RESCINDED FEE RULE - STUDENT SERVICES CHARGES
The Commonwealth Government, in December 2005, promulgated legislation which made it a condition of grant that higher education providers do not require compulsory membership of a student organisation. In response to the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Abolition of compulsory Up-front Student Union Fees) Bill 2005, Senate has rescinded the Schedule 1 Fee Rule - Student Services Charges.
VOLUNTARY STUDENT UNIONISM
In December 2005, the Commonwealth Government passed legislation which made it a condition of grant that higher education providers could not require compulsory membership of a student organisation and could no longer charge students a services and amenities fee after 1 July 2006.
A working party had been established to consider the issues arising out of the Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation and to consider the support which the University could provide to the student associations.
At its meeting dated 27 July 2006, the University Senate approved the recommendations of the VSU Working Party. The University has allocated approximately $2 million funding per year to safeguard a range of important student services that would be affected by VSU. The funding will enable UQU and UQ Sport to provide essential services to all students.
Services to be covered through UQ's support include:
· Confidential advice, advocacy and support to students on a range of issues including: grievances, student misconduct, student appeals, examination arrangements and conditions, issues of harassment and discrimination.
· Legal services: advice on IP concerns, simple wills and powers of attorney and minor criminal and civil disputes, discipline appeals and residential tenancy agreements.
· Safety Bus: joint operation with the University of the bus service which has been an integral part of the UniSafe programme.
· An agreed Schedule of Services to UQ Ipswich and UQ Gatton.
· Welfare services: including crisis and personal support, assistance with accessing and maintaining Centrelink benefits, Austudy, Youth Allowance etc.; advice and assistance in dealing with issues arising from HECS, PELS and Scholarships.
· International Student services
· Student representation on University Boards and Committees
· A basic capacity to support student recreational and cultural activities through clubs and societies.
HUPP AMENDMENTS
Following recent Senate approval of the deletion of references to 'postgraduate certificate and diploma', there have been some further administrative changes to HUPP 3.20.6 Postgraduate Nomenclature and Structure.
ENROLMENT AND PROGRESSION RULES
On 25 September 2006, the Academic Board endorsed proposal to introduce Enrolment and Progression Rules which will replace the current Exclusion and Enrolment Rules. SASD intends to develop a detailed communication strategy as part of the implementation plan for Faculties, Schools and students after the new rules have been approved by Senate.
SI-NET UPGRADE – PROJECT UPDATE SEMINARS
What’s NEW on the project website?
The SI-net Upgrade Project websitehas recently been updated with information about the “Product Testing” phase of the project, which commenced in September 2006.
The site also now includes an online presentation from the mySI-net “Sneak Preview” sessions, giving staff an idea of how mySI-net will look after the upgrade in April 2007. A useful “Questions & Answers” document has also been posted, providing a summary of the questions raised by staff during these sneak preview sessions throughout August.
UPDATES TO SASD SEMINAR SERIES SCHEDULE
The SASD seminar schedule has been updated as follows.
1. The 26 September session on Assessment Policies and Practices has been cancelled. This session will be presented in 2007, following a major review of Assessment Rules and Policies by the Assessment Sub-Committee.
2. On 9 October, staff from Centrelink will be presenting an information session to UQ staff to promote understanding of the legal framework within which they operate and important implications for student advising. More detailed information will be provided soon.
3. The 16 October session on the revised Enrolment and Exclusion Rules has been changed to 5 December.
4. On 27 November, the Academic Registrar will repeat the session on “Withdrawal without Academic Penalty and Fee Remission” at Gatton Campus.
'UQ Geology Department day trip to the Glasshouse Mountains, 1913. The dress standards for field trips then were obviously high. The photograph's original caption records that collars and ties were worn because the party left from Central Station.'