Minutes - Meeting No 10/05

A Meeting of the Committee of Convocation was held in the Council Chambers, Old Quadrangle, University of Melbourne, on Wednesday 21 December 2005 at 5.45 pm.

PRESENT:

Dr R Condron (in the Chair), Mr AW Abbott, Ms AM Ada, Mr G Bartle, Dr CE Close, Mr R Cook, Mr BFB Dance, Mr DM Dodd, Mr AT Douglas, Ms JH Elton-Brown, Ms HM Fitzpatrick, Dr JK Harcourt, Mr RTA Hardcastle, Mr J Humphrey, Mr GLE Israel, Mr FAM Lees , Dr PA Lowe, Mr RA McGauran, Mr JG Meehan, Mrs AM Neal-Adam, Dr JR Nelson, Mr JF Nicholas, Dr DG Parbery, Ms E Parker, Dr N McH Ramsey, Dr B-A Rodan, Ms C Rollinson, Miss AS Rusden, Dr S Sahhar, Dr L Simpson, Mr BN Southern, Dr J Stillman, Mr GH Thomas, Mr NJ Whiting.

IN ATTENDANCE:

Mr LN Currie, the University Secretary, Mr JM Green, the Assistant University Secretary and Dr G Duke, Acting Minute Secretary, were in attendance.

BUSINESS

0. Preliminary Matters

The President and Chair welcomed to the meeting Professor Barry Sheehan, Chair of the New Music Conservatorium Steering Group’, who was attending the meeting to give an oral report on ‘The Proposed New Music Conservatorium at Southbank’.

0.1 Report of Returning Officer

The Returning Officer, Mr LN Currie, reported that Dr Alan Gibbs has been elected to the Committee as a representative of the Graduates in Engineering for a term expiring on 31 December 2009.

0.2 Resignation of Dr D McCann  

The President noted the resignation of Dr McCann, a representative from the Graduates in Arts and Social Work. The first meeting of the Committee in 2006 will hence incorporate a special meeting to fill a casual vacancy for a graduate in Arts and Social Work for a term expiring on 31 December 2009.

0.3 Committee of Convocation Representative on Human Resources Committee

The President reported that it is not necessary to appoint a new Convocation representative to the Human Resources Committee as that committee will be disbanded in 2006. The University Secretary tabled a report outlining Committee of Convocation representation on Council committees and requested expressions of interest from members who would like to serve as representatives on committees where vacancies appear for 2006.

1. Apologies and Leave of Absence

Apologies were received from Ms LJ Boston, Ms H Cohn, Ms JM Crowe, Mr MW Gorton, Mr JC Jones, Dr DA McCann and Ms MA Weston.

Leave of Absence previously had been granted to Mr AG Handberg, Mr PR Hirst, and Dr L McKenzie for the meeting.

2. Starring of Additional Items

Items 8.4, 8.10 and 12.1 were starred.

3. Minutes of Meeting 9/05 (16.11.2005)

The Minutes were adopted as a true and accurate record of the meeting.

4. Matters Arising

4.1 VCA Board Membership and Representation on the Committee of Convocation

The Assistant University Secretary reported back to the Committee on a query raised at the November meeting regarding the appointment of a member of the Committee of Convocation to the Faculty of the Victorian College of the Arts Board. Statute 5.1 states that “on the recommendation of the committee of convocation, the Council may appoint to a faculty, other than the faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, for one year a member of the committee who is a representative of the graduates of the faculty”. Since the VCA is to be made a Faculty of the University this will allow for the appointment of a Committee of Convocation member to the VCA Faculty Board when it is established in 2007.

On the related issue of VCA graduate representation on the Committee for 2007, the Assistant University Secretary reported that in 2004 there were 374 graduates from the VCA out of a University total of 12,587 (2.97 percent) and that in 2003 there were 341 graduates from the VCA out of a University total of 12,340 (2.76 percent). The Chair noted that this means that the number of VCA graduates is insufficient for the new faculty to have a Committee member in its own right and that VCA representation would need to be provided for by the combination of the new Faculty’s graduate numbers with that of another faculty or faculties.

4.2 Convocation Representative on Melbourne Experience Working Group

The Assistant University Secretary reported that the Melbourne Experience Working Group is to become a Planning and Budget Committee, titled the Melbourne Experience Committee. Sub-Committees of the Planning and Budget Committee are essentially management committees and do not under normal circumstances include outside persons such as a representative from the Committee of Convocation.

4.3 Regulation R6.1.R7 Attachment A

At the November meeting an inconsistency was noted between Regulation 6.1.R7 and the Attachment to that regulation which lists the University’s research centres. The Assistant University Secretary reported that the University Solicitor has given approval for the editorial removal of the paragraph directly above Section B (Joint Centres Formed in Association with other Institutions) in the Attachment and this deletion rectifies the inconsistency.

5. Report 9/05 – 16 November 2005 submitted to December Council

The Committee received the report for information.

6. Legislation, Regulations and Standing Resolutions

The University Secretary noted that the fourth recommendation of the Legislation and Trusts Committee Report to Council as shown in the report circulated to members has been revised to refer to Regulation 6.1.R7 rather than to Regulation 8.1.R3.

Mr Hardcastle sought and received clarification on details of the amendment to Regulation 3.60 to the effect that Doctor of Philosophy candidates must give an oral presentation summarising the results of their research to their home department.

7. Report of Council Meeting 10/05 (14/11/05 )

7.1 Vice-Chancellor's Report

The Committee received the report for information.

The President noted that the report contains important recommendations from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) regarding the University’s involvement with higher education in the Goulburn Valley and the future of the Dookie campus.

Dr Lowe questioned the financial position of MU Publishing in response to Item 24 of the report recommending that the University provide the company with a $3 million capital injection. The Assistant University Secretary noted that MU Publishing is not regarded by the University as a profit making venture and has always been subsidised. It is nonetheless anticipated that MU Publishing will break even within two years and that additional funding will be partly used to develop new marketing opportunities.

7.2 Oral report on October Council Meeting

The President reported on Council discussions regarding the Vice-Chancellor’s Growing Esteem paper, the passage of Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) through the Federal Parliament, the University Budget and U21 Global.

7.2.1 Growing Esteem

The President reported on Council’s endorsement of the Vice-Chancellor’s Growing Esteem document. It was noted that given the general level of support for the document, the University executive must now investigate implementation and budgetary issues. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) will lead a University Commission into the University’s curriculum and research activities. The Council retreat in February will offer another opportunity for discussion of the ramifications of adopting the Bologna model.

The President reminded members of Dr Lowe’s motion "on the table" from the November meeting that the Committee offer an expression of support for the strategic direction outlined in Growing Esteem and also indicate its willingness to contribute to further debate. Following Committee discussion, Dr Lowe proposed that the motion be amended to reflect concerns among some committee members that the Bologna model may impede access and equity to the University. A revised motion to the effect that “the Committee offers an expression of support for the strategic direction outlined in Growing Esteem and is willing to contribute to further discussion but would like to receive assurances that the new direction will not have a detrimental impact upon access and equity to the University” was carried by the Committee.

7.2.2Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU)

The President reported on Council’s expression of disappointment following the passage of VSU legislation through the Federal Parliament. Due to the timing of the legislation, VSU will have limited impact upon student services in 2006 but by 2007 it is envisaged that the loss of funding for essential services will diminish ‘the Melbourne Experience’. Council has requested a report on the financial implications of VSU to be considered at Planning and Budget Committee. It was noted that the University has also made some enquiries regarding the possibility of securing transitional funding from the Federal Government for sports facilities.

7.2.3 Budget

The President noted Council’s approval of the 2006 University Budget.

7.2.4 U21 Global

The President reported that U21 Global has authorised the Vice-Chancellor to commit the University to further contributions to the fund, if required. This may not be necessary insofar as the University of Nottingham is set to make a $13 million contribution to U21 Global’s equity.

8. Reports of Faculty Meetings and Committee Meetings

8.1 Planning and Budget Committee

a) Meeting Meeting 10/2005 (9 November 2005)

The Committee received the report for information.

8.2 Finance Committee

a) Meeting 9/2005 (23 November 2005)

The Committee received the report for information.

8.3 Theatre Board

a) Meeting 9/05 (18 November 2005)

The Committee received the report for information.

8.4 Student Support Committee (SSC)

a) Meeting 7/05 ( 15 September 2005)

The Committee received the report for information. In reference to Item 2.1 of the SSC Minutes, concern was raised that the Quality of Administrative and Support Services for Students survey does not include specific questions for disabled and indigenous students. The University Secretary reported that the indigenous community has committee representation within the University and can raise any specific concerns regarding administrative and support services through the relevant committees.

8.5 Faculty of Arts Report to Convocation and Operational Plan 2006

a) 8.5(a) Report to Committee of Convocation 9 November 2005

b) 8.5(b) Operational Plan 2006

The Committee received the report and operational plan for information.

8.6 Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

a) Report made on 24 November 2005

The Committee received the report for information.

8.7 Faculty of Music Report

a) Report made on 10 December 2005

The Committee received the report for information.

8.8 School of Dental Science Advisory Committee

a) Report made on 14 November 2005

The Committee received the report for information. Dr Rodan drew the Committee’s attention to the fact that the School of Dental Science budget projections include a deficit of two to three million dollars, including a one million dollar debt that must be repaid in 2006. It was noted that the only viable option at this stage to balance the budget is for the School to attract more full-fee paying overseas students. Committee members expressed concern at this state-of-affairs and it was resolved that the Committee should request an oral or written report from the Head of the School of Dental Science regarding the funding issue early in 2006. It was also agreed that Central Secretariat staff should make appropriate enquiries regarding the possibility of members receiving a tour of the new Dental Science facilities at the Royal Melbourne Dental Hospital.

8.9 Landscape Advisory Group

a) Report made on 1 December 2005

The Committee received the report for information.

8.10 Building and Estates Committee Meeting

a) Report made on 5 December 2005

The Committee received the report for information. Mr McGauran, the Committee’s representative on the Building and Estates Committee, addressed the Committee on various issues outlined in the report including the resignation of Dr Doug Daines and the appointment of Mr Russell Elliott as the Vice-Principal (Property and Buildings), the development plans for the Melbourne University Rowing Club and the Master Plan.

9. Guest Speakers

Professor Barry Sheehan, Chair of the “New Music Conservatorium Steering Group”, gave an oral report on ‘The Proposed New Music Conservatorium at Southbank’.

The proposed conservatorium is to be Australia’s premier music and music performance training institution and centre of scholarship, incorporating the Music Faculty of the University, the Music School of the VCA, the Australian National Academy of Music and a new School of Operatic Performance. The Victorian Government and the University have put $50,000 towards a feasibility study for the new conservatorium.

The proposal has arisen in part out of concern that the University does not possess adequate performance facilities. It is anticipated that the proposed conservatorium would include state-of-the-art facilities for instrumental and operatic performance. The primary objective of the proposed new conservatorium is to strengthen the quality of music education at the University.

At the November meeting Ms Elton-Brown noted that a re-location of the Faculty of Music and the subsequent loss of a music presence from the main campus of the University would be detrimental to ‘The Melbourne Experience’. It may also inconvenience students taking combined courses, including music.

In response to some questions by members voicing similar concerns, Professor Sheehan emphasised that the proposed conservatorium is only at discussion stage and that there will be plenty of opportunity for members of the University community to offer input and constructive criticism. The effect of the introduction of the Bologna model upon music degrees is one issue that will need to be examined in further discussions.

10. Alumni Relations Report

None.

11. President’s Report

The President noted that it was his final meeting in that role and expressed his gratitude to members of the Committee and the staff of the University Secretary’s Department. Mr Lees put forward a motion of appreciation for the President on behalf of the Committee and congratulated him for doing an outstanding job and on the success of the Committee during the period of his presidency. A motion of appreciation was also put forward for Mr RTA Hardcastle and Mr JC Jones for their many years of service on the Committee. The motions were passed with acclamation.

12. Any Other Business

12.1 Australian Financial Review Article: ‘ Melbourne Uni looks for new sources of income’ ( 26/11/2005)

The Committee received the article for information. The article notes the need for Australian tertiary institutions to increase the amount of funding they receive from corporate and philanthropic sources.

13. Receipt of Unstarred Items

The unstarred items were received.

The meeting closed at 7.50pm.