24 October 2007 - Senate Agenda

MEMBERSHIP
APOLOGIES
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
VICE CHANCELLOR'S REPORT

PART A - ITEMS FOR APPROVAL
APPROVAL OF STATUTE AMENDMENTS

PART B - OTHER ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION

RESEARCH REPORT

PART C - OTHER ITEMS

CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
ACADEMIC COUNCIL
GOVERNANCE & NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE
LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
RESOURCES COMMITTEE
OFFICIAL SEAL
SENATE MEETING DATES 2007
MATTERS FOR INFORMATION/NOTING

1. MEMBERSHIP

A list of current Senate members is attached, together with a summary of Senate's roles and responsibilities.

2. APOLOGIES

2.1	Assoc. Prof. Jim Macbeth
2.2	Any apologies received after circulation of the agenda will be reported to the meeting.

3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Section 17A and Division 2 of Schedule 1 of the Murdoch University Act require all members of Senate who have a material personal interest in a matter being considered or about to be considered: (i)to declare the nature and extent of the interest; and (ii) not to be present during consideration of the matter, nor vote on it.

4. VICE CHANCELLOR'S REPORT

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

PART A - ITEMS FOR APPROVAL

5. APPROVAL OF STATUTE AMENDMENTS

On 28/09/2007 the Legislation Committee approved amendments to the following statutes. On the Committee’s recommendation, Senate is asked to resolve as follows:

5.1 To approve the amendments to Statute No 23 – Student Discipline (mark ups attached)

5.2 To approve the amendments to Statute No 8 - Interpretations in the terms attached (changes shown in mark-up)

Legislation Committee recommended Senate approve an amendment to Statute 17 - Guild of Students on 28/09/2007 which was dealt with by circular resolution under item 7 below.

In accordance with section 25 of the Murdoch University Act, an absolute majority of Senate must ratify amendment to statutes.

PART B - OTHER ISSUES FOR DISCUSSION

6. RESEARCH REPORT

The DVC (Research) Prof. Jim Reynoldson will speak to his report

PART C - ITEMS EN BLOC

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 to be reserved for discussion.

7. CONFIRMATION OF PREVIOUS MINUTES

7.1 Confirmation of the attached minutes of the meeting held on 12/09/2007 and circular resolution, effective from 9 October 2007.

7.2 Note the attached report of action on resolutions passed at the previous meeting.

8. ACADEMIC COUNCIL

The minutes of the Academic Council meeting held on 19/09/2007 are attached and the Committee resolved as follows:

AC/112/2007 (ii)
To recommend to Senate to:

(a)
discontinue the Division Regulations with effect from 1 January, 2008; and

(b)
approve the Faculty Regulations, with effect from 1 January 2008 as attached to the agenda.

AC/18/2007 (i) to approve and to RECOMMEND to Senate to approve the membership, terms of reference, procedures and reporting timeframe for the Joint Senate and Academic Council Review of Academic Council;

(ii)
Membership:

Chair - External person

2 past or present Members of Academic Council

1 Member of Senate;

(iii) Terms of reference:

1.
to review the role and functions, membership, and committee system of Academic Council, links between Academic Council and Senate, and links with the senior executive, and recommend any changes to these which it believes will benefit Murdoch University (including recommendations for any consequential changes to the Statutes and Regulations);

2.
to consider any other issues referred to the review panel by Senate and Academic Council;

3.
to consult widely within the Murdoch University community, including an e-mail to all staff inviting their comments and suggestions;

4.
the self review and the review panel should take into account the new academic structure commencing in 2008 and recommendations arising from the 2010 Project where appropriate; and

(iv)
Reporting timeframe: to Academic Council and Senate approximately two months after the review.

AC/125/2007 (ii) to recommend to Senate to note the disestablishment of the WA Centre for Research for Women from 18 June 2007.

9. GOVERNANCE & NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE

The minute of the Governance & Nominations Committee decision by circular resolution effective 26/09/2009 is attached and the Committee resolved as follows:

GNC/12/2007
To recommend to Senate that the Minister for Education be requested to appoint Ms Eva Skira to Senate.

10. LEGISLATION COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Legislation Committee meeting held on 28/09/2007 are attached. The following items contain recommendations to Senate:

LC/07/2007
To recommend to Senate that it amend the following regulations in the terms attached(changes shown in mark-up):

(i) Student Appeals Committee regulations 1(d) (mark ups attached)

(ii) Academic Progress rules for bachelor degrees (mark ups attached)

(iii) Academic Progress rules for postgraduate coursework qualifications (mark ups attached)

(iv) Statute No 23 – Student Discipline (mark ups attached)

LC/08/2007 To recommend to Senate that it:

(i) amend Statute No 8 - Interpretations in the terms attached (changes shown in mark-up) and

(ii) approve the proposed faculty regulations in the terms attached (changes from divisional regulations as shown in mark-up)

LC/09/2007 to recommend Senate approve the attached amendment::

(i) Statute 17 – Guild of Students (mark-ups attached)

11. RESOURCES COMMITTEE

The minutes of the Resources Committee meeting held on 02/10/2007 are attached and the Committee resolved as follows:

RC/15/2007
The Resources Committee recommends to Senate as follows:

(i) To approve development of Stage 1 of the ring road to build a road from the veterinary school paddocks through the Murdoch campus to South Street at a projected net cost of $8,422,000 inclusive of GST.

RC/16/2007 The Resources Committee recommends to Senate as follows:

(i) To rescind Resolutions S/54/2004 and S/11/2007 with effect from 1 November 2007 but without invalidating or affecting actions undertaken prior to that date under the authority of those Resolutions.

(ii)
To authorise the General Counsel, for the purposes of Clause 1 of Statute No. 1, to use the University's Official Seal for any document to be executed by the University under seal including, but not limited to:

any facility, loan or security documentation relating to any financial accommodation provided to the University;

any document dealing with the acquisition, disposal or granting of any interest in land;

any document dealing with the granting of a lease or licence;

any document dealing with securities (marketable or other);

any contract with Commonwealth and State Governments or their departments;

any guarantee, bond, assignment, mortgage, charge, indemnity, release, discharge; and

any other contract or deed.

(iii) The General Counsel report to each meeting of the Senate in relation to the documents, if any, to which the Official Seal has been affixed since the previous Senate meeting.

12. OFFICIAL SEAL

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

13. SENATE MEETING DATES FOR 2007

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

14. MATTERS FOR INFORMATION

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

Murdoch University Senate