Extramural Presidents Blog » Fees

2012 Fees Rise, Services Remain Unknown

ralph — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 23:27:36 +0000

The fees for study in 2012 have been released.

That's right, we don't know what the services are yet

The fees decision outcome is not unexpected. The tuition fee a student pays will increase four percent, the maximum allowed by Government. The new student service fee effectively represents both the 2011 university levies plus the 2011 student association fees increased by five percent in line with inflation. However not all of the services currently available to students will remain. Shuttle services, for example, are unlikley to be funded through the new student service levy. With the University having to formally account for the dollars levied and then spent on student services, Massey has decided to increase their levy in order to fund the university student services as well as some of the services historically provided by the students associations. Many Student Association services are seen as essential parts of the student experience and student success. The result is transparency about the spending and a relative increase in fees due to an expected reduction in services.

Massey Statement on Fees

Massey University’s student fees for next year will ensure valuable services remain available to students while the University seeks to control students’ costs as much as possible.

Tuition fees will increase by 4 per cent in 2012, in line with the increases announced by other universities.

The fees were agreed by the University Council at its September meeting and will be posted on the Massey website in time for the opening of 2012 enrolments on Monday.

The University Council also decided on changes to the student services levy, which will range from $121 to $516 next year (compared with $75-$325 this year) depending on the mode of learning and the number of papers students take. Distance students will pay less than internal students; full-time students will pay more than those taking fewer papers.

The levy increase reflects a decision by the University to ensure that student services that are valuable part of the student experience at Massey are continued.

2012 University Fee Decisions

ralph — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 04:07:17 +0000

The fee decisions for 2012 have been held up due to the late passage of the Freedom of Association (Voluntary Membership) legislation. EXMSS, along with the other Massey associations, would like to discuss with students what might be suitable student association structures and services. But this is difficult when we do not know what sort of funding may be available.

What will fees and services look like under VSM?

The Massey University Federation of Student Associations have been discussing how change can be managed. And the associations have plans to describe the environment and possible structures and services to students in order for the change to be student led. However, before we have that conversation we must have clarity about the resources that may be available, and what scope there may be for service provision.

The FoA Bill is expected to pass into law at the end of September. Following that, information on fees; what is allowed and what is possible, will be made available to students. As a distance student, you can expect a summary of the fee changes on this blog (as has been done in past years), but also to be approached for your views so that student opinion can drive the future direction of EXMSS.

There are New Fees on My Massey Invoice

ralph — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:31:50 +0000

Yet again the fees for study and student services have gone up. This year the rise seems more confusing than other years. There has been a rise in the tuition fee of 4%, the Government maximum, which many students would see as standard practice, but the rise in the students services levy is much greater and has been clouded by a change to a pro-rata system. Student service levies are now based on how many papers you are taking. Furthermore there is a new levy – the Foundation Levy; another $2.50 for every 15 credit paper a student takes.

Last year the draft proposal by Massey to double the student services levy met opposition from student representatives. The student’s counter proposal was that Massey must justify the fee rise and make it fairer. The upshot was that Massey management was instructed to work with students to decide on the service priorities and the fees were to be prorated so that students taking only one or two papers would not be paying excessive fees. At the Council table the student motion that the total service levy fee grab should be capped did not get enough support to pass.

Regarding the Foundation levy, student representatives were able to muster support for the notion that students should set the priorities of how the Foundation levy will be spent. Furthermore the original charge of $25 per student was rejected in favour of a $2.50 per paper system; a real saving for part time students over the course of their study.

Without student representatives that live and breathe engagement with Massey and the Tertiary Sector I argue that this outcome would have been significantly worse for students. Without universally supported representation at the Council table a student doing two papers would be paying $120 plus the $25 foundation levy in 2011, rather than $95. Your EXMSS fee is less than the difference and you get a host of services to boot.

If you have needs that are not being met or feel that the Foundation levy has a specific reason to exist then let the university know. I am not the only place you can send your views, but if I do receive comment from you, be assured it will make it to the Massey Council table and to the Tertiary Education Commission and be spoken too with passion and clarity. Students are the most important stakeholder in the tertiary sector even if the Government seems to have forgotten this at the moment.

Save our Services

ralph — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:48:55 +0000

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.

Unsatisfactory Acadmic Progress

ralph — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 03:33:49 +0000

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.

Student Voice has Benefits

ralph — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 00:10:33 +0000

Although alone you are connected

As you are aware the Student Services Fee increases 100% for 2010 ($31 to $60). We discussed the rise with Massey and we felt they had good reasons for doing this: improved services was the focus. We then asked what the services were going to be, how many students will they reach and will the students be told?
We then offered our views, based on students feedback, and negotiated for a few things that were missing from Massey’s planned ‘new’ services. Free phone to lecturers for extramurals, an improved hardship grant that has more flexibility to tackle financial barriers such as textbooks and travel costs, the ability to have your returned assignments independently reviewed and of course we supported the Massey initiatives which include more support for those who are struggling and more regional seminars. Massey have been great with their engagement with the student associations, professional attitudes coupled with a common interest in students success has resulted in tangible benefits for students. The final suite of services will be confirmed early in 2010.

Universal student society membership

ralph — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:36:59 +0000

As you know the student society fee is compulsory. For EXMSS this is $40. You can be exempted by conscientious objection (where you pay the fees to charity and forgo the services) or by hardship (where you are still able to use the services). This is imbedded in the Education Act. In my view this allows for representation on campus and provides a set of services that the university would not normally provide. (Independent advocacy, scholarship, local support, social community, contact course services, events.) As an extramural student you may not use these services every year but you will always benefit from the representation. The President of EXMSS is involved in many of the decisions made at Massey from academic through to policy and services. As students it is vital that your perspective is included in this decision making process.

Currently at select committee, the Freedom of Association Bill intends to make EXMSS membership something you will have to actively seek. The fee will not be able to be placed on you student loan. Membership will drop dramatically partly because new student will not understand the benefits of membership. There will be others who do not join because they feel they do not use the services and do not need the insurance of having independent support. The past and future improvements brought about by constant professional engagement with the university are not something the average student would consider.

Having an independent person you can contact about your major being axed will disappear; you will have to deal with Massey yourself. With partial membership your representative on campus will no longer have a valid voice. Decisions about who would be encouraged/discouraged to enroll at Massey will no longer be influenced by extramural students through a ‘voice on campus’. Service levies would rise unopposed and they would quickly outstrip the student society’s levy. And you would still not get the shuttle Service EXMSS supplies, or the independent advocacy, or the representation. Just as National would like it the Universities would be self governing, required to make a profit as set by government and would be encouraged to make education available to those who are young and likely to pass. No second chancers, they are too risky.

Yes, the fees go up for 2010

ralph — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:31:15 +0000

The fee rise for 2010 has now been confirmed. There is now an expectation that Massey will deliver improvements in services for 2010 through the 100% increase in the service levy. EXMSS has a strong voice in how new services may look so now is a great time to make a comment on what you see as most valuable. If you are a postgraduate then your learning environment should also receive a notable improvement driven by the $1,000 increase in fees. I will be discussing improvements to areas such as contestable research funds and scholarships over the coming weeks so get in touch add you voice. The discussion will be stronger with your contribution.

Confirmed Fee Rise for 2010

Undergraduate 5%

Taught postgraduate $500

Research postgraduate $1000

Extramural Student Services levy from $31.00 to $60.00

Internal Student Services levy from $104.00 to $200.00

I will keep you posted on the planned benefits stemming from these fee increases. Stay tuned to this blog and website,