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Murdoch University Senate

 

 

13 December 2005 - Senate Minutes

Present:

Em. Prof. Geoffrey Bolton (Chair)
Judge Kate O'Brien
Prof. John Yovich (Vice Chancellor)
Mr Malcolm Macpherson
Ms Alison Gaines
Mr Dick Lester
Mr Terry Budge
Sir William Heseltine
Mr Philip Hocking
Assoc. Prof. Jim Macbeth
Assoc. Prof. Nick Costa
Mr Daniel Narbett
Mr Mal Bradley
Ms Janice Bowra
Secretary: Samantha Summerton
Observers:

Mr Ian Callahan (PVC - Corporate Services)
Prof. Gary Martin (PVC - Strategy)
Mr Tim Morrison
Prof. Jan Thomas (PVC - Academic)
Prof. Kateryna Longley (PVC - Regional Development)
Prof. Michael Borowitzka (President, Academic Council)
Prof. Jim Reynoldson
Prof. Yianni Attikiouzel
Assoc. Prof. Arnold Depickere
Mr Gerry Georgatos (Guild President)
Assoc. Prof. Michael Campion
Ms Julie Keene
Ms Karen Haynes

  1. MEMBERSHIP
  2. APOLOGIES
  3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (MURDOCH UNIVERSITY ACT S17A)
  4. VICE CHANCELLOR'S NOTE
  5. 2006 BUDGET
  6. AUQA AUDIT STATUS REPORT
  7. MINUTES
  8. CHANCELLOR'S COMMITTEE
  9. RESOURCES COMMITTEE (PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE)
  10. OFFICIAL SEAL

1.MEMBERSHIP

The Chancellor congratulated Mrs Janice Bowra on her re-election by Convocation to Senate for another three year term, commencing on 01/01/2006.

The Chancellor also thanked Daniel Narbett for his thoughtful and valued contribution to Senate.

2.APOLOGIES

Prof. Stuart Bradley, Ms Carolyn Jakobsen, Mr Garry Hunt, Mr Bob Pett.

3.DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (MURDOCH UNIVERSITY ACT S17A)

Nil.

4.VICE CHANCELLOR'S NOTE

The Vice Chancellor informed Senate of the Chancellor’s receipt of the West Australian of the Year award. The Chancellor will be travelling to Canberra on Australia Day in 2006 for the Australian of the Year Award and we all wish him well. The Senate congratulated with Chancellor with acclamation.

5.2006 BUDGET

The PVC (Strategy) spoke to his presentation on the 2006 Budget. Key points included:

  • The University will enter into 2006 with a $10M revenue increase from 2005;
  • $30M will be spent over a 5 year period to tackle the maintenance backlog, in particular removal of asbestos from the South street campus;
  • The Peel campus will receive a capital spend of $11M over the 2006 to 2007 period;
  • The University is diversifying its income stream thorough:

    • o Wesfarmers;
    o The feeder college;
    o New off-shore programmes;
    o Stage 7 of St Ives;

  • Major capital proposals for the 2006 budget include:

    • o Feeder college site;
    o Relocation of the tavern to Bush court;
    o Centre for Clinical Immunology & Biomedical Statistics (“CCIBS”) building;

  • An endowment fund has been established.
  • The revised Strategic Plan that will be rolled out in 2006.

The Senate expressed its gratitude to the Senior Executive Group over its diligent and proactive management of the University’s finances and approved the 2006 University Budget (see item 9 – resolution S/77/2005).

6.AUQA AUDIT STATUS REPORT

The PVC (Academic) provided an update on Murdoch’s WOIA and the upcoming AUQA audit. Key points included:

  • The WOIA was very successful both in its preparation and execution;
  • All University members were thoughtful and engaged, demonstrating the cohesive nature of the University and the confidence of the University community in the current Vice Chancellor;
  • While there is still work to be done, the University demonstrated that it has acknowledged this and has been putting programmes into place to meet current shortfalls;
  • An executive summary has been issued and once the full report has been finalised, an announcement will be made to all staff and the report placed on the Quality website, MAIS protected.

7.MINUTES

Senate confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 22/11/2005. It also noted a report of action taken to implement previous resolutions of Senate.

8.CHANCELLOR'S COMMITTEE

Senate noted the minutes of the meeting of the Chancellor’s Committee held on 06/12/2005 and resolved in accordance with the recommendation of the committee as follows:

Resolved:
S/76/2005
 To approve the amended, attached 2006 Key Result Areas for the Vice Chancellor.

9.RESOURCES COMMITTEE (PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE)

Senate noted the minutes of the meeting of the Resources Committee held on 06/12/2007 and resolved in accordance with the recommendation of the committee as follows:

Resolved:
S/77/2005
 To approve the 2006 University budget for the year ended 31 December 2006.
Resolved:
S/78/2005
(i) To approve the write-off of assets totalling $154,678 for the year ending 31 December 2005.
(ii) To approve the construction of a building to house the Centre for Clinical Immunology & Biomedical Statistics (“CCIBS”) for $8.75M with a bare laboratory, financed through project debt over ten years.
(iii) To approve the attached payments for the period 29/10/2005 to 01/12/2005 inclusive.

Daniel Narbett requested that the issue of the HECS Top Up fees be discussed. Senate debated the issue and a majority vote:

  • (10 yes, 3 no) agreed to the HECS Top Up fees from 20% to 25% effective from 2007. Daniel Narbett, Mal Bradley and Associate Professor Jim Macbeth requested that their dissent be recorded; and
  • (11 yes, 2 no) determined that 10% of the total Top Up fees collected must be allocated to Equity and the remaining funds to be directed to the University’s maintenance programme.

Resolved:
S/79/2005
 Approve the increase of the HECS Top Up from 20% to 25% effective from 2007, with 10% of the total Top Up fees collected being allocated to Equity.

10.OFFICIAL SEAL

Senate noted the attached report provided in accordance with resolution S/54/2004.
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