Media Releases
03 May 2012
Loan and Allowance Tinkering Fails to Achieve Anything Useful
For immediate release ________________________________________________________________
Today’s announcement of a four year freeze on parental income to assess student allowance eligibility, and restricting student allowances to the first four years of study is simply tinkering with a system that has its priorities wrong. In addition, the increase of repayment thresholds to 12 per cent of income above $19,084 will cost some Massey students more than $15 a week as working students still have to pay off loans while studying.
“Students are already struggling to balance study with either part-time or full-time work, and increasing living costs,” says Ralph Springett, President of the Extramural Students’ Society. “Why should those who have decided to further their education to make a valuable contribution to society have to bear the brunt of our country’s economic situation while the rich get tax cuts?”
Reducing accessibility to the living allowance will not help students succeed in their studies. “What is needed is a better balance between the youth students, and adult and part time students who are more likely to be working, and are more engaged in their studies,” Springett says.[1]
“If the government wishes to increase the success rate of tertiary students while reducing the overall taxpayer cost then it is the government’s Tertiary Education Strategy that needs an overhaul”.
Right now there should be emphasis on assisting part time and adult students who are more likely to find, and continue with, meaningful employment on graduation. “Part time students have an 80 per cent lower loan uptake than full time youth and their study is more relevant to their work.” Mr Springett says. “Why do we not only cut their allowances, we also reduce their take home pay?”
The Government’s Tertiary Education Strategy, which focuses on degree completion for youth, ignores the fact that there are few jobs for youth graduates in the current job market. “No wonder young graduates go overseas to get jobs and escape their student loans. They are set up to fail in the job market, and it is costing the New Zealand taxpayer,” says Springett.
ENDS
Ralph Springett
President, Extramural Students’ Society
0272458223
Massey’s Extramural Students’ Society is funded by membership levies and seeks to raise the profile of distance, part time and adult students’ issues through the e-publication Off Campus, and through public discussion.
[1] AUSSIE survey 2011
02 May 2012
Loan and Allowance Tinkering Will Not Achieve Tertiary Goals
________________________________________________________________
The recent announcement of changes to allowance eligibility and repayment thresholds is simply tinkering with a system that has its priorities wrong.
“If the government wishes to increase the success rate of tertiary students while reducing the overall taxpayer cost then it is the Tertiary Education Strategy that needs an overhaul,” says Ralph Springett, President of the Extramural Students’ Society.
Reducing living allowance accessibility will not help students succeed in their studies. Students are already struggling to balance study with part time work and increasing living costs. “What is needed is a better balance between the youth students, and adult and part time students who are more likely to be working and are more engaged in their studies,” Springett says.[1]
“Right now there should be emphasis on part time and adult students who are more likely to find, and continue with, meaningful employment on graduation,” Springett says. “Part time students have an 80 per cent lower loan uptake than full time youth and their study is more relevant to their work.”
The Government’s Tertiary Education Strategy, which focuses on degree completion for youth, ignores the fact that there are few jobs for youth graduates in the current job market. “No wonder young graduates go overseas to get jobs and escape their student loans. They are set up to fail in the job market, and it is costing the New Zealand taxpayer,” says Springett.
Ralph Springett
President, Extramural Students’ Society
0272458223
http://exmss.org/OffCampus/
[1] AUSSIE survey 2011
1 February 2012
Student Society’s Work to Help All Students
Massey University’s Extramural Students’ Society (EXMSS) has negotiated discounted shuttle services between Palmerston North’s transport hubs and Massey’s Manawatu campuses. All Massey students will get discounted rates, with members of EXMSS getting a further subsidy.
“EXMSS is committed to improving the support and conditions for all students,” says Ralph Springett, President of EXMSS. “Our focus will be on our members but there will be spin-offs for all students.”
In the new voluntary membership environment EXMSS intends to open its membership beyond Massey University students. EXMSS will lobby for change to the direction of the Government’s Tertiary Education Strategy which focuses on school-leavers studying internally.
“Anyone who supports distance and part time study, especially for second chance learners should join EXMSS,” says Mr Springett. “The more support we get the stronger our voice will be.”
As well as negotiating benefits for students and members, EXMSS will provide a personal and fully independent advocacy service, and keep distance and part time students informed about regulation changes.
With voluntary membership EXMSS sees itself as a stronger lobby group. “Distance, part time and adult students are getting a raw deal from the Government. We don’t need thousands of young graduates that go offshore to find work, we need to up-skill our existing workforce,” says Mr Springett.
Full details of the transport subsidy can be found at www.exmss.org
2 December 2011
Students Recognise Excellence in Teaching and Support
EXMSS President Ralph Springett awards Dr Gina Salapata with the EXMSS staff award for best lecturer (who also won the spot prize for the Fancy Hat competition)
Students presented Best Lecturer and Best Paper awards at the inaugural Review It! awards ceremony at Massey University this week. Comments and commendations from the student-led Review It! survey are used to determine the student awards for Best Paper and Best Lecturer each year. “Students enjoy recognising good tuition, Review It! offers an opportunity to say thank you to the best,” says Mr Springett, coordinator for the Massey University Students’ Association Federation.
Review It! asks students review the paper(s) they have completed and make their review(s) available to future students.
“There are the benefits of making better paper choices as well the well known benefit of having the student reflect on their learning process,” says Mr Springett. “Additionally lecturers get a boost by being recognised by the students they teach.”
Review It! is the first major student led project to be funded by Ako Aotearoa, the National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence. “We were immediately excited by this project proposal,” Peter Coolbear, Director of Ako Aotearoa says, “Massey students’ associations are actively seeking to encourage students to provide quality advice to other students and to their university. I think this is hugely empowering for students and shows great mutual respect between the parties involved.”
Massey University, in supporting the survey, is demonstrating their confidence in the quality of their courses as well as the professionalism of their student associations. Assistant Vice Chancellor (Academic and International) Professor Ingrid Day emphasised the value of constructive student feedback and its role in continuous improvement. She added “We are pleased to support initiatives that enhance our capacity to receive and respond to student views and experiences, and to highlight our excellent teaching. Review It! offers great potential and we valued the opportunity to work together with our student associations in its development”
The award recipients for 2011 are:
Dr Mike Joy for the Review It! award for Paper of Year 2011 (121.312 Environmental Science Field Work II)
Dr Sean Phelan for the Review It! award for Lecturer of Year 2011
Professor Barrie Macdonald for the EXMSS staff award for best individual support
Campus Living for the EXMSS staff award for best group support
Dr Gina Salapata for the EXMSS staff award for best lecturer.
22 November 2011
Misguided policies undermine part time study
National’s recently released Tertiary Education Policy will penalise tertiary institutions that seek to deliver qualifications to part time students.
“National has effectively branded part time study as inefficient in its drive to provide better value for money,” says Ralph Springett, President of Massey University’s Extramural Students’ Society (EXMSS).
Part time study is often the most efficient manner to gain a qualification. While students who study part time can work and raise a family, they are also much less likely to take out a student loan.
“The idea that part-time study delivers less back to the taxpayer is ridiculous. National’s efficiency is driven entirely by figures and ignores the importance of this type of study for society,” says Mr Springett.
From next year, five per cent of tertiary providers’ tuition funding will be at risk based on their performance against a clear set of achievement indicators such as completion rates. National believes this will incentivise institutions to perform and will drive value for money.
EXMSS believes institutions will shed part time students in order to improve their figures which are weighted to favour full time students.
“It is deceitful for the Government to say it is delivering positive outcomes for students and focusing on course quality,” Mr Springett says. “While the quality of courses for part time students is no different to full time students, the Government wrongly maintains the outcomes are less positive.
“Students are increasingly feeling the pressure to study part time in order to keep their debt low and get on with life while they are studying. This policy will close those options down,” says Mr Springett.
20 May 2011
Part time students unfairly forced to pay
Massey University students, many of whom study part-time, are angry that they can no longer borrow up to $1000 course-related costs to continue their education.
Many part time students raise families and pay mortgages, and like full-time students,
rely on the course-related costs component of the student loan scheme to pay for books and transport to contact courses, some of which must be attended to pass their degree.
“Changes announced in the budget mean that part time students become second class students,” President Ralph Springett says. “This budget reduces access for those trying for a second chance at education. For distance students this is a disaster.”
“Many Massey distance papers have compulsory contact courses. If students don’t attend, they risk failing their paper, meaning students will be forced to make study choices for economic, instead of educational reasons,” Mr Springett says.
“Unlike full time students, part time students will have to spend money they have saved on the required textbooks and contact course costs. That is simply unfair.”
The people hardest hit will be parents and those who left school to work and are now looking to advance themselves. “This is the wrong message,” says Mr Springett.
“This group should be supported if the strategy is value for money and the flexibility to respond to demand.”
This year, the Massey Extramural Students’ Society has already seen capable students struggling to continue their study for financial reasons. Changes in this year’s budget will exacerbate this. Not all students are able to get bank loans to finance their study and rely on course related costs to pass their papers. Unlike student allowances, which most part time students are not eligible for, course related costs must be repaid.
“This isn’t about removing a handout; it’s about taking away an interim hand-up to those who really need it, and are more likely to pay it back sooner,” Mr Springett says.
10 May 2011
Student leaders call for changes to the Government’s education strategy
Student leaders representing Massey University’s 16,000 distance students are calling on the Government to review its five-year Tertiary Education Strategy to make tertiary education more accessible, particularly for adult students who study extramurally ( by distance).
The Government has stated that efficiency is required in the tertiary sector and that efficiency relates to completing a qualification, with more Maori, Pasifika, and youth enrolled and completing degrees in three to four years. One in three Maori students study by distance with many being over 25. Distance study suits these people because they are able to work, attend to family matters, and up skill.
Ralph Springett, president of Massey’s Extramural Students’ Society, says that around 80 percent of distance students are over 25. Many study part time, and therefore take longer to complete a degree, those who don’t often undertake employment-related study.
“The problem is that the Tertiary Education Strategy fails to account for those taking a few papers to up-skill for a specific work role or those who only do a few papers a year and therefore don’t complete a degree within the anticipated timeframe,” Mr. Springett says.
“As those who complete qualifications take longer than fulltime students, they may be categorised as a non-completion statistic by the Tertiary Education Commission.”
As a direct result of the government’s strategy, Massey’s distance student numbers will reduce over the next three years by 15 percent. The Government has stated that Massey University should choose the best mix of enrolments to fulfill its goals. However, funding can be cut if completion rates are not improved.
Given the current focus of completing a degree, distance study is not a priority for institutions as they strive to avoid the appearance of being inefficient by appearing at the bottom of the new league tables.
“The strategy is flawed and must be changed. Completion is not an accurate measure of efficiency,” Mr. Springett says. “Reducing access to higher education may not lead to the efficiencies the government seeks. While the focus of the Government’s strategy is on youth, it is notable that with part time study, older students do better than younger students.”
“Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce should listen to stakeholders and review the settings so that capable people do not miss out on the chance to learn.”
2 March 2011
Massey and the Extramural Students’ Society offer hardship support for quake affected students.
Massey University’s Extramural Students’ Society (EXMSS) is pleased to announce the creation of a $10,000 student support fund specifically for those Massey students who have been affected by the Christchurch earthquake. This is a shared initiative with both the Extramural Students’ Society and Massey University pledging up to $5,000 each to help these students get back on track. Awards of up to $500 will be made through the existing Student Assistance Programme which is administered by EXMSS. Further details can be found at www.exmss.org.
30 September 2010
Students Influence in Tertiary Education Set to Decline
The Freedom of Association Bill, which makes it impossible for students to group together as a single body, is being driven forward by National. “Student Associations, the watchdog of tertiary institutions will lose their teeth,” says Ralph Springett, President of the Massey University Extramural Students’ Society. “It will be up to the institutions to decide how they hear the student voice.”
Tertiary institutions will pander to the needs of the minority funder – the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC). Students, who fund two thirds of their education, will be ignored. With institution funding based on completion and success figures there will only be one voice in the system; those holding the purse strings. “Students, who pay the most into the tertiary education system will be sidelined because they will not have the universal voice that gives them clout,” says Mr Springett.
Students will not be able to influence their institution in the way they have in the past. Services will move from providing support as directed by student needs to support as directed by TEC needs. While tertiary study may lose its fun and personal growth tags, the real issue is with marginal groups. “Distance, part time students and students from other cultures will suffer most,” says Mr Springett. These groups have fallen out of favour with the TEC because of their lower than average completion rates. Without the united voice of students advocating on their behalf these groups will struggle to be heard.
It is unfortunate to think that in our future tertiary education services will be directed towards those who can, rather than offering a step up for those who could, if they were given the opportunity. “Ultimately is it yet another move towards an education system for the privileged who have support from outside the system,” says Mr Springett.
08 September 2010
University Performance Information Damaging and Misleading
Massey University extramural students are infuriated by the Government’s continuing attack on part time studies.
Performance information published by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) is misleading and favours institutions that focus on full time internal students. Massey, with its large part time extramural cohort, is being penalised for providing education to those balancing study with work, parenting and financial pressures.
“The government has lost the plot when it comes to the value of part time study,” says Ralph Springett, President of the Massey University Extramural Students’ Society. “It is ridiculous that students who avoid taking a student loan and work productively are the ones singled out as non performers.”
With performance information linked to funding, the pressure will now be on for Massey to reduce its risk around part time learners. This can be achieved by providing more support for students or reducing the number of part time students – as happened when Massey’s summer school abruptly closed enrolments in August.
“These figures are not useful for students as Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce has suggested. They mislead and confuse.
“While the TEC has stated that low completion does not mean the provider was poor, that context will not be obvious to students. The information only serves funding purposes,” says Mr Springett.
Linking performance with funding is a driver for student service levy increases. Student services are a key tool in improving completions and institutions now have a clear incentive to increase these costs. In the last two years Massey University has increased its student services levy by 300% in order to provide better support for students in the absence of adequate government funding.
“It appears as if the government has not thought this through at all,” says Mr Springett. “We now have a tertiary system that cannot contain its rising fees, fails to offer students any meaningful information about the sector, cannot provide the courses it advertises at the start of the year and does not value the lowest-public-cost form of education. Shame on you, Minister Joyce.”
05 September 2010
Massey students stung with fee increases in 2011
Students at Massey University will be hit hard with the maximum possible tuition fee increase in 2011, as well as increased student services levies, a new scholarship levy, and increased enrolment fees.
The Massey University Council recently approved a 4 percent increase in tuition fees for graduate and undergraduate students. The Council also approved a 47.5 percent average increase in the student services levy; this follows the 100 percent increase in 2010. The announced increases, including the October GST increase, mean that on average full-time students will pay 10 percent extra to study at Massey next year.
Student services levies for full time internal students will range from $150.00 to a maximum of $325.00 as the per-paper levy will be $25.00 on top of a $150 base rate. Extramural students will face up to a 300 percent increase in the levy, as the base fee will be the current $60.00 levy plus $15.00 per paper taken. This adjustment is to pay for more projects around supporting students, as funding is now linked to success and completion.
“Reduced Government funding, performance measures and capped student numbers are the drivers for these fee rises.” says EXMSS President Ralph Springett. “However, in approving the 2011 fees Massey University committed to working constructively with student representatives to get the right mix of services to support students academically, financially and pastorally.”
The scholarship levy, at $2.50 per 15 credit paper, will also have students involved in the way the funds are distributed. This levy will amount to about $350,000 annually.
Enrolment fees will nearly double – from $40.00 to $75.00 and will be non-refundable. “Universities now cannot afford to have students place-holding by enrolling in multiple courses or institutions, only to withdraw when enrolled in their preferred institution.” says Mr Springett.
Mr Springett is concerned that the increases will hit students hard, saying that Government policies allow universities to use student levies as a way of increasing fees beyond the fees course costs maxima. “Many students will face an increase of more than $500 when they re-enroll for 2011, purely because of the Government’s underfunding of the sector and its insistence on performance linked funding.”
