[ Murdoch University logo and link to homepage ]
SEARCH| MURDOCH| INDEX| PEOPLE

Murdoch University Senate

 

 

24 May 2005 - Senate Agenda

  1. MEMBERSHIP
  2. APOLOGIES
  3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (SENATE STANDING ORDERS CLAUSE 4.2)
     
    PART A - MAJOR ISSUES
     
  4. SENATE PRIORITIES FOR 2005
     
    PART B - OTHER ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION
     
  5. VICE CHANCELLOR'S REPORT
  6. NATIONAL GOVERNANCE PROTOCOLS COMPLIANCE
  7. AUQA AUDIT STATUS REPORT

    PART C - OTHER ITEMS
     
  8. BI-ANNUAL REPORT ON ENROLMENT TRENDS OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS STUDENTS
    9.  
  9. CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
  10. ACADEMIC COUNCIL
  11. AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
  12. CHANCELLOR'S COMMITTEE
  13. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE
  14. EQUITY & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE
  15. LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
  16. NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
  17. RESOURCES COMMITTEE
  18. OFFICIAL SEAL
  19. SENATE MEETING DATES 2005
  20. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION
     
    PART D - CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS
     
  21. AEG AND MURDOCH COLLEGE LITIGATION
  22. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S CONTRACT

1. MEMBERSHIP

1.1 A list of current Senate members is attached.
1.2 A list of current Senate committees and working parties is attached.

2. APOLOGIES

2.1 Nil
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. SENATE PRIORITIES FOR 2005

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 Senate 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.

PART B - OTHER ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION

5. VICE CHANCELLOR'S REPORT

The Vice Chancellor will speak to his written report to Senate.

6. NATIONAL GOVERNANCE PROTOCOLS COMPLIANCE

The General Counsel & University Secretary has provided an update on the status of the University’s compliance with the Protocols.

7. AUQA AUDIT STATUS REPORT

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

PART C - OTHER ITEMS

The Chancellor will put the following as a single item for noting and for the approval/acceptance of any recommendations contained in them. Members of Senate may request that any of these items be reserved for discussion.

8. BI-ANNUAL REPORT ON ENROLMENT TRENDS OF LOCAL AND OVERSEAS STUDENTS

Senate resolution S/79/2003 requires a bi-annual report on international and local enrolment trends. In previous years, the report has been provided in May and November.

The PVC (Strategy) has advised that a more comprehensive report can be provided if the delivery date for the first report is moved from May to June, and the second report remains due in November.

It is recommended that Senate approves a change in the timing of the bi-annual reports on local and international enrolment trends required by resolution S/79/2003 to June and November.

9. CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

9.1 Confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on 29/03/2005.
9.2 Note the attached report of action on resolutions passed at the previous meeting.

10. ACADEMIC COUNCIL

The minutes of the Academic Council meeting held on 13/04/2005 are attached. Other than in relation to legislative matters, there are no recommendations to Senate.

Note: All legislative recommendations are dealt with under agenda item 15 (Legislation Committee).

11. AUDIT AND RISK MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Audit and Risk Management Committee meeting held on 03/05/2007 are attached. The following items contain recommendations to Senate:

ARMC/08/2005 Endorse Mr Jamie Ogilvie being co-opted as a member of the committee for a term expiring on 31/12/2005.
ARMC/09/2005

The Senate note and adopt:

(i) the 2005 Operational Risk Register for the University; and
(ii) the draft Operational Risk Management Plans for the Office of Internal Audit and Risk Management

12. CHANCELLOR'S COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Chancellor’s Committee meeting held on 11/04/2007 are attached. The following items contain recommendations to Senate:

CC/06/2005
(i) Allocate ongoing responsibility for governance policy to the Nominations Committee (to be renamed Governance & Nominations Committee).
(ii) Amend the terms of reference for the Nominations Committee in the terms attached (amendments marked up) and authorise the General Counsel & University Secretary to make consequential amendments to the Statement of Governance Principles.
(iii) Note that the Chancellor will appoint Alison Gaines as an additional member of the new Governance & Nominations Committee.

13. ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Environmental Committee meeting held on 04/05/2007 are attached. The following items contain recommendations to Senate:

EC/05/2005 Amend the committee’s terms of reference in the terms attached (amendments marked up)
EC/06/2005 Endorse Dr Melanie Strawbridge being co-opted as a member of the committee for a term expiring on 31/12/2005

14. EQUITY & EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Equity & Equal Opportunity Committee resolution by circulation dated 12/05/2007 are attached. The following item contains a recommendation to Senate:

EEOC/05/2005 Discontinue the Senate Equity and Equal Opportunity Committee and the management Equity Coordinating Committee, on the basis that their respective functional roles will be replaced by a new standing committee of Academic Council (i.e. the Student Equity and Social Justice Committee) and SEG, briefed by the Director of Human Resources for all employer-employee equity and equal opportunity matters

15. LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

15.1

The minutes of the Legislation Committee meeting held on 30/03/2007 are attached. The following items contain recommendations to Senate:

LC/03/2005 Amendments to Statute no. 8 – Interpretation in the terms of annexure “A” (changes marked up).
Note: Pursuant to section 25(1)(a) of the Murdoch University Act, an absolute majority of the members of Senate is required for this amendment.
LC/04/2005

Endorse Academic Council recommendations (minutes dated 16/03/2005) to amend:

(i) Certificate Regulations (AC/22/2005(v));
(ii) Professional Doctorate Regulations, Master by Coursework Degree Regulations and the Diploma Regulations (AC/30/2005);
(iii) Student Appeals Committee Regulations (AC/33/2005);
(iv) Bachelor Degree Regulations, Diploma Regulations and Master by Coursework Degree Regulations (AC/34/2005).
15.2 The minute of the Legislation Committee resolution by circulation dated 04/05/2007 is attached. Whilst there are no recommendations requiring a formal resolution, Senate should note the approval of the final draft of the Universities Legislation Amendment Bill 2005 (WA) insofar as it relates to Murdoch.
15.3

The minute of the Legislation Committee resolution by circulation dated 17/05/2007 is attached. The following item contains a recommendation to Senate:

LC/06/2005 Endorse Academic Council recommendations (minutes dated 13/04/2005) to amend the Master by Coursework Degree Regulations and the Certificate Regulations (AC/42/2005(ii)).

16. NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

Endorse Academic Council recommendations (minutes dated 13/04/2005) to amend the Master by Coursework Degree Regulations and the Certificate Regulations (AC/42/2005(ii)).

17. RESOURCES COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Resources Committee meeting held on 10/05/2007 are attached. The following items contain recommendations to Senate:

RC/08/2005 Murdoch College litigation – dealt with in Part C of the agenda..
RC/09/2005 Note and adopt the audited annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31/12/2004.
RC/10/2005 Approve write off of debts as at 31/03/2005.
RC/11/2005 Approve a proposal to lease land to Sandalinc Pty Ltd
RC/12/2005 Approve payments above $100K.
RC/13/2005 Approve the University taking a shareholding in 4 cooperative research centres (CRCs) in which the University proposes to participate.
RC/14/2005 Approve the University establishing incorporated entities in overseas countries when required to help manage overseas tax requirements.

18. OFFICIAL SEAL

In accordance with resolution S/54/2004, the General Counsel & University Secretary has provided a report detailing the documents to which the official seal has been affixed since the last Senate meeting.

19. SENATE MEETING DATES 2005

19.1 The Senate’s meeting dates for 2005 and respective closing dates for agenda items are attached.
19.2 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.
19.3 The Chancellor has approved the Senate’s August meeting being held in the function centre within the St Ives complex.

20. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION

20.1 A copy of any newspaper or other articles of relevance are attached.
20.2 The Chancellor will table a brief written report regarding matters canvassed at the recent Chancellor's conference.

PART D - CONFIDENTIAL MATTERS

21. AEG AND MURDOCH COLLEGE LITIGATION

The General Counsel and University Secretary and the PVC (Resource Management) have prepared a confidential ‘principles of agreement’ document that details the high level principles for a negotiated resolution of this dispute. Due to the ongoing nature of the negotiations, a supplementary briefing paper will be provided which will include a more detailed business and financial analysis of the proposal.

On 10/05/2005 the Resource Committee endorsed the principles of agreement (RC/08/2005), noting that a detailed business case would be presented to Senate for consideration.

22. VICE-CHANCELLOR'S CONTRACT

The Chancellor will provide a verbal report to the Senate.
© 2005 Murdoch University | Copyright & Disclaimer | CRICOS Code: 00125J | Page Information