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A Special Meeting of the Committee of Convocation was held in the Jim Potter Conference Room, Conference Centre, Old Physics Building, University of Melbourne, on Wednesday 17 December 2003 at 5.45pm.
PRESENT
Dr RJ Condron in the Chair,
Mr AW Abbott, Mr G Bartle, Ms LJ Boston, Dr C Close, Ms HM Cohn, Ms JM Crowe, Mr BFB Dance,
Mr GF Dawson, Mr DM Dodd, Mr AT Douglas, Ms JH Elton Brown, Ms HM Fitzpatrick,
Dr JK Harcourt, Mr RTA Hardcastle, Mr PR Hirst, Mr J Humphrey, Mr JC Jones, Mr FAM Lees,
Dr PA Lowe, Mr RA McGauran, Dr L McKenzie, Mr JG Meehan, Mrs AM Neal-Adam,
Mr JF Nicholas, Mr J Puls, Dr NMcH Ramsey, Dr B-A Rodan, Miss AS Rusden,
Dr S Sahhar, Dr J Stillman.
BUSINESS
0. Preliminary Matters
0.1 Report from Returning Officer
Mr Len Currie, the Returning Officer, reported on the call for nominations to fill several casual vacancies. He referred to the tabled document which declared Mr Michael Gorton elected to a vacancy in Law for a term expiring in 2007.
1. Apologies and Leave of Absence
Apologies had been received from Dr SC Ducker, Mr AG Handberg, Ms E Parker, Mr G Thomas and Ms M Weston.
Leave of Absence has previously been granted to Messrs MJ Anderson and D Brownbill for this meeting. No further requests for Leave of Absence for future meetings were received.
2. Starring of Additional Items
Item 8 was starred to receive oral reports.
3. Minutes of Meeting 9/03 (19.11.2003)
The minutes of meeting 9/03 held on 19 November, 2003 were approved.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 Call for Nominations – Committee Representatives (Minute 12.1)
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Nominations Received
- Vacancies for Representatives
The Returning Officer reported on the results of the call for nominations for Committee representatives on University bodies which were contained in the circulated and tabled papers. During discussions, Mr J Meehan indicated his wish to represent the Committee on the Faculty of Economics and Commerce. Mr Nicholas withdrew his nomination from the Landscape Advisory Group. Mr AG Handberg’s name was put forward to represent the Committee on the Committee on Staff Salaries and the University Secretary agreed to seek his agreement.
Mr Currie announced that in those areas were more than one nomination had been received, he would seek to confirm with those candidates their intention to proceed and if necessary will conduct an election at the first meeting of 2004.
It was suggested that the Committee’s representatives on University bodies be rotated regularly and terms fixed to a certain number of years.
4.2 Australian University Alumni Council (Minute 12.2)
Dr Lowe gave a brief oral report, and referred to the tabled document which gave information of the mission and objectives of the AUAC.
4.3 Newspaper clippings - Reviews of Death Sentence by Don Watson (Minute 12.4)
During discussion of this item, a member suggested that it become University practice to spell out acronyms in full when first mentioned in University documents as it is a common practice and a widely recommended standard.
The Committee resolved that a recommendation go to University Officers who would most benefit from this suggestion.
5. Report 9/03 to December 2003 Council
The Committee received the report for information.
6. Legislation and Standing Resolutions
It was agreed that web connections for Statutes being considered by the Committee be detailed in the meeting papers
6.1 Statutes made and amended by Council at its December meeting
The
Committee noted that Council made the following Legislation as detailed in the
report.
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(1)
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Enactment of Statute 1.6 recommended by the Senior Vice-Principal
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To specify that external review of decisions is not precluded (159/03)
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(2)
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Enactment of Statute 11.9 recommended by the Senior Vice-Principal
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To assist the Vice-Chancellor to take appropriate measures to provide a safe environment for staff and students (160/03) (160/03) |
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During discussion of this statute, a member pointed out that in the past a student was not able to have a support person present at hearings, which this statute redresses, and that this Committee had sometime ago suggested that students be allowed accompaniment by a support person at hearings such as those referred to in this document. |
(3) |
Amendment of Statute 11.4 recommended by the Senior Vice-Principal |
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To clarify any inconsistency between Statute 11.9 and Statute 11.4 (161/03) |
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(4)
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Amendment of Statute 11.1 recommended by the Senior Vice-Principal |
To delete reference to the Admissions Committee on the enactment of Statute 11.9 (162/03) |
6.2 Regulations made and amended by Council
at its December meeting
The Committee noted that Council made and amended
the following regulations as detailed in the report.
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(1)
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Amendment of Regulation 6.1.R9 recommended by Council |
To revise the membership and functions of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Bio 21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute (64/03)
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(2)
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Amendment of Regulation 8.1.R6 recommended by the University Secretary
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To delete the list of all branch libraries of The University of Melbourne Library in the regulation (163/03)
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(3)
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Amendment of Regulation 6.1.R7
recommended by the University Secretary
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To establish the Centre for Macroeconomics (164/03)
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(4)
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Amendment of Regulation
17.1.R23
recommended by the University Secretary |
To update the terms of reference and membership of the Access and Equity Committee (165/03)
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(5)
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Amendment of Regulation
17.1.R15
recommended by the University Secretary
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To update the function of the Student Support Committee (163/03)
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(6)
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Amendment of Regulation
R7.120
recommended by the University Secretary |
To amend the terms of the W.E. and C.H.H. Cook Memorial Fund (147/03)
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6.3 Standing Resolutions made and amended by
Council
There were no standing resolutions made or amended by Council.
7. Report of Council Meeting 11/03 (15/12/03)
7.1 Vice-Chancellor's Report
The Committee received the Vice-Chancellor’s Supplementary Report to Council.
7.2 Oral report on Council Meeting
The President gave an oral report of the December Council meeting, which had commenced with a closed session dealing with the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor. Dr Condron advised that Mr Geoff Dawson had been confirmed as the Council nominee on the Legislation Committee.
The Committee discussed the funding situation of the Victorian College of the Arts and adopted the following resolution:
The Committee of Convocation:
- Endorses Council’s resolution of 10 November regarding the Victorian College of the Arts;
- Agrees that funding of the University of Melbourne students should not be reduced to make up the short-fall; and
- Agrees that the funding of VCA students by the Commonwealth should not be reduced.
8. Reports of Faculty Meetings and Committee Meetings
8.1 Planning and Budget Committee 10/03
(b) Meeting 11/2003
The Committee received the reports for information.
8.2 Finance Committee 10/03
(b) Meeting 11/2003
The Committee received the reports for information.
8.3 Buildings and Estate Matters
The Committee’s representative gave an oral report and advised that Building B in University Square is no longer viable for student accommodation. The plan now is to construct a multi-storey building for use by the Faculty of Economics and Commerce, complete with lecture theatres.
8.4 Music Faculty
With regard to the Faculty’s lack of suitable accommodation, the Committee’s representative on the Faculty of Music suggested that the Committee could take action when the new Vice-Chancellor takes up his position. At that time, the Dean could be invited to speak at a Committee meeting after a tour beforehand of the Faculty’s premises.
8.5 Faculty of Veterinary Science
The Committee’s representative on the Faculty of Veterinary Science voiced her frustrations as many issues dealt with at Faculty meetings appear to be pre-decided, as well as meetings being cancelled due to lack of business. Accordingly, she sought the Committee’s guidance in these matters. She was advised to put any questions raised but not answered in writing. If this failed to engender a response, then a report should be given to the Committee of Convocation which may be included in the Committee’s Report to Council.
Subsequent to the meeting, it was decided that the statute and regulation in relation to Faculties be circulated for information with the next meeting papers.
8.6 Faculty of Economics and Commerce
The Faculty’s representative reported that a new Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Commerce had been appointed and suggested that Professor Abernethy be invited to address the Committee after she had settled into her new role..
9. Alumni Relations Report
Ms Sarah Wall, the Alumni Relations Manager, gave an oral report. She advised that the many events organised for the 150th Anniversary Celebrations had been successful and contributed to making 2003 a great year with thousands of people being involved at the many functions held. She thanked members of the Committee of Convocation who gave their support in attending the various events conducted throughout the year.
10. Guest Speaker
There was no guest speaker.
11. President's Report
11.1 Annual Dinner, Friday 28 November, 2003
Dr Condron reported on the success of the Committee’s Annual Dinner at the Athenaeum Club and on behalf of the Committee thanked Dr Sahhar for making this night possible.
11.2 Retiring Members
The President reported the retirement of the following members:
Mr David Brownbill, a representatives of the graduates in Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, who had been a member of the Committee since 1998;
Mr Geoff Dawson, a representative of the graduates in Law, who had served on the Committee 1981. In addition, he had served on Legislation Committee for many years.
Mrs Marlene Robinson, who came onto the Committee the same year as Mr Dawson but as a representative of the graduates in Arts, so also had twenty-two years’ service. Mrs Robinson had served as the Committee’s representative on the Equal Employment Opportunity Committee for many years until the Committee’s involvement in that body was terminated.
Dr Jeffrey Robinson, who had served on the Committee since 1990: firstly as a representative of the graduates in Arts, then as a representative of the graduates of Education. In this latter capacity he served on the Faculty Board since 2001. In addition, Dr Robinson had represented the Committee on Theatre Board for many years.
12. Any Other Business
12.1 List of Top 100 Universities
The University Secretary spoke to this item. Mr Currie advised that a member has requested the criteria for selection into the top 100 universities but this varies from list to list. The list referred to was an Asian list of research universities.
12.2 Minute of Appreciation
The President thanked Mr Currie, the Committee’s Secretary, and Miss Davies, the Minute Secretary, for their work and support during the year.
13. Receipt of Unstarred Items
The unstarred items were received.
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