ACADEMIC BOARD REPORT 1/96 - 31 JANUARY 1996

What?, did I hear you say. An Academic Board Report? We haven't had one
for ages! Sad, but true. For much of last Semester I couldn't even shoot all
the alligators. Anyway, I'll try and get at least one report in for 1996.

Virtually all the 1/96 meeting was taken up with the VC's Report.
Practically nothing else was starred for discussion.

Most of the VC's report were ho-hum items, but it took about 90 minutes to
wind through. A few of interest were:

 - L'affaire Linnane.

Really just noting the papers previously tables at the C'tee of Deans,
which included the findings of the "Committee of Investigation", and a
statement by the VC. No discussion.

 - Malaysia

PVC West reported on the proposed Monash campus in Malaysia, which, if it
comes to pass, will be a joint venture with Sunway. With the passage of
enabling legislation, it seems possible that it all might actually happen.
A bit of predictable discussion about "upholding Monash standards"
especially for research degrees. Clearly a long way to go.

 - Hoare Committee Report

This was commissioned by the Govt, and made some major recommendations
about university governance. Consideration by Monash (and most other
universities), has been postponed until after the election.

 - Selection

There was a mass of self-congratulation about Monash's outcome in round
one selections. Certainly we may have held up when compared with other
universities, but it seems to me that most of the rise in cut-off TER is a
result of reduced offers. I can see little joy in the BSc cutoff rising
from 70.15 to 73.45 when the offers declined from 448 to 313. BEng at
Caulfield rose from 39.25 to 50.55, but offers fell from 258 to 167.
It appears that the only Faculties that can be reasonably pleased are CIT
and BusEcom.

 - Pay Rise

No 2% yet, because the Commissioner is on leave and cannot ratify the
agreement. The proposal to "lend" the universities the money to pay a
5.6% rise was rejected. Fair enough, if federal departments got
supplementations to pay a similar rise.

Anyway, that seemed about all worth reporting.

Jim Breen