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| Meeting 7, 1 December 2006
The University Council met at the Sandy Bay Campus on Friday 1 December 2006. This is a report from that meeting. Agenda items included-
Voluntary Student UnionismCouncil approved the recommendations in the report on voluntary student unionism –
Council made Ordinance 14 (Student Services Fund), amended as agreed at the meeting (clauses 2.6 and 3.1), and resolved that it is to be sealed. Membership – Nominations CommitteeCouncil resolved to expand the membership of the Nominations Committee and the Ceremonial and Honorary Degrees Committee to include the second Deputy Chancellor. Governance FrameworkCouncil received the report on the Governance Framework and endorsed the senior management delegations. 2007 BudgetCouncil approved the draft 2007 consolidated Budget, noting that while the Australian Maritime College integration was not included its impact was expected to be budget neutral for 2007. Council noted that the forecast operating result is within the target range. Council endorsed Finance Committee’s request to the Vice-Chancellor-
Council agreed to revisit the target ranges and the appropriate level of reserves at its planning session in February 2007, noting that the EDFA would provide a paper to members at least 2 weeks before that session. Council endorsed the budget planning and process guidelines. Financial Management Report – 30 September 2006Council received the summary financial management reports as at 30 September 2006. Enrolment Load ReportCouncil received the Vice-Chancellor’s enrolment load report as at 27 November 2006. Mercer Quarterly Investment ReportCouncil noted Mercer’s advice that returns for the investment fund were 3.2% for the quarter (equal to benchmark) and 8.4% for the year (0.5% above benchmark) and returns for the trust fund were 2.1% for the quarter (0.2% above benchmark) and 6.0% for the year (0.3% below benchmark). AUQA newsletterCouncil received the November 2006 AUQA newsletter on the activities of the Australian Universities Quality Agencies. Launceston BlueprintThe Vice-Chancellor advised Council that he had received over thirty responses to the call for submissions under the Launceston Blueprint, with many good ideas and potential collaborations put forward. At the Senior Management Team meeting on 7 November it was agreed that a small group of SMT members, chaired by Professor Rudi Lidl, will examine the submissions and provide advice on next steps. Minister’s Visit to North-West TasmaniaCouncil received a report that the Minister for Education, Science and Training will be visiting the North-West on Thursday 14 December and a number of University staff, including the Vice-Chancellor, will be attending a lunch with the Minister in Penguin that day. Report against Capital Management PlanCouncil received the Vice-Chancellor’s report against the Capital Management Plan. Academic Structure Amendment OrdinanceCouncil endorsed in principle the recommendation from the Executive Committee of Science, Engineering and Technology to change the name of the School of Architecture and Urban Design to the School of Architecture and Design, and made the Ordinance amending Ordinance 99 (Academic Structure) and resolved that it is to be sealed. Council was advised that the reasons for the change are-
Changes to By-lawsCouncil approved the by-laws amending the University By-Laws 1993, to amend and specify fines applicable to various parking offences under the By-Laws, and clarify the parking offence related to access carparks. Council also received a paper explaining the changes. From the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research)Council received the Vice-Chancellor’s report from the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) on ARC and NHMRC grants- ARC Grants 17 Discovery Grants - $5.5M A list of UTAS recipients is available at: NHMRC grants The NHMRC results are disappointing. In the absence of contributions from the new appointments to the Menzies Research Institute, total NHMRC funding for UTAS is falling as follows: The Director of the Institute and the Dean of Health Science view this as a significant issue, and it emphasises the importance of the Quantum Leaps appointments process. From the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning)Council received the Vice-Chancellor’s report from the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching & Learning) on- University Library ranked as top 10 for client satisfaction The University library has scored in the top quartile of Australian libraries in the national Rodski Library Client Survey. This is a benchmarking survey generally used by all university libraries in Australia. Over the past three years the University library has shown overall improvement, reaching its current ranking in 2006 as one of the top 10 university libraries in Australia for client satisfaction. While the University library did not have any significant areas for improvement, the two main focus areas were as follows: Students were concerned that the library collection was not adequate for their needs Conversely, the University library is ranked in the bottom third quartile for university funding. UTAS Teaching Excellence Awards for 2006 Thirteen Teaching Excellence Award applications were received for 2006, with the following winners: Category B (Individual) Awards: Category C (New Academic Staff) Awards: The awards will be presented at an appropriate Graduation ceremony. Carrick Institute for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education Awards Assoc Prof Brian Yates from the School of Chemistry has won a Carrick Institute Award for Teaching Excellence in the Physical Sciences and Related Studies category. The University Preparation Program has won a Carrick Institute Award for Programs that Enhance Learning in the Services Supporting Student Learning category. The project team includes Megan Cavanagh-Russell (Director, Cradle Coast Campus), Jenny Oakley (Program Coordinator), and Linda Callahan (Senior Executive Officer). The awards were received at a ceremony held in Canberra on 28 November. Larry Knight Scholarship The University and the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training have signed off the final details and transfer of funds for the Larry Knight Scholarship. This scholarship has been endowed by the Australian Government in memory of Larry Knight who was killed in the Beaconsfield Mine disaster in April 2006. It is available to an Australian citizen or permanent humanitarian refugee who can demonstrate financial need and is undertaking a course related to the mining industry (e.g. mining engineering, geology, etc). Applicants need to demonstrate an interest in the mining industry in their application. The scholarship is valued at $13,000 a year for 4 years. News from the Faculty of BusinessThe Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and CPA Australia have reaccredited the School of Accounting and Corporate Governance's accounting courses for the next five years. The professional accounting bodies visited the School in early October and the School prepared a submission for reaccreditation in September. The Faculty is a member of the 38 member strong Australian Business Dean's Council (ABDC). The Dean of the Faculty attended the ABDC meeting in Sydney in October during which the future role of the ABDC was discussed and it was agreed that one of the ABDC's aims is to be the major voice for business education in Australia. The ABDC are co-sponsoring a Myer Foundation Lecture in Melbourne in February 2007 and also co-running a summit with the Business in Higher Education Roundtable (BHERT) on the business graduates of tomorrow. As mentioned in an earlier correspondence a sub-committee of the ABDC comprising of the Associate Deans of Teaching and Learning from the Faculty of Business' (including UTAS) were successful in gaining a $100,000 grant from the Carrick Institute in September. The Faculty is evaluating the introduction of a trimester system for its courses. Faculty staff and Executive intend to discuss the benefits of a move for the Faculty and its students doing the later part of 2006 and early 2007. With growing numbers of international students in its courses (particularly PG courses) the Faculty believes that student targets and other aspects of the EDGE agenda are better served if the Faculty (and perhaps the University more broadly) were to utilise its teaching resources more effectively over a calendar year. A number of proposals from the Faculty were lodged under the Launceston Expressions of interest request. These include a proposed centre of sustainable communities, an agribusiness centre of excellence, a research hub for museum management and marketing and an early idea about focussing Launceston as a hub for international students. University Promotions CommitteeCouncil received a report from the University Promotions Committee on the 2006 round of promotions. The University Promotions Committee recommends a total of 53 candidates for promotion and a further 2 candidates for accelerated progression within their existing salary scale. A summary of the recommendations by level is as follows:
Appointments
Student Discipline Amendment OrdinanceCouncil made the Ordinance amending Ordinance 9 (Student Discipline), approved in principle by Council at is last meeting. Academic Senate meeting – 3 November 2006Council received the report on the Academic Senate meeting of 3 November 2006. The major items discussed at Academic Senate (other than those forwarded separately to Council) were -
Conjoint Doctoral Degrees PolicyCouncil approved the Conjoint Doctoral Degrees Policy. Conjoint arrangements, including cotutelle, involve an agreement with a partner university for the conjoint admission, enrolment, supervision and award of a degree. A conjoint arrangement builds on the existing research collaboration between two universities or research institutes. The University is able to utilise Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding for these arrangements where it can be demonstrated that the arrangement is a formal exchange program. This means that UTAS may report the completion of a candidate whose home institution is not UTAS for the purposes of research funding. Similarly, UTAS will continue to be able to count the RTS load for a UTAS domestic candidate who is enrolled concurrently at a partner institution under a conjoint arrangement. It is important that UTAS have a formal policy and framework for establishing these arrangements to facilitate international engagement and research collaboration, as well as to enhance research training for candidates. Review of the Ordinance of Academic SenateCouncil approved the report from Academic Senate on the Review of the Ordinance of Academic Senate. Formation of Academic Senate Legislation CommitteeCouncil noted the report on the formation of an Academic Senate Legislation Committee, similar to that of Council. Future proposed amendments to Rules should be presented to the Academic Senate Legislation Committee for drafting and submitted for approval by Academic Senate at the same time as the proposed changes. It is proposed that the Academic Senate Legislation Committee has a membership of three people, to be appointed by Academic Senate at its first meeting in 2007 to hold office until the first meeting of Academic Senate in 2009. The Committee to be chaired by a person with broad knowledge of University teaching and learning matters and course structures and with two other interested and experienced members, one of whom had a legal background. It is proposed that the Secretary of Academic Senate be appointed as Secretary to the Committee. Proposed terms of reference: To draft and recommend any Rules that are necessary to implement the decisions of Academic Senate. Minutes of Academic Senate and Council CommitteesCouncil received the draft minutes of Academic Senate the draft non-confidential minutes of these committees- 2005 Annual ReportsCouncil noted that Audit Committee had considered management comments on these 2005 Annual Reports –
Chancellor’s closing commentsThe Chancellor noted the promotion to Level D of Council member Pam Allen and Council members passed their congratulations to her. The Chancellor also farewelled Mrs Elizabeth Daly, Mr Rick Snell and Ms Kirsten Koh, whose terms on Council all expire on 31 December 2006.
Last Modified: 18-Dec-2006 |
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