Prior to the meeting, a number of Senators, including yours truly, attended the annual celebration for general staff who have achieved 25 years of service to the University. It was nice to catch up with colleagues who have attained this milestone, along with their workmates and family and friends. The Acting V-C introduced each person to the Chancellor, who presented them with a gift.
The DVC who is leading the management team in the current EB negotiations, Prof Alan Rix, gave Senate a briefing on the status of the negotiations. It was a reasonably objective report, that acknowledged that there are big differences between the parties to the negotiations and a lot of work still to do (no thanks to management dragging the chain for months, say I). There was comment about the NTEU's strike of earlier in the week that bordered on the gratuitious, but neither the NTEU president, Andrew Bonnell, nor myself as USU senior delegate, spoke, as we were not interested in rising to any bait at this stage of the negotiations.
It was formally reported that UQ had now signed the Talloires Declaration related to environmental sustainability.
There was considerable discussion about the AUQA Audit Report, especially the recommendation that UQ get more serious about student plagiarism. DVC(A) Debbie Terry responded that a consultant had been employed to ask staff and students for their perceptions and the result was that it was felt that plagiarism was more prevalent in certain disciplines (not named), in the residential colleges, amongst international students, and in big first year courses. The consultants had recommended compulsory online tutorials for students, better design of assessment, making sure Schools are following UQ procedures, and making it easier for decision-makers to access information about repeat offenders.
A member challenged a new HUPP on School Reviews, saying that it is a conflict of interest for Executive Deans to be on review panels. Reassurances were given by the President of the Academic Board that there are guidelines that limit the E-D's involvement to one of facilitator. Deans are not permitted to co-author the panel's report. A member of the Standing Committee of Academic Board is also on the panel, allegedly to ensure Deans behave. The motion to exclude Deans from review panels was lost.
Standard reports from Finance Committee, Buildings & Grounds Committee, Legislative Committee, Honorary Degrees Committee, the Academic Board and Audit Committee were received and resolutions passed. A number of professorial appointments were confirmed.
An update was given on preparations for celebration of the University's centenary in 2010.
A member suggested that some of the business that comes to Senate (and is approved en bloc without discussion) might be better left to management, so that Senate focuses on policy and strategy. The suggestion was noted to general support.
