbourne, through the Faculty of Education, is a strategic partner in the Digital Harbour consortium, which has been selected by the Victorian Government as the preferred developer of the 4.4 hectare ComTechPort site at Melbourne Docklands.

The Faculty of Education interest is focused on a 1950 square metre building that will house the proposed Centre for Innovation in Learning.

Concern was expressed at the significant financial commitments of the project, as set out in the report, but the Vice-Chancellor advised that the report as presented contained several inaccuracies.

To reassure Council, he stressed that the report included the paragraph that: "for avoidance of doubt, the Finance Committee noted that the University has at this stage, no intention or expectation of making any further financial commitment to the Digital Harbour Project."

The sum of $50,000 had been spent by the Faculty of Education as a contribution to the strategic planning for the project, and the extent of the University's future exposure was limited to $125,000, which would be the University's share of the deposit to be forfeited if the project were not to proceed.

The University had committed $350,000 per year to the Faculty of Education in the Capital Works agenda for innovative teaching and learning, and therefore it was possible that $350,000 per annum could be allocated toward lease payments as shown, but subject to the approval of Council and appropriate due diligence.

The Dean of the Faculty of Education had advised that there had been no binding commitment to the outlay for lease costs of up to $1 million per year from 2003, as listed in the report. Any further expenditure for lease costs would be subject to due diligence and Council approval.

It was noted that the Finance Committee would clarify the situation in its next report to Council.

11.4 Oral Report by the Deputy Chair of the Finance Committee

Mr Renard, Deputy Chair of the Finance Committee, gave a brief oral report.

12. Oral Report by the Chair of the Human Resources Committee (Item B.3)

Ms Marles, Chair of the Human Resources Committee, gave a brief oral report.

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

13.1 Council received the report of meeting 1/01 of the Buildings and Estates Committee, held on 15 February 2001.

13.2 Room Naming - "The Woodward Conference Centre"

Council adopted by acclamation the recommendation that the Conference Centre in Building C, University Square be named "The Woodward Conference Centre".

13.3 Chemical Engineering Building Extension

Council noted the diagram in Appendix 2 to the report, and agreed that a formal amendment to the Master Plan 2000 building footprint for the Chemical Engineering extension was not required.

13.4 Oral Report by the Chair of the Building and Estates Committee

Dr Norman Curry, the Chair of the Building and Estates Committee, gave a brief oral report.

14. Executive Committee (Item B.5[a])

Council received the report of meeting 1/00 of the Executive Committee, held on 18 December 2000.

15. Legislation Committee (Item C)

15.1 Council received the report of meeting 1/01 of the Legislation Committee, held on 26 February 2001.

15.2 Council made the following Legislation as detailed in the report:

(1)	Amendment of Statute 2.6	To make a procedural amendment (1/01)
(2)	Amendment of Statute 1.1	To make a procedural amendment (2/01)

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

(2)	Amendment of Regulation R6.72	To add three scholarships to the schedule of a regulation (2/01)
(3)	Amendment of Regulation R6.37	To remove the limitation on the value of scholarships (3/01)
(4)	Amendment of Regulation R6.72	To add an award to the schedule of a regulation (4/01)
(5)	Amendment of Regulation R6.72	To add a prize to the schedule of a regulation (5/01)
(6)	Amendment of Regulation R6.72	To amend the terms of a prize (6/01)
(7)	Amendment of Regulation R7.191	To remove the requirement of a committee (7/01)
(8)	Amendment of Regulation R7.75	To govern a bequest (8/01)
(9)	Amendment of Regulation R7.75	To govern a bequest (9/01)
(10)	Amendment to Regulation R6.72	To add information concerning a bequest (10/01)
(11)	Amendment of Regulation R6.61	To remove obsolete provisions concerning a prize (11/01)
(12)	Amendment of Regulation R6.72	To add information concerning a fund (12/01)
(14)	Amendment of Regulation R6.72	To amend the provision relating to two prizes (14/01)
(15)	Amendment of Regulation R6.72	To govern an award (15/01)
(16)	Making of Regulation R6.206	To govern the Friends of the Sports Association Scholarships Fund (1/01)
(17)	Amendment of Regulation R6.45	To up-date a regulation (16/01)
(18)	Amendment of Regulation R6.111	To up-date a regulation (17/01)
(19)	Revocation of Regulation 17.1.R4	To remove a redundant regulation (18/01)
(20)	Amendment of Regulation 8.1.R12	To make a procedural amendment (22/01)

16. Conferring of Degrees (Item D.3)

Council received the reports of Conferring Ceremonies 17/2000 - 20/2000, held on Saturday 2 December, 2000 at 10.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m., and Tuesday 19 December at 3.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.

Council noted that the report of Conferring Ceremony 19/2000 was incomplete, in that it had failed to refer to the fact that the Conferring Ceremony had been the last over which Sir Edward Woodward had presided, and that the Deputy Chancellor, Dr Curry had given a thoughtful address to that effect.

Council agreed that the report should be rewritten.

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

Council received the report of meetings 9/00, 10/00 and 1/01 of the Melbourne Theatre Company Board of Management, held on 17 November 2000, 15 December 2000 and 24 January 2001 respectively.

18. Personal Statement

The postgraduate student representative on Council, Mr Simon Booth, made a statement on behalf of the President of the Postgraduate Association, Ms Emmaline Bexley and himself.

He stated that the students were honoured to have Ms Marles as their Chancellor.

Mr Booth then referred to an incident that had temporarily halted the academic procession prior to the installation of the Chancellor. Mr Booth and Ms Bexley had been leading the procession, but found their way blocked by a student barricade, which was broken by security staff to allow the procession to proceed. In the circumstances, neither Mr Booth nor Ms Bexley believed that they could continue in the procession and withdrew, but Mr Booth stressed that their action should not be construed as condoning the student barricade, and took the opportunity to congratulate Ms Marles on her inauguration.

The Chancellor thanked Mr Booth for his statement.