A special meeting of the Committee of Convocation
was held in the Council Chambers, Old Quadrangle, University of Melbourne,
on Wednesday 21 May 2003 at 5.45pm.
PRESENT
Dr RJ Condron in the Chair,
Mr MJ Anderson, Mr G Bartle, Ms LJ Boston, Dr C Close, Ms JM Crowe,
Mr BFB Dance, Mr GF Dawson, Mr DM Dodd, Mr AT Douglas, Dr SC Ducker,
Ms JH Elton Brown, Mr AG Handberg, Dr JK Harcourt, Mr RTA Hardcastle,
Mr PR Hirst, Mr J Humphrey, Mr JC Jones, Mr FAM Lees, Dr L McKenzie,
Mr JG Meehan, Mrs AM Neal-Adam, Mr JF Nicholas, Dr IR Price, Dr NMcH
Ramsey, Dr JT Robinson, Mrs MC Robinson, Dr B-A Rodan, Miss AS Rusden,
Dr J Stillman, Mr GH Thomas, Ms MA Weston.
Mr S Crawford, President of Melbourne University
Student Union Inc, Mr LN Currie, University Secretary, Ms S Walls, Alumni
Relations Manager and Ms HA Davies, Minute Secretary, were in attendance.
BUSINESS
0. Preliminary Matters
0.1 Report by Returning Officer
The Returning Officer, Mr Len Currie, declared
Mr Robert McGauran elected to represent the graduates in Architecture,
Building and Planning for a term expiring in 2003; Mr Alan Abbott
elected to represent the graduates in Engineering for a term expiring
in 2003; and Ms Helen Fitzpatrick elected to represent the graduates
in Education and Music for a term expiring in 2005. He advised these
new members will be introduced at the next meeting.
1. Apologies and Leave of Absence
Apologies had been received from Mr Richard Cook,
Dr Angela Jones and Ms Eileen Parker. There were no further apologies.
Leave of Absence previously had been granted to
Ms Helen Cohn, Dr Peter Lowe and Dr Stan Sahhar for this meeting, to
Mr David Brownbill for this meeting through to August, and to Ms Lesley
Boston for the July meeting.
Leave of absence was granted to Mr Alan Douglas,
Ms Jane Elton Brown and Mr John Jones for the June meeting, Dr Robin
Condron, Dr Noel Ramsey, Miss Ann Rusden and Ms Malory Weston for the
July meeting and Dr John Harcourt for the August meeting.
2 Starring of Additional Items
Item 8.5 was starred for discussion.
3. Minutes of Meeting 2/03 (16.04.2003)
The minutes of meeting 2/03 held on 16 April 2003
were approved.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 Distinguished Portraits Project (Minute 4.1)
Dr Condron reported that arrangements would be
made for a launch of the distinguished portraits project at a future
meeting. Invitations could be extended to an artist and either a subject(s)
of a painting(s) or relatives of a subject(s). There had been a delay
in production of the plaques, but hopefully will be available in time
for the launch. The plaques would be of a standard recommended by
The Ian Potter Museum of Art..
4.2 Melbourne Gazette Collection in the University
Library (Minute 4.2)
The University Secretary reported that he had
received advice from the Baillieu Library that there are two collections
for the Melbourne Gazette held in the University library - one in
the Serials Collection and the other in Special Collection. With regard
to the latter Collection, a full set is available. The problem with
the Serials Collection had arisen because there are issues missing
from some sets and volumes are only bound when sets are complete,
some incomplete volumes are not bound. There had also been difficulties
in housing sets together as the publication had gone through several
name changes
4.3 Union Theatre (Minute 7.2)
The President of the Student Union, Mr Scott Crawford,
spoke on the history of the Student Union, as well as of the Union
Theatre, and the broad range of services MUSUI offered funded by its
annual budget of $9.2M. It was not the intention of the Student Union
to abolish the Union Theatre as had been widely and erroneously reported,
but he did wish to broaden the base MUSUI offered services to as it
was his goal to offer as many services to reach as many students as
possible. In reality, Mudfest had grown this year and there are to
be a total of 42 shows produced. Staff numbers in the Theatre Department
had not decreased, and procedures were in train to fill the vacancies
that existed. The President commented that currently the Union House
Theatre was the most highly resourced theatre department of a university
in Australia.
4.4 Melbourne University Private Limited (Minute
8.2(b))
The University Secretary advised that the Senior
Vice-Principal, Mr Ian Marshman, had agreed to address this matter
at the June meeting of the Committee.
4.5 The Ian Potter Museum of Art
It was reported at Council that the Finance Committee
had sought an independent inquiry into the circumstances leading up
to the failure of the air-conditioning system meeting specifications.
This investigation will be independent of both the Property and Buildings
division as well as The Ian Potter Museum of Art.
5. Report of Meeting 2/03 to Council
The Committee received the report of meeting 2/03
held on 16 April 2003 submitted to May Council.
6. Legislation and Standing Resolutions of Council
Mr Len Currie, the University Secretary, advised
that the circulated Legislation Committee's Report to Council had subsequently
been withdrawn from the Council agenda by the Chair of the Committee.
Mr Currie was awaiting further advice from Justice Chernov, the Chair
of Legislation Committee and would report on this at the June meeting
The University Secretary spoke of the Universities
Act (Amendment Act) that had been through both Houses and approved by
the Governor, so the revisions are now in effect. Mr Currie pointed
out that the objects recommended by Council had been included. He advised
he would circulate a copy of the Act .
[Subsequent to the meeting, it was learnt that the revisions to the
Act are to be proclaimed on 1 July 2003 so the amended version will
not be available until after this date.]
7. Report of Council Meeting 3/03 (12/5/03)
7.1 Vice-Chancellor's Report
7.2 Oral report on April Council Meeting
The President gave an oral report on the May Council
meeting. Dr Condron spoke of the recently awarded Federation Medals,
two of which had been awarded to ex-members of the Committee of Convocation:
Dr Ian Mair and Professor Robin Sharwood, who had also been President
of Convocation.
The University Secretary reported that Mrs Susan
Crennan and Dr John Wood had been appointed to Council and that although
Dr Wood is based in Auckland, he expects to attend most meetings of
Council.
Members discussed Appendix D to the Vice-Chancellor's
Report - Report of Findings of The University of Melbourne Consultation
Survey. Of particular interest was the section titled Contributions
to the Community and the chart it contained. This chart indicated
that the University is failing to communicate effectively with the
community, which is critical. The Committee of Convocation noted that
this is a key finding of the Report and resolved that the University
needs to address this issue and take corrective action
8. Reports of Faculty Meetings and Committee Meetings
8.1 Planning and Budget Committee 3/03
The Committee received the report for information.
8.2 Finance Committee 3/03
The Committee received the report for information.
8.3 Building and Estates Matters
(a) Buildings and Estates Matters - supplementary
report
The Committee received the reports, one supplementary
which was tabled, for information.
8.4 Libraries Committee
The Committee received the report for information.
8.5 Student Support Committee 1/03
The Committee received the report of the meeting
held 27 March 2003 for information and noted Item 8.1 that related
to concerns raised by some members of the Committee of Convocation
regarding the proposed Islamic facility.
This matter raised the role of Committee of Convocation
representatives on University committees. It was agreed that representatives
should feel free to express their personal views on committees but
take care to ensure that only statements formally endorsed by the
Committee of Convocation were put forward as the view of the Committee.
8.6 Faculty of Arts
The Committee received the report for information.
8.7 Faculty of Music
Ms Jane Elton Brown spoke briefly to this item.
Of concern to her was the combined effect of the terrorist threat
and the SARS epidemic that may impact greatly on the numbers of overseas
students enrolling at this University.
It was also reported that the Dean's most pressing
concern was the crisis facing the Faculty of Music regarding accommodation.
The present Music Building was intended to service a much smaller
number of students and a comparatively narrow range of teaching requirements
than those in today's student body and course offerings, for which
it is totally inadequate.
The Committee of Convocation resolved to note
these concerns.
8.8 Student Support Committee 2/03
The Committee received the report for information.
8.9(a) Faculty of Economics and Commerce
The Committee received the tabled report for information.
8.9(b) Faculty of Veterinary Science
The Committee received the tabled report for information.
8.10 Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health
Sciences
Dr Noel Ramsey gave an oral report on the recent
Faculty Board meeting. He reported on the recent move of the School
of Dental Science to the new Dental Hospital. In addition Dr Ramsey
announced that the Dean is the Vice-Chancellor-designate of Monash
University. It was resolved that a letter of congratulations be written
to Dr Richard Larkins.
9. Alumni Relations Report
Ms Sarah Wall gave an oral report advising the
Alumni unit was remaining focussed on the forthcoming 150th
Anniversary celebrations. She spoke about events being held in Gippsland,
Mildura and Canberra. The Mildura Branch Reunion was a particular success
with a high level of attendance.
10. Guest Speakers
In this 150th anniversary year for the
Crick and Watson discovery of the double helix, Dr Philip Batterham,
Senior Lecture in the Department of Genetics, was guest speaker at dinner
and spoke of the consequences of the Crick and Watson discovery in the
understanding of DNA. In addition he is Secretary General of the XIX
International Congress of Genetics - Genomes - the Linkage to Life
- to be held in Melbourne in July 2003 so he spoke on the arrangements
for forthcoming International Congress as well.
11. President's Report
11.1 Annual Ordinary Meeting of Convocation and
Informal Dinner, Wednesday 30 April 2003
The President thanked members who attended the
Annual Meeting for their support.
*12. Any Other Business
12.1 Standing Orders of Convocation
Attention was drawn to the circulated Standing
Orders of Convocation, which the President advised had been adopted
at the recent Annual Ordinary Meeting of Convocation.
12.2 Student Ambassador Leadership Program
Dr Condron commended the VITAL program conducted
by members of SALP, and encouraged members of the Committee who had
a need to take advantage of the program.
12.3 Strategic Plan Perspective 2003
The Committee received the Strategic Plan Perspective
2003 for information.
12.4 Newspaper Article by Robert Manne
The Committee received the tabled article for
information.
12.5 Creswick Campus, Institute of Land and Food
Resources
A member commented on the article in an April
edition of Weekly Times which spoke of student concern about the restructuring
of Forest Science. It was resolved that a relevant University officer
and representative of the students be invited to address the Committee
of Convocation on this issue.
12.6 Representing Graduates Effectively
A member queried the status of this exercise and
was informed that work on it is continuing: it will be dealt with
by the President's Advisory Committee at its next meeting. In addition,
the Vice-Chancellor had spoken of this matter and suggested that the
Committee invite Deans to attend monthly meetings to initiate dialogue.
12.7 Committee of Convocation's Page in Graduation
Handbook
The Committee's page in the Graduation Handbook
was raised. It was reported that this matter is to be considered by
the President's Advisory Committee.
12.8 Committee of Convocation's Home Page on
the World Wide Web
Members discussed the Committee's home page on
the World Wide Web and the difficulties experienced in accessing it.
The issue also is to be considered by the President's Advisory Committee.
13. Receipt of Unstarred Items
The Committee received all unstarred items.
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