Murdoch University Senate

The next meeting of the Senate will be held in the Senate room on Monday 8 July 2002 at 4.30pm. Afternoon tea will be available in the foyer of the Senate Suite from 4pm. In accordance with Senate’s resolution, you are asked to wear your name badge at the Senate meeting.

After the meeting members are invited to have dinner in the University’s Banksia Restaurant. The presentation at the Senate dinner will be by the Executive Dean of the Division of Science and Engineering, Professor Yianni Attikiouzel. The other staff attending the dinner will be the Heads of the Schools of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology (Assoc Prof Stuart Bradley), Environmental Science (Prof Richard Hobbs) and Mathematical and Physical Sciences (Assoc Prof Jo Ward), and the Dean of Engineering (Assoc Prof Maurice Allen).

If you will be unable to remain for dinner, please advise Helen Yeoman by 9.30am on the morning of the Senate meeting, so she can finalise catering numbers. [The University is billed for the dinner based on the numbers advised at that time.] Her number is 9360 2173.

Audit Committee and Honorary Degrees and Ceremonial Committee have not met since the last Senate meeting.

Andrew Bain

University Secretary

2 July 2002

This is the first meeting for the new Vice Chancellor, Professor John Yovich.

In the recent election among the academic staff, Assoc Prof Stuart Bradley was elected as a new member of Senate, commencing on 9 November when Assoc Prof Barton’s term expires.

In accordance with the resolutions of the September meeting, attached is a list of all current Senators.

Ms Banks, Dr Cawley, Ms Heedes, Dr Macbeth, Mr Macpherson and Ms Slany have recorded their apologies for this meeting, as they will be away. Any further apologies received after circulation of the agenda will be reported to the meeting.

The Chancellor will ask whether any Senators have an interest to declare concerning any items on this agenda. Senate has adopted the following statement on conflict of interest:

Senators have a duty to place the interests of the University before their own personal advantage (financial or otherwise) and the advantage of any other person or organisation (including the group that elected or appointed the Senator). Possible conflicts of interest include:

• employment by, shareholding in or directorship of a company dealing with the University

•  membership of a body that is in competition or conflict with Murdoch University

• for Murdoch staff members, out-sourcing or restructuring of their work sections

• any matter under discussion that would result in personal financial advantage

• government officials who are responsible for an aspect of policy or operations which affects a matter under consideration by the University

A matter which arises from membership of the group qualifying the Senator for election to Senate, and which is not otherwise special or personal to the Senator, is not a conflict of interest. (Examples could include students voting on assessment policy, or staff voting on a salary increase for all staff.)

At the start of each meeting of Senate and its committees, Senators must declare the nature, character and extent of any conflict of interest. In case of doubt, it is best to acknowledge possible conflict of interest. When conflict of interest is identified the Chair (subject to the views of the meeting) may ask the Senator to leave while the item of business is discussed; to participate in the discussion but withdraw from the meeting before the vote; to stay but not participate in the debate; or to stay with full rights to debate and vote. Where there is a significant conflict of interest, future papers on this matter might not be made available to the Senator concerned.

All declarations of interest shall be minuted, along with any ensuing action.

In addition, if any member of staff presenting a proposal to Senate or one of its committees has a conflict of interest, the person must declare that interest at the meeting.

PART A - MAJOR ISSUES

At the last meeting of Senate, the Chancellor gave notice that he will be resigning from that position with effect from 9 July 2002, due to his heavy commitments as Co-chair of Reconciliation Australia and Deputy President of the Native Title Tribunal. The July meeting of Senate will therefore be his last. His term was due to expire on 7 February 2004. Under the provisions of the Murdoch University Act, Senate is required to elect a new Chancellor for the balance of his term. Senate

RESOLVED S/38/2002	(a)	to appoint a search committee to bring forward a recommendation on who should be the new Chancellor;
	(b)	that the members of the search committee be:
		Ms Alison Gaines (chair)  Vice Chancellor  Ms Trish Allen  Mr Jeremy Buxton  Dr Jim Macbeth  Ms Alisha Ryans-Taylor  Dr Melanie Strawbridge  Vice Chancellor-designate  one person chosen by and from among the Pro Vice
		Chancellors and Executive Deans
	(c)	that the search committee also be asked to bring forward to the July meeting of Senate a recommendation on the Pro Chancellorship, which falls vacant on 25 July.

The committee was left free to consider whether to fill the Chancellorship for this period from among the current members of Senate, or to have an external search.

Attached for consideration are the recommendations of the Search Committee.

Note: the Chancellor’s resignation will take effect from 11pm on the day of this Senate meeting.

5.    SENATE COMMITTEE SYSTEM report attached

The September meeting of Senate agreed to annually review the University’s performance in each of nine key areas: campus infrastructure, community relations, finances, international operations, research, risk management, staff, students, and teaching and learning. These reviews will take the following form:

• Be on financial and operational performance against the key strategic objectives of the University, centred on agreed Key Performance Indicators to include past performance and future goals.

• Include an executive summary sheet, comparative data for the university sector, and graphical representation of key data.

• Be accompanied by a discussion paper on key issues for the University in this area. At the preceding Senate meeting, Senate will be invited to consider any issues it wishes included in that paper.

• The report will be listed as a major item for discussion, in the first part of the agenda.

Attached is a discussion paper (not available on WEB) on students from the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Professor Jeff Gawthorne). These are issues for Senate to discuss and critique, rather than to reach decisions. Subsequently the issues may return to Senate with recommendations from management for decision by Senate.

In the absence of guidance from Senate on the matters to be covered in the paper, on this occasion it focuses on recruitment of Australian students. Professor Gawthorne will introduce the item.

If in future years Senators would like the students report to cover other matters also, this is an opportunity to make such suggestions.

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PART B - OTHER ISSUES FOR DEBATE

 

7.     VICE CHANCELLOR'S REPORT report attached

The previous Vice Chancellor prepared the attached paper on strategies for the University’s 2003 Operating Budget. Senate is invited to discuss the proposed strategies, which will then be used as a basis for formulating the budget. The draft budget will be presented to the November meeting of Senate for approval.

Academic Council discussed this paper at its meeting on 19 June. The discussion is summarised at item 6480 of those minutes.

The next meeting of Senate is due to review the University’s performance in its staff matters. As the Director of Human Resources will be overseas on leave that month, the Chancellor recommends that Senate postpone that report to the October meeting. There would be advantages for both Senate and the Director for him to be there when Senate discusses the staff report. One of the performance reports scheduled for the October meeting (on community relations) is being considered at the July meeting instead, leaving room for this in October.

In accordance with the Senate resolution, the meeting is invited to consider any issues it wishes to be included in the discussion paper.

10.     CHANCELLOR’S COMMITTEE

The Vice Chancellor Statute stipulates that "The remuneration and conditions of service of the Vice Chancellor shall be determined by the Chancellor’s Committee", which shall "report to the Senate on its decisions and on the procedures followed in arriving at these decisions".

At the last meeting of Senate, the Chancellor reported on the remuneration of the new Vice Chancellor. He also advised that the Chancellor’s Committee had approved a draft contract for the new Vice Chancellor, which was being discussed with Professor Yovich, and that details of the final contract will be reported to this meeting of Senate. The Chancellor will report orally.

Senate is asked to move into committee for this item. The Vice Chancellor will withdraw from the meeting for this item.

The last meeting of Senate resolved to repeal Statute No. 19 - Convocation and Alumni Association and approve the attached new Statute No. 19 - Alumni in its place; and to approve the attached amendments to Statute No. 23 – Student Discipline.

Notice of the proposed Statute changes has been displayed within the University in accordance with the provisions of section 25 of the Murdoch University Act. At the time of the preparation of this agenda the University Secretary has received no objection to the amendments.

Subject to no objection being received prior to the meeting, Senate will be asked to ratify the Statute changes. In accordance with s.25(1)(a) of the Murdoch University Act, this requires an absolute majority (13 members).

In accordance with s.25(1)(a) of the Murdoch University Act, ratification of the Statute changes requires the support of an absolute majority of members of the Senate.

PART C – OTHER ITEMS

The Chancellor will put these as a single item for noting and for the acceptance of any recommendations contained in them. Senators may indicate any of these items they wish to reserve for discussion.

12.1 Confirmation of Minutes

Senate is asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 27 May 2002.

12.2 Action on Resolutions of the Last Meeting

The attached action sheet records the resolutions of the previous meeting and action that had been taken to implement them. It also updates Senate on outstanding action items from previous meetings.

Attached is a letter of thanks from Professor John Considine for the University’s support in the Wildflower Trust litigation.

Attached are the minutes of the meetings of Academic Council held on 22 May and 19 June 2002. These include the following recommendations to Senate:

AC/81/2002(ii) Diploma Regulation 1(c)

AC/93/2002 Postgraduate Research Degree Regulation 27

AC/100/2002 Diploma Regulation 1(b)

AC/107/2002 Bachelor Degree Regulation 65(1)

In response to a query by Legislation Committee, the recommended change to Postgraduate Research Degree Regulation 27 has been withdrawn and will be resubmitted next month with clarification of what is meant by ‘senior academic’. Legislation Committee has endorsed the form of the other two changes to regulations.

Attached are the minutes of the meeting of the Resources Committee held on 25 June 2002. These include the following recommendations to Senate:

RC/15/2002 University Budget 2002

RC/16/2002 Financial Statements and Performance Indicators for 2001

RC/17/2002 New Law Building

RC/19/2002 Guild of Students Financial Report

A recommendation concerning item 6 of the minutes - Construction of Glasshouse and Plant Growth Facilities is being finalised, and is likely to be circulated to Senate members by email on Wednesday or Thursday.

Attached are the minutes of the meeting of the Equity and Equal Opportunity Committee held on 12 June 2002. There are no recommendations to Senate.

16.     LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

Legislation Committee has not met since the last meeting of Senate, but by circulation has resolved to endorse the form of the legislative changes recommended by Academic Council to Diploma Regulation 1(c) and Bachelor Degree Regulation 65(1). The recommended amendment to Postgraduate Research Degree Regulation 27 has been withdrawn for further clarification, as the Committee sought clarification of what is meant by ‘senior academic’.

Attached are the minutes of the meeting of Environmental Committee held on 29 May 2002. There are no recommendations to Senate.

18.     OFFICIAL SEAL

Report on the Use of the Official Seal

In accordance with resolution 90/85, the Official Seal of the University has been applied to the following documents since the last meeting of Senate –

• $1.87m Facility Agreement for Short Term and Fixed Rate Term Lending from WA Treasury Corporation. [For equine imaging in the Division of VBS, approved by Senate resolution S/105/2001]

• Architectural Services Agreement with Oldfield Knott Architects Pty Ltd and McDonald Jones Architects Pty Ltd, for Murdoch Retirement Village Residential Care Facility

• Deed of Variation with Commonwealth Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources for grant to Centre for Bioinformatics and Biological Computing.