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Murdoch University Senate

 

 

29 March 2005 - Senate Agenda

  1. MEMBERSHIP
  2. APOLOGIES
  3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (SENATE STANDING ORDERS CLAUSE 4.2)
     
    PART A - MAJOR ISSUES
     
  4. REPORT ON OUTCOME OF SENATE RETREAT & SENATE PRIORITIES FOR 2005
  5. NATIONAL GOVERNANCE PROTOCOLS - DRAFT AMENDING LEGISLATION
     
    PART B - OTHER ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION
     
  6. VICE CHANCELLOR'S REPORT
  7. AUQA AUDIT STATUS REPORT
  8. WOMEN'S SERVICE GUILD TRUST VARIATION
  9. DEPARTING MEMBERS OF SENATE
     
    PART C - OTHER ITEMS
     
  10. CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
  11. ACADEMIC COUNCIL
  12. CHANCELLOR'S COMMITTEE
  13. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE
  14. RESOURCES COMMITTEE
  15. OFFICIAL SEAL
  16. SENATE MEETING DATES 2007
  17. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION

1. MEMBERSHIP

1.2 A list of current Senate members (pdf) is attached.
1.3 A list of current Senate committees (pdf) and working parties is attached.

2. APOLOGIES

2.1 Judge Kate O’Brien, Mr Bob Pett, Sir William Heseltine, Mr Terry Budge, Margaret Banks and Mr Malcolm Macpherson.
2.2 Any apologies received after circulation of the agenda will be reported to the meeting.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (SENATE STANDING ORDERS CLAUSE 4.2 )

Members of Senate (and any member of staff presenting to Senate) must declare the nature, character and extent of any material personal interest in any matter included on the agenda.

PART A - MAJOR ISSUES

4. REPORT ON OUTCOME OF SENATE RETREAT & SENATE PRIORITIES FOR 2005

The Chancellor will provide a brief, verbal update for Senate members on the outcomes of the Senate Retreat held 12-13 March, at the Esplanade Hotel, Fremantle.

At its meeting on 22/02/2005, the Senate noted the following draft priorities for 2005 to be settled after the Senate retreat:

  • Maximising the University’s return on its assets, e.g. land, intellectual property. Establishing an appropriate endowment/investment policy.
  • Engagement with external parties, i.e. the extent to which members of Senate can support and promote the University through their external contacts and networks.
  • Identification of long-term goals for the University, including understanding the changing nature of higher education policy.

The Senate identified 17 areas of particular interest during the course of the retreat.

In accordance with Senate resolution S/71/2001 (as amended), Senate needs to finalise its priorities for 2005 and allocate responsibility for preparing discussion papers on them.

5. NATIONAL GOVERNANCE PROTOCOLS - DRAFT AMENDING LEGISLATION

The General Counsel & University Secretary has prepared an analysis of the draft legislation, together with a briefing paper outlining key issues (both attached). Senate needs to consider the issues identified and determine appropriate measures to ensure the timely disposition of the matter.

PART B - OTHER ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION

6. VICE CHANCELLOR'S REPORT

The Vice Chancellor will speak to his report to Senate, a copy of which is attached.

7. AUQA AUDIT STATUS REPORT

The PVC (Academic) will provide a brief, verbal update for Senate members in relation to preparations for the AUQA audit scheduled for 2006.

8. WOMEN'S SERVICE GUILD TRUST VARIATION

The Director, Development, seeks Senate approval for the University to execute a deed of variation, the effect of which will be to alter the membership of the Trust's advisory board by replacing the Vice Chancellor's of Curtin, ECU, UWA and Murdoch with the respective Pro Vice Chancellors (Research) (briefing paper attached).

9. DEPARTING MEMBERS OF SENATE

The March Senate meeting will be the last meeting attended by the following Senate members, whose respective terms will expire in the immediate future:

  • Ms Pat Allen (term expires in April). Ms Allen has not contested the recent general staff member election).
  • Dr Melanie Strawbridge (term expires in April). Pursuant to Senate resolution S/81/2004(e)(1), Senate will not be hold a Convocation election to fill this vacancy.
  • Dr Michael McCall (term expires in May). Dr McCall is not eligible for re-appointment, having served 3 consecutive terms on Senate.

The Chancellor will move a vote of thanks to the retiring Senate members on behalf of the Senate.

PART C - OTHER ITEMS

10. CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

10.1 Confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on 22/02/2007 (copy attached).
10.2 Note the attached report of action on resolutions passed at the previous meeting.

11. ACADEMIC COUNCIL

The minutes of the Academic Council meeting held on 16/03/2007 are attached. The minutes contain a number of recommendations to Senate, as summarised below. However, the Legislation Committee is yet to review the recommendations and they will be referred to Senate after this has occurred.

AC/30/2007 Amendments to the Professional Doctorate Regulations, the Master by Coursework Degree Regulations, the Diploma Regulations and the Certificate Regulations.
AC/32/2007 Amendments to the Academic Progress Rules for Coursework Masters Degrees.
AC/33/2007 Amendments to the Student Appeals Committee Regulations.
AC/34/2007 Amendments to the Bachelor Degree Regulations, the Diploma Regulations and the Master by Coursework Degree Regulations.

12. CHANCELLOR'S COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Chancellor’s Committee meeting held on 12/03/2007 are attached. The following items contain recommendations to Senate:

CC/03/2005
(i) Amendments to clause 14 of the Senate Charter and to the terms of reference for the Chancellor’s Committee relating to the General Counsel & University Secretary position.
(ii) Rescission of Senate resolution S/09/2005.
CC/04/2005 Proposed new standing order 4.7A.
CC/05/2005 An amendment to the terms of reference for the Nomination Committee by adding the Director of Human Resources as a standing observer/invitee to the committee’s membership.

13. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Environmental Committee meeting held on 09/03/2007 are attached. The following items contain recommendations to Senate:

EC/01/2007 An amendment to the terms of reference for the Environmental Committee.

14. RESOURCES COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Resources Committee (by way of decisions by circulation made on 18/03/2005) are attached. The following items contain recommendations to Senate:

RC/06/2007 Subject to various conditions, approval to establish an incorporated entity to hold the majority shareholding in Paragen Pty Ltd and for Murdoch Ventures Pty Ltd to subscribe for and hold 50% of the issued capital in the proposed new company.
RC/07/2007 Subject to various conditions, standing approval for the incorporation of companies by the Murdoch WestScheme Enterprise Partnership, such companies to be vehicles for the commercialisation of intellectual property developed under funding by MWEP.

The Resources Committee also noted a report by the PVC (Resource Management) as required by Senate resolution S/12/2005.

15. OFFICIAL SEAL

In accordance with resolution S/54/2004, the General Counsel & University Secretary has provided a report detailing the documents, if any, to which the official seal has been affixed since the previous Senate meeting (copy attached).

16. SENATE MEETING DATES 2007

16.1 The Senate’s meeting dates for 2007 and respective closing dates for agenda items are attached.
16.2

Rather than the Senate holding one meeting at Rockingham and one in Mandurah each year, the Senate and Academic Council will alternate between each location each year.

In 2005 the Senate’s June meeting will be at Rockingham and the Academic Council’s March meeting will be at Mandurah. This will be reversed in 2006.

17. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION

A copy of any newspaper or other articles of relevance or interest is attached.

In accordance with clause 13.6 of the Senate Charter, the General Counsel & University Secretary will distribute a quarterly summary of governance developments by the end of March. The summary will be distributed separately from the agenda papers.

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