I was pleased to attend a celebration prior to the meeting at which professional staff who have achieved 25 years of service to UQ were recognised. One staff member was recognised for 40 years's service.
This annual celebration is always a great occasion. About half of the 25 recipients were able to attend. The V-C asked each person to reflect on the most significant change at UQ over the period of their tenure. There were some great answers, but the one that got the biggest applause was "parking used to be free".
Presentations by the Executive Dean, Faculty of EAIT and the Director, IMB.
Declaration of interests, statement by Vice-Chancellor on recent UQ achievements; reports of Senate sub-committees and Academic Board; gifts and grants report; PPL changes; bequests, donations and prizes. Update on Ipswich campus transfer. Presentation by Director OH&S Division, with emphasis on duties of Senate members as 'officers' under the Work Health & Safety Act.
A report from the Vice-Chanellor was noted. It covered the provision of child care; advice that a new Recognition and Reward Framework is being finalised; gradual roll-out of UQ Leadership Survey (360 degree feedback tool for senior staff); Equity and Diversity Forum held in September. Mention was made that Forum participants "discussed value adding actions and objectives to progress priority areas". I asked what the actions were. A report is being prepared for the Senate Committee of Equity, Diversity & the Status of Women.
There was some discussion about preparedness for publication of fees for domestic students, should the Australian Senate pass legislation to deregulate fees or should other universities with which we like to compare ourselves or compete release their fee rates.
A number of members were keen that the University also develop a statement on the provision of equity scholarships in such circumstances.
PPL entries dealing with HR matters will no longer come to the Senate for approval. They will now be approved by the V-C. Under the Enterprise Agreement, any change to the policies is still subject to consultation at the Academic and Professional Staff Consultative Committees.
The change was proposed on the grounds of (a) agility (eg, a new EBA can mean new policies, but Senate meetings might not coincide with certification of an EBA) - I find this reason curious - after all Senate has the capacity to make decisions by flying minute without meeting; (b) it's what all the other Go8 universities do; and (c) it's management business (the managerialism train keeps rolling past the collegialism station).
