University of Tasmania
Academic Senate Minutes
Friday, 12 June 2015
Academic Senate
The Academic Senate met by videoconference between Room 210, Social Sciences
Building, Sandy Bay Campus and the Australian Maritime College Board Room, Swanson
Building, Newnham Campus on Friday, 12 June 2015, starting at 9:30 am.
PRESENT:
Prof D Nicol in the Chair, the Vice-Chancellor (Prof P Rathjen), Dr M
Alessandrini, Prof C Baldock, Mr A Beckett, Prof N Bose, Prof M Calford, Prof E
Cameron, Prof S Campbell, Ms D Carnes, Dr S Chai, Prof M Coffin, Mr C
Cooley, Prof J Dickey, Prof S Dodds, Prof M Dungey, Dr R Dwyer, Mr N Ewan,
Prof D Fassett, Prof D Geraghty, Prof E Hilder, Dr M Jones, Dr J Kenny, Assoc
Prof A Koutoulis, Miss H La Paglia, Dr T Lewis, Prof H Meinke, Prof G
O’Donovan, Prof M Otlowski, Dr C Owen, Prof C Palmer, Prof D
Ranmuthugala, Prof D Sadler, Prof T Simoes da Silva, Assoc Prof K Swabey,
Dr A Townsend, Prof B Waldrip, Prof J Walls, Prof M Walter, Prof A Wells, Prof
R White, Dr S Williams and Prof J Williamson.
Ms S Nelson was present as Secretary.
Observers:
Prof J Allison, Mr P Barnett, Assoc Prof N Brown, Ms A Cutler,
Ms M Fyfe, Mrs K Grube, Prof S Kilpatrick, Mrs K Pemberton, Dr J Skalicky, Mrs
S Taylor and Ms H Walford.
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INTRODUCTORY ITEMS
1.1
Apologies and welcome
The Chair welcomed members, observers and new members of Academic Senate.
On behalf of Academic Senate, the Chair wished the outgoing Dean of the
Tasmanian School of Business and Economics, Professor Gary O’Donovan, well in
his future endeavours and thanked him for his contributions to Academic Senate.
Apologies were received from the following members: Dr P Brett, Prof A Chan, Miss M
Chin, Assoc Prof M Dibben, Miss H Durrani, Assoc Prof M Grimmer, Prof T Marwick,
Assoc Prof C Mohammed, Assoc Prof A Reading, Prof J Reid, Assoc Prof E Stratford,
Assoc Prof E Wapstra and Prof K Wise.
1.2
Minutes
Academic Senate took the minutes of the meeting held on 1 May 2015 as read and
confirmed them.
1.3
Business arising from the Minutes
Updates were provided on the progress of the items listed in the Business Arising
Report.
In relation to the Gender Equity in Research item, the Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Research) suggested the proposed Research Division Committee considering the
same issue be merged with the Chair of Academic Senate’s Working Group.
Academic Senate received the Report on Business Arising from the Minutes.
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1.4
Items to be starred
Item 6.1
Appointments to Adjunct, Clinical and Associate Titles
1.5
Motions on unstarred items
Academic Senate adopted the recommendations and reports presented as unstarred
items without discussion.
Policies, Items Linked To the Strategic Plan and Priority Items
Item 2.4
Reinvigorating Sporting Participation Implementation Plan 2014-2016
Evaluation and Quality Improvement
Item 3.2
Australian Qualifications Framework Compliance Audit Process
Item 3.3
Students as Change Agents
Reporting and Monitoring
Item 4.3
Report from Faculty Board
Item 4.4
Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2015 Submission
Item 4.5
Cross Faculty Learning and Teaching Sub-committee
Item 4.6
Report from the Levy Incentivisation Sub-committee
Item 4.7
Teaching Merit Certificate Sub-committee Report
Item 4.8
Report from Council
Approvals
Item 5.2
Item 5.3
Item 5.4.1
Item 5.4.2
Item 5.5.1
Item 5.5.2
Item 5.5.3
Item 5.5.4
Item 5.5.5
Item 5.5.6
Item 5.5.7
Item 5.5.8
Item 5.5.9
Item 5.6
Item 5.7
Item 5.8
Item 5.9
Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank Review
Student Experience Committee Self-Review Recommendations
Master of Environmental Governance (Oceans, Polar and Climate)
Graduate Certificate in Workplace Conflict Management
Amendment to the Master of Health Information Management
Discontinuation of the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma
and Master of Maritime Studies
Addition of the Operational Management Specialisation to the
Graduate Certificate of Applied Science, Graduate Diploma of
Applied Science and the Master of Applied Science
Discontinuation of the Bachelor of Engineering (Maritime Electronics)
Amendment to the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
Amendment to the Bachelor of Education (Primary)
Introduction of a Diploma of University Studies (Health) exit
pathway for the Bachelor of General Studies (Health Pathway)
Amendments to year one of the Behavioural Science Major
Amendment to Entry Requirements to the Associate Degree in
Engineering (Specialisation)
Rule 1 Amendments
New Scholarships
New Prizes
Amended Prizes
Routine Business and Procedural Matters
Item 6.2
Award of Higher Degrees by Research
1.6
Items for consideration
None
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POLICIES, ITEMS LINKED TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND PRIORITY ITEMS
2.1
Strategic Session - Associate Degrees
Academic Senate received a presentation from Professor Janelle Allison, Pro ViceChancellor (Community Partnerships and Regional Development) and Ms Stephanie
Taylor, Executive Director, Student Centre on the concept of Associate Degrees in
the context of educational attainment and increasing participation in Northern
Tasmania.
Ms Taylor outlined the range and nature of Associate Degrees which have been
offered at the University, noting the evolution from pathways degrees in 2011 to the
Bachelor of General Studies in 2013. She noted there are two possible approaches
to Associate Degrees – Faculty based, discipline focused degrees and specialist
degrees which respond to student/industry need. A number of factors were outlined
as key to the success of Associate Degrees:
 attractiveness as standalone awards
 transparency in relation to articulation
 affordability to ensure increased access and capacity
 credit for those studies in relation to articulation.
Professor Allison described the learnings from experiences in the North and North
West of the state in relation to the cultural barriers to undertaking post-secondary
study, noting cost was a significant factor in those barriers. Professor Allison drew
members’ attention to the work undertaken by Dr Lisa Denny in relation to workforce
productivity in Tasmania and the need to increase workforce skills including critical
thinking and problem solving.
Professor Allison explained that Associate Degrees are not ‘competency based’, that
is they are not the same as TAFE offerings. Such Degrees could lead to
paraprofessional qualifications in the areas of applied business, health and
community care and technology and design.
Academic Senate broke into groups to consider the following discussion points:
 Pre-Degree teaching
 quality assurance
 partnerships, and
 articulation.
The outcomes of those discussions follow.
General
 Associate Degrees require a culture shift as they have not been prominent in
Australian higher education.
 There will be a need for Associate Degrees to be well conceived, standalone
and recognised by industry.
 The University will need to recognise that these degrees will be market driven
and the volatility of markets.
 Associate Degrees offer the opportunity to open up teaching in non-standard
semesters.
 Maintaining a positive student experience is important across all offerings.
 Investment in Associate Degrees will be critical, particularly as the students
enrolled in these degrees are likely to require higher levels of support.
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Pre-Degree Teaching
 Members noted a preference to avoid using the term ‘teaching only’
(suggesting all University academic staff should be involved in some level of
research).
 Members also noted, however, that the term ‘academic’ encompasses
broader aspects, for example teaching and clinical activities. All aspects of
academic endeavour are valuable.
 Members raised questions around the qualifications and career paths for
those teaching in Associate Degrees.
Quality Assurance
 The University needs to be mindful that whether the offering is Associate
Degrees, Bachelor Degrees or postgraduate studies, its reputation for quality
must be maintained.
 Quality assurance is the responsibility of all staff, at different levels.
 Employer input, for example in Work Integrated Learning, will also need
quality assurance.
 Competency based teaching exists within professionally accredited degrees.
As such care needs to be taken with the language around competency based
teaching.
 There are different considerations depending on the type of the Associate
Degree.
Partnerships
 The University has good procedures in place for managing Transnational
Education partnerships which may have some application in the Associate
Degree space.
 There are a range of partnership options for delivery of Associate Degrees.
Articulation
 Articulation pathways must be clear and provide for articulation both into and
out of Associate Degrees.
 The University could consider reconceptualising credit – perhaps it could be
applied across courses rather than for specific units.
 Pathways may not be universal if uncomplicated approaches are taken to
granting credit.
 Open access is possible.
The Vice-Chancellor provided a summary of the feedback and discussions.
 That there is a need to be careful with language. For example, the term
‘teaching only’ does not suggest that these staff are any less valuable.
Specialist teachers can be better teachers, and language which suggests
such staff are inferior should be avoided.
 That the workforce will be key to the success of the endeavour. The ViceChancellor advised he had received a significant amount of positive interest
from the University community in relation to offering Associate Degrees,
particularly as these degrees will assist in the shared Tasmanian mission of
increasing educational attainment.
 That the quality of the workforce and the programs will also be critical. The
University of Tasmania brand matters and the quality of Associate Degrees
should be no less than Bachelor Degrees. Students must be supported in all
their academic endeavours.
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
That it is apparent from enrolment levels in northern Tasmania that the
University is not offering degrees that students in these areas would like to
undertake. Hence consideration of alternative approaches is appropriate.
The Vice-Chancellor indicated that he thought the University had found the right
model and that it needed buy in from academic staff who could see the opportunities
and possibilities, particularly in relation to better outcomes for Tasmania. Members
agreed there were many disciplinary areas which would be suitable for Associate
Degrees.
It was also noted that while there is currently a cap on the offering of Associate
Degrees, this cap was imposed by Ministerial direction and could be lifted in the
same manner.
Academic Senate noted the strategic presentation on Associate Degrees.
2.2
Presentation on Social Media
The Executive Director, Marketing and Communications provided members with a
brief presentation on the University’s Social Media performance. She noted that
having clear content strategies across the digital space drives the University’s
reputation, retention and engagement and conversion.
The Executive Director, Marketing and Communications advised that changes to the
way the Course and Unit Handbook presents information (from course based to
discipline based) have resulted significant increases in engagement by prospective
students. Visits to Course and Unit Handbook pages can be tracked in real time in
terms of geographic origin and pages visited.
The Executive Director, Marketing and Communications highlighted the power of the
newly introduced researcher profiles, noting that one staff member, following
publication in Nature, received double the number of visits to his profile in 3 days
over the preceding year. The Office is currently working on 60 researcher profiles
with the remainder being rolled out in 2016. The limitations involved in the
University’s Web Access Research Portal (from which the information contained in
the pages is drawn) were noted. The Research Division webpages are also being
relaunched to provide clear visuals and clear links to applications, enquiries and ‘find
an expert’.
The Hothouse Project on educational attainment which was run as part of Dark Mofo
was also highlighted. The University was involved through:
 architecture students who undertook work experience in designing, building
and dismantling the structure which formed the Hothouse
 journalism and media students who provided coverage of the event, and
 panellists, speakers and participants at the event.
The event has generated significant social media coverage of benefit to the
University.
The Executive Director, Marketing and Communications encouraged members to
send any images and/or video they may have in relation to their areas of research to
the Office for provision on University web pages. Members were also asked to
consider the ways in which teaching excellence could be showcased.
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Members queried whether the University maintained Faculty and Institute based
Facebook pages. The Executive Director, Marketing and Communications indicated
these were not maintained centrally as they were labour intensive in relation to the
number of followers involved. The benefits of social media to the University’s 125
Anniversary celebrations were also noted.
Academic Senate noted the presentation on social media.
2.3
Research Infrastructure Plan 2015-2019
The Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) noted the Research Infrastructure
Plan sits under the Strategic Research Plan. Its development is the result of
significant consultation which has involved identifying existing maintenance and
replacement infrastructure needs together with future needs. The Plan identifies
priorities over the next four years.
A number of issues were raised in relation to the data contained in the Plan together
with its language and the composition of the Research Infrastructure Working Party.
The Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) undertook to arrange a meeting
between the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research Collaboration and Infrastructure) and the
member concerned to resolve the issues raised.
Academic Senate noted the Research Infrastructure Plan 2015-2019.
2.4
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3.1
Reinvigorating Sporting Participation Implementation Plan 2014-2016
Academic Senate received the quarterly progress report on the Reinvigorating
Sporting Participation Implementation Plan 2014-2016.
EVALUATION AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Academic Quality Assurance Report - Unit Results
The Chair noted that the strategic session for the 24 July 2015 Academic Senate
meeting will focus on course level retention and attrition.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students & Education) indicated the Unit based report
formed part of the regular academic quality assurance reporting which will be
provided to Academic Senate. In relation to course level retention, the Deputy ViceChancellor (Students & Education) noted decreases in retention and that Academic
Senate would need to consider the causes of and possible amelioration. Retention
has become a particular issue nationally following the introduction of the demand
driven system. Members indicated that the report needed greater granularity to be
useful and that it would assist if Faculties also had access to the detailed information
collated.
Academic Senate noted the Academic Quality Assurance Report on unit results.
3.2
Australian Qualifications Framework Compliance Audit Process
Academic Senate received the report of the review undertaken during 2014 of course
compliance with the Australian Qualifications Framework.
3.3
Students as Change Agents
Academic Senate received the report on the 2014 pilot of the Students as Change
Agents initiative.
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4
REPORTING AND MONITORING
4.1
Vice-Chancellor's Report on Matters of Current Interest and Importance
The Chair noted that this item of the Agenda includes the Portfolio reporting from the
Divisions.
The Vice-Chancellor advised that the Vice-Chancellor’s Annual Review (VCAR)
process is underway – reviews have been conducted with four faculties in early June
with the remainder to be finalised shortly.
The Vice-Chancellor noted the recent Federal Budget contained cuts to operating
revenue and an increase in research funding for programs of which the University is
custodian. He added that research funding, being tied to specific projects, does not
ameliorate cuts to the funding available for teaching etc.
The Vice-Chancellor advised that the recent State Government Budget represented a
shift away from resources based investment to investing in human capacity, notably
the funding provided for the University’s relocation in Launceston. The allocation
reflects real attention to education and educational attainment in the State.
The Provost provided members with an update on the recent meeting of the
Universities Australia Plenary, particularly in relation to deregulation.
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted recent senior appointments, specifically Professor
Brigid Heywood, the incoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), Professor Chris
Earley, the incoming Dean of the Tasmanian School of Business and Economics,
Professor Ben Canny, the incoming Head of the School of Medicine and Dr Greg
Rickard as Director of the Rozelle campus.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Students & Education) provided members with an
update on the Federal Government’s decision to cease funding for the Office of
Learning and Teaching in favour of an Institute within the sector. While little detail is
available at this stage, there is concern that the available funding is significantly less
than that of the Office of Learning and Teaching. The current arrangements will
remain in place until July 2016.
Academic Senate noted the Vice-Chancellor's Report on matters of current interest
and importance.
4.2
Reports from Academic Senate Committees
A member queried the progress of the eExaminations Review through University
Learning and Teaching Committee. It was noted that all faculties had been asked to
provide advice on their planned usage and eExaminations in general. Once that
information was collated the issue would be further discussed by University Learning
and Teaching Committee. It was suggested that the staff member concerned contact
the Secretary for University Learning and Teaching Committee for further information.
Academic Senate noted the activity reports from the Academic Quality and
Standards Committee, Student Experience Committee, University Learning and
Teaching Committee and University Research Committee.
4.3
Report from Faculty Board
Academic Senate received the Faculty Board report from the Faculty of Health.
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4.4
Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2015 Submission
Academic Senate received the Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) 2015
Submission.
4.5
Cross Faculty Learning and Teaching Sub-committee
Academic Senate received the report from the Cross Faculty Learning & Teaching
Sub-committee
4.6
Report from the Levy Incentivisation Sub-committee
Academic Senate received the report from the Levy Incentivisation Sub-committee.
4.7
Teaching Merit Certificate Sub-committee Report
Academic Senate received the report from the Teaching Merit Certificate Subcommittee.
4.8
Report from Council
Academic Senate noted the advice on the report from Council for 8 May 2015.
APPROVALS
5.1
Academic Senate Committee Memberships - Call for Expressions of Interest in
Vacant Positions
The Chair noted that transitional arrangements in relation to membership of
Academic Senate Committees were required following adoption of the
recommendations from the reviews of those Committees.
Members, particularly those with line management of staff, were encouraged to think
about academic staff who could make a contribution to, and would benefit from
involvement in, Academic Senate Committees and support and encourage those
staff to submit an Expression of Interest.
Academic Senate approved the transitional arrangements for Academic Senate
nominated membership on Academic Senate Committees.
Academic Senate noted the calls for Expressions of Interest for vacant positions on
Student Experience Committee and University Research Committee.
5.2
Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank Review
Academic Senate approved the revised principles and administrative arrangements
for the calculation of the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank for Tasmanian students
as specified in the Admissions Policy Committee Working Party report.
5.3
Student Experience Committee Self-Review Recommendations
Academic Senate received the report and approved the recommendation to add the
Associate Director, Student Experience, Retention and Success to the Student
Experience Committee membership.
5.4
New Course Proposals
5.4.1
Master of Environmental Governance (Oceans, Polar and Climate)
Academic Senate approved the proposal to introduce the Master of
Environmental Governance (Oceans, Polar and Climate) from semester 1,
2016.
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Academic Senate approved Amendment Rule ASL15/5 to amend the
schedule to Rule 1 - Rules of Awards subject to approval of the Resource
Impact Statement
5.4.2
Graduate Certificate in Workplace Conflict Management
Academic Senate approved the proposal to introduce the Graduate Certificate
in Workplace Conflict Management from semester 1, 2016.
Academic Senate approved Amendment Rule ASL15/6 to amend the
schedule to Rule 1 - Rules of Awards subject to approval of the Resource
Impact Statement.
5.5
Significant and Minor Amendments
5.5.1
Amendment to the Master of Health Information Management
Academic Senate approved the proposal to amend the Master of Health
Information Management from semester 2, 2015.
5.5.2
Discontinuation of the Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and
Master of Maritime Studies
Academic Senate approved the proposal to discontinue and teach out the
Graduate Certificate of Maritime Studies, the Graduate Diploma of Maritime
Studies and Master of Maritime Studies from semester 1, 2016.
5.5.3
Addition of the Operational Management Specialisation to the Graduate
Certificate of Applied Science, Graduate Diploma of Applied Science
and the Master of Applied Science
Academic Senate approved the proposal to introduce an Operational
Management Specialisation in the Graduate Certificate of Applied Science,
Graduate Diploma of Applied Science and Master of Applied Science from
semester 2, 2015.
5.5.4
Discontinuation of the Bachelor of Engineering (Maritime Electronics)
Academic Senate approved the proposal to discontinue the Bachelor of
Engineering (Maritime Electronics) from semester 2, 2015.
5.5.5
Amendment to the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood)
Academic Senate approved the proposal to amend the Bachelor of Education
(Early Childhood) from semester 1, 2016.
5.5.6
Amendment to the Bachelor of Education (Primary)
Academic Senate approved the proposal to amend the Bachelor of Education
(Primary) from semester 1, 2016.
5.5.7
Introduction of a Diploma of University Studies (Health) exit pathway for
the Bachelor of General Studies (Health Pathway)
Academic Senate approved the proposal to introduce a Diploma of University
Studies (Health) retrospectively from semester 1, 2015.
5.5.8
Amendments to Year One of the Behavioural Science Major
Academic Senate approved the proposal to amend the first year structure of
the Behavioural Science Major and Minor in the following courses from
semester 2, 2015:
 Bachelor of Arts (13A)
 Bachelor of Behavioural Science (53M)
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5.5.9
Bachelor of Psychology with Honours (M4O)
Bachelor of Medical Research (M3M)
Bachelor of Behavioural Science and Bachelor of Laws (63QI)
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Business (13J)
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Fine Arts (13I)
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Economics (13G)
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science (13M)
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Computing (13H)
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Information and Communication
Technology (13P)
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (63J1)
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws with Honours in Law (L4D/L4D1)
Amendment to entry requirements to the Associate Degree in
Engineering (Specialisation)
Academic Senate approved the proposal to amend the entry requirements to
the Associate Degree in Engineering (Specialisation) from semester 2, 2015.
5.6
Rule 1 Amendments
Academic Senate approved Amendment Rule ASL15/2 to amend Rule 1 – Rules of
Awards.
5.7
New Scholarship
Academic Senate approved the Don Gaffney Memorial Scholarship.
5.8
New Prize
Academic Senate approved the Australian Society for Microbiology Prize.
5.9
Amended Prizes
Academic Senate approved the amendments to the following prizes
 Justices Association Prize
 Frank W. Fay Prize in Surgery
 Ruddicks Prize for Accounting
ROUTINE BUSINESS AND PROCEDURAL MATTERS
6.1
Appointments to Adjunct, Clinical or Associate Titles
The Provost noted and congratulated the colleagues listed in the report. He
reminded members that the Adjunct, Clinical or Associate Titles Policy was amended
in 2013 to remove reference to ‘voluntary’ position holders and this nomenclature
should be avoided. The Provost also advised that the Policy is under review –
members should provide any feedback to his office.
Academic Senate approved the appointments to Adjunct, Clinical and Associate
Titles.
6.2
Award of Higher Degrees by Research
Academic Senate approved the awards of Higher Degrees by Research.
7.0
OTHER BUSINESS (IF ANY)
None
The Meeting closed at 12:35pm.
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