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.
EXMSS is a well-organised students association for extramural students who need advocacy on campus. The free services offered are fantastic and to deny this organisation student’s commitment through some typical ACT grandstanding would be a great shame. Student’s Associations, such as EXMSS, are hard-fought-for and deserve to be protected through the traditional means which all university students have subscribed to over many years.
The ACT party seems absolutely committed to disenfranchisement and history will prove their right-wing policies, masquerading as freedom of choice, to lead to pain for those who least need it.
Please throw the bill out.
Just wish to confirm that I support you in your submission. I do not use all your services but I really appreciate the services that I do use whenever I come to Massey
How can you claim all these services are free? We pay for them alongside our enrolment and tuition fees. Our fees are high enough already, partly because of all the increasing number of add-ons we have to pay. There are so many groups. societies, etc; most of them probably do quite a good job, but they all have to be paid for and it irks me that I end up paying considerably higher fees to fund all these “extras” that I never use. Personally, I would rather save the money. If my point of view annoys you, sorry, but I am entitled to disagree with you.
These fees are disgusting. I’m doing ONE course extramurally at a cost of $550. I then have to pay 20% on top for Student assoc/services fees.
The existing opt out is not an opt out. I have to complete a lengthy conscientious objection form complete with evidence. If this is ‘not approved’ I end out with a bad credit rating simply for refusing to pay.
Also, it says here you help students not to drop out. I wanted to drop out – rather than get a bad credit rating from Baycorp. However, the invoice arrived today and yesterday was the final drop out day for fee refund – very clever – you must get a lot of this.
Steve,
If you wish to opt-out please do so, the form needs only one sentence explaining your position. All exemptions have been approved in living memory.
The EXMSS fee is $40 and your compulsory fees (paper +student services levy) just over $600. That’s 6.5%.
If you need financial assistance then feel free to apply to the EXMSS SAP fund, transport in all Massey centres is available – just ask for the EXMSS free shuttle vouchers, if you have an issue with the universities compulsory fees I can arrange a discussion with the vice-chancellor or assist you in writing a letter to the Minister, Stephen Joyce.
If an assignment goes missing or you get marked unfairly, accused of plagiarism, can’t access the e-learning environment, get sick or need disabilities support then we can help. Thank you for your contribution to the system that helps students deal with these types of issues, I hope you will not be one of them this year.
Thanks for reading my blog and taking time to comment.