Prior to the meeting, several professional staff met with six senators (including three external senators) for an hour to talk about what matters to professional staff. We talked about a Wellness Program for staff - what it might consist of and the likelihood that it needs to be better resourced than it is now. External senators spoke of how common such programs are now within larger employers in the corporate world. I reported that I have been invited by the Director of HR to join a new committee that will oversee development and implementation of a Staff Wellness Program at UQ.
We went on to talk about how the lower-level staff of the University feel somewhat invisible and unrecognised. Those present agreed that it would help if members of the senior executive visited organisational units on occasion to meet with the staff over a cuppa. The V-C's all-staff meetings in the UQ Centre were lauded. External Senator Nerolie Withnall said that it is important that those in "the engine rooms" not be forgotten. During the Senate meeting proper, when the University's Centenary celebration plans were being reported on by the Senior Deputy V-C, Nerolie rose to say that the planning should be inclusive of the everyday professional staff of the University. This was acknowledged by Mick Keniger.
The predicted budget, at the broad-view level, was presented by Maurie McNarn, who noted that a revision would be required once 2009 actuals were known. The budget apparently will be tight until (and if) additional Federal Govt funding flows from 2012. Maurie expressed concern that the University's building program was tying up all reserves for the next five years. In fact, some of the program may end up funded by borrowing. A $100m loan would tie up $12.5m per year of the capital program for principal-plus-interest repayments for 20 years (at current interest rates).
Academic staff elected member, Andrew Bonnell, rightly expressed concern at pressure on the operating budgets of organisational units from the building program and suggested it be discussed at the Senate retreat planned for next April. The V-C responded that the real problem is the past 15 years of reduced federal funding per student - hoped to be changing from 2012.
The strategic plan 2010-14 and the various operational plans of the University were noted. The V-C explained that the plans, prepared earlier in the year, did not take account of more-recent Federal Government announcements that it wants to considerably expand participation in higher education. Some universities are planning significant growth. Whether and by how much UQ chooses to expand is to be discussed at the Senate Retreat next April.
Senate noted a development plan for the campus, including further emphasis on health sciences, cooperation with the new Bremer high school, and provision of extra office and lecture theatre space. Senate also decided that, having investigated various options, UQ should establish a university college to offer associate degrees at Ipswich.
Having been contacted by a staff member, I spoke of concerns about an aspect of the revised Parental Leave policy that will limit eligibility for paid leave based on average fraction of service over the preceding 12 months. This is a reasonable proposition into the future, but those who didn't see it coming have been caught out in that, having returned from one period of maternity leave and worked some of the 12 months part-time before embarking on a second period of maternity leave in 2010, their entitlement will be less than anticipated via the old policy.
Senate was assured by Maurie McNarn that this was an unintended consequence and that such cases would be given a sympathetic hearing. The Director of HR has since advised me that she is looking at how to deal with this when communicating the new policy.
Standard reports from various committees of Senate were received and resolutions passed.
Another update was given on preparations for celebration of the University's centenary in 2010, which will include a lunch-time celebration for current staff and students in the Great Court at St Lucia on Friday 16 April.
A changing of the guard was recognised, in that this was the last official meeting of the 31st Senate. A number of senators, some very long-serving with great corporate knowledge, were leaving. New senators, mainly in the State Government nominees and Senate nominees categories, would join the 32nd Senate in their place. Appropriately, there remains a good core of continuing senators. All members of the 31st Senate received a small gift - a crystal decanter.
