27 August 2008 - Senate Minutes

Present:	Mr Terry Budge (Chair) (Note: Ms Eva Skira Chaired item 1. only) Prof John Yovich (Vice Chancellor) Mr Brian Aitken Ms Janice Bowra Prof Nick Costa Mr Gerry Georgatos Mr Russell Gibbs Mr Steve Harris Mr Reece Harley Mr Garry Hunt Mr Tony Iannello Dr Marian Kemp Mr Darren Munday Dr Jacqueline Phillips Dr Lyndy Scott Ms Eva Skira Dr Stewart Washer
Secretary:	Mr Robin Lees (Acting Secretary)
Observers:	Mr Ian Callahan (DVC – Corporate) Prof Gary Martin (DVC – Enterprise & International) Mr John Pike Ms Clare Middlemas (Guild President) Ms Basha Stasak (Guild Vice President) Mr Jason Della (Guild Secretary) Mr Joe Magee (Guild Sustainability Representative) Mr Nicholas Channa (Guild Queer Representative) Ms Sarah Corbyn (Post graduate Student) Ms Meagan Brady (Undergraduate student) Ms Patricia Bigotes (Post Graduate Student)
Apologies	Nil

1. MEMBERSHIP
2. APOLOGIES
3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (MURDOCH UNIVERSITY ACT s17A)
4. VICE CHANCELLOR'S REPORT
5. FACULTY REGULATIONS
6. RATIFICATION OF STATUTE AMENDMENTS - STATUTE 5 ACADEMIC COUNCIL
7. RECOMMENDATION OF THE JOINT REVIEW OF ACADEMIC COUNCIL
8. MINUTES
9. ACADEMIC COUNCIL
10. RESOURCES COMMITTEE (PAPERS & DISCUSSION COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE)
11. OFFICIAL SEAL
12. SENATE MEETING DATES 2008

1.MEMBERSHIP

At the commencement of the meeting Senate considered an item in camera which appears in a separate confidential minute. The meeting noted the State Government was in caretaker mode and consequently there has been a delay in settling the re-appointment of Mr Brian Aitken for a further 3 year term. As Mr Aitken’s term expires on 29 August, it was agreed to follow previous practice and invite Mr Aitken to participate as a member of Senate until his appointment is formalised by the Governor, expected some time after the forthcoming State election.

Mr Steve Harris has indicated he will resign from Senate effective from 1 September 2008. Mr Harris’ company has recently won a large marketing contract with Curtin University. Although he has not involved himself in the tender or the subsequent management of the contract, it was made conditional upon Mr Harris resigning his Senate position. Senator Harris noted that he had offered his resignation with great reluctance and sadness. He wished the University well for the future and expressed his expectation that Murdoch will strengthen its reputation and brand in the coming years and meet the challenges ahead. The Chancellor noted that due to Alison Gaines’ term on Senate having ended leaving Senate, there is a need to appoint a new Chair to the Legislation Committee. Dr Stewart Washer has agreed to be appointed to this role in the interim.

Resolved: S/25/2008	To invite Mr Aitken to participate as a member of Senate with effect from 29 August 2008 until such time as his re-appointment by the Governor has been formally effected.
Resolved: S/26/2008	To express Senate’s appreciation and thanks to Senator Harris for his contribution to Senate
Resolved: S/27/2008	To appoint Dr Stewart Washer as Acting Chair of the Legislation Committee with immediate effect

2.APOLOGIES

There were no apologies for the meeting.

3.DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST (MURDOCH UNIVERSITY ACT s17A)

No declarations of interest were noted.

4.VICE CHANCELLOR'S REPORT

The Vice Chancellor spoke to his report. Key points made during the presentation included the following:

• Murdoch’s Open Day is on 31 August and staff are planning for a successful event. Senators were encouraged to attend. Murdoch has entered into an arrangement with Synergy to purchase 15% of its energy requirements using green power principally sourced from wind farms. The initiative is estimated to prevent the release of around 3,500 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually and will complement Murdoch’s commitment to renewable energies in teaching and research. Murdoch was particularly grateful to its Procurement Officer who had negotiated a significant discount for the first year of the arrangement. Renewable energy is becoming an increasingly important area and Murdoch has recently leveraging its expertise through the Research Institute for Renewable Energy (“RISE”) with the award of Federal government grants for a wind turbine testing centre, and for involvement in Perth’s “Solar City” project.
  
• Work has continued in building the Murdoch brand with the development of a brand architecture model to unify Murdoch activities and ensure consistency and protection of the brand.
• Murdoch has experienced a successful mid-year intake following a cross media marketing campaign. CGS load is slightly below forecast, although revenue is above budget due to the course mix. International onshore and offshore loads are both above budget in revenue terms.
• A Chair in Sustainable Water Management has been funded for 3 years in the amount of $600,000 following representations to Alcoa.
• Murdoch has achieved five stars for Graduate Satisfaction in the 2009 Good Universities Guide. High ratings were also awarded for teaching quality as well as employment outcomes, entry flexibility, staff to student ratios and Indigenous participation. The improved employment outcomes is particularly pleasing as it has been an area of focus for Murdoch in recent years, now ranked second among WA universities on this indicator.
• Murdoch has provided a formal submission to the Bradley review of the higher education sector. The Chair is due to provide an initial report on priority issues by the end of October 2008 with the final report handed down by the end of 2008. The issue of the University’s position on HECS was discussed. The Vice Chancellor noted that this was in the context of the need to consider broad reforms across all sources of funding for the sector, and to highlight the different operating environments for private and public providers. The process followed for preparing the submission was outlined, and it was noted that the University regularly makes submissions to such reviews, which are clearly matters within the scope of management’s authority. Senators commended the Vice Chancellor on the submission, which provided a comprehensive and clear summary of the issues.

5.FACULTY REGULATIONS

(Secretary's note: all observers joined the meeting for this item)

Academic Council have recently recommended proposed Faculty Regulations that contain differing recommendations regarding Faculty Board structure from those which the original Working Party on these Regulations and the University management team prefers (and had recommended to Council). University management view the Faculty structure as a key part of implementing the Murdoch 2010 project and have requested that Council’s amendments be removed from the Regulations as they essentially return the composition of this body to its pre-Faculty structure and move away from some of the Murdoch 2010 initiatives.

Subsequent to the settling of the agenda, the management team and President of Academic Council have agreed the matter should be returned to Academic Council for further discussion.

Professor Michael Borowitzka, who is the Chair of the relevant Working Party and presided over Academic Council debate, Deputy President of Academic Council, Dr Bob Bennett, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Corporate) Mr Ian Callahan and Vice Chancellor all spoke to the issues raised.  Discussion with members of Senate included:

• the presence of staff and student representation at School Committee and Academic Council levels, and whether it needed to be replicated at the Faculty Board level;
• the role of Faculty Boards as advisory in academic planning, and with a greater focus on strategic and management planning;
• the alignment of authority, responsibility and knowledge in the Faculty governance structure;
• the relative size of the Faculty Board models versus the previous Divisional Boards;
• the importance of academic planning processes to University self-accrediting status;
• the need for student input over and above a need for student representation; and
• reducing administrative workload for academic staff.

Senate agreed that it is was not appropriate for a decision as to the Regulations to be made at this point, and it was agreed the paper should be referred to the working party Academic Council had established for the Faculty Board regulations and then back to Council to work with the management team to present a revised submission to Senate.  The Secretary was asked to provide the Chair of the Working party with notes highlighting the issues raised at the meeting.

Resolved: S/28/2008

To refer the Faculty Regulations paper to the Working Party on Review of Regulations and then to Academic Council for further consideration and to provide revised recommendations

(Secretary's note: All observers with the exception of Mr Jason Della left the meeting)

6.RATIFICATION OF STATUTE AMENDMENTS - STATUTE 5 ACADEMIC COUNCIL

On 15/07/2008 Senate approved the amendments to Statute 5 – Academic Council (S/18/2008). in accordance with s 25(1) (b) of the Murdoch Act the matter has been advertised and re-presented to Senate for formal ratification prior to arranging its gazettal.

Resolved: S/29/2008	To ratify the amendments to Statute 5 – Academic Council in the terms attached (changes marked up)
In accordance with section 25 of the Murdoch University Act, an absolute majority of Senate must ratify the amendment

7.RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE JOINT REVIEW OF ACADEMIC COUNCIL

At the 14 May 2008 meeting of Academic Council it was requested that Senate review and provide feedback on Academic Council’s responses attached to the affirmations and recommendations in the review report from the Joint Review Panel.

Members noted the table, which was in the form presented to Council, was for Senate comment only.  It was agreed that some of the affirmations required particular Senate attention and to refer them to the Governance & Nominations Committee.

Resolved: S/30/2008	To note the affirmations and recommendations of the Joint Senate and Academic Council Review of Academic Council and refer Affirmation number 1, and Recommendations 5 and 6 to the Governance & Nominations Committee for consideration.
(Secretary’s note: Mr Jason Della, Observer, left the meeting).

8.MINUTES

The minutes of the meeting held on 15/07/2008 were confirmed, with Mr Georgatos abstaining.

9.ACADEMIC COUNCIL

Senate noted the draft minutes of the meeting of Academic Council held on 06/08/2008 and resolved in accordance with their recommendations.

It was noted that Associate Professor Bev Thiele had Chaired the meeting in her capacity as the new President of Academic Council and had made a commendable start in this role.

Resolved: S/31/2008	to note the attached summary of the panel report from the School of Media Communication and Culture review as attached to the agenda.
Resolved: S/32/2008	to note the approval by the Vice Chancellor of the Murdoch University Centre for Water Desalination Research.

10.RESOURCES COMMITTEE (PAPERS & DISCUSSION COMMERCIAL IN CONFIDENCE)

Senate noted the draft minutes of the meeting of the Resources Committee held on 13/08/2008 and resolved in accordance with the recommendation of the committee as follows:

Resolved: S/33/2008	To authorise management to complete design and scoping work for Stage 3 of the fire ring main and to proceed with construction where the project cost approximates$1.8 million and is within the remaining 2008 capital infrastructure budget of $2 million.
Resolved: S/34/2008	To recommend that Senate approve the write–off of University debts totalling $192,106.79 as at 30 June 2008.
Resolved : S/35/2008	To recommend that Senate approves the following payments for the period 26/04/2008 to 04/08/2008 inclusive:

11.OFFICAL SEAL

Senate noted the official seal report provided in accordance with resolution S/51/2007.

12.SENATE MEETING DATES 2008

The dates for the remaining meetings for 2008 were noted.

Senate discussed the need review the despatch dates for Senate papers with a view to ensuring all Senators, have sufficient time to review, consider and raise issues ahead of each meeting. It was noted that this needed to be balanced against ensuring the currency of information tabled in this agenda.

 

The meeting concluded at 7:12pm