The Chancellor welcomed Mr Tony Ianello to his first Senate meeting, and Mr Jeremy Rigg as the new University Secretary.

Executive Council has now approved Judge Kate O’Brien’s renewal as a member of Senate through to 20 June 2009, and her second term as Deputy Chancellor has come to an end. The Chancellor moved that Senate express its thanks to Judge Kate O’Brien for her valued contribution in this role.

The term of Sir William Heseltine as a member of Senate comes to an end as at 24 July 2006. The Chancellor moved that Senate record its great appreciation of his efforts since becoming a member of Senate in July 2000.

The Senate received a report on the activities and directions of the Trust from Mr Brian Aitken. Key points during the discussion included:

• The Trust has cash and equities of approximately $2 million invested.
• The Trust is assisting with funding for key staff positions at the School, to enhance staff number and quality, as well as standards of excellence in education and research.
• One of the next major challenges for the School is the upgrade of its imaging facilities, now that technology is moving to digital imaging.
  

The Chancellor noted that he had circularised the issue of the appointment of a Deputy Chancellor to members of Senate, and that Ms Alison Gaines had been put forward as a nominee. The Chancellor spoke to Ms Gaines’ capabilities for the role, and moved that she be appointed as Deputy Chancellor for a term of two years.

It was noted that a number of other changes in Committee membership are required as a result of Sir William Heseltine’s term as a Senate member coming to an end. Several appointments had been put to the Governance & Nominations Committee by way of circular resolution. The Committee has recommended to Senate that it approve, effective as of 24 July 2006:

(iii) the appointment of Mr Tony Ianello and Ms Shirley McPherson as members of the Resources Committee.

Senate received the Vice Chancellor’s report and the Vice Chancellor spoke to some additional items. Key issues covered included:

• The parameters for determining the allocation of various Commonwealth funding pools are in a state of flux, with the result that there are short lead times between when parameters are set and the University is measured on its application for funds.
• The RQF Development Advisory Group is in the process of determining how funds will be allocated, with data to be gathered in 2008 and funding impacting the University budget in 2009.
• The Learning & Teaching Performance Fund is under review, but detailed guidelines have not been issued by DEST as yet. Allocation of funds will no longer be based on a “whole of university” approach, but split across four broad areas of discipline. The split of funds will not necessarily be equal across these areas, and there will also be changes to performance indicators and their weightings.
• A letter had recently been circulated to members of Senate outlining changes to the accreditation processes for Universities under the Revised National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes.
  The Chancellor noted that a number staff receiving honours were listed in the Vice Chancellor’s report. The Chancellor moved that Senate offer its congratulations to the Vice Chancellor for his recognition in receiving Membership of the Order of Australia, and further moved that Senate communicate its congratulations to Professors Anne McMurray and Phil Jennings, and Dr Susan Read on their awards.

The Vice Chancellor noted the University’s success in the recent announcement of the 2006 Carrick Citation Awards for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, with Ms Geraldine Box, Dr Christine Creagh, Dr Julia Hobson, Associate Professor Lorraine Marshall, Dr Jennifer Mills and Dr Angus Morrison-Saunders all being recipients of awards. It was moved that Senate communicate its congratulations to these six recipients.

Resolved: S/27/2006

(i) (i) To offer Senate’s congratulations to the Vice Chancellor, Professor John Yovich, for his recognition in receiving Membership of the Order of Australia. (ii) (ii) To communicate Senate’s congratulations to Professors Anne McMurray and Phil Jennings on their receiving Membership of the Order of Australia, and to Dr Susan Read on her award of the Medal of the Order of Australia. (iii) (iii) To communicate Senate’s congratulations to Ms Geraldine Box, Dr Christine Creagh, Dr Julia Hobson, Associate Professor Lorraine Marshall, Dr Jennifer Mills and Dr Angus Morrison-Saunders on being awarded a Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning by the Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.

The DVC (Academic) spoke to her written report. Key points covered included:

• The comments of the Vice Chancellor in relation to changing parameters for funding were endorsed. It was noted that this environment creates a tension for the University between teaching outcomes and funding levels, in endeavouring to determine its optimal course mix.
• The performance of the University against its Key Performance Indicators was reviewed. Of particular note was the effort that had been put in by the Divisions and the Schools to improve the measure of the percentage of graduates who are able to gain their preferred mode of employment.
• The biennial Whole of University experience survey of students showed high ratings and improvements on all ratings except in relation to computing facilities.
• The introduction of the Vice Chancellor’s Symposium has created a useful forum for academic discussion on professional development, with the second forum to be held on 17 July on the “Scholarship of Engagement”.
• Work is being undertaken to improve the University’s postgraduate offerings.
• The paradigm for course delivery is shifting in focus from teaching to learning. This presents challenges in relation to the existing infrastructure that need to be managed, as it is more suited to the teaching paradigm.
• The trends in flattening of student demand, increased diversity of students, increased average hours per week students are engaged in work, and increased expectation of course flexibility also present challenges for resource management.
• In this environment, there is increasing pressure on students in terms of retention rates and on staff in terms of the need for developing new and flexible modes delivery.

Senate commended the DVC (Academic) on her report. The Chancellor moved that Senate receive the Education Report

Senate noted the minutes of the meetings of the Resources Committee held on 23/05/2006 and 27/06/2006.

A discussion ensued in relation to Item 11 from the minutes of 27/06/2006, being the Residential Services Outsourcing Proposal. It was queried whether the Committee had given sufficient consideration to the potential risks of outsourcing. The Vice Chancellor and the Chair of the Resources Committee noted that concerns of this nature were discussed at the meeting and the Committee is seeking more information in relation to the proposal to address these.

The Chancellor moved that the recommendations of the Resources Committee be accepted.