Extramural President's Blog » student society http://exmss.org/presidentsblog An Extramural Community weblog Tue, 22 May 2012 01:29:15 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Get Involved in your Learning Community http://exmss.org/presidentsblog/2011/02/22/get-involved-in-your-learning-community/ http://exmss.org/presidentsblog/2011/02/22/get-involved-in-your-learning-community/#comments Tue, 22 Feb 2011 03:11:52 +0000 ralph http://exmss.org/presidentsblog/?p=2134 The EXMSS Extramural Area Representatives (EARs) came together at a conference this weekend. An amazing eclectic group of volunteers, these people willingly give their time to provide assistance to students living in their local area. On many occasions the issue can be resolved by the EAR. EARs are also able to direct students to the [...]]]> The EXMSS Extramural Area Representatives (EARs) came together at a conference this weekend. An amazing eclectic group of volunteers, these people willingly give their time to provide assistance to students living in their local area. On many occasions the issue can be resolved by the EAR. EARs are also able to direct students to the best people to resolve issues that need your contribution such as access to loans and allowances, programme advice, changes in programme and personal support.

The EXMSS EARs will be at the orientation meetings that Massey’s Centre for Teaching and Learning offer at the start of each semester. These meetings are valuable. They discuss the skills you will need to be successful in your studies. Our EARs will offer all those who attend these meetings a FREE Academic Writing Guide and inform you of services like the FREE Supershuttle from airports to campuses and the support you can receive through your student society such as the hardship grant and scholarships.

The key message they will deliver is to get involved in your learning community: visit the EXMSS website regularly, contact your peers through class lists and approach Massey and EXMSS about the services they offer. Everyone is keen to help you succeed. If you hit a barrier there are many ways to tackle it. If you don’t know where to start then just phone 0508 4 EXMSS and ask for EXMSS.

All the best for your journey and we look forward to connecting as you progress.

Want to contribute? Contact Anne@exmss.org.nz and put your hand up to be an Area Representative.

]]> http://exmss.org/presidentsblog/2011/02/22/get-involved-in-your-learning-community/feed/ 0 Universal student society membership http://exmss.org/presidentsblog/2009/10/04/universal-student-society-membership/ http://exmss.org/presidentsblog/2009/10/04/universal-student-society-membership/#comments Sun, 04 Oct 2009 05:36:59 +0000 ralph http://exmss.org/?p=1772 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.

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