I was unable to attend this meeting because I was interstate at the ASU's biennial national conference. Below are points of interest from the agenda papers.
Up they go again for 2009. The new permit categories system (reported on at my Carparking Fees page) comes into effect from 2009. Most staff at St Lucia park in multi-level carparks. The fee rise for 2009 is 4.76%, which is close to the inflation rate, is similar to last year's 5% rise, and is a welcome reprieve from the 20% per annum increases of 2005-2007. You can see the history of the rises here.
All of the internal loans to build parking stations have now been paid off, except for Conifer Knoll, which will be paid off by 2012, two years ahead of schedule. The money collected from the paid parking scheme is also apparently used to fund bicycle storage, road safety and "initiatives to mitigate the carbon footprint of these facilities" (whatever that means). But progress on the loans does suggest that there will be money to spare in coming years. I'll be asking what it's going to be spent on.
Senate noted an executive summary of the survey results. Recommendations from the consultants who conducted the survey included:
Build confidence in senior management and increase transparency and consultation regarding management decision-making.
Manage resources and workloads to improve the emotional well-being of staff.
Provide incentives and rewards for high-performing staff and encourage entrepeneurship.
Create more opportunities for staff to progress their career within UQ.
The Vice-Chancellor is expected to address the survey results at his 2 December meeting with all staff.
Twenty-six members of the general staff were recognised by Senate for having completed 25 years of service to the University. An awards ceremony was held just prior to the Senate meeting.
Sir Llew Edwards is retiring as Chancellor at the end of 2008. A small sub-committee of senior Senators has been formed to oversee the search for a replacement, who will be appointed following election by Senate. A secret ballot is to be held if there is more than one nominee. The sub-committee is to make its recommendations to Senate by 30 January 2009.
