Minutes of the meeting of the Academic Standards and Quality Committee held on Tuesday 21 July 2015 in the Council Room,
Level 2 Building E11A, from 10:08 am to 12:05pm.
Professor Dominic Verity (Acting Chair)
Associate Professor Carlos Bernal-Pulido
Dr Gordon Brooks
Dr Trevor Case
Lindie Clark
Maureen Kattau
Tom Kerr
Dr Catriona Lavermicocca
Dr Rahat Munir
Lynn Negus
Cathy Rytmeister
Dr Anne-Louise Semple
Professor Manjula Waniganayake
Deidre Anderson
Fiona Burton
Dr Stephen Collins
Associate Professor Pamela Coutts (Chair)
Trudy De Vries
Professor Kirsty Forrest
Dr Peter Rogers
Professor John Simons
Sue Spinks
Hayley Harris
Ainslee Harvey
Associate Professor Geoffrey Hawker
Associate Professor Michael Hitchens
Dr Lavina Lee
Bonnie Liu
Dr Niamh Moloney
Professor Tony Parker
Diana Perche
Amanda Phelps
Jason Ray
Professor Anne Ross-Smith
Kylie Shorrock
Zoe Williams
Jonathan Wylie
Dr Rod Yager
Professor Sherman Young
1

1. WELCOME AND APOLOGIES
The Chair noted that apologies were received from Deidre Anderson, Fiona Burton, Dr Stephen
Collins, Associate Professor Pamela Coutts, Trudy De Vries, Professor Kirsty Forrest, Dr Peter Rogers,
Professor John Simons and Sue Spinks.
The Chair noted that Maureen Kattau was attending on behalf of Fiona Burton and Associate Professor
Michael Hitchens was in attendance as an observer.
The Chair welcomed Dr Niamh Moloney, Dr Rod Yager and Professor Tony Parker as observers at the meeting. The Chair noted that Diana Perche, Dr Lavina Lee and Associate Professor Geoffrey Hawker were also in attendance in relation to item 3.1.
The Chair advised that a formal leave of absence request was received from Sue Spinks on 14 July 2015.
Ms Spinks advised that she was on sick leave until the end of November and requested a formal leave of absence from ASQC from July to November 2015 which involved 5 meetings in total. The Chair outlined that according to the Standing Orders for Committees of Senate, “The Committee, at its discretion, may grant leave of absence for one or more meetings. Members must seek leave in writing and in advance giving reasons for the proposed leave of absence.”
RESOLUTION
The Committee RESOLVED TO APPROVE the request from Sue Spinks for leave of absence from 5 meetings of ASQC between July and November 2015.
1.1 Disclosure of conflicts of interest
The Chair sought declarations of any conflicts of interests to be recorded.
The following disclosures were noted:
Cathy Rytmeister: Item 6.5 – Report on the Ratification of Session 1 2015 Examination Results (Faculty of Arts)
1.2 Adoption of unstarred items
The following Agenda items were starred for discussion:
• Item 3.1 – 2016 Late Changes to the Schedule of Programs, Majors or Specialisations – Graduate
Certificate of International Relations and Graduate Certificate of Politics and Public Policy (Item 5.2)
• Item 3.1 – 2016 Unit Proposals – Capstone – BUS301 Global Business Strategy and MGMT310
Entrepreneurship Project (Item 5.6)
• Item 3.2 – Report to Academic Senate
• Item 4.1 – Late Changes to the Schedule of Programs, Majors or Specialisations 0 Postgraduate
Certificate of Applied Finance (2014), Master of Applied Finance, Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance
• Item 4.2 – 2015 Co-Taught Units
• Item 5.1 – 2016 Late Changes to the Schedule of Programs, Majors or Specialisations
• Item 5.2 – 2016 Co-Taught Units
• Item 5.3 – Program Specifications
• Item 6.1 – Exception to the Final Examination Policy on publication of pink exam papers for BIOL345
Human Genetics Theory
• Item 6.2 – Program and Unit Review Cycles
• Item 8.1 - International Articulation Agreement – Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de
Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico
• Item 8.2 – Generic People Unit Exemption for Singapore Polytechnic Diploma Students
RESOLUTION
That the items not starred for discussion be noted and, where appropriate, be adopted as recommended.
2

2.
3.
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 16 JUNE 2015
2.1 Minutes of meeting held on Tuesday 16 June 2015
RESOLUTION
The Committee RESOLVED TO APPROVE the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 16 June
2015 as a true and accurate record.
BUSINESS ARISING FROM MINUTES
3.1 2016 Late Changes to the Schedule of Programs, Majors or Specialisations – Graduate Certificate of
International Relations and Graduate Certificate of Politics and Public Policy (Item 5.2)
During discussion of Item 3.1 the following arrived:
Jason Ray attended the meeting from 10:29am.
Professor Sherman Young attended the meeting from 10:37am.
Professor Anne Ross-Smith attended the meeting from 10:55am.
Ms Diana Perche, Associate Professor Geoffrey Hawker and Dr Lavina Lee attended the meeting to speak to this item.
The Committee noted the issues paper Graduate Certificate of International Relations and Graduate Certificate
of Politics and Public Policy, submitted by Ms Diana Perche and Dr Lavina Lee. The paper was submitted in response to the feedback by ASQC at the 16 June meeting seeking further information and clarification on the admission requirements, program structure and articulation arrangements for the Graduate Certificate of
International Relations and Graduate Certificate of Politics and Public Policy. The paper provided further background information to the request, further information requested by ASQC and a rationale justifying the revised course structure. Ms Perche provided a summary of the submission to the Committee.
The Committee noted that the current admission requirements for the two Graduate Certificate programs
‘Australian level 7 bachelor’s qualification or recognised equivalent’ suggested that the programs were available for non-cognate entry, and it was proposed that a 800 level unit POIR905 Foundations in Politics, International
Relations and Public Policy would replace the current two 600 level units. Ms Perche outlined that it had been the intention of the Graduate Certificate programs to accept students with a broad range of backgrounds (often coupled with relevant work experience), that may be considered as ‘cognate’ against the areas of study within the
Graduate Certificate programs.
The Committee noted that according to AQF requirements, students entering with a Graduate Certificate in a cognate discipline would have access to a 18 month Master, whereas those without would need to do a longer
Master. The proposal however suggested that a student would be able to complete the Master with only an additional 32cp (12 months) study following completion of the Graduate Certificate. The Committee recommended that consideration be given to amending the admission requirements to reflect cognate entry and to manage the work experience component via an RPL plan. The Committee agreed that further work would be required by the Faculty to define cognate entry to the Graduate Certificates.
The Committee also noted that while the proposal acknowledged that the new 800 level unit departed from the usual pattern of offering 600 level introductory units for non-cognate students, it argued that the specifically tailored introductory program of POIR905 would provide a better level of consolidated learning compared to the current co-taught 600 level units. Further the proposal highlighted the view that if a student completes a program that is recognised as Level 8 AQF, the status of any unit completed within the program is immaterial if the program learning outcomes for the level have been met.
RESOLUTION
The Committee RESOLVED TO APPROVE the amended program structure of the Graduate
Certificate of International Relations and Graduate Certificate of Politics and Public P0licy that included the replacement of the 600 level units with one required unit POIR 905 Foundations in
Politics, International Relations and Public Policy, and the addition of one elective unit from the existing Masters level units at 800 level, effective 1 January 2016.
The Committee’s approval was granted subject to amendments to the admission requirements to reflect cognate entry and work experience.
ACTION
The Faculty to submit revised admission requirements to the next ASQC meeting to demonstrate that cognate entry is appropriately defined and an appropriate work experience component is
included.
Ms Diana Perche, Associate Professor Geoffrey Hawker and Dr Lavina Lee departed the meeting at 10:46am.
3

2016 Unit Proposals – Capstone (Item 5.6)
The Committee considered further information submitted for the Capstone designation for BUS301 Global
Business Strategy and MGMT310 Entrepreneurship Project.
RESOLUTION
The Committee RESOLVED TO APPROVE a Capstone designation to the following units, effective 1 January 2016:
• BUS301 Global Business Strategy
• MGMT310 Entrepreneurship Project
Changes to Course Transfer Schedule for Mid-Year 2015 (Item 4.1)
The Committee noted that the Chair of Academic Senate approved the amendments to the mid-year
2015 undergraduate course transfer schedule transfer on 26 June 2015.
3.2 Report to Academic Senate
The Committee noted that Academic Senate has not met since the last ASQC meeting on Tuesday 16
June 2015 and that the Senate meeting scheduled for 14 July 2015 was cancelled. An Academic
Senate Standing Committee was held on Tuesday 14 July 2015 at which time the following items recommended for approval by Academic Senate, arising out of the 16 June ASQC meeting were considered.
Proposal for New Major – Counselling Theory and Principles
The Academic Senate Standing Committee approved the new major Counselling Theory and Principles, effective 1 January 2016, subject to structure amendments being provided to ASQC. (Refer to item 5.4 in the minutes of the 16 June 2015 ASQC meeting)
Proposals for new awards
There were ten new awards recommended by ASQC for approval by Academic Senate, effective 1 January 2016.
Of the ten, seven were approved by the Academic Senate Standing Committee on 14 July 2015, pending confirmation that the feedback provided at the 16 June 2015 ASQC meeting has been incorporated (refer to item 5.5 in the minutes of the 16 June ASQC meeting).
The approved new awards were:
• Bachelor of Applied Finance with the degree of Bachelor of Business Analytics
• Bachelor of Business Analytics with the degree of Bachelor of Security Studies
• Bachelor of Commerce – Professional Accounting with the degree of Bachelor of Business
Analytics
• Bachelor of Economics with the degree of Bachelor of Business Analytics
• Bachelor of Security Studies with the degree of Bachelor of Laws
• Master of Applied Linguistics
• Master of Policy and Applied Social Research (OUA)
The new awards not approved were (pending confirmation of business cases):
• Diploma of Speech and Communication
• Graduate Certificate of Business Psychology
• Graduate Diploma of Business Psychology
The Committee noted that there were questions around the offering of Diplomas and confirmed its position that these sub-Bachelor qualifications are only approved in the grounds that they may only be undertaken as an addon by those who are already enrolled in a Bachelor degree program. The Committee noted there was an additional question regarding the charging of domestic students. The Committee noted that the Chair of
Academic Senate would be following up these issues with the Chair of ASQC.
Application for Exception of Minimum Requirements: Schedule B Postgraduate Awards – Graduate Diploma of
Auslan-English Interpreting
The Academic Senate Standing Committee approved that the exception be granted for the requirement that students complete a minimum of 32 credit points at 800 level or above, for students who have completed the
Graduate Diploma of Auslan-English Interpreting articulating into the Master of Translation and Interpreting
Studies, effective 1 January 2016. This exception to the minimum requirements will enable such students to receive RPL for a maximum of 32 credit points towards the Master of Translation and Interpreting Studies, leaving 16 credit points to complete in the Master.
4

4.
5.
The Committee noted that the next Academic Senate meeting will be held on Tuesday 25 August
2015.
2015 SCHEDULE
4.1 Late Changes to the Schedule of Programs, Majors or Specialisations
The Committee noted the following three 2015 Schedule late changes which were approved by the Chair of ASQC after the meeting of 16 June 2015:
• Master of Accounting (CPA Extension)
• Master of International Business with Master of International Relations
• Master of Applied Finance
The Committee noted the following two 2015 Schedule late changes which were approved by the Deputy Chair of
Academic Senate Professor Sherman Young after the last meeting of 16 June 2015:
• Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance
• Graduate Diploma of Translating and Interpreting
The Committee considered the following 2015 Schedule late changes:
• Postgraduate Certificate of Applied Finance – 2014
• Master of Applied Finance
• Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance
RESOLUTION
The Committee RESOLVED TO APPROVE the 2015 late changes to the following programs with immediate effect:
• Postgraduate Certificate of Applied Finance – 2014
• Master of Applied Finance
• Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance
4.2 Co-Taught Units
The Committee considered the following co-taught unit request for 2015:
• PSYP904 Working with Special Populations and
PSYS841 Contemporary Issues in Social Health
RESOLUTION
The Committee RESOLVED TO APPROVE the following request for co-taught units with immediate effect:
• PSYP904 Working with Special Populations and
PSYS841 Contemporary Issues in Social Health
2016 SCHEDULE
5.1 Late Changes to the Schedule of Programs, Majors or Specialisations
The Committee noted the following 2016 Schedule late changes which were approved by the Deputy Chair of
Academic Senate Professor Sherman Young after the last meeting of 16 June 2015:
• Creative Writing major
• English major
• Master of Commerce
• Business Management and Organisations specialisation
• Corporate Governance specialisation
• Finance specialisation
• Financial Crime and Governance specialisation
• Human Resources Management specialisation
• Marketing specialisation
The Committee noted the following 2016 Schedule late change which was approved by the Chair of ASQC after the last meeting of 16 June 2015:
5

• Bachelor of Business Analytics
The Committee considered the following 2016 Schedule late changes:
• Graduate Certificate of Editing and Electronic Publishing
• Leading Teaching specialisation – Graduate Certificate of Education Studies
• Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
• Graduate Diploma of Auslan-English Interpreting
• Bachelor of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Commerce – Professional Accounting
RESOLUTION
The Committee RESOLVED TO APPROVE the 2016 late changes to the following programs effective 1 January 2016:
• Graduate Certificate of Editing and Electronic Publishing
• Leading Teaching specialisation – Graduate Certificate of Education Studies
• Bachelor of Teaching (Early Childhood Education)
• Graduate Diploma of Auslan-English Interpreting
• Bachelor of Business Administration
• Bachelor of Commerce – Professional Accounting
5.2 Co-Taught Units
The Committee considered additional information provided in response to feedback at the 16 June ASQC meeting
(Item 5.9) for the request to co-teach the following:
• AFCP613 Financial Statement Analysis and Modelling and
AFCP813 Financial Statement Analysis and Modelling
Professor Ross-Smith spoke to this item. The Committee noted that the Faculty was working on the differentiation in learning outcomes.
RESOLUTION
The Committee RESOLVED TO APPROVE the request to co-teach AFCP613 Financial Statement
Analysis and Modelling and AFCP813 Financial Statement Analysis and Modelling for the next offering. The co-teaching of future offerings to be subject to the differentiation of learning outcomes and assessment schedules, with associated documentation to be submitted to the next
ASQC meeting for approval.
The Committee considered the following co-taught unit requests for 2016:
• PSYC439 Evolution of Social, Sexual and Emotional Behaviour and
PSYC739 Evolution of Social, Sexual and Emotional Behaviour
The Committee raised queries in relation to the discrepancy in student workload and assessment between the two units and suggested that the Faculty review the information on the basis that differentiation in these areas would not be necessary for co-badging.
ACTION
The Faculty to review the differences in stated student workload and assessment between
PSYC439 Evolution of Social, Sexual and Emotional Behaviour and PSYC739 Evolution of
Social, Sexual and Emotional Behaviour.
RESOLUTION
The Committee RESOLVED TO APPROVE the request to co-badge PSYC439 Evolution of Social,
Sexual and Emotional Behaviour and PSYC739 Evolution of Social, Sexual and Emotional
Behaviour, effective 1 January 2016.
The Committee considered the following co-taught unit request for 2016:
• GEOP705 Understanding Climate Change Policies, Management and Adaptation and
CLIM805 Climate Change: Policies, Management and Adaptation
6

6.
The Committee noted that due to curriculum changes submission timing the request was sent via Tracker which did not capture the usual amount of detail enabled in Webforms.
ACTION
The Faculty to provide additional information on differentiation to allow ASQC to consider the co-taught request for GEOP705 Understanding Climate Change Policies, Management and
Adaptation and CLIM805 Climate Change: Policies, Management and Adaptation.
5.3 Program Specifications
The Committee noted the following:
Undergraduate Majors: Criminology, Croatian Studies, Indigenous Studies, Italian Studies and Japanese Studies.
Postgraduate Programs: Graduate Certificate of Indigenous Education, Graduate Certificate of International
Relations, Graduate Diploma of Indigenous Education, Graduate Diploma of International Relations, Master of
Indigenous Education and Master of International Communication with the degree of Master of International
Relations.
Draft Bachelor of Arts Program Outcomes Arts
ACTION
A Working Party to review the program specifications and report to the next ASQC meeting with a recommendation.
STRATEGY AND POLICY
6.1 Exception to the Final Examination Policy on publication of pink exam papers for BIOL345 Human
Genetics Theory
The Committee considered the request for an exemption from the Final Examination Policy on publication of pink exam papers for BIOL345 Human Genetics Theory. The Committee agreed that there did not appear to be sufficient pedagogical grounds to support the request. Questions were also raised with respect to the accreditation process.
ACTION
Dr Trevor Case and Dr Anne-Louise Semple to liaise with the proposer of the request to seek
further information for the consideration of ASQC at the next meeting.
6.2 Program and Unit Review Cycles
The Committee noted the Draft Discussion Paper on Quality Assurance Principles of Program and Unit Review prepared by Paul Fairweather, Manager Quality Assurance and Compliance, that was amended to incorporate feedback provided at the last ASQC meeting. The paper also reflected views of the Working Party commissioned by the former Curriculum Standards Framework Committee to initiate discussion in this area.
Committee members provided further feedback to the draft paper:
• Responsibility at various levels needs to be explicit to ensure there is a comprehensive cycle of evaluation, noting that inadequate data for such purpose is often an issue;
• The purpose of the review to include the basics around what information is required;
• Faculty level responsibility in light of possible contexts of department ‘silos’.
The Acting Chair thanked Mr Fairweather for preparing the paper and recommended that a Working Party with representatives from each Faculty and PACE be formed to continue the development work which should connect with the Learning and Teaching White Paper when it is published.
ACTION
The Chair of Academic Senate, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching and Deputy
Registrar to discuss the formation of the Working Party to continue work on Program and Unit
Review Cycles.
6.3 Consolidated RPL Schedules
The Committee noted the issues paper and consolidated RPL Schedules for the Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Human
Sciences and Faculty of Science and Engineering.
6.4 Review of New Units
A verbal update by the Working Party was deferred to the next ASQC meeting.
7

7.
8.
6.5 Ratification of Session 1 2015 Examination Results
The Committee noted the reports on the ratification of Session 1 2015 examination results received from the
Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Human Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Faculty of Science and
Engineering. A report from the Faculty of Business and Economics was to be submitted shortly.
The Committee noted that as part of its monitoring role in the application of the Ratification of Examination
Results Quality Assurance Framework since the devolution of authority to faculties, ASQC was responsible in ensuring: i) the ratification of results process established by faculties against the Quality Standards was being observed, ii) there were reports on alterations of results at any level, and iii) there was a process and mechanism to follow up issues identified from previous exams. ASQC would then present a summary report on institutional level issues and themes for the consideration by Academic Senate.
ACTION
A Working Party (suggested number of members was 3-4) to be formed to review the reports on the ratification of Session 1 2015 examination results received from the Faculties. Expressions of interest to be sent to the Acting Chair. The Working Party to be provided with a copy of the email from the Chair of ASQC to Executive Deans of Faculties that detailed what aspects should
be covered by the reports.
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT CASES
7.1 Faculty Reports
The Committee noted Individual Student Cases reports which have been received from the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Science and Engineering.
GENERAL BUSINESS
8.1 International Articulation Agreement – Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
(ITESM), Mexico
The Committee considered the proposed International Articulation Agreement bewteen Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico (BBE – B.S. Biotechnology Engineering 2011, BBS – B.S.
Biobusiness Engineering 2012, BAG – B.S. Agrobiotechnology Engineering 2011) and Macquarie University
(Master of Biotechnology). Jason Ray outlined the proposal.
RESOLUTION
The Committee RESOLVED TO APPROVE the International Articulation Agreement bewteen
Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM), Mexico (BBE – B.S.
Biotechnology Engineering 2011, BBS – B.S. Biobusiness Engineering 2012, BAG – B.S.
Agrobiotechnology Engineering 2011) and Macquarie University (Master of Biotechnology).
8.2 Generic People Unit Exemption for Singapore Polytechnic Diploma Students
The Committee considered a request for the approval of the granting of exemption of a generic People unit for any Singapore Polytechnic 3-year diploma student who has completed a minimum of three general education units. Jason Ray outlined the request.
RESOLUTION
The Committee RESOLVED TO APPROVE the granting of exemption of a generic People unit for any Singapore Polytechnic 3-year diploma student who has completed a minimum of three
general education units.
8.3 Changes to CRICOS Titles of MRes
The Committee noted the paper Changes to CRICOS Titles of MRes.
8.4 Transition Admission Scheme for SIBT Students
The Committee noted the request to seek endorsement of ASQC of the proposed Transition Admission Scheme for SIBT students, for the approval of Academic Senate. Professor Sherman Young outlined the request. The
Committee acknowledged the transitionary nature of this scheme due to the ending of the SIBT contract and noted the conditions of the scheme.
RESOLUTION
The Committee ENDORSED the proposed Transition Admission Scheme for SIBT Students for the approval Academic Senate.
Dr Catriona Lavermicocca and Dr Rahat Munir departed the meeting at 11:01am.
8

9.
10.
11.
FUTURE ISSUES FOR ASQC
The Committee noted the list of future issues for ASQC .
• Testing for English Language Proficiency at the Conclusion of English Language Short Courses
• Review of Faculty Examination reports
• Analysis of academic risk – assistance from Trudy de Vries and available data from Analytics Team
• Review of Capstone units
• Review of saving (people and planet) and deeming decisions
• Roles and responsibilities – possible mitigation of risk in Governance
• Joint meetings with other Academic Senate sub-committees to have a shared understanding of roles and discussion of issues in common
• Oversight of the new Faculty Unit Proposals
• Faculty reports – timelines and scope
• Unit guides
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
10.1 Review of General Coursework Rules 2015
The Committee noted the paper Review of General Coursework Rules 2015 tabled by Governance Services. Ms
Zoe Williams outlined the Rule Review timeframe that included revision of the General Coursework Rules to be considered by ASQC and Academic Senate for recommendation to Council. The Committee noted that minor amendments to the General Coursework Rules would be envisaged, with primary changes to involve any impact to the Rules by the new Macquarie University International College and some items unresolved from last year
(including definition of academic year and interplay with the policy on discontinuance).
The Committee also noted a range of stakeholders had been proposed to participate in the review of the General
Coursework Rules that included ASQC. The Committee recommended that 3 members be nominated from ASQC to participate in the review.
Jason Ray departed the meeting at 12:01pm.
RESOLUTION
A/Professor Carlos Bernal-Pulido and Dr Rod Yager were nominated as members from ASQC to participate in the review of the General Coursework Rules. The Chair of ASQC to seek one further nomination from the ASQC membership.
NEXT MEETING
The Committee noted that the next Academic Standards and Quality Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday 18
August 2015.
Agenda items are due by Friday 7 August 2015.
There being no further business the meeting was closed at 12:05pm.
9