Murdoch University Senate

The meeting noted the annual report on the Regional Engagement Operational Plan. The Pro Vice Chancellor (Regional Development), Professor Kateryna Longley, gave a powerpoint presentation. She drew attention to the SW region having a strategic role in the University’s future; the Rockingham and Peel campuses are in areas experiencing some of the fastest population growth nationally; the campuses have strong regional support; and the University aims to lift higher education participation rates and to be the preferred supplier of research in the SW. She identified several issues for the University: effective marketing to fill the new DEST places, aligning courses with jobs, achieving balance between course range and viability, building a sense of local identity on each campus, developing collaborative governance arrangements with partners at Peel, developing regionally relevant research, master planning for expansion of the Rockingham campus to the west, and building local support and trust to become the university of the region.

Several matters were raised in discussion:

The Vice Chancellor advised that places for the regional campuses are the strongest part of the University’s bid for additional HECS-funded places. The meeting was informed that the University’s research statistics data collection is being modified to identify research relevant to the SW being undertaken, not only by Rockingham Campus staff, but by staff at all Murdoch campuses. Professor Longley suggested the selection criteria for some positions should include a commitment to activities in the regional campuses. The popularity of the nursing course has led to some student places being transferred from the Murdoch to the Peel Campus.

Academic Council had recommended that the University implement HECS top-up fees as permitted under the Higher Education Support Act 2003. This recommendation is held over till the 5 July meeting of Senate, to be considered along with the additional information requested by Council and Council’s response to that.

This meeting gave preliminary consideration to the matter. The discussion was introduced by a powerpoint presentation from the President of Academic Council, Assoc Prof Michael Borowitzka. He outlined four main issues: the need for extra funds; equity considerations; strategic implications; and how the additional income might be distributed. He invited Senate to identify any additional issues it wishes to see considered, and any matters on which it wishes to receive further information. Individual Senators identified the following matters:

The Guild President tabled the following petition, signed by 2,766 students and staff: "We, the undersigned students and staff of Murdoch University, implore the Senate to not increase HECS fees above the current HECS levels. We believe such an increase would greatly disadvantage current students and discourage prospective students, especially those from a lower socio-economic background from undertaking studies and Murdoch University."

The meeting noted the Vice Chancellor’s written report. In a brief oral report, he highlighted that the University has been certified by the U.S. Government to manage U.S. financial aid for American students at the University; Professor Peter Newman has been appointed part-time Commissioner for Sustainability and Population Growth for Sydney; and the Vice Chancellor has been appointed to the AVCC Working Party on Auditing of University Quality.

There were two recommendations in the Vice Chancellor’s report:

to approve the following membership of the Selection Committee for the position of Executive Dean of Arts:

• Professor John Yovich, Vice Chancellor (Chair)
• Professor Andris Stelbovics, Pro Vice Chancellor (Research)
• Professor Jan Thomas, Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic)
• Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Bolton, representing Senate
• Professor Trish Harris, School of Social Sciences and Humanities
• Associate Professor Chris Kendall, Dean of Law
• Associate Professor Gail Phillips, School of Media Communication and Culture
• Mr Ed Herne, Director of Finance and Resources, Division of Arts
• student nominee appointed by the Vice Chancellor after considering nominations from the Guild of Students

to approve the following amendment to the policy on Honorary Titles and Appointments [additions in bold]:

Coverage
The title of Emeritus Professor may be conferred on a retiring Professor of the University in recognition of sustained outstanding service to the University.

In this policy, “retiring” includes terminating his/her employment with the University for the purpose of accepting an appointment to a position of substantial standing.

The Director of Campus Development (Alan McGregor) gave a brief presentation on the proposed vision statement for the Master Plan. He emphasised the importance of having such a statement when undertaking consultations with the local community. A comprehensive report will come to Senate in August, with zoning and a comprehensive masterplan a year later. The Vice Chancellor advised that Melville City Council requires at least a zone plan before it will approve buildings on the campus.

Some Senators felt that there was insufficient information before the meeting to endorse the proposed vision statement and zoning. Several suggestions were made by individual Senators: have connecting corridors for fauna between areas of retained bushland (this related to specific detail of the plan and was noted for future consideration); the vision statement should not limit the basis of investment partnerships to financial returns; and the vision statement in the previous masterplan was preferable and should be included in the information provided to Senate. Mr McGregor outlined the consultative process that had been followed. Some Senators felt that wider consultations, including further consultation with Environmental Committee, should take place before a vision statement comes to Senate for approval. The meeting deferred a decision on the proposed vision statement, and decided to address only the pressing zoning decisions.

Resources Committee had considered a discussion paper on the Capital Management Plan and its funding requirements. The Committee was concerned about the unfunded nature of possible projects currently on the drawing board, and to ensure that proposals for major capital works are accompanied by a business case that justifies the investment, using feasibility studies where appropriate. The Committee requested that a 5 and 10 year view on capital funding requirements be prepared.

In discussion at Senate, attention was drawn to the need for buildings to cope with the projected increase in student numbers in the next three years. [Note: The University has submitted a bid for 750 additional Commonwealth-supported student places. If the University were to get 500 of these places, student load will rise by 17% over the next four years, even without any increase in international and domestic full-fee places.] It was suggested that the key issue is prioritising the proposed capital projects. The Chair of Resources Committee suggested that Senators be sent the paper that had gone to Resources Committee. [Note: This is enclosed for Senators.]

The Vice Chancellor advised that while several possible capital projects have been identified, decisions on the building needs must await the federal Government's allocation of new student places, and that business plans are in the process of development. He also reported that the Pro Vice Chancellor (Resource Management) is structuring an investment plan for use of endowed funds.

The meeting supported the suggestion made at Resources Committee that a working party review the use of revenue from endowment funds generated by commercial activities.

to approve the following payments:

• Australian Taxation Office – PAYG tax ($749,471)
• Australian Taxation Office – PAYG tax ($753,565)
• Australian Taxation Office – PAYG tax ($738,109)
• State Revenue – Payroll tax ($587,191)

to approve the following revised list of Graduate Attributes:
1. Communication
2. Critical and Creative Thinking
3. Social Interaction.
4. Independent and Lifelong Learning
5. Ethics
6. Social Justice
7. Global Perspective
8. Interdisciplinarity
9. In-depth Knowledge of a Field of Study

to recommend to the Minister for Education the following additional amendments to the Murdoch University Act:

to establish a Summer Committee, as follows:

Terms of Reference
To exercise all of the powers of the Senate, except the power to make Statutes, By-laws and regulations, during the period between the last Senate meeting of the year and the first Senate meeting of the new year.

Constitution
Chancellor, Vice Chancellor and three other Senators appointed by Senate at the November Senate meeting each year, with power to co-opt for particular issues. A notice will be sent to all Senators prior to the November Senate meeting, asking whether they would be available and willing to serve on the committee.

to amend the summary of Senate’s role stated in resolution S/66/2001(a), as follows [deletion struck through, additions in bold]:

In making its recommendations, the Committee shall also take into account the following criteria:

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

The meeting noted extracts from the Australian Universities Quality Agency’s Report of an Audit of The University of Western Australia; a DEST summary of the new Backing Australia’s Ability science and innovation package; and a calendar of reports to be made to Senate each year.

The meeting closed at 8.09pm.