A meeting of the Committee of Convocation was
held in the Council Chamber, Old Law Quadrangle, University of Melbourne,
on Wednesday 16 October 2002 at 5.45pm.
Present
Dr RJ Condron in the Chair,
Mr MJ Anderson, Ms LJ Boston, Dr D Brownbill, Dr C Close, Ms CF Connan,
Ms JM Crowe, Mr BFB Dance, Mr GF Dawson, 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, Dr AA Jones, Mr JC Jones, Dr PA Lowe, Mr
JG Meehan, Mrs AM Neal-Adam, Mr JF Nicholas, Ms E Parker, Mr J Puls,
Dr NMcH Ramsey, Dr JT Robinson, Mrs MC Robinson, Dr B-A Rodan, Ms AS
Rusden, Dr S Sahhar, Dr J Stillman, Mr GH Thomas, Ms MA Weston and Ms
C Willis.
Mr David Percival, Vice-Principal and Chief Financial
Officer, Mr LN Currie, University Secretary, and Ms H Davies, Minute
Secretary, were in attendance.
BUSINESS
0. Preliminary Matters
0.0 Welcome to Mr David Percival, Vice-Principal
and Chief Financial Officer
The President welcomed to the meeting Mr David
Percival, Vice-Principal and Chief Financial Officer, who was attending
the meeting to report on the 2003 Budget.
0.1 Welcome to Dr Andrew Kenyon
The President welcomed to the meeting Mr Andrew
Kenyon, Lecturer in the School of Law, who was attending the meeting
prior to the dinner at which he was to be guest speaker.
0.2 Minute's Silence
A minute's silence was observed by members to
reflect on the horrific bomb attack in Bali which would touch students,
staff and associated University community.
1. Apologies and Leave of Absence
Apologies had been received from Mr G Bartle, Ms
HM Cohn, Mr FAM Lees, Dr L McKenzie and Dr IR Price.
Leave of Absence previously had been granted to
Mr D Dodd for this meeting, and Miss A Rusden for the November meeting.
Requests for Leave of Absence were received from
Dr D Brownbill for the November meeting.
2 Starring of Additional Items
No items were starred.
3. Minutes of Meeting 6/02 (18.9.2002)
The minutes of meeting 6/02 held on 18 September
2002 were approved, subject to the following amendments. Item 12.5,
2003 Budget, incorrectly recorded Mr Hirst's concerns relating to budget
increases as being in relation to the Administration Budget. The first
two sentences of the second paragraph should have read: 'Mr Hirst pointed
out that the Administration Budget had increased and drew particular
attention to the figures for the Office of the Vice-Chancellor. He and
queried why this was so, when it appeared allocations to aspects of
library service had decreased.' In Item 4.1, Standing Orders of Convocation,
Mr Humphrey's query should have been taken up with the University Secretary,
and not with Mr Nicholas as stated in the second line.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 2003 Budget (Minute 12.5)
Mr David Percival, the Vice-Principal
and Chief Financial Officer, had been invited to attend the meeting
to more fully brief members on the 2003 Budget and the background behind
some forecasts raised at the September meeting of the Committee.
4.2 Intellectual Property (Minute 6.1 - meeting
4/02)
The President advised that Mr Michael Dean, Director
of Legal Services and the University's Intellectual Property Officer,
who was speak to this item was unable to attend the meeting due to
an unexpected and urgent matter which has arisen, but he will attend
the November meeting to speak on the statute and answer any questions
members may have.
4.3 Standing Orders of Convocation (Minute 4.1)
Mr John Nicholas, opened discussion on this item
by outlining the significant changes in the proposed amendments. He
moved that a motion should be put to the next meeting of Convocation
to replace the current Standing Orders of Convocation by those in
the circulated document, with the deletion of the headings "Draft
Standing Orders of Convocation page x". those parts headed "Relationship
of This Division to Present Standing Orders", and the final page
headed "Correlation between existing orders and these proposals."
During discussion, one additional amendment to the Standing Orders
was proposed - that the Deputy President be appointed for a two-year
term of office, with the timing of elections for the President and
Deputy President being set to occur in alternative years in order
to ensure continuity of the Senior Office Bearers of Convocation.
A further correction was mooted that in Clause C11 the Latin expression
ipso facto be removed in line with current practice.
The motion was put that changes to the Standing
Orders of Convocation be presented to the next meeting of Convocation,
with a recommendation for adoption.
A Minute of Appreciation was voted to Mr Nicholas
for his commendable efforts in this matter.
4.4 Committee of Convocation Mission Statement
(Minute 10.5)
The President invited discussion on the Mission
Statement and Objectives of the Committee of Convocation which had
been circulated at the September meeting. The revisiting of this matter
stimulated many observations and suggestions by members.
After discussion, the President invited Mr Humphrey
to prepare a paper for consideration by the Committee.
4.5 Sale of Eastern Precinct to Becton Industries
(Minute 12.3)
In response to a member's query at the September
meeting, the University Secretary reported that it would probably
be more acceptable to the Carlton traders and residents if the land
above the Eastern Precinct be developed for residential purposes.
It was considered appropriate that the University's land be sold to
a property developer for this purpose.
5. Report of Meeting 6/02 to Council
The Committee received the report of meeting 6/02
held on 18 September 2002 that was presented to October Council.
6. Legislation and Standing Resolutions of Council
6.1 Legislation Committee - Report to Council
The Committee received the Report.
6.2 Proposed amendments to Melbourne University
Act
Dr Condron reported that two submissions by the
Committee were put to Council to consider along with other proposed
amendments to the Melbourne University Act. One of these was successful:
that the "pursuit of scholarship" be included as one of
the Objects of the University defined in the Act. The University Secretary
advised that the proposed revisions now await drafting by Parliamentary
Counsel and would be circulated when further details are to hand.
In the meantime, he would encourage the Ministry to address an error
in the Act concerning the election of casual vacancies to the Committee
of Convocation.
6.3 Statutes amended by Council at its October
meeting
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(1)
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Amendment of statute 12.5 recommended by the
Academic Board
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To amend the Statute governing the examination
of theses for higher degrees (99/02)
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(2)
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Amendment
of statute 13.1 recommended by the Academic Board |
To
amend the reference to the Warden of the School of Graduate Studies
in the Student Discipline Statute (100/02) |
6.4 Regulations amended by Council at its October
meeting
It was noted that council made one Regulation and
amended others, as detailed in the report, as follows:
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(1)
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Making of regulation
R7.XXX recommended by the University Secretary |
To govern the Alexander
Norman Henderson Bequest (88/02) |
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(2)
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Amendment of regulation
R6.5 recommended by the University Secretary |
To update Regulation R6.5 governing Dwight's
Prizes (89/02)
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(3)
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Revocation of regulation R6.87 recommended
by the University Secretary
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To revoke the regulation governing the
Robert Craig Exhibitions (90/02)
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(4)
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Amendment of regulation R6.72 recommended
by the University Secretary
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To govern the Robert Craig Exhibitions
(91/02).
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(5)
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Amendment of regulation
R6.110 recommended by the University Secretary |
To amend the regulation governing the Loxton
Bequest. (94/02)
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(6)
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Amendment of regulation
17.1.R6 recommended by Council |
To amend the provisions
of the Purchasing Procedures and Delegations Regulation dealing
with Building Works and Tender Board (97/02). |
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(7)
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Amendment of regulation
R3.60 recommended by the Academic Board |
To amend the regulation governing the degree
of Doctor of Philosophy (98/02)
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(8)
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Amendment of regulation
8.1.R9 recommended by the Administrative Committee |
To amend the schedule of fees in the parking
& traffic rules regulation (101/02)
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6.5 Standing Resolution
The Terms of Reference of the General University
Costs Management Group, which is a group reporting to the Planning
and Budgets Committee, was drawn to the attention of the members.
6.6 Statutes proposed for consideration by Council
at its next meeting
None.
6.7 Regulations proposed for consideration by
Council at its next meeting
None.
7. Report of Council Meeting 6/02 (7/10/02)
7.1 Acting Vice-Chancellor's Report
7.2 Oral report on October Council Meeting
The President presented an oral report of the
October Council Meeting. He spoke of some outcomes of the recent Governance
Review, and that the University's Council members declined salary
payment but agreed that there should be proper recompense for expenses
associated with being on Council.
The Deputy Chancellor, Mr Ian Renard, congratulated
the Committee of Convocation on its Distinguished Portraits Project,
itemised in its Report to October Council, as a useful project. It
was suggested that portraits of other distinguished Office Bearers,
in particular Chancellors, not included in the Council Chamber and
Conference Centre, should be located and included in the project.
The University Secretary agreed to have the missing Chancellors' portraits
investigated and reported at the next meeting.
8. Reports of Faculty Meetings and Committee Meetings
8.1 Planning and Budget Committee
- Meeting 7/02 (14/8/02) Supplementary Report
- Meeting 8/02 (11/09/02)
The Committee received the reports for information.
8.2 Finance Committee
- Meeting 8/02 (27/9/02)
- Meeting 8/02 (27/9/02) Supplementary Report
The Committee received the report for information.
8.3 Libraries Committee
The Committee received the report for information.
8.4 Community and Cultural Relations Committee
- Goals and Strategies
The Committee received the tabled schedule of
the Goals and Strategies of the Community and Cultural Relations Committee
for information.
9. Guest Speakers
The guest speaker at dinner was Mr Andrew Kenyon,
a Lecturer in the School of Law. Mr Kenyon spoke on the Australian and
American laws for defamation.
10. President's Report
10.1 Distinguished Portraits Project
Dr Condron referred to the tabled Report from
the 150th Anniversary Working Group on Distinguished Portraits Project,
which advised that plaques rather than booklets would be the medium
for containing information on the Distinguished Portraits. The Report
also set the parameters for the exercise. It was agreed to include
the portrait of the current Chancellor with the others listed.
The President invited volunteers to draft articles
for 'unclaimed' subjects, and it was agreed that an updated schedule
be circulated, particularly for the information of absent members,
with the aim of attracting additional authors.
10.2 Annual Ordinary Meeting of Convocation
The President announced that at the next year's
Annual Ordinary Meeting of Convocation to be held on Wednesday, 30
April there were to be two guest speakers. For the early history of
the architecture at the University of Melbourne, Mr George Tibbits,
a Senior Fellow in the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning
would speak on the early developments from 1853 up to the Second World
War. Professor Philip Goad, also in the Faculty, who had been writing
an architectural history of the University of Melbourne to co-incide
with the 150th Anniversary Celebrations, would speak on more recent
building works.
11. Any Other Business
11.1 Proposal for a "Travelling Mace"
The President referred to the Chancellor's paper
proposing a "Travelling Mace" to be used at official extramural
ceremonies, such as at an overseas Conferring of Degrees ceremony.
He invited interested members to inspect a full-scale drawing which
was available at the meeting for perusal.
11.2 2003 Meeting Dates
The Committee received the proposed meeting dates
for 2003. The President noted the date of the Annual Ordinary Meeting,
which is scheduled to be held on Wednesday, 30 April, 2003.
11.3 Conferring Reports 13/02 - 18/02
The Committee received the Conferring Reports
for information.
11.4 Newspaper Article by Clive Hamilton: Learning,
Not Commerce
The President referred to the newspaper article
by Clive Hamilton Learning, Not Commerce, that had been circulated.
11.5 Attendance by Vice-Chancellor at a Committee
of Convocation Meeting
The University Secretary reported that the Vice-Chancellor
had had to cancel his attendance at the November meeting of the Committee;
however, it is expected that Professor Gilbert will be able to attend
the March meeting in the New Year.
11.6 Acting Vice-Chancellor's Report, Appendix
G, Survey of Students
A member questioned the University's interpretation
of the results contained in Table 2, Question 4 addressing feedback
for students contained in the above Survey as being over-optimistic.
The University Secretary explained that the material was given as
a comment as to why students did not respond to the Survey question.
The President added that the Survey results are taken seriously in
the Review process of Faculties and have been examined at the last
three Council Planning Conferences.
11.7 Acting Vice-Chancellor's Report, Teaching
and Learning Management Plan
A member commended the Teaching and Learning
Management Plan as being long overdue and a favourable first step
in addressing a long-standing problem.
13. Receipt of Unstarred Items
The Committee received all unstarred items.
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