Extramural Presidents Blog » membership

Freedom of Association (voluntary membership)

ralph — Thu, 27 May 2010 00:53:56 +0000

I have been listening to submissions regarding the compulsory nature of student association membership. It is clear that a minority group of students are not keen to pay for services that they do not use. These students are independent learners with support systems in place and no financial hardship issues. Lucky them.

This group sees no reason to support students with financial issues or those who need advocacy support. They are not interested in attending events such as the EXMSS Graduation Dinner (18 cents from each student’s association fee is used for this event) or receiving any communication that brings all distance students together. They are offended by the requirement to contribute to and participate in these group activities.

EXMSS executive member Dave Crampton presents to the Select Committee on his graduation day

They see no need for a student representative to push for improved academic quality on their behalf, or to lobby the Tertiary Education Commission to consider the impact of their policies on distance students.

But a survey of over 1200 Massey extramurals shows us that 82% support having an on-campus representative that can engage with the University. 70% support the existing full membership system.

So what do we do? Democratically we can vote, but that will not satisfy the minority. Going voluntary will trash the ability of students to present a united voice to the University. Perhaps there is a solution in allowing the student organisations to manage their own membership rules through their constitutions? Is there a halfway house where those who want out can pay a lesser fee for representation only?

And for those who say I do not represent their views – let me know what your views are and I will take them to those you want to hear them. Check the priorities on this blog and you may find EXMSS views match well with your views: ongoing improvements in academic delivery, reasonable conditions for study, praise where it is due and an engaging environment.

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.

National Student Conference

ralph — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:27:45 +0000

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.

Brash’s 2025 Darkforce Report

ralph — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:52:46 +0000

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.

Would you be a member?

ralph — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 07:32:40 +0000

If the Freedom of Association Bill is passed next year then in 2011 EXMSS will be faced with having to convince its prospective members that joining is money well spent. “But that is how it is for all other organizations” I hear you shout. True, but EXMSS is not just services, a big part of what we do is providing a united student voice on campus. If we do not have universal membership then we cannot speak on behalf with authority. If we spend a heap of money on advertising and promotion to get membership up then we can’t provide the level of service we currently can. I am not against some minor changes but asking students to make a decision at enrolment as to whether they should become members will take our membership into the gutter. Not because we are doing a bad job, but because we work behind the scenes. We help hundreds of students each year with advocacy and hardship issues, if you come to campus we have services like the shuttlebus and the help desk for you. The Massey services are good on campus partly because EXMSS surveys the students attending and delivers the results back to Massey so improvements can be made. We have presented a professional, well considered voice on Massey’s Council for years, encouraging student centred initiatives and progress on extramural issues like the ability to submit assignments online which is finally rolling out across the university. We hold the university accountable for the decisions it makes.

Based on the information they have, I cannot expect new students, or those who have not had any major issues to deal with, to choose to spend another $40 at the time of enrolment and become a member of EXMSS . If students understood what EXMSS has achieved for students over the years and recently then perhaps they would. The problem is the impossibility of explaining this to those enrolling. Based on what you know about EXMSS would you become a member?