Posted on 16 Jun 2006
The ACUADS Executive meeting held at the Caulfield Campus, Monash University, Melbourne on 16 June considered the following agenda items:
Executive Membership
The meeting noted that as the AGM was due to be held in September and as some members’ terms will expire, no further action will be taken at this time.
Deans of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (DASSH) Group Application: Art/Museum Collections
Professor Williams said that there was nothing further to report on the DASSH proposition of a stocktake of Art/Museum Collections at this time, but noted that such a project had the potential to enable ACUADS to forge an important alliance with the University sector’s museums and galleries.
Research –Visual Art & Design Metrics
Associate Professor Baker reported that she and Dr Anne Marsh had been invited to be involved in a DEST committee, ‘Technical Working Party – the Metrics for Impact’, and that this committee will report back to the Minister in August 2006.
The meeting discussed the nature of these committees and the disciplines represented. Dr Marsh indicated that she would like to see Art History represented and Professor Bernard Hoffert suggested that they could perhaps lobby to that effect. Professor Kay Lawrence made comment on the current New Zealand and UK setup.
Professor Lawrence informed the meeting that Professor Noel Frankham had sent through a listing of Research Performance Metrics for consideration: Research Income; Exhibitions; Commissions; Grants & Prizes; Publications; Reviews and Citations. Following discussion, some changes were agreed under the various topics.
National Review of Visual Education – Australian Institute of Art Education (AIAE)
The Chair reported that this project was now on hold.
Visual & Performing Arts Workshop, 26 September 2006
The Chair informed the meeting that Mr Tos Gascoigne from CHASS was interested in arranging a peak body meeting with the music and film sectors represented by: National Council of Tertiary Music Schools (NACTMUS) and Australian Screen Production, Education, Research Association (ASPERA) to address Research Quality Framework (RQF) issues. The meeting noted that this workshop would be held the day prior to the ACUADS Annual Conference.
PhD. Benchmark Project
The Chair reported that Dr George Petelin had given a talk on his research and that it provided a set of benchmarks that could be used as a standard and built upon and could be a potential project.
Annual Conference: Melbourne, 27-29 September 2006
The Chair welcomed Mr Denis Masseni, Monash University Conference Organiser, to the meeting. Mr Masseni briefed the Executive on the web site and the meeting noted that as plans are firmed, alterations and additions will be made.
The Provisional Program was discussed at length and the Executive gave in-principle support to the program subject to identified changes.
The Chair advised the meeting that the School Administrators were keen to meet and therefore the Thursday and Friday afternoons had been identified for their program.
The meeting noted that it is the 25th Anniversary of ACUADS and it was agreed that Professor David Williams would speak on the history of the organisation during the offical conference dinner.
The meeting also agreed to hold a Heads of School dinner so that informal discussions may be held.
Associate Professor de Clario suggested that the Sculpture Symposium be added to the web site as an adjunct event to be held on the Saturday at the conclusion of the three-day conference.
The Chair noted that Ms. Kirsten Freeman is the new conference organiser who will succeed Mr Masseni.
ACUADS Awards
The chair noted that there had been some submissions and that these would be presented for approval at a subsequent meeting.
Treasurer’s Report
The Treasurer, Professor David Williams, spoke to his Report noting the current satisfactory bank balance and that 36 Membership invoices for the 2006/2007 year had been issued and that a majority had been paid to date. The meeting agreed to ratify the accounts.
The meeting discussed membership of the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS) and Professor Hoffert moved that ACUADS join CHASS as a Subscribing Member. The meeting agreed.
The Treasurer recommended that a rise in the subscription rate of more than the usual 5% should be considered for the 2006/2007 financial year. This issue will require further discussion, but is to be decided by Annual General Meeting.
Professor Williams informed the meeting that he would be retiring as Head of Department and therefore is tendering his resignation as ACUADS Treasurer and Executive Member to take effect on 30 June 2006. Professor Williams noted that as the company is registered in the ACT, the Public Officer position needs to be held by an ACT resident and confirmed that he is willing to continue in this role.
The Chair moved that Professor Williams complete the operational year and present the audit report and that there would be a financial hand-over to the new Treasurer after the Annual General Meeting and that he remain on as the Public Officer. The meeting agreed.
Future Structure of ACUADS
The Chair advised that there would need to be discussion on various issues affecting the future of ACUADS: future structure; the possibility of electronically processing the financial accounts; identifing new ways to grow resources, as there is a limitation to membership numbers. The meeting agreed to discuss at a later date.