University council accepts student charge rise

A service fee of $672 will be charged to all students at the University of Otago's Dunedin campus next year, as the commercial reality of legislation changes takes effect.

Otago students were charged a total of $580 each this year for the provision of campus services, a fee which was jointly levied by the university ($390) and the Otago University Students' Association ($190).

University council members yesterday voted to accept the increased student service charge for next year after explanations by Otago vice-chancellor Prof Harlene Hayne and university chief operating officer John Patrick about how the fee was calculated.

Prof Hayne said new legislation had changed the financial landscape for how student services would be administered in a joint venture between the university and OUSA.

Mandatory membership of student associations was abolished by Parliament in October, effectively removing the ability of organisations such as OUSA to charge compulsory fees for the provision of its campus services.

The controversial move to voluntary student membership (VSM) followed the Government's introduction of the Education Amendment Bill (No 4) which brought in provisions to "improve the transparency and accountability of compulsory student services fees" in August.

Prof Hayne told council members the university had realised it "needed to take responsibility" for charging student service fees, given OUSA was no longer able to under VSM.

Despite initial opposition to VSM, its adoption had since opened the door to "a whole new world of co-operation" between the two parties, Prof Hayne said.

Council member and OUSA student representative Katie Reid told council members that the agreement was important because it would ensure the ongoing provision of valuable services to students, including independent legal, financial, and advocacy advice, foodbank and counselling services, and also joint sport and recreational facilities. Contacted after the meeting, Ms Reid said the new agreement would also provide important funding to finance paid employees at the student association.

"It will allow us to keep all of our current 45 full-time equivalent staff members," she said.

She disagreed the increase in the combined total service fee for 2012 could be solely attributed to legislation changes, indicating a percentage of the fee was for capital developments and new student facilities, such as the Unipol gym's impending shift to the University Plaza.

About $100 in levies was charged in total by the university and OUSA for capital developments this year, while $321 of the 2012 student service fee provides for "sports and recreation facilities", which also covers clubs, societies, and cultural activities.

Mr Patrick said the service categories were government dictated and the university would be accountable for how it spent the fees it charged students in those respective areas.

Student services were "mostly" provided by OUSA, although other "third party providers" were also involved, such as for the provision of child care services.

Service fees for University of Otago students at campuses in Christchurch, Invercargill, and Wellington were set at $122.

• The University of Otago has appointed two new council members for 2012, replacing the outgoing Prof Judy Bennett and student representative Ms Reid.

Associate Prof Vicky Cameron, from the University of Otago's Christchurch-based cardioendocrine research group, will replace Prof Bennett.

Otago University Students' Association president Logan Edgar is Ms Reid's replacement.