15 February 2006

The Board of Trustees met on Wednesday 15 February 2006, in the Boardroom, Building AD, Werrington North. A summary of resolutions and other items is provided below.

Confirmation of Minutes
The minutes of the November meeting of the Board of Trustees were confirmed.

Main items considered by the Board

Student Demand and Projected Enrolments 2006

The Board noted the issues involved in balancing student demand against   targets set by the Federal Government for enrolments in designated discipline   groups. The allowable margin is small, and there are significant financial   penalties for too great a deviation. Management of this issue includes complex   modelling, careful analysis of trends, UAI levels, and projects to increase   student retention. The University’s aim is to achieve a small over-enrolment, in   the order of 2 percent.

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University Governance

The Board addressed a range of governance matters:

 
• The Minister has re-appointed Board members Glen Sanford, Hon Jan   Burnswoods, Hon Kim Yeadon and Roy Medich for a further four years
• The Board has appointed Elfriede Sangkuhl and Tanya Rubin to be the student   and staff members respectively on the Strategy and Resources Committee
• The Board approved a paper on Board Meeting Protocols
• The Board noted the requirements of the National Governance Protocols, and   members acknowledged and affirmed the Board’s mandated role, functions and   powers, as well as the role, duties and responsibilities of individual   members.

Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU)

John McGuire (PAUWS), Edith Taylor (UWSSA) and Tony Geange (uwsconnect) made   presentations to the Board on the services they provide, their plans for 2006,   and the potential impact of VSU. The Board recognised that the University will   need to decide, by its next meeting, which services were essential, which were   highly desirable, which services might be self-funding, and which ones UWS might   be required to fund.

The Board noted that the amenities fee charged to students was an annual fee,   collected in two instalments. It confirmed the decision to collect the second   half of the annual fee from continuing students prior to 1 July 2006. Students   commencing in second semester will not be liable for the fee.

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Strategy and Resources Committee Report

The Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee reported that the draft   annual accounts for 2005 indicated that the University’s performance was in line   with its strategic objectives. The accounts (unaudited at this stage) suggested   that the University had achieved a commendable turnaround from an expected   deficit for the year of $6.5m to an operating surplus in the order of   $2.0m.

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Audit and Risk Management Committee Report

The Chair of the Committee reported on matters considered since the previous   Board meeting, including matters examined by the Internal Audit staff. He said   the Committee would shortly be meeting to consider the Annual Accounts so they   could then be forwarded to the external auditors.

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Academic Senate Report

The Chair of Academic Senate reported on activities since the previous   meeting.The Board noted, in particular, the approval of courses in the   Television and Medicine areas and the rigour that had been applied to   consideration of these courses.

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Recent Developments on Callista

The Board noted a report on negotiations with other Universities involved in   the Callista Consortium, particularly with Deakin University, and concurred with   actions taken to reduce some of the risks associated with extension of the   Services Agreement.

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Construction of Teaching Buildings

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Development) reported to the   Board on progress with the new teaching building on Parramatta campus and on   plans for the Medical School building at Campbelltown. Board members were   invited to attend the forthcoming Topping Out ceremony for the Parramatta   Building. Construction of this building is on time and within budget.

The Board also approved a construction budget for the new School of Medicine   Building of $32.55m plus a $1.35m construction contingency.

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Report by the Postgraduate Student Member

The Postgraduate Student member canvassed some ways in which Board members’   familiarity with the operations of the University, and the transparency of the   Board’s responsibilities, might be improved. She suggested some possibilities   for Board discussion at a future meeting, perhaps at the forthcoming Strategy   Day. It was agreed to schedule a discussion as soon as possible.

Next meetings of the Board

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees will be the Strategy Day on 3   March. The next ordinary meeting of the Board is scheduled to be held at 9.00am   on Wednesday 12 April 2006, in the Boardroom, Building AD, Werrington North   Campus.

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Other reports and items considered by the Board

 
• Vice-Chancellor’s Report
• Uses of the University Seal
• University Research Group Designation
• Occupational Health and Safety
• Staffing Matters
• UWS Business and Industry Advisory Panel
• Campus Development Committee Report