Murdoch University Senate

 

 

1.         IN MEMORIAM: JANE GRIEW

 

The Chancellor reported that last week Mrs Jane Griew had passed away. She was the spouse of the foundation Vice Chancellor and the first President of the Murdoch University Women’s Association (Banksia Club). The meeting recorded a vote of condolence to her children.

 

2.         MEMBERSHIP

 

The meeting noted that the Governor in Executive Council has approved the reappointment of Mr John Gillam, Mr Malcolm Macpherson and Judge Kate O’Brien as members of Senate. The terms of Mr Gillam and Mr Macpherson will expire on 10 September 2006; the term of Judge O’Brien will expire on 15 May 2006. The Nominating Committee of Senate is considering several people for appointment to a position on Senate appointed by the Governor, which will become vacant in July.

 

3.         DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

            There were no declarations of interest.

 

4.          REGIONAL ENGAGEMENT REPORT

 

The February meeting of Senate adopted a new system of performance reporting. This includes an annual review of performance against the strategies in each of the Operational Plans in the University’s Strategic Plan. The meeting considered the first of these reports, on Regional Engagement. It was introduced by Professor Kateryna Longley, Pro Vice Chancellor (Regional Development), who gave a powerpoint presentation. The University’s new Strategic Plan includes the goal “To engage with communities in the Rockingham/Peel/Kwinana area in order to increase the participation rate in university education and to add value to the local community through relevant research and educational initiatives.” She drew attention to the changing demographics of the region, with increased socio-economic status; the growth in enrolments at the Rockingham Campus (585 EFTSU this year, which is above target); the challenge to become the university of choice in the Peel region (as is already the case in Rockingham/Kwinana); and collaboration with local industry and local government as the key to the University’s success in the region.

 

Prof Longley identified several key factors for the future: building regional relationships; seeking external funding; attracting top TER students; raising local participation; strategic marketing; and serving the region’s needs. She also identified several key issues to address: the need to offer relevant courses that lead to good employment prospects for people in the region; the need to develop a special emphasis for each campus while retaining flexibility to address local needs and take advantage of future opportunities; the need to take full advantage of our proximity to the Kwinana industries and other major industries in the region; creating a vibrant campus life with limited resources on small campuses; and attracting international students to the regional campuses.

Senators raised several issues in the ensuing discussion: the adequacy of the market research data available; whether the Peel Campus will have a spread of courses that one might expect of a university, or instead be restricted to vocational courses; whether the pool of able mature-age potential students in Rockingham may become depleted; and whether courses will be oriented towards the industrial sector in that region. Prof Longley responded that the Peel campus will be a health-focused campus in its early years, with other units available at the co-located TAFE College; the Peel campus will act as a 'gateway' to courses on other Murdoch campuses; data on tertiary enrolments in WA by students from the Peel region is not easily obtainable; the move to lifelong learning means that the pool of mature-age students is unlikely to be exhausted; and engineering (at the Rockingham Campus) is seen to serve the needs of local industry. The Deputy Vice Chancellor advised that students at the Rockingham campus include a substantial number who are not from that area.

 

5.         PEEL REGIONAL CAMPUS

 Senate had received progress reports from the Vice Chancellor on developments at the Peel Campus (e.g. of the DEST grant for a Murdoch building there), and in November 2001 amended Bachelor Degree reg. 19(2) to refer to a Foundation Unit taken "at the Peel Education and TAFE Campus". However, Senate had not yet made any decision on committing the University to a strategic development in the area.

 

The meeting considered the report Proposal for a Murdoch University Regional Campus at Peel. The report proposed that the University establish in Mandurah a campus co-located with Challenger TAFE and Mandurah Senior College. Introducing the report, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Prof Jeff Gawthorne) advanced several strategic reasons for establishing a physical presence in Mandurah: the high population growth rate in the Peel area; to advance equity by increasing the region’s tertiary participation rates (currently among the lowest in the country); to become the university of choice in the region; and because there is a window of opportunity for funding for regional campuses and for nursing and teacher education courses. He identified the main risks as being financial and reputational. He drew attention to the high expectations placed on the University by the population in that region.

 

Senate engaged in a wide-ranging debate about the proposal, with nearly all Senators speaking. Arguments advanced in support of the proposal included: strategically the University should do more in the Peel region; the University has shown at Rockingham its ability to develop a new campus and to operate a successful co-location model; the Peel region is important to the State and to the State Government; governments are seeking universities to foster regional development; the potential in the Peel region is a golden opportunity for the University, which could be missed if the University does not confirm its strategic position there; and the changing demographics of the region will support higher enrolments in tertiary education.

 

Senators also probed the risks associated with the proposal. Individual Senators suggested that a more detailed analysis is needed of the student demand, and of potential risks and the strategies to manage them; the long-term capital requirements of the new campus need to be acknowledged; Peel may be harder to staff than Rockingham, due to the distance; operations will be more expensive while student numbers are low; the campus will need to attract students from the metropolitan area (which may require student accommodation); and what is meant by co-location. Some Senators were concerned whether the costs of supporting a Peel campus may be a drain on the other two campuses, especially when the Rockingham campus is still at its developmental stage and there is concern about the adequacy of funds for teaching on the existing campuses.

 

In response to the issues raised, the Deputy Vice Chancellor advised that about $30m would be needed for capital development in the long term; Peel and Rockingham campuses will both attract from DEST a 5% loading for funded student places and access to a separate pool of capital funds, which will be sufficient to make the Peel Campus viable, dependent on the number of Commonwealth places and actual enrolments; if the Commonwealth gives the University too few places for Peel, the development will be scaled back and the campus may run a deficit for up to five years; co-location had been very successful for the Rockingham Campus Library; and no other university is as advanced as Murdoch in plans for the Peel region. Two Senators suggested that the capital funds may go further if the University is imaginative in its design of buildings and avoids traditional approaches to use of buildings.

 

In summary, Senate believed that a strategic presence in Mandurah is desirable for the University, while the financial risks need careful managing.

 

The meeting considered a recommendation from the Vice Chancellor. An amendment received little support. The motion was carried nem com, with the three student members recording their abstentions.

 

	Resolved: S/44/2003	(a)	subject to Commonwealth funding, the University have a strategic presence in the Peel Region, offering units and courses at the Peel Education and TAFE Campus in Mandurah, with the long-term objective of having a substantial operation at that site;
		(b)	to authorise the Vice Chancellor to discuss with the relevant authorities a new name for the shared campus that gives appropriate recognition to the presence of Murdoch University.

 

 

6.         QUARTERLY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: QUARTER ENDING 31 MARCH 2003

 

The agenda papers included a quarterly financial management report and, for the first time, Divisional summaries for the quarter. The Pro Vice Chancellor (Resource Management), Mrs Gaye McMath, gave a presentation summarising the reports. She advised that the reports show a solid result for the quarter, with the University being in a sound financial position. Three issues arose during discussion:

·         Timing differences. It was noted that analysis of the financial results was impeded by some budgets being entered evenly across the year whereas their expenditure is uneven. Management was commended on the improved financial reporting, and encouraged to further enhance it.

·         Return on capital investments. Senate was advised that the next meeting of Resources Committee will receive an interim "post implementation review" reporting on the St Ives project. A discussion proceeded as to the appropriateness of including the value of land, from an opportunity cost point of view, in the evaluation. This was queried by a Senator who recollected that the University had decided to analyse performance compared to funds invested rather than assets committed.

·         Teaching needs. The Guild President asked about funding for teaching needs. Mrs McMath suggested that this could be revisited mid-year. The Chancellor advised that senior management is well aware that staff and students in the university sector have borne the brunt of difficult financial times.

 

7.         VICE CHANCELLOR'S REPORT

 

The meeting noted the Vice Chancellor’s written report. He reported orally that the Wesfarmers sponsorship of the Veterinary trust is particularly significant because it represents a renewal of support for double the usual term, and on the membership of the selection committee for the position of Pro Vice Chancellor (Research), which will include Mr Macpherson in addition to those persons listed in the agenda papers. Senate recorded its great pleasure at the Veterinary course achieving direct accreditation by the American Veterinary Medical Association. The Vice Chancellor summarised the key elements of the outcomes of the Higher Education Review released as part of the Budget papers on 13 May. He advised that by and large the changes will not take effect until 2005, and that many of them are subject to approval by the Australian Senate. He expressed disappointment that university funding will not be more realistically indexed for inflation. In response to questions, he advised that it will be for Senate to decide whether to offer Australian full-fee-paying undergraduate places. The Deputy Vice Chancellor advised that the Commonwealth course contribution schedule table includes the 2.5% increase in funding that is contingent on universities adhering to the National Governance Protocols and demonstrating compliance with the Commonwealth’s workplace relations policies. The criteria for workplace relations reform were not yet available, but DEST has foreshadowed that there will be three categories: flexible work arrangements (enterprise agreements must not preclude AWAs); policies enabling direct employer-employee relations; and improved institutional productivity and performance.

 

There were two matters on which the Vice Chancellor had recommendations for consideration by Senate.

 

 7.1         Professorial Selection Committee – Chair in Bioinformatics

 

Resolved: S/45/2003

to approve the following composition of the Selection Committee for the position of Chair in Bioinformatics:

·         Professor John Yovich, Vice Chancellor (Chair)

·         Professor Gary Martin, Executive Dean, Division of Arts

·         Mr Arnold Depickere, Head, School of Information Technology

·         Professor Valerie Alder, nominee of Pro Vice Chancellor (Research)

·         Associate Professor Mark Reynolds, School of Information Technology

·         Dr Val Hobbs, School of Information Technology

·         Dr Brian Whan, CEO, Cooperative Research Centre for Molecular Plant Breeding

·         student representative nominated by the Guild of Students

 

          7.2           Murdoch University Foundation

 

At its meeting held on 7th October 2002, Senate approved the establishment of the Murdoch University Foundation and confirmed the appointment of initial trustees.  At that time, it was noted that the Trustees would bring further recommendations of Trustees forward to Senate for approval. On the recommendation of the Trustees and of the Vice Chancellor, Senate

 

Resolved: S/46/2003

to ratify the appointment of Mr Richard Alder as a Trustee of the Murdoch University Foundation.

 

The meeting noted that it is the intention of the Trustees to appoint Mr Alder as Chair of the Trust.

 

8.         STATUTE AND BY-LAW CHANGES

 

A.           Statute No. 20 - Examinations

 

The last meeting of Senate approved an amendment to Statute No. 20 – Examinations. This updated a reference to a section of Statute 23 – Student Discipline that changed when that Statute had a major rewrite in 2001. Notice of the proposed Statute change had been displayed within the University in accordance with the provisions of section 25 of the Murdoch University Act. The University Secretary had received no objection to the amendment.  Senate therefore

 

Resolved: S/47/2003

to ratify amending s.6(3) of Statute No. 20 – Examinations by deleting “s.1.2.1” and in its place inserting “s.1.1”:

 

The Chancellor declared that the resolution had been carried by an absolute majority of members of the Senate.

 

B. Statute No. 4 – Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates and Statute No. 23 – Student Discipline

The last meeting of Senate approved changes to Statute No. 4 – Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates and Statute No. 23 – Student Discipline. These would allow action to be taken against former students who had engaged in dishonesty in assessment. Notice of the proposed Statute changes had been displayed within the University in accordance with the provisions of section 25 of the Murdoch University Act. The University Secretary had received no objection to the amendments.  Senate therefore

 

… green

Resolved: S/48/2003

to ratify the attached amendments to Statute No. 4 – Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates and Statute No. 23 – Student Discipline.

 

The Chancellor declared that the resolution had been carried by an absolute majority of members of the Senate.

 

C.           By-law 24: Speed Limits on Campus

 

The speed limit on all areas of campus is set at 30kph in By-law 24. However, 40kph is the speed limit in areas or zones similar to Murdoch University or designated for school use, while a reduced speed (25kph) is desirable for shared areas such as carparks where there is a high level of pedestrian traffic. Legislation Committee recommended that the By-law authorise the Vice Chancellor to set the limits: this reflects the approach taken in the current Road Traffic Code of 2000 and offers a level of flexibility to the University. It was noted that every entrance to the University should contain a speed limit sign, while road markings are adequate within sections of roadway.

 

Resolved: S/49/2003

to approve amending By-law 24 to read as follows:

 

24. No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed exceeding that indicated by the numerals on the speed limit sign at the beginning of the area or stretch of roadway. The Vice Chancellor shall determine the speed limits applicable for the different areas and stretches of roadway. 

 

The Chancellor declared that the resolution had been carried by an absolute majority of members of the Senate.

 

9.         MINUTES

 

Senate confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 14 April 2003. It also noted a table listing action taken to implement the resolutions of that meeting.

 

            9.1            Division Regulation 4 - Decision by Circulation

 

The April 14 Senate meeting agreed to vary Prof Jim Reynoldon's contract in order to appoint him Executive Dean of Health Sciences for the balance of his contract, and authorised the Chair of Legislation Committee and University Secretary to finalise the wording of the resolution, including if necessary any variation of or amendment to Regulations in order to give effect to this appointment. Subsequently the Chair of Legislation Committee determined that the most appropriate regulation amendment is one that has a broader coverage than the specific case discussed at the Senate meeting. The Regulation amendment therefore was forwarded to members of Senate on 22 April for decision by circulation. A paper was attached explaining the reasons for the amendments and for not using the usual appointment process on this occasion. The amendments achieved an absolute majority of Senators voting in support on 28 April, which is the date they came into effect.

 

Resolved: S/43/2003

to amend Division Regulation 4 as follows:

·        renumber the existing 4 as 4(1)

·        insert the following words before the regulation as presently drafted: "Subject to sub-regulation (2),"

·        insert the following sub-regulation:

   2) In exceptional circumstances Senate may authorise the Vice Chancellor to appoint an Executive Dean without using the process outlined in sub-regulation (1). Such a decision shall be made only after considering a report from the Vice Chancellor outlining why that appointment process should not be used. 

 

10.       ACADEMIC COUNCIL

 

The meeting noted the minutes of the meeting of the Academic Council held on 16 April 2003. In response to a question, the Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) clarified that the basis for the Franchised Courses and Units policy is that some existing overseas arrangements franchise two-thirds of the Murdoch degree.

 

10.1 New Qualifications: Bachelor Degree Regulation (1), Certificate Regulation 1 (d), Master by Coursework Degree Regulations 1(1) & 2(1)

 

Academic Council had recommended several amendments to regulations to add new qualifications approved by Council for introduction in 2004.  Legislation Committee had endorsed the form of the legislative changes proposed.

 

Resolved: S/50/2003

to approve the following additions to Regulations:

Bachelor Degree Regulations

1(1) Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc), Bachelor of Nursing (BNurs)

Certificate Regulations

1(d) Molecular Plant Breeding and Crop Protection (PgCertMolPBCP), Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation (PgCertNeurRehab), Veterinary Conservation Medicine (PgCertVetConsMed)

Master by Coursework Degree Regulations

1(1) Master of Natural Systems Engineering (MNatSysE)

2(1) Master of Natural Systems Engineering 48 points

Master of Veterinary Studies in Conservation Medicine 24 points

 

11.       RESOURCES COMMITTEE

 

The meeting noted the minutes of the meeting of Resources Committee held on 12 May 2003. There were no recommendations to Senate.

 

12.       LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

 

The meeting noted the  of the meeting of Legislation Committee held on 9 May 2003. These contained several recommendations to Senate that had been considered at items 7C and 9 above. There were several additional recommendations requiring consideration by Senate.

 

12.1            Division Regulation 4: Appointment Process for Executive Deans

 

Senate had amended this regulation by circulation. The Chancellor had referred the amendment to Legislation Committee in case it needed any fine tuning. The Committee agreed that it is desirable for any request to vary the normal selection process to be in writing. It felt it unnecessary to state that it be included in the agenda papers, as that is covered by the Standing Order about circulation of Senate papers. It was thought unlikely that a request to vary the selection process would ever arise at such short notice that it could not be included in the Senate agenda papers.

 

Resolved: S/51/2003

to amend Division Regulation 4(2) by inserting “written” before “report”.

 

12.2      Senate Standing Orders

 

A.         Leave of Absence

 

Senators who are unable to attend a meeting may lodge an apology or seek leave of absence. The substantive difference between the two provisions is that leave of absence needs to be obtained if a Senator has missed a number of meetings and risks thereby losing her or his place on Senate. [The Murdoch University Act says “The office of a member of the Senate shall be vacated if, without leave obtained from the Senate, he has been absent from all meetings of the Senate for six consecutive months, or has been absent from more than one-half of the meetings of the Senate during any period of twelve consecutive months.”]

 

Legislation Committee believed it would be helpful to Senators if Standing Orders indicated how and when Senators can gain approval of leave of absence. The Committee considered a possible new Standing Order based on arrangements supported by Senate in 1977. It noted that leave of absence is distinguished from apologies in that it is not automatic. The Standing Order should provide an indication of the sort of circumstances that warrant granting leave of absence, but it is not realistic for this list to be exhaustive. The Committee acknowledged that in some situations retrospective approval may be warranted, e.g. where medical circumstances or civil unrest make it unreasonable to expect a Senator to have requested leave of absence in advance. The proposed Standing Order is silent on retrospectivity, so would allow it. Committee members suggested that where a Senator had missed two consecutive meetings, the Chancellor or the University Secretary should draw to the Senator’s attention the need to attend the next meeting or seek leave of absence, in order to avoid disqualification. On the recommendation of the Committee, Senate

 

Resolved: S/52/2003

to amend Standing Orders by the insertion of the following new Standing Order:

17. (1) Any Senator unable to attend a meeting may record her or his apology by advising the secretary or chair prior to the meeting.

 (2) Where a Senator anticipates being absent for two or more consecutive meetings, he or she should apply to Senate for leave of absence. Leave of absence may be granted only by resolution of Senate. Senate may grant leave of absence for reasons such as travel commitments, illness, bereavement (or similar compassionate grounds), or for any other reason Senate considers appropriate. 

and that all subsequent Standing Orders be renumbered.

 

B.         Reports to Senate

 

The February 2003 meeting of Senate replaced the previous system of reporting with a different system, tied to the Strategic Plan. Legislation Committee supported amending Standing Orders to reflect this change, and to consolidate the three Standing Orders concerning reports to Senate. The Committee supported limiting the reports to one per Senate meeting, in order to allow adequate time for discussion, while noting that if for some reason it was on occasion necessary to consider two reports at a meeting, Standing Orders could be suspended to allow this.

 

Resolved: S/53/2002

to amend Standing Orders by deleting Standing Orders 21, 24 and 25 and inserting the following Standing Order in their place, and renumber the other Standing Orders accordingly:

 

24.   Senate shall receive the following reports each year to enable it to exercise oversight of the strategic direction and performance of the University:  

(a)   At its first meeting each year, Senate shall set its strategic goals for the coming year, and shall receive from the Vice Chancellor an address on the State of the University and a report on any changes to the University’s external environment.

(b)   Senate shall receive an annual review of performance against the strategies in each of the Operational Plans in the University’s Strategic Plan. These reports shall include performance on key performance indicators; comparative data for the university sector; risk management; and a discussion paper on key issues for the University in that area. Only one such report shall be presented to any one Senate meeting.

(c)   At its November meeting each year, Senate shall receive a presentation on the University Budget for the following year and on financial issues facing the University.

(d)   Senate shall receive quarterly reports on the University’s finances. These reports shall be considered first by Resources Committee.

 

12.3        University Objects, Duties of Senators, Role of the Visitor

 

The April meeting of Senate referred recommendations 1, 5-6 and 16 of the Victorian University Governance report to Legislation Committee to consider.

 

With respect to recommendation 1, the Committee noted that the Murdoch University Act already contains broad objects for the University. It felt that more specific objects could over time restrict the University in its activities, and, if such a situation arose, the University’s experience is that it is very hard and takes many years to have the Act amended. It was agreed to await the federal Government’s decisions on the Crossroads review of higher education, to ascertain whether there is any pressure to make such a change. 

 

 The Committee noted that recommendations 5-6, concerning the duties of Senate members and conflicts of interest, are already incorporated in Standing Orders and in the induction guide for new members of Senate. It also noted that fraud and dishonesty are caught by the Criminal Code. The Committee felt it premature to recommend amending the Murdoch University Act at this stage, given that the federal Government’s decisions on the Crossroads review are anticipated to have much to say on University governance, and that these are issues on which the State Government may wish to have a common approach for all WA universities. The Committee felt that these issues are wider governance ones that it would be more appropriate for the Senate processes working party to consider.

 

Recommendation 16 was “That universities’ Acts be changed to provide that the university visitor has ceremonial functions only”. In 1994 and again in 1998 Senate recommended to the Minister that the role of the Visitor become solely a ceremonial one. However, this had never eventuated, as the four public universities in WA had not maintained a common stance on the matter and successive Ministers had wanted a common policy across all universities. Recently the Murdoch University Act had been amended to give the Visitor a discretion as to whether or not to exercise jurisdiction in response to a complaint. The Committee felt that Senate should reaffirm its view that the role of the Visitor become solely a ceremonial one, noting that appeal avenues exist to the Ombudsman, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, etc. On its recommendation, Senate

 

	Resolved: S/54/2003	(a)	to refer recommendations 5-6 of the Victorian University Governance report to the Senate processes working party to consider in light of the federal Government’s decisions on the Crossroads review of higher education, and to advise Senate whether the University should act on the recommendations;
		(b)	to reaffirm Senate’s view that role of the Visitor become solely a ceremonial one, and make representations to the Minister for Education for the Murdoch University Act to be amended accordingly.

 

13.       AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

 

            The meeting noted the minutes of the meeting of Audit and Risk Management Committee held on 6 May 2003. These contained two recommendations to Senate:

 

13.1 Strategic Risk Management Plan

 

After consideration of the suggestions made at Senate, the Committee had concluded that there is no need to amend the draft Plan considered by Senate in April. On its recommendation, Senate

 

Resolved: S/55/2002

to adopt the Strategic Risk Management Plan approved in draft form at the April 2003 meeting of Senate.

 

[Note: this is attached to the minutes of the April 2003 meeting.]

 

13.2 University Annual Report

 

The April meeting of Senate referred recommendations 18 and 22 of the Victorian University Governance report to Audit and Risk Management Committee to consider. The Committee supported these recommendations. On its advice, Senate

 

 

	Resolved: S/56/2003	(a)	that the existing Letter of Representation signed by Heads of School/Directors and higher officers for the University’s Annual Report be modified to include a specific statement that the University allocated its public funds to the purposes specified by the Government or funding body;
		(b)	that the following words be included in University Annual Reports from now on: “The University has implemented a risk management plan that identifies a number of high level risks that impact on its capacity to achieve the goals agreed in its strategic plan.  Each of these risks is managed by a designated officer or executive group via appropriate risk reduction strategies. The University's Senior Executive Group and the Audit and Risk Management Committee are responsible for monitoring the risk management plan, and for reporting on outcomes to Senate."

 

14.        EQUITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE

 

            The meeting noted the minutes of the meeting of the Equity and Equal Opportunity Committee held on 15 April 2003. There were no recommendations to Senate.

 

15.        ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE

 

            The meeting noted the minutes of the meeting of the Environmental Committee held on 16 April 2003. There were no recommendations to Senate.

 

16.        HONORARY AWARDS AND CEREMONIAL COMMITTEE

 

The meeting noted the minutes of a matter considered by circulation by Honorary Awards and Ceremonial Committee. 

16.1   Naming of Foyer/Display Area of the Library at the Rockingham Campus

 

Professor Lethbridge was a foundation member of the University’s staff who had been largely instrumental in the development of the Rockingham campus and the expansion of the University’s activities into the Rockingham, Kwinana and Mandurah regions. He served as the Planning Principal of the Rockingham Campus from 1994-98, and was Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) at the time of his death in May 2002. Consultations had led to the suggestion that the foyer/display area of the Library at the Rockingham campus be dedicated to Roger. This was seen as particularly suitable in that he had worked extremely hard to bring about the unique tri-partite arrangement under which the University, the City of Rockingham and Challenger TAFE were partners in the Library. Honorary Awards and Ceremonial Committee had supported the proposal. The Vice Chancellor had indicated that if Senate supported the proposal, there would be a dedication ceremony and those people and institutions who wish to make a tangible contribution to the University in memory of Roger Lethbridge would be invited to make a contribution to the Library Endowment Fund, established within the Murdoch University Foundation.

 

Resolved: S/57/2003

that the foyer/display area of the Library at the Rockingham campus be named after the late Roger Lethbridge.

 

[Note: The Lethbridge family have given their consent to this.]

  

17.       CHANCELLOR SEARCH COMMITTEE

 

Senate noted a progress report from the Committee. The Committee is preparing a draft statement on the role of the Chancellor; had added two selection criteria to those approved by Senate (“strong interest in and commitment to the value of education and the University sector” and “resident in WA”); agreed to retain the current system where the Chancellorship does not attract any honorarium; had emailed all Senators, staff and students, inviting suggestions of persons who could be considered for the position; and had tentatively agreed to use a search agency. The Committee aims to bring a recommendation to the 6 October meeting of Senate.

 

18.       COMPANIES AND CONSULTANCIES WORKING PARTY

 

Senate noted a progress report from the Working Party, on action taken since the Senate resolutions of October 2002.

 

19.        OFFICIAL SEAL

 

The meeting noted that in accordance with resolution 90/85, the Official Seal of the University has been applied to the following document since the last meeting of Senate –

 

·        Funding Contract with the Department of Education, Science and Training for funding of the Aboriginal Tutorial Assistance Scheme

 

20.        RISK MANAGEMENT

 

The meeting moved in camera for this item.

 

The agenda papers included a confidential report on measures being taken to deal with the top three risks identified in the Strategic Risk Management Plan: reputational and financial loss due to loss of key researchers; contract management; and IT strategic planning. The report indicated that a complete plan on the latter two items will be submitted to Senate in August. In response to a suggestion, the Vice Chancellor advised that this could be done for all three items. A student Senator reported that last week Academic Council had resolved to recommend that extra resources be provided for teaching.

 

 

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