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A Meeting of the Committee of Convocation was held
in the Veterinary Sciences Library, Veterinary Clinical Centre, 250 Princes
Highway, Werribee, on Wednesday 17 September 2003 at 5pm.
PRESENT
Dr RJ Condron in the Chair,
Mr AW Abbott, Dr C Close, Ms HM Cohn, Mr BFB Dance, Mr GF Dawson, Dr
SC Ducker, Ms JH Elton Brown, Mr AG Handberg, Dr JK Harcourt, Mr RTA
Hardcastle, Mr PR Hirst, Mr J Humphrey, Mr FAM Lees, Dr PA Lowe, Mr
RA McGauran, Mr JG Meehan, Mrs AM Neal-Adam, Mr JF Nicholas, Ms E Parker,
Dr NMcH Ramsey, Miss AS Rusden, Dr S Sahhar, Dr J Stillman, Mr GH Thomas,
Ms MA Weston.
Mr A Down, President of the Veterinary Students
Society of Victoria, , Mr LN Currie, University Secretary, and Ms HA
Davies, Minute Secretary, were in attendance.
BUSINESS
0. Preliminary Matters
0.0 Welcome to Mr Andrew Down, President of
the Veterinary Students Society of Victoria.
Dr Condron welcomed to the meeting the President
of the Veterinary Students Society of Victoria, Mr Andrew Down and
advised that he was attending to speak of his presidency and to give
an overview of a student's experience at the Veterinary Science Centre
at Werribee Campus.
0.1 Resignation of Member
The President announced that Dr Angela Jones is
resigning from the Committee as she is intending to take up residence
in Sydney.
0.2 Report by Returning Officer
The University Secretary declared the October
meeting a special meeting to fill a casual vacancy for a representative
of graduates in Science with a term expiring 31 December 2005.
1. Apologies and Leave of Absence
Apologies have been received from Mr MJ Anderson,
Mr G Bartle, Mr D Brownbill, Mr David Brownbill, Mr Richard Cook, Mr
David Dodd and Mr Alan Douglas.
Leave of Absence has previously been granted to
Ms J Crowe, Ms H Fitzpatrick, Dr AA Jones, Mr J Jones, Dr L McKenzie
and Dr B-A Rodan. Leave of absence was granted to Mr G Bartle, Mr D
Dodd and Miss AS Rusden for October and for Dr RJ Condron for November.
2. Starring of Additional Items
No additional items were starred.
3. Minutes of Meeting 6/03 (20.8.2003)
The minutes of meeting 6/03 held on 20 August 2003
were approved.
4. Matters Arising
4.1 Proposal for Information Resource Centre
(Minute 8.3)
The President invited Mr John Nicholas to speak
to the item. After discussion, it was resolved to recommend to Council
that it note that the Committee of Convocation is concerned at the
proposal to convert the Underground Car Park into an Information Resource
Centre. While the controversial questions of engineering feasibility,
Heritage requirements, finance, etc. are being considered elsewhere,
the Committee would like to concentrate on the critical need to retain
adequate on-campus car parking. Both Master Plan 1970 and Master Plan
2000 point to the desirability of reducing on-campus car parking but
recognise the need for parking in the central area for handicapped
people and for those attending functions, such as graduations, other
ceremonial events, theatre performances, public lectures, meetings,
etc. All of these functions, particularly those that occur at night,
need parking available close to where the function is being held,
parking that is safely accessible, and not accessible only by a long
dark walk. These concerns extend to include those persons who are
more vulnerable through age, sex, etc. remembering that many of these
are giving their time to advance the causes of the University. The
members noted that Master Plan 2000 lists priorities for the elimination
of ground-level parking, much of which has occurred, but specifically
does not include the Underground Car Park for removal.
The Committee therefore asks that any further
consideration of this proposal be deferred until a satisfactory proposal
has been developed for the provision of alternative central parking
spaces.
4.2 School of Dental Science (Minute 8.6)
The University Secretary gave an oral report on
the leasing arrangements for the Dental Hospital. Mr Currie reported
that he had spoken with the Vice-Principal (Property and Buildings)
Dr Daines, who in turn had advised that the Dental Hospital was awaiting
the finalisation of its lease by the Government and, as the University
of Melbourne was a sub-tenant, the formalities would be contained
in a sub-lease. This latter document could only be effected after
the lease proper had been signed and sealed, hence the delay.
4.3 The Ian Potter Museum of Art (Minute 12.5)
The University Secretary advised that as Council
did not meet in September, the report on the air-conditioning of The
Ian Potter Museum of Art considered by Finance Committee at its August
meeting would not be reported to Council until October.
5. Report 6/03 to October 2003 Council
The Committee received the report for information.
6. Legislation and Standing Resolutions
6.1 Statutes proposed for consideration by Council
at its next meeting
6.2 Regulations proposed for consideration by
Council at its next meeting
The University Secretary advised that there had
not been received any amendments to legislation or regulations proposed
for consideration by Council at its next meeting in October. However,
Mr Currie took the opportunity to describe the approval process for
making and amending statutes and he outlined the stages various proposed
amendments had reached in the University's current legislative program
7. Report of Council Briefing (8/9/03)
Dr Robin Condron gave an oral report on the September
Council Briefing at which the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students and Staff)
gave an annual 'Taking Stock' presentation assisted by the Senior Vice-Prinicpal.
In addition, Dr Donald Babcock, Provost of U21 Global, gave a demonstration
of the Learning Management System for the organisation.
The Committee of Convocation resolved to note that
it welcomes such opportunities during which members can meet and network
with Council members and other senior University officers.
8. Reports of Faculty Meetings and Committee Meetings
8.1 Libraries Committee 3/03
The Committee received the report for information.
8.2 Student Support Committee 6/03
The Committee received the report for information.
8.3 Faculty of Veterinary Science
The Committee received the report for information.
9. Alumni Relations Report
There was not an Alumni Relations report.
10. Guest Speaker
10.1 Guest Speaker at Meeting
The President called upon Dr Jenny Stillman to
introduce Mr Andrew Down, the President of the Veterinary Students
Society of Victoria, to the meeting. Mr Down gave a brief overview
of his presidency, as well as his experiences as a student of Veterinary
Science undertaking two years of his course at the Werribee campus.
10.2 Guest Speaker at Dinner
Professor Ron Slocombe, Acting Dean of the Faculty
of Veterinary Sciences, was guest speaker at dinner. He gave a power
point presentation that had an emphasis on the selection processes
in place to offer places to suitable students as well as the need
to attract graduates to undertake further postgraduate studies following
their undergraduate degree. Professor Slocombe also spoke of future
plans for the campus and the need to utilise available space for optimum
benefit.
11. President's Report
11.1 President's Advisory Committee
The President referred to the Minutes of the President's
Advisory Committee which had been tabled and gave a brief overview
of each item, some of which were discussed as follows:
- "Representing Graduates Effectively"
The members discussed the complexities involved in the various University's
commitments to 'Representing Graduates Effectively', and it was
agreed that the Committee would pursue the Vice-Chancellor's suggestion
of engaging with Deans at meetings. The Dean of Education was to
be the first dean approached. In addition, it was reported that
the Deputy President of Convocation would speak with the General
Manager of the Careers and Employment unit with respect to that
unit's contacts with final year students and new graduates,
- Distinguished Portraits Project
The President reported a further plaque was
required acknowledging the role the Committee of Convocation had
played in compiling and presenting the plaques to commemorate
the 150th Anniversary. The President agreed to compose a suitable
article. It was agreed that a leaflet about the Distinguished
Portraits Project be produced, funded by the University Secretary.
The University Secretary advised that if the
Chancellor's portrait was scheduled to be unveiled at the November
meeting of Council (to be held on Monday, 10 November), that would
be a suitable occasion for members of the Committee as well as
associated people to attend.
- Committee of Convocation Page in Conferring
Booklets
The President advised that arrangements were
underway to raise the profile of the Committee in Conferring Booklets.
In addition, it was suggested that the first sentence on the Committee
of Convocation's page in the conferring booklet be amended to
read as follows:
'Congratulations on the award of your degree
- you are now a member of Convocation which is the assembly of
Melbourne graduates.'
- Convocation Medal
Dr Condron reported that the Committee, and its Convocation Medal
Sub-Committee, had discussed various suggestions which had been
put forward, some of which were discussed with the Chancellor and
the President of Academic Board. As ideas put forward had not met
with acceptance, it was decided not to pursue this proposal.
- Committee of Convocation Home Page on World
Wide Web
The President reported he was to provide some additional material
for the Committee's home page, then the University Secretary will
undertake to site the home page in a more prominent position and
to be accessed from the key 'Governance' page, a link connected
directly to the primary University home page.
- Mission Statement and Objectives
The amendments proposed by the Committee at
its August meeting were considered by the President's Advisory
Group. After discussion, it was suggested that the present Item
2.3 of the Objectives be renumbered Item 2.4 and a new Item 2.3
inserted, to read as follows:
'Promote strategies that enhance the reputation
and status of the University and its degrees.'
The Mission Statement and Objectives, with
the addition of the extra point, was to be circulated in its entirety
in the meeting papers for the October meeting.
11.2 Annual Dinner
The President briefly outlined the two proposed
venues for the Committee's Annual Dinner, namely the Athenaeum Club
and the Kingston Heath Golf Club. Firstly, the proposed date of Friday,
28 November was agreed. Secondly, as both venues were considered appropriate,
a vote was taken which determined the Athenaeum Club as this year's
venue. Finally, the menu was selected and it was decided that the
preferred menu was the 'Chairman's Selection' at $76 per head.
11.3 'Knowledge Systems Award'
The President reported that the 'Knowledge Systems
Award' was awarded to MacRobertson Girl's High School and on behalf
of the Committee he offered congratulations to Ms Lesley Boston, a
member of the Committee and Principal of the High School.
12. Any Other Business
12.1 2004 Meeting Dates
Dr Condron referred to the proposed 2004 meeting
dates for the Committee that had been circulated and advised that
at least one meeting may need to be rescheduled to allow the University
Secretary to attend conflicting meetings. It was announced that a
substitute list will be circulated when all meeting dates have been
finalised.
12.2 Tour of the Veterinary Clinical Centre
The Deputy President referred to the tour by
members of the Veterinary Clinical Centre which took place prior to
the meeting, and advised that he found the whole experience worthwhile.
Mr Handberg suggested that if the Committee's Faculty representatives
could suggest similar visits to their respective faculties, it would
be appreciated.
It was resolved that it be recorded that the
Committee appreciated the efforts of Professor Caple, Dean of the
Faculty of Veterinary Science, and Professor Slocombe, Acting Dean
and the staff of the Centre who had contributed to the success of
the visit and that a letter of thanks be sent by the President.
12.3 Becton Housing Project
Mr McGauran asked if there was any information
available regarding the VCAT ruling on the Becton Housing Project,
which the University Secretary answered in the negative.
13. Receipt of Unstarred Items
The unstarred items were received.
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