|
A Meeting of the Committee of Convocation was held in the Council Chambers, Old Quadrangle, University of Melbourne, on Wednesday 17 November 2004 at 5.45pm.
PRESENT
Dr RJ Condron in the Chair,
Mr AW Abbott, Ms AM Ada, Mr MJ Anderson, Ms LJ Boston, Dr C Close, Ms HM Cohn, Ms JM Crowe, Mr BFB Dance, Mr DM Dodd, Mr AT Douglas, Ms JH Elton Brown, Ms HM Fitzpatrick, Mr AG Handberg, Dr JK Harcourt, Mr RTA Hardcastle, Mr PR Hirst, Mr J Humphrey, Mr GLE Israel, Mr JC Jones, Mr FAM Lees, Dr PA Lowe, Dr DA McCann, Dr L McKenzie, Dr JR Nelson, Mr JF Nicholas, Dr DG Parbery, Ms E Parker, Dr NMcH Ramsey, Dr B-A Rodan, Miss AS Rusden, Dr L Simpson, Dr J Stillman and Mr GH Thomas.
Dr Doug Daines, Vice-Principal (Property and Buildings), Ms Fiona de Preu, General Manager, Planning and Infrastructure, Mr LN Currie, University Secretary, Mr JM Green, Assistant University Secretary and Miss HA Davies, Minute Secretary, were in attendance.
BUSINESS
0. Preliminary Matters
0.0 Welcome to Dr Doug Daines and Ms Fiona de Preu
The President welcomed to the meeting Dr Doug Daines, Vice-Principal (Property and Buildings), and Ms Fiona de Preu, General Manager, Planning and Infrastructure, who were attending the meeting to speak on the University of Melbourne Land Use Policy Framework 2005 (Master Plan).
1. Apologies and Leave of Absence
Apologies had been received from Mr G Bartle, Mr MW Gorton, Mr R McGauran, Ms AM Neal-Adam, Dr S Sahhar and Ms M Weston.
Leave of Absence previously had been granted to Mr J Meehan for this meeting and to Mr R McGauran and Dr P Lowe for the December meeting. Leave of Absence was granted to Ms E Parker for the December meeting.
2. Starring of Additional Items
Item 8.1 was starred to receive a tabled document and for discussion.
3. Minutes of Meeting 8/04 (20.10.2004)
Following the correction of a typographical error in the second paragraph of Item 4.8 on page two where Council is shown with two ‘l’s, the Minutes were adopted as a true and accurate record of the meeting.
4. Matters Arising
4.0 University of Melbourne Land Use Policy Framework 2005 (Master Plan)
The President invited Dr Daines and Ms Fiona de Prue to give their respective presentations on the University of Melbourne Land Use Policy Framekwork 2005 (the Master Plan). Dr Daines spoke of the matters considered in formulating the Land Use Policy Framework 2005, which was the first revision of the Carlton/Parkville Campus Master Plan since 1970. Dr Daines advised there would be some initial concepts available in February/March next year which would be circulated. It would be considered for six months, and in September it would be submitted to Buildings and Estates Committee, then lay on the table for another three months and then considered by Council.
Members raised with Dr Daines the question of whether other options for the Information Resource Centre had been considered by the Buildings and Estates Committee. Dr Daines advised that there had been an agreed University policy to remove vehicles from the Parkville Campus and that the conversion of the underground carpark to an Information Resource Centre had been agreed in principle by both the Buildings and Estates Committee and Council. However, before the matter was progressed the Vice-Principal (Property and Buildings) would await the views of the Vice-Chancellor designate when Professor Davis takes up his position in 2005.
With regard to the Committee of Convocation’s proposal for an expert panel in the design and planning areas to be formed, Dr Daines advised that he opposed this suggestion. However, Dr Daines would take a report from this meeting to the next meeting of the Buildings and Estates Committee.
Following discussion of other options for the Information Resource Centre, the Committee resolved to record its concern at Dr Daines’ advice that Council had given approval in principle for the conversion of the underground carpark to an Information Resource Centre, and the Committee agreed to discuss the matter further at a subsequent meeting.
4.1 Urban Design Framework (Minute 4.8)
The University Secretary reminded members that a member of the Committee had queried whether the University’s policy was intended as a formal urban design framework under the Melbourne Planning Scheme and reported that the answer, that it was not, had been passed on to both Mr McGauran and the President as agreed.
4.2 The Eleanor Edna Norris Bequest Fund (Minute 6.2)
Mr Hirst reported he had written to the Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning and had spoken to University Legal Services about the process for obtaining approval by or on behalf of Faculty of the amendments made in the regulation. He intended to raise the matter at the next Faculty Board scheduled for December.
4.3 The Acronym ‘VFMC”(Item 6.2)
The University Secretary reported that ‘VFMC’ is an acronym for ‘Victorian Funds Management Corporation’.
4.4 Board of the Institute of Land and Food Resources (Item 7.2)
The University Secretary reported that membership details of the Board of the Institute of Land and Food Resources had been tabled for information.
5. Report 8/04 to November 2004 Council
The report was received for information.
6. Legislation and Standing Resolutions
6.1 Statutes made and amended by Council at its November meeting
The Committee noted that Council made the following Statute as detailed in the report:
| (1) |
Amendment of Statute 11.2 recommended by the University Secretary |
To clarify any inconsistency in numbering as a result of the new Student Discipline Statute (88/04) |
| (2) |
Enactment of Statute recommended by the Vice-Chancellor |
To affiliate and recognise The Australia and New Zealand School of Government Limited (39/04) |
6.2 Regulations made and amended by Council at its November meeting
The Committee noted Council made the following Regulations as detailed in the report:
|
(1)
|
Amendment of Regulation R6.5 recommended by the University Secretary |
To amend the subject of three of the Dwight Prizes (99/04) |
|
(2)
|
Amendment of Regulation R6.72 – Commemorative Scholarships and Awards |
To govern The Caluna Prize (94/04) |
(3) |
Amendment of Regulation R6.72 – Commemorative Scholarships and Awards |
To update The Alice Brokenshire Taylor Scholarship (95/04) |
|
(4)
|
Amendment of Regulation R6.72 – Commemorative Scholarships and Awards |
To update the Ian Charles Taylor Scholarship (96/04) |
(5) |
Amendment of Regulation R6.72 – Commemorative Scholarships and Awards |
To update The Charles Anthony Taylor Scholarship (97/04) |
(6) |
Making of a Regulation R6.72 recommended by the University Secretary |
To govern the Peter Hone Scholarships Fund (98/04) |
(7) |
Amendment of Regulation R6.72 recommended by the University Secretary |
To govern the Katharine Woodruff Memorial Prize in Palliative Medicine (100/04) |
(8) |
Amendment to Regulation R7.128 recommended by the University Secretary |
To update the terms of The Melbourne University Engineering School Foundation (91/04) |
(9) |
Amendment of Regulation 12.1.R1 recommended by the University Secretary |
To update the delegation of appointment of examiner in relation to PhDs (85/04) |
6.3 Standing Resolutions amended by Council
a) Induction of Council Members
b) Council Self-Assessment
The University Secretary referred members to amendments to two Standing Resolutions which had been circulated.
6.4 Statutes proposed for consideration by Council at its December meeting
None.
6.5 Regulations proposed for consideration by Council at its December meeting
The Committee noted the following Regulations which would be considered by Council at its December meeting:
(1) |
Amendment of Regulation 7.1.R2 recommended by Council and the University Secretary on the advice of the Faculty. |
To add a Chair to Schedule B of the regulation governing academic and general staff ranks and titles (101/04) |
(2) |
Amendment of Regulation 7.1.R2 recommended by Council and the University Secretary on the advice of the Faculty. |
To add a Chair to Schedule B of the regulation governing academic and general staff ranks and titles (102/04) |
(3) |
Amendment of Regulation 7.1.R2 recommended by Council and the University Secretary on the advice of the Faculty. |
To add a Chair to Schedule B of the regulation governing academic and general staff ranks and titles (103/04) |
(4) |
Amendment of Regulation 7.1.R2 recommended by Council and the University Secretary on the advice of the Faculty. |
To change the name of the Chair in Environmental Hydrology listed in Schedule A of the regulation governing academic and general staff ranks and titles (104/04) |
(5) |
Amendment of Regulation R7.98 recommended by the University Secretary on the advice of the Trusts Manager. |
To update the terms of The Macgeorge Bequest (105/04) |
(6) |
Amendment of Regulation R6.72 recommended by the University Secretary |
To govern the Sidney Myer Geoffrey Cohen Fund (106/04) |
(7) |
Revocation and making of Regulation 8.1.R7 and revocation of Regulation 8.1.R8 recommended by Administration Committee |
To replace existing regulations containing the Computing and Network Facilities Rules and Security of Local Area Networks (‘LANS’) (68/04) |
7. Report of Council Meeting 10/04 (8/11/04)
7.1 Vice-Chancellor's Report
7.2 Oral report on Council Meeting
The President gave an oral report of the November Council meeting, and reported the following draft minutes of Council regarding Committee of Convocation recommendations:
“Institute of Land and Food Resources
Council resolved to receive and note the recommendation from the Committee of Convocation “that the consultation with graduates, industry and government, to determine the options for the future directions of LFR courses, be broadened to include a review of the LFR course offerings, course content and marketing strategies, in order to better understand and to improve the limited demand for the LFR course offered at regional campuses, described by Professor Richardson.”
“Council agreed –
- to acknowledge the concerns reflected in the Committee’s motion,
- to minute Council’s view that the revised course of action now adopted by
Council constitutes a significant step towards addressing community concerns, and
- to note that the Vice-Chancellor had undertaken to further outline the revised proposals adopted by Council in his address to a Committee of Convocation dinner following its November meeting.”
Dr Condron advised the revised proposals adopted by Council had been tabled at the Committee’s meeting as background information for the Vice-Chancellor’s address at dinner.
Following discussion, the Committee resolved to record its view that the decision made was a positive outcome and that it looked forward to progress reports in due course.
“Design and Planning Advisory Panel
Council received a recommendation that it consider the establishment of an appropriately flexible and expert group of urban design, landscape, architecture, community consultation, social planning, heritage, planning, transport and movement, services and engineering experts (possibly drawn from Alumni), to provide timely independent review of University processes and proposals and adjacent development that might impact on the University.
“It was agreed that this matter should be dealt with in the course of the Property and Buildings presentation to the Committee of Convocation at its next meeting.”
The President reported that Mr Ian Renard had been elected Chancellor of the University from 2005, and the Committee resolved to congratulate Mr Renard on his appointment.
8. Reports of Faculty Meetings and Committee Meetings
8.1 Planning and Budget Committee 9/2004
The Committee received the tabled document setting out additional information regarding the Draft 2005 Operational Plan.
A member queried whether there had been a drop of 9 in HECS Dental Science places, and if the figures on page 177 were correct. The University Secretary agreed to obtain information and report back to the Committee.
With regard to Joint Awards for Research Projects on pages 43 and 44 of the PBC Report and the funded amount of $50,000 referred to on page 41, a member queried whether the total annual allocation had been fully expended or half expended. The University Secretary agreed to report back to the Committee after he had received additional information.
8.2 Finance Committee 8/2004
The Committee received the report for information.
8.3 Theatre Board 9/04
The Committee received the Report for information.
8.4 Building and Estates Committee
The Committee received the Report for information.
8.5 Student Support Committee 8/04
The Committee received the report for information.
8.6 Faculty of Music
The Committee received the report for information.
8.7 School of Dental Science Advisory Committee
The Committee received the report for information.
9. Guest Speaker
9.1 Guest Speakers at the Meeting
The President invited the Vice-Principal (Property and Buildings) Dr Doug Daines and the General Manager, Planning and Infrastructure, Ms Fiona de Preu, who were attending the meeting to present the University of Melbourne Land Use Policy Framework 2005 (Master Plan), to explain it in detail to the members of the Committee of Convocation (see minute 4 above).
9.2 Guest Speaker at the Dinner
The President advised that the guest speaker at dinner was the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Kwong Lee Dow who would speak on the University’s position on the future of the rural campuses of the Institute of Land and Food Resources.
10. President's Report
10.1 Annual Dinner – 19 November, 2004
The President reminded members that this year’s Annual Dinner being held at the Lyceum Club on Friday, 19 November 2004 would commence with pre-dinner drinks at 7pm prior to members and their guests being seated at 7.30pm.
10.2 MTC Theatre Night – 2 December, 2004
Members were reminded by the President that the date to RSVP for the MTC Theatre Night was next Wednesday, 24 November and that tickets were still available.
11. Any Other Business
11.1 Call for Nominations for 2005 of Representatives to Memberships
Of Faculties and Appointments to Central University Committees
The University Secretary advised that the Minutes should have made clear that in view of Mr Gary Israel’s interest in serving on the Faculty of Arts, Ms Fitzpatrick had decided not to be a candidate for the vacancy. He pointed out that there were no further meetings of the Faculty of Arts scheduled for the remainder of the year.
With regard to the call for nominations for 2005, members who are interested should submit nomination forms to the University Secretary, preferably before Monday, 6 December.
11.2 Newspaper Article Student heads accused on contracts
The Australian Newspaper article dated Friday 29 October 2004 was received for information.
11.3 Journal Article What’s wrong with unfunded bonded medical places
The Committee received the article printed in the Journal of the Australian Medical Association of Victoria, October 2004, for information. A member believed that such unfunded bonded medical places should be opposed wherever possible. After discussion, it was agreed that the Committee should take the advice of the Dean of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences on what action he might consider helpful.
11.4 2004 Graduation Ceremony Information
The Committee received the revised Graduation Ceremony schedule for information.
11.5 List of Email Addresses
The revised list of email addresses for Committee of Convocation members which was tabled was received for information.
12. Receipt of Unstarred Items
The unstarred items were received.
|
