29 November 2006

The Board of Trustees met on Wednesday 29 November 2006, in the Boardroom,   Building AD, Werrington North. A summary of matters discussed is provided   below.

Confirmation of Minutes
The minutes (PDF,  49Kb) of the October meeting of the Board of Trustees were confirmed.

Main Items Considered by the Board

Board Membership

• Dr Michael Bezzina is taking up a position in the School of Educational   Leadership at Australian Catholic University and has resigned as a Ministerial   appointee to the Board of Trustees.
• Mr Geoffrey Roberson, Deputy Chancellor, is also leaving the Board at the   end of this year, after completing his third term. Mr Roberson is the longest   serving member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Western Sydney.   Information about Mr Roberson’s contribution to the University can be downloaded   from the ‘Related Documents’ link below.
• Ms Jennifer Brown has been elected to the position of Graduate Member on the Board.
• The Board re-appointed Ms Gabrielle Kibble as a member of the Board for a   further term of four years and re-elected her as a Deputy Chancellor.
• The Board has also appointed Dr Peter Dodd as a member of the Board in the   vacancy created by Mr Roberson’s departure.

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Strategic Planning

The Board considered and provided comment on a progress report on the   development of the UWS integrated strategy. Further work is continuing on   finalising the various elements, which will be brought back to the Board in   early 2007. Strategic planning for UWS campuses is continuing.

The final UWS staffing strategy 'Our People 2015' will be presented to the   Board’s February 2007 meeting and will include a number of action plans to be   commenced in 2007.

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Vice-Chancellor's End-of-Year Report

The Vice-Chancellor spoke to her report, advising that 2006 has been a   challenging and increasingly successful year. Progress and achievements of note   include:

• the implementation of the realigned academic structure of three colleges and   17 schools and a comprehensive institution-wide recruitment process for two   Pro-Vice-Chancellor positions, two Executive Deans, 16 Heads of School and a   number of professorial positions supporting the Research Investment Strategy and   the Medical School
• significant improvement in student satisfaction and retention
• a strong financial position including a projected operating surplus of $20   million
• progress on the campus development project
• the opening of the new teaching building on the Parramatta campus, our first major capital project since 1996
• the establishment of the Medical School and accreditation by the Australian   Medical Council for the first intake of students in 2007 and the commencement of   the Medical School building on Campbelltown campus
• a successful AUQA audit process
• refining and focusing the many UWS plans and projects into an integrated   strategy for action
• appointment of the Dean of Indigenous Education with an initial focus on   implementing the recommendations of the Indigenous Education Review
• outstanding achievements in community engagement projects as acknowledged by the AUQA panel, including the Sudanese community project supported by the   Regional Council
• substantial progress in implementing the Research Investment Strategy and in   research performance more broadly.

The Board commended the Vice-Chancellor and Executive on the achievements of   2006. The Vice-Chancellor's presentation to the Board can be downloaded from the   'Related Documents' link below.

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College of Arts - Presentation by Executive Dean

Professor Wayne McKenna’s presentation to the Board included information   about the College of Arts’ strategic goals; its mutually beneficial partnerships   with community; its professionally oriented and flexible academic programs and   its high quality research and research training.

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2007 Budget

The Board examined the financial outcomes for 2006, the estimates for 2007   and approved the draft budget. The budget will become a public document once the   detail of the supporting text contained within the budget document has been  finalised.

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Post VSU Student Services

Given the University’s funding position for 2007 and the level of subsidy   already agreed, the Board confirmed the 2007 subsidy of $450 000 to UWSSA to   support the delivery of welfare services to students. Any direct support for the costs of front of office staff will be reviewed in 2008. The Chief Financial   Officer undertook to meet with student representatives to provide an explanation   about the funding UWSSA will be receiving (see Board Standing Committee decision   below).

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Board Standing Committee and Remuneration and Nominations Committee

At its 14 November meeting the Board Standing Committee approved the   additional allocations from the 2006 Student Activities Fee collections:

• uwsconnect – a total of $4.3 million for 2006, increased from $3.1 million
• UWSSA – a total of $1 million for 2006, increased from $700 thousand, noting   that UWSSA will also receive a carry-over of $747 thousand from 2005
• PAUWS – a total of $750 thousand for 2006, increased from $600   thousand.

The Remuneration and Nominations Committee endorsed proposed appointments to   the Whitlam Institute, UWS College and UWS Conference and Residential   Colleges.

The Board agreed to minor corrections to, and the deletion of obsolete   provisions from the UWS By-Law.

The Board approved the Fees for Undergraduate Level Programs Policy to   replace the current policy. The new policy re-states the Board’s position of not   supporting fee-paying places for mainstream undergraduate places but deletes and   revises out of date references to Commonwealth requirements. The new policy will   be available on the Policy and Procedures   Directory.

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Delegations (Administrative) Policy for 2007

The Board approved this policy, which will come into effect from 1 January   2007. The new policy will be available on the Policy and Procedures Directory.

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Report from Chair of Academic Senate

The Board noted the report of the 13 October meeting of Academic Senate and  approved the provisions in the proposed Cotutelle Policy that provide for a   research degree graduate’s UWS testamur to state that the award was made as a   consequence of a cotutelle agreement, and name the French university.

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Medical School

The Board recorded its appreciation to the Foundation Dean of Medicine and   his staff for their hard work in the establishment of the UWS Medical   School.

The Board noted a briefing on the development of and financial projections   for the Medical School and approved the following recommendation:

'That the Board of Trustees agree to increase the limit set on domestic fee   paying students from 8 to 24. The intention is to enrol no more than 8 if the 95   Commonwealth places are filled, and only use additional domestic fee paying   places if the Commonwealth places cannot be filled. The school will enrol no   more than 103 students.

This recommendation is a risk management strategy to provide a hedge against   a threat that the 95 Commonwealth places might not be filled, as a consequence   of the new requirement that 25% of places be bonded.'

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Other Reports and Items Considered by the Board

• Proposed space distribution after occupation of new teaching building,   Parramatta campus 
• UWS College
• Information Technology Strategy committee
• AUQA audit and visit
• Communication Plan for Bachelor of Contemporary Arts and Bachelor of   Performance intake 2007
• Strategy and Resources committee report
• Audit and Risk Management committee report
• Campus Development committee
• Regional Council
• Business and Industry Advisory panel
• Occupational Health and Safety report
• Staffing matters
• New School of Medicine building
• International activities

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