THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA



THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Minutes of the meeting of the Senate held in the Senate Room, The University of Western Australia, Crawley on Monday, 24 August 2015

PRESENT:

The Chancellor (Dr M Chaney) in the Chair, Pro Chancellor (Dr P Flett), Vice-Chancellor (Professor P Johnson), Dr S Boyd, Professor R da Silva Rosa, Mr S Dawkins, Ms M Dolin, Dr L Hayes, Mr J Inverarity, Dr S Juniper, Adjunct Professor W Kerr, Professor N Laing, Mr Q Ly, Associate Professor C MacNish, Ms M Mulholland, Ms S Murphy, Ms E O’Shea, Dr J O’Shea, Ms H Silbert.

By Invitation:

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Professor D Freshwater), the Chief Financial Officer, Mr Scott Logan for Item 12, the Director, Campus Management, Ms Rowan Maclean for Item 15.

Secretariat:

University Secretary (Ms D de Souza)

APOLOGIES: Mr F Cooper, Mr V Selvaraja

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - REF F4815

Ms E O’Shea declared her interest as Guild President in the item relating to the Student Services and Amenities Fee.

MINUTES

RESOLVED – 45

that the minutes of the meeting of the Senate held on 22 June 2015 be confirmed.

DATES OF MEETINGS FOR 2016

The following dates for meetings of the Senate in 2016 were noted:

Monday, 7 March – Strategic Directions Seminar including items of Normal Business Tuesday, 26 April

Monday, 27 June

Monday, 22 August

Monday, 24 October

Monday, 12 December

APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS

In accordance with Senate Resolution 274/00 the information on appointments and promotions was noted.

CONFERRAL OF DEGREES, DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES – REF F3064

In accordance with Statute 14 clause (2)(2) made under the University of Western Australia Act 1911, members noted that on 22 June 2015 and 27 July 2015 the Vice-Chancellor conferred the respective degrees, graduate diplomas and graduate certificates upon graduands listed on conferral lists which were available for review by members.

MEDIA COVERAGE – REF F73734

Members noted a selection of press clippings compiled by the Chief Adviser, Corporate and Government Affairs on items of material interest in The Weekend West, West Australian, The Sydney Morning Herald, the Subiaco Post and WAtoday.

REPORTS OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD

1. Emeritus Professor – Ref F12209

On the recommendation of the Academic Board it was

RESOLVED – 46

that the title of Emeritus Professor be conferred upon Professors Jim Williams, Alan Robert Harvey, Denise Chalmers and Wayne Thomas from the date of their respective retirements from the University.

2. Honorary Degrees Committee – Ref F11015

Under Clause 7(1)(f) of Statute No 14, the membership of the Honorary Degrees Committee includes two members nominated by the Academic Board.

Members noted that the Board had resolved (R47/15) to appoint Professor Ian McArthur to the Honorary Degrees Committee to 31 December 2016 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Professor John Cordery.

REPORTS OF THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL

3. Report of the Academic Council - Decisions by Circular 6 July 2015

1. New Postgraduate Course Proposals – Refs F70950, F71513, F73004, F73002

RESOLVED – 47

to approve the introduction of the following new awards with effect from 2016:

• Master of Taxation Law

• Graduate Diploma in Taxation Law

• Graduate Certificate in Business Information and Logistics Management

• Graduate Certificate in Leadership.

2. Rescissions of Postgraduate Courses and Awards for 2016 – Refs F12460, F15006, F15005, F15004

RESOLVED – 48

to approve the rescission of the following awards with effect from 2016, subject to students currently undertaking a course leading to that award being able to complete their courses and graduate in accordance with the relevant rules and policies:

• Master of Medieval and Early Modern Studies

• Master of Music Practitioner Studies

• Graduate Diploma in Music Practitioner Studies

• Graduate Certificate in Music Practitioner Studies

• Master of Criminal Justice

• Graduate Diploma in Criminal Justice

16 Items from the Meeting of the Academic Council held on 5 August 2015

3. Board of Graduate Research School – Establishment – Master of Pathology – Ref F58844

RESOLVED – 49

to approve the introduction of the Master of pathology (by thesis and coursework) effective 2016.

1. New Postgraduate Course Proposals - Refs F73319, F73302, F73049, F73105, F73071, F73050

RESOLVED – 50

to approve the introduction of the following new awards effective 2016:

• Graduate Certificate in Commerce

• Graduate Certificate in Finance

• Graduate Certificate in Marketing

• Graduate Certificate in Human Resources and Employment Relations

SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES

4. Report of the Audit and Risk Committee – Ref F13793

Members noted the report of the Audit and Risk Committee meeting held on14 August 2015.

20 Report of the Chancellor’s Committee Meeting held on 11 May 2015 – Ref F11443

1. Membership of Senate – Governor’s Appointee – Ref F19784

It was noted that in accordance with its constitution, the Chancellor’s Committee had recommended to the Minister that Dr Lynton Hayes be re-appointed to Senate as a Governor’s appointee for a further term of four years from 14 March 2016 to 13 March 2020.

2. Membership of Senate – Co-opted Member – Ref F19783

In accordance with its constitution, the Chancellor’s Committee recommended that Mr Frank Cooper be co-opted as a member of Senate for a further four year term from 28 February 2016 to 27 February 2020.

RESOLVED – 51

to approve that Mr Frank Cooper be co-opted as a member of Senate for a further four-year term from 28 February 2016 to 27 February 2020.

3. Proposed Universities Legislation Amendment Bill

Members sought further information from the Vice-Chancellor on his meeting with Mr Richard Strickland and Mr Terry Werner in relation to the proposed introduction of the Universities Legislation Amendment Bill. The Vice-Chancellor reported that:

• No draft of the revised UWA Act has yet been received;

• drafting to date has focussed on template clauses many of which (particularly the clauses in relation to land) cannot apply to UWA because the Crawley Campus is held under the terms of a 999 year lease;

• with respect to the proposed future composition of the governing body, UWA has indicated its support to retain a student, staff and graduate voice on Senate;

• uniform legislation is anticipated to reduce the size of the Senate to 13 to 14 members;

• In the event that Western Australia follows Victoria, it is anticipated that an exposure draft of the legislation will be available for discussion;

• Victorian University legislation makes provision for external members of the governing body to be remunerated.

The Vice Chancellor’s report was noted.

22 Report of the Strategic Resources Committee Meeting held on 4 August 2015 – Ref F2586

4. Transfer of Streets in Daglish, Subiaco to Crown Ownership

The Strategic Resources Committee (R15/15) had considered a proposal to transfer to the Crown various lots in Daglish.

RESOLVED – 52

to approve the transfer to the Crown (subject to all costs being covered by the City of Subiaco) the following Lots in Daglish, Subiaco:

← Lot 1000 – roads – Dakin Street, Roberta Street, Jersey Street, Cunningham Terrace, Wollnough Street, Wilsmore Street, Clubb Avenue, Northmore Street and Selby Street;

← Lot 1055 – pedestrian access way (links Northmore Street and Selby Street); and

← Lot 1066 – right-of-way (links Cunningham Terrace and Troy Terrace).

5. UWA Parking By-Laws Amendment

The Strategic Resources Committee had endorsed a proposal to make amendments to The University of Western Australia’s Parking By-Laws.

RESOLVED – 53

to approve in pursuance of the University of Western Australia Act 1911, the following amendments to The University of Western Australia Lands By-Laws, for the purpose of regulating the terms and conditions on which those lands may be visited or used and the conduct of persons when on those lands:

Insert after item 42 in the First Schedule: “41 Broadway

43. Lot 400 on Plan 2948 being the whole of the land comprised in Certificate of Title Volume

2014 Folio 76.”

PERTH INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL BOARD – MEMBERSHIP – REF F941

The Constitution of the Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF) Board provides under clause 3(1) for seven members to be appointed by the Senate who have expertise across a range of relevant areas including arts, marketing, media, accounting and business.

The Chair with the support of the Vice-Chancellor sought approval from Senate to appoint Mary Ellen King to a second term on the Festival Board. Her first term expired on 25 June 2015.

RESOLVED – 54

to approve the re-appointment of Mary Ellen King for a second term on the Festival Board from 26 June 2015 to 25 June 2018.

REPORT OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR – REF F1326

Members had before them the report of the Vice-Chancellor dated 24 August 2015. Their attention was drawn in particular to the results of two league tables

• The 2015 Academic Ranking of World Universities was published on 15 August 2015 and UWA improved its position from 88 to 87. It was noted that there has been a slight change in the methodology for calculating these rankings. With respect to the future, unsustainable funding levels and increasing competition were cited as reasons for the possible inability of this University to maintain, let alone improve its position in the world rankings.

• The 2015 Academic Ranking of World Universities was published on 15 August 2015 and UWA improved its position from 88 to 87. It was noted that there has been a slight change in the methodology for calculating these rankings. With respect to the future, unsustainable funding levels and increasing competition were cited as reasons for the possible inability of this University to maintain, let alone improve its position in the world rankings.

• In the 2016 edition of the Good Universities Guide (GUG), UWA received the highest 5 star rating for “student demand”, “starting salary”, “research grants” and “research intensity”. However UWA retained a 1 star rating for “teaching” and moved from last year’s 2 star to a 1 star rating for “overall experience”.

The Vice-Chancellor assured Senate that the University is striving to improve all ratings, but explained that the situation is not as dire as a 1 star rating might suggest. The rating is due to the methodology employed by Hobsons with particular reference to the data periods used and the method of translation from satisfaction scores into star ratings.

The Vice-Chancellor explained that the “teaching quality” ratings are drawn from six questions and the “overall satisfaction” ratings from a single question in the nationally-administered Course Experience Questionnaire (CEQ). The Survey is administered in April and October each year to all students who graduated in the previous year. Due to the mid-year publication of the GUG there is a substantial lag between the data used and when it appears in the GUG. By way of illustration, the 2016 GUG was published in the middle of 2015 to target prospective students who may be expected to commence university in 2016. However the 2015 CEQ results are not available until after the publication of the 2016 GUG, so the 2014 and 2013 CEQ results are used for the 2016 publication. Furthermore, the 2014 CEQ survey is a survey of students who completed their studies in 2013. Similarly the 2013 CEQ surveys 2012 graduates. Depending on the length of their undergraduate degree (with three years being the minimum), 2013 graduating students would have commenced in 2011 or earlier.

For UWA a new curriculum and course structure was introduced in 2012 with the first cohort of students under this structure graduating in 2014. Due to the lag, the survey results from new course participants will only be represented in the 2017 GUG due to be published in mid- 2016. The current GUG ratings do not reflect the recent improvements made in teaching and learning which are more accurately reflected in internal Student Unit Reflective Feedback Surveys (SURF) through which UWA has recently received the highest level of satisfaction scores from students since the use of this device was introduced in 2004.

The Vice-Chancellor explained that to arrive at a star rating the GUG uses CEQ satisfaction scores. These are based on the sum of responses that “agree” or “strongly agree” with relevant survey questions (on a five point scale). The GUG then ranks Universities in order of that satisfaction score by dividing them into an equal number of 1, 2 3, 4 and 5 star ratings. This method creates a perception of significant variations between institutions and misrepresents the high and consistent perceptions of students of their experiences across Australian universities. With respect to “overall satisfaction” scores the range of results is quite narrow with almost all universities in the range of 80-90%. The University at the top receiving 5 stars had a score of 89.8%. UWA with a score just above 80% received a 1 star rating.

Discussion then focussed on various ‘Education Futures’ initiatives. Assurances were sought from the Vice-Chancellor that students were being surveyed to ascertain what they want. It was noted that many seek more contact with staff, request more small group discussion/inter-action but don’t want this to be made compulsory. The challenge of change in method of teaching and study from independent internet based inquiry to team based inquiry was acknowledged.

The Vice-Chancellor provided members with details of a recent project undertaken with the Principals of 50 High Schools during which it became clear that the achievement of high ATAR scores is something that is more prized by schools than it is by universities.

It was agreed that at the Senate Strategic Seminar in March 2016, a session would be dedicated to the examination of student expectations and demands and the setting of Key Performance Indicators that take account of Education Futures goals

Confirmed

CHAIR

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