Issue 5, Monday 15 August 2005

Open mind, open future, open day

People could have been forgiven for thinking the dark forces had taken over the campus on Saturday 6 August but the 2876 visitors to the campus on Open Day had nothing to fear and everything to gain.

The range of activities, information sessions and events held on Open Day provided the crowds with valuable course advice as well as an opportunity to get a feel for the campus's friendly and welcoming atmosphere.

The number of visitors to the campus was up on previous years and all areas reported strong interest in courses.

The day started with balloons galore adding colour to the campus.

While Darth Vader and the storm troopers wandered the campus encouraging visitors to play the virtual Star Wars game in IT, the emergency helicopter received much interest from visitors.

Students were assisted with their many course inquiries in a range of formats during the day.

Peninsula campus staff took an active role in Open Day with Sue Schuwalow from Business and Economics cutting up the dance floor (right) and Academic Director Phil Steele having his BP taken in Nursing (above).

Research Office Seminar day

The university Research Office will be running a seminar day on the campus on Monday 29 August.

The seminar is part of Research Office's commitment to providing information, advice and administrative services to academic and general staff as well as students involved in research and research related activities.

The following seminars will be held:

• ARC Linkage: The missing links revealed
• The search for funding: How grants databases can help you
• Ethics in Human Research: Do the right thing
• ARC Discovery: Discover the secrets

Staff are encouraged to participate in the seminars and support the efforts being made by the Research Office to offer their valuable services at the campus level.

For further information about the seminar times, details and to register, visit the Research Office website.

Lunch will be provided on the day. Please advise Jenny Salmond if you will be attending the lunch by Wednesday 24 August.

Orientation Special Project funding 

Staff and students are encouraged to apply for Special Project funding offered by the University Orientation Committee for the development of projects aimed at helping new students orient to the university.

Projects must address the university’s Transition Policy, and applicants are required to consult with the Chair of their respective Campus Orientation Committee. All projects should be designed with a view to generating models for future orientation activities that may be applicable across the university.

Eligibility and restrictions

• All staff, students, and student associations of Monash University are eligible to apply for funding under this scheme.

• Applications that have been funded previously will not be funded for a second time.

• The emphasis of Special Projects Funding applications is to further academic programs for educational benefit.

• Special Projects Funding cannot include payments for staff.

• There is a cap on expenditure for food: total per application = $250.00 (if applicable).

• Survey work will not be funded by Special Projects Funding.

Selection Criteria

Essential

1. Activity is either new to the nominating campus or unit of Monash University or modified for improvement. (If requesting funds for maintenance of a previously trialled successful project, please indicate how it has been modified for improvement.)
2. A clear description of how the proposed activity addresses the University’s Transition Policy with assisting commencing students with on-going transition to university.
3. A proposed budget and management process for the activity. (If requesting funds for maintenance of a previously trialled successful project, please indicate other sources of revenue.)
4. A clear procedure for measuring and reporting outcomes.

Desirable

Evidence of cooperation and consultation between teaching areas, university services and administrative areas, including, if appropriate, proposals for joint funding or cost-sharing.

Applications for funding should be submitted to Julie Ryan by Friday 16 September to be reviewed before they are submitted to the University Orientation Committee on Friday 23 September. For further information or to receive application details please contact Julie Ryan on extn 44015.

A sporting chance

Monash Sport is supporting staff and students to participate in a range of sporting opportunities through their Community Fitness program.

Not only does Monash sport provide a diverse range of facilities, programs and services on campus, they are encouraging staff and students to participate in some of Melbourne's biggest community fitness events.

Monash Sport is coordinating university teams for three community events:

• Melbourne Marathon Festival on Sunday 9 October
• Around the Bay in Day bicycle ride on Sunday 16 October
• Portsea Swim Classic on Saturday 21 January 2006

This is the second year Monash sport has participated in the Around the Bay in a Day challenge, with 109 Monash staff and students taking the ride last year.

This year, Senior DVC Stephen Parker is the patron of the Monash effort, and with options for all cycling fitness levels anyone can get involved.

Further information is available at the Monash Sport homepage or by contacting Lois Trembearth on extn 54114.

Quality Audit information session

Monash University is being audited by the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) in 2006. At the same time, Monash South Africa will be audited by the South African Council on Higher Education's Higher Education Quality Committee (HEQC).

Professor Graham Webb, Pro Vice Chancellor (Quality) and Robyn Harris,
Quality Adviser, CHEQ are holding a series of information sessions for staff and students interested in learning more about the quality audits.

Peninsula session will be held on Monday 22 August, between 1-2 pm
in lecture theatre A4.41 and will cover:

• Background to AUQA and HEQC
• What the audit involves
• Monash preparations so far
• How staff and students can be involved

Participants will also have the opportunity to have their questions answered.

Peninsula notes

Input required on email, calendar and related services

Information Technology Services (ITS) is undertaking a consultative review of workgroup and collaboration services for staff. Services included in this review include email, calendar, document sharing, collaboration groups, video conferencing, mailing lists and instant messaging.

The main aim of the review is to ensure that all staff are given the opportunity to put forward their requirements for these services. To facilitate this, User Reference Forums are being held at all Victorian campuses for all staff. You are encouraged to attend and provide input. If you can’t make it to the forum please put forward your requirements by filling in the online form.

If you have any questions about the project or the User Reference Forums
contact David Benstead.

Authorised by the Office of the Academic Director - Peninsula  

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