Access is no longer guaranteed
Tertiary Education Funding. Steven Joyce has described how it will work. Completions must come within the targeted range as described by the institutions investment plan. Otherwise the TEC will use their funding-stick; give the institution a beating for not being good enough.
The reaction will be sensible. Institutions will increase support for marginal students, using compulsory service levies to fund new initiatives. That’s good, lets all muck in and help those that need it most – a bit like how Student Associations work. Institutions will also be more careful about who they choose to study with them. They will choose those with good school grades who want to study full-time. They will be supported in this by the TES push to enroll school leavers. Students who fail will be shunted out the door to make way for the bright new things.
But there is a problem. If you are an adult the doors will be closed. If you fail because the course was crap or your mother died; you are out. If you are māori and are looking for a second chance at education you will have to count on… on what?
Unlike Labour I think National needs to let institutions control who has access. In the same way that the Government is looking for courses that match the institutions capabilities and New Zealand’s needs National needs to allow institutions to define their ideal student body and accept enrolments based on their own criteria. This may see Auckland University full of young bourgeoisie but will also allow Massey to continue to offer places for second chance learners who need to study extramurally.
National has not discounted changes to New Zealand’s open entry policy. National legislation removing open entry would be antisocial and bordering on racist. Antisocial because it is ignoring those with disabilities, students who study part-time for professional or personal development and the elderly who through education wish to continue to contribute to society. Racist because the group they are targeting effectively excludes māori. Māori learners in degree level tertiary education are predominantly adults who have entered the system through the over 20 open entry route. If National closes this door then how does their policy satisfy the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi?
National need to think again about the social impact of their Tertiary Education policies.
Hard copy is important at contact courses
It is going to get more expensive to study. It’s not just the fees that hit students hard. Students won’t receive a tax break or increase in Super. Instead they will get hit from all directions with any GST rise. The cost of papers will go up 2.5%. The cost of travel, accommodation and text books will all increase, not to mention the items of daily life - like food. There are two issues I can take to the university here: one is digitization of study material and the other focuses on contact courses.
Digitization of study material has the potential to cost students. For some it is a blessing for others a hassle and a cost. I will be lobbying Massey to provide choice. “Would you like digital or not?” should be a key question asked of students. Ideally the costs should remain in the students control regarding printed material.
The second area is some sort of regulation regarding contact courses. Currently there are extramural papers that require four visits to Albany campus – the reason they need this is because the website is a simple blog with no forums or discussion available. Not good enough! Stream the site and halve the contact courses. I will be bringing this up with Massey management to see if we can get some traction on providing course controllers with clear policies for contact courses that fit with student’s reality. Your comments assist with this so let me know what you think.
No matter which side of the fence you sit it is irrefutable that EXMSS (and other students associations) delivers services that save students. Save them from hardship, from anguish and from an education system that at times seems less than friendly. Each year EXMSS saves hundreds of students from dropping out of their studies. Even more students are assisted through targeted services that help extramurals deal with smaller issues and every student benefits from good engagement with the university through their elected representatives. 
The existing opt-out-of-student-associations system that makes all of this possible is now under threat from an ACT Bill, the Freedom of Association Amendment to the Education Act. From EXMSS’s initial survey we found that an overwhelming majority (70%) of extramural students want to keep the existing system. Students associations will not survive a voluntary membership system, maori ropu will dissolve and smaller associations close. Funding for the services considered important by the University will be provided through increases in the Student Services Levy.
EXMSS has written a draft submission that captures this view and now wishes to confirm that what we have said is a reasonable reflection of extramural opinion. Please read the draft submission and leave your comments. If you have a strong viewpoint you may wish to complete a submission yourself. This has been made easy at the Save Our Services website.
Delegates break for a bite to eat and networking time
Representatives from Student Associations around the country met at the end of January to discuss issues that will affect all students. The conference is an opportunity to connect students from both polytechnics and universities in order to develop networks and build strategies to promote student support across the country. Four representatives from EXMSS attended the conference.
Much of this year’s discussion related to the government led restrictions being placed on the tertiary sector. High on the agenda were political issues such as the removal of the student positions on Polytechnic Councils, the bill to make Student Association membership opt-in and the reduction of access to tertiary education in the university sector.
Of major concern for the EXMSS team was the omission of life-long learning and the focus on youth and full-time students clearly evident in National’s Tertiary Education Strategy.
Students associations are effective at keeping these issues on the government’s agenda. Because students are described by the TEC as the most significant stakeholder in the tertiary sector it makes sense that students are in the position (funded and organized) to engage with both their institutions and with government. National student conferences are essential to ensure effective engagement at institution and national level.
Actions stemming from the conference include national strategy‘s relating to: the Freedom of Association Bill, lobbying Polytechnics to form Student Advisory Committees for their Councils, monitoring of the success of the Youth Guarantee scheme and maintaining pressure on the Government to provide continued access to education for Maori and minority groups.
What are the key issues for extramural students this year? Two key questions come to mind: will you have a place at university if you do not pass the majority of your semester one papers, and what new services do I get for the increase in student services levy?
Question One – a matter of access: Massey has stated in the Manawatu Standard that there will be normal access to programmes of study in 2010. There has been no change in the Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Regulations and there appears to have been no change in the numbers who are excluded for this reason. Massey has been using the term ‘managed enrolment system’ to describe their ability to control student numbers to the TEC but at this stage it appears that the change is in how the existing rules are applied. “With more rigour” as Steve Maharey put it. It would be worth reading the regulations.
The sun is setting on open entry to tertiary education
The key to ensuring your place at Massey is to pass more than half your courses and pay your fees on time. Keep in mind that this is a consequence of National’s Tertiary Education Strategy and high student demand. Massey is doing what it can between a rock and a hard place.
Question Two – rising fees: EXMSS has been working hard to both find out what services students value and to encourage Massey to deliver appropriately. A fair whak of the increased student levy will be focused on additional support for students who are struggling: this to ensure the Governments focus on completion is satisfied. To get the best from your Student Levy students need to find out what the Student Learning and Development Team offer. Pre-reading and Post-reading of assignments to offer structural and referencing advice, regional study seminars, open days and personal support are all useful. Don’t be shy, you have paid for it, make contact and be supported.
Postgraduate tuition fees are another issue as Massey is seeking to raise them by $1,000 per FTE. I will be discussing this with the University and will post on this topic soon.
Check Review It before you enrol
EXMSS has confirmed funding for a revamp of Rate It. The government funding agency Ako Aotearoa has agreed to fund a project that will upgrade Rate It in 2010. The new-look survey, called Review It will be available to most undergraduate students, both internal and extramural. Review It will focus on students offering advice to students and commenting on their learning experience. Textbook costs and hours of study will also be included.
The future of Review It looks bright with several other student associations in both polytechnics and universities looking to get involved in 2011. The funding is enough to improve and pilot the new survey tool at Massey. Once we have confirmed it works and that students are keen to use it we will look to making it available outside of Massey. This is the first time funding of this type has been bid for and received by a students organization. Well done EXMSS.
Why don't they get it?
Massey extramural students are pissed off at the lack of understanding the 2025 Taskforce has displayed around the importance of tertiary education in building a sustainable future for New Zealand.
Brash’s 2025 Taskforce Report, which students are calling the Darkforce, calls for higher tertiary education fees, market interest on student loans and less stakeholder involvement in the governance of the institutions that deliver tertiary education.
National has already embarked on this road to the dark ages with the Polytechnic Amendment Bill. Next will be a loosening of the fee maxima alongside the removal of the united student voice through voluntary membership of student associations. And then interest on student loans…
A few years down this path and we have a business system delivering education and research. Has this worked elsewhere? Has this helped countries bounce back after a period of recession? No. Most countries have invested in tertiary education as demand has increased. What do the experts say? The recession is an opportunity to invest in productivity on a national scale.
It seems as if everyone but the government agree that education is the springboard to step change in National Productivity. Brash only sees the money-go-round, he appears to have no faith in the potential of a better educated Aotearoa society. Rude twit.
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