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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, 29 April 2013
PRESENT:
The Chancellor (Dr M Chaney) in the Chair, the Pro Chancellor (Dr P Flett), the ViceChancellor (Professor P Johnson), Mr C Barnes, Mr J W Biggs, Ms G Bothe, Dr S Boyd, Mr F
Cooper, Mr R Cooper, Professor J Cordery, Mr S Dawkins, Ms M Dolin, Ms E Greeney, Dr L
Hayes, Dr A Howarth, Mr J Inverarity, Dr S Juniper, Professor N Laing, Professor A McKinley,
Dr J O’Shea, Ms H Silbert.
By Invitation:
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Professor W Louden), Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
(Professor R Owens) for item 14.
Secretariat:
University Secretary (Ms D de Souza)
Executive Director (Academic Services) and Registrar (Mr P Curtis)
1.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST - REF F4815
Mr Frank Cooper declared his role as Chair of the West Australian Football Commission in
relation to ongoing negotiations between the West Coast Eagles and the University. These
negotiations relate to a proposal to locate the West Coast Eagles training and administrative
facilities at UWA Sports Park.
Mr Cameron Barnes declared his membership (with voting rights) of the UWA Sports
Association Board in relation to the same issue.
2.
MINUTES
RESOLVED – 11
that the minutes of the meeting of the Senate held on 25 and 26 February 2013 be confirmed.
3.
SENATE MEMBERSHIP
Election of staff under the provisions of section 8(1)(j) of the University of Western Australia Act
1911 – Ref F824
It was noted that Dr Sato Juniper had been re-elected to Senate in the recent general staff
election for a further four year term to 4 March 2017.
4.
APPOINTMENTS, PROMOTIONS AND AWARDS OF TENURE
In accordance with Senate Resolution 274/00 members noted the information on appointments,
promotions and awards of tenure detailed in Attachment A to Item 4 of the agenda.
5.
REPORTS OF THE ACADEMIC BOARD
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. The terms of office of the current two
nominees, Professor J Gregory and Professor J Williams, expired on 31 December 2012.
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Senate noted that the Board had resolved (R154/12 and R20/13) to re-appoint Professor J
Williams and to appoint Professor K Simmer to the Honorary Degrees Committee for the period
to 31 December 2014.
6.
6.1
CONFERRAL OF DEGREES, DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES
Amendment of Awards
6.1.1 Amendment of Award Conferred at the Graduation Ceremony held on 11 March 2013
The Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences had advised that as a result of an administrative
error, Miss Melissa Lee Atkinson had been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Social Work instead of
Bachelor Social Work with Second Class Honours (Division B) at the Graduation Ceremony held on 11
March 20113.
RESOLVED – 12
to approve the award of a Bachelor of Social Work with Second Class Honours (Division B) to Miss
Melissa Lee Atkinson in place of the Bachelor of Social Work.
6.1.2 Amendment of Award Conferred at the Graduation Ceremony held on 20 March 2013
The Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics had advised that as a result of an
administrative error, Ms Zia Wilson Rice had been admitted to the degree of Bachelor of Engineering
(Civil Engineering) instead of the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) with Second Class Honours
(Division B) at the Graduation Ceremony held on 20 March 2013.
RESOLVED – 13
to approve the award of a Bachelor of engineering (Civil engineering) with Second Class Honours
(Division B) to Ms Zia Wilson Rice in place on the Bachelor of engineering (Civil Engineering).
6.2
Conferring of Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates
RESOLVED – 14
to confer their respective degrees, diplomas and certificates on the candidates listed in the schedule which
formed part of Item 7 of the agenda.
7.
7.1
REPORT OF THE ACADEMIC COUNCIL - DECISIONS BY CIRCULAR DATED 4 APRIL
2013
Legislative Committee Constitution – Amendment – Ref F12155
Members noted that the Academic Council had endorsed a recommendation from the Legislative
Committee that the constitution of the Legislative Committee be amended. These amendments
arose from amendments to the Scholarships Committee constitution. They also provided greater
flexibility to co-opt members with relevant expertise from across the University.
RESOLVED - 15
to approve the amendments to the Legislative Committee constitution as recommended and set
out in Attachment B to Item 8 of the agenda.
7.2
Faculty of Arts – Rescission of the Graduate Certificate in Applied Maritime Archaeology,
Graduate Diploma in Applied Maritime Archaeology and the Master of Applied Maritime
Archaeology – Refs F20445, F7811, F7917
RESOLVED – 16
to approve the rescission of the Graduate Certificate in Applied Maritime Archaeology, Graduate
Diploma in Applied Maritime Archaeology and the Master of Applied Maritime Archaeology with effect
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from 1 January 2014, subject to students currently undertaking the course leading to the awards being
able to complete their courses and graduate in accordance with the relevant rules and policies.
8.
SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES
8.1
Report of the Audit and Review Committee Decision by Circular dated 15 April 2013
Membership – Co-opted Members – Ref F13795
It was noted that Mr Wayne Zekulich and Ms Linda Kenyon had been co-opted to the Audit and
Review Committee for a term of two years with effect from 15 May 2013 and 15 September 2013
respectively.
8.2
Report of the Chancellor’s Committee – Ref F746
The Chancellor reported on deliberations at the Chancellor’s Committee meeting which
immediately preceded the meeting of Senate. Members discussed recommendations from the
Chancellor’s Committee and the following resolutions were passed.
8.2.1 Constitution of the Honorary Degrees Committee – Ref F11015
RESOLVED – 17
(i)
that clause 2.2 of the Guidelines for the Award of Honorary Degrees be amended to read as
follows:
“2.2 In addition to outstanding achievements described at 2.1 above, reasons for awarding
honorary degrees would normally include:
(ii)
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
Making a public statement about the values, positioning and importance of the University;

Enlarging the University’s network of people of influence in the national and international
communities;

Developing support for the University in the community”
that clause 5.2 “nominees are not required to have a connection to UWA” be deleted.
8.2.2 Allocation of Members of Senate to Senate Committees – Ref F11441, F2585
RESOLVED – 18
(i) that appointments by and from Senate to Senate Committees as at 31 December 2012 be
renewed for a further term expiring on 31 December 2014;
(ii) that Mr Roderick Cooper be appointed as a member of the External Environment Committee
under clause 3(1)(ii) of the Constitution to 31 December 2014;
.
(iii) that Mr Cameron Barnes and Ms Gemma Both be appointed as members of the External
Environment Committee under clause 3(1)(iv) of the Constitution to the date of expiry of their
current terms on Senate;
(iv) that Mr Cameron Barnes be appointed as a member of the Strategic Resources Committee
under clause 3.(1)(iv) of the Constitution to the date of expiry of his current term on Senate.
8.2.3 The Senate Programme for 2013 – Ref F28004
RESOLVED – 19
to adopt the draft programme for 2013 circulated as Attachment B to Item 13 of the agenda with the
inclusion of the following items:
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June Meeting – Centenary Fundraising Campaign
August Meeting – Internationalisation Strategy
November Meeting – Education Futures
8.2.4 Professional Development for Members of Senate
In response to comments provided as part of the 2012 Performance Evaluation of Senate and Senate
Committees:
RESOLVED – 20
(i) that Financial Services be requested to develop an in house half day training session for
Senate covering Financial Statements (Income and Expenditure Statement, Balance
Sheet and Cash Flow Statement), standards and legislation governing financial
management and reporting by the University including conventions, procedures and
terminology unique to UWA;
(ii) that places be purchased for individual members of Senate on Part 1 Governance for
Directors of the AICD three part Foundations for Directorship training program;
(iii) that the University Secretary circulate notice of training dates for the Governance for
Directors course, invite expressions of interest from members and register participants
as required
Report of the Development Committee – Ref 21530
8.3
Members noted the report of the meeting of the Development Committee held on 4 April 2013.
Report of the External Environment Committee – Ref F11443
8.4
8.4.1 Membership – Co-opted Member – Ref F11441
It was noted that Dr Elizabeth Constable had been co-opted to the External Environment
Committee for an initial term expiring 31 December 2014.
8.4.2 Student Experience in a Top 50 University Project
The External Environment Committee proposed to undertake a project to understand the student
experience at the University and compare it with the student experience provided by top fifty
universities in the world.
RESOLVED – 21
(i) to approve a project to be undertaken by the External Environment Committee to
understand the student experience at the University and how it compares with the
student experience provided by top fifty universities in the world;
(ii) to allocate $20,000 from Senate Reserves to the External Environment Committee to
undertake the project.
8.5
8.5.1
Report of the Strategic Resources Committee – Ref F11443
Appointment of Deputy Chair
Members noted that Dr T Howarth had been appointed as Deputy Chair for 2013.
8.5.2 Trinity College Refurbishment – Ref F37827
Trinity College is planning an upgrade to the Hampden Road entrance to the college and
associated improvements to the entrance lobby area.
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The University Colleges Act 1926 states that “no buildings shall be erected or altered or added
to, and no improvements shall be made on the said land unless the plans and specifications and
designs have first been submitted to and approved by the Senate”.
The Trinity Council has reviewed and approved a concept design for the proposed refurbishment
at the College and the Strategic Resources Committee has subsequently endorsed the plans.
RESOLVED – 22
to approve the Trinity College proposal for refurbishment to the entrance and lobby areas of the
College.
9.
THE AUSTRALASIAN CENTRE FOR ITALIAN STUDIES FOUNDATION COMMITTEE
– MEMBERSHIP - REF F30028
The University of Western Australia and the Cassamarca Foundation agreed by Deed executed
on 4 June 2002 to establish the Australasian Centre for Italian Studies (ACIS) to promote NeoLatin and Italian Studies within approved Universities in Australia.
Under clause 4 of the Deed the UWA Senate is requested to fill a vacancy where a member
ceases to be a member of the Committee.
Dr Andrea Rizzi is stepping down from the ACIS Management Committee after having served
two terms and Mr Antonio Pagliaro has resigned his membership. The term of Dr Francesco
Ricatti has also expired. The Committee recommended that Dr Francesco Ricatti, Cassamarca
Lecturer in Italian, University of the Sunshine Coast be appointed to the Committee for a second
two year term, Dr Brigid Maher, Lecturer in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, La
Trobe University and Dr Luciana d’Arcangeli, Cassamarca Senior Lecturer in Italian at Flinders
University be appointed to the Committee for a two year term.
Senators had before them a copy of Dr Maher’s and Dr d’Arcangeli’s brief biographies.
RESOLVED – 23
(i) to approve that Dr Francesco Ricatta, Cassamarca Lecturer in Italian, University of the Sunshine
Coast be appointed to the Australasian Centre for Italian Studies Foundation Committee for a
second two year term;
(ii) to approve that Dr Brigid Maher, Lecturer in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences,
La Trobe University and Dr Luciana d’Arcangeli, Cassamarca Senior Lecturer in Italian at
Flinders University be appointed to the Committee for a two year term.
10.
PERTH INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL BOARD – REF F941
The Constitution of the Perth International Arts Festival (PIAF) Board provides under clause 3(1) for
seven members who have expertise across a range of relevant areas (arts, marketing, media,
accounting and business) to be appointed by the Senate for three-year terms.
The Chair of the PIAF Board had advised that two members (Mr Gene Tilbrook and Mr Alan
Dodge) will retire from the Board this year. Ms Tanya Chambers had been approached to fill the
vacancy which will occur on 26 June 2013 on the retirement of Mr Gene Tilbrook and Mr Grant
Robinson had been approached to fill the vacancy which will occur on 27 July 2013 on the
retirement of Mr Alan Dodge. Both had agreed. Members had before them a copy of Ms
Chambers and Mr Robinson’s biographies.
Ms Suzanne Ardagh’s appointment also expired on 1 January 2013. The Chair of the PIAF
Board supports a request that she be re-appointed for a further three year term.
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RESOLVED – 24
(i) to approve that Ms Tanya Chambers be appointed to the Perth International Arts
Festival Board from 26 June 2013 for a three-year term;
(ii) to approve that Mr Grant Robinson be appointed to the Perth International Arts
Festival Board from 27 July 2013 for a three year term;
(iii) to approve that Ms Suzanne Ardagh be re-appointed to the PIAF Board for a three
year term to 1 January 2016.
11.
SENATE MEETINGS FOR 2014
RESOLVED – 25
that in compliance with the requirements in Statute 1, provision be made for Senate meetings on
the following dates in 2014:
Thursday 20 and Friday, 21 February – Strategic Directions Seminar
Monday, 28 April
Monday, 23 June
Monday, 25 August
Monday, 3 November
Monday, 8 December
12.
REPORT OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR
Members had before them the report of the Vice-Chancellor dated 29 April 2013. The ViceChancellor provided additional comment on

A Smarter Australia, a policy statement released by Universities Australia in an
unprecedented step in advance of this year’s Federal election.

Relentless decreases in per capital funding for universities, an item on the agenda for the
joint meeting of Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors in Hobart.

Changes in HECS, abolition of discount on upfront payment, removal of tax incentives for
participants in post graduate courses, and the potential impact on Cycle 2 and Cycle 3
courses.

The positive impact of a redesign of the Orientation process and Guild-O Day activities
which precluded alcohol and alcohol advertising or sponsorship.

A gift of $5 Million from Wesfarmers to endow the Wesfarmers Chair in Australian History.
Confirmed
CHAIR
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