Fees
Amenities and Services Fee / Voluntary Student Unionism
Information for students
What is the Amenities & Services Fee?
What is voluntary student unionism?
When does voluntary student unionism commence?
Does ECU have a Student Guild?
Am I a member of the ECU Student Guild?
How do I opt out of membership of the Student Guild?
Does the Student Guild charge a membership fee?
Do I need to pay the amenities and services fee?
How does voluntary student unionism apply to international students?
Can I be required to pay a fee for amenities, facilities or services that relate to my course of study?
Who can I contact to obtain more information about voluntary student unionism?
What is the Amenities & Services Fee?
The Amenities & Services Fee (A&S Fee) is a voluntary payment collected by the University for the provision of some of the Student Amenities and Services available at the University. The ECU Act requires that the University transfer to the ECU Student Guild at least 50% of the A&S Fees that are collected. By agreement, the University is transferring to the Guild 100% of the A&S Fees collected for 2008.
The A&S Fee is used by the ECU Student Guild to provide a range of services for ECU Students. Under Voluntary Student Unionism no student can be compelled to pay the A&S Fee.
Information about the services provided to students who opt to pay the A&S Fee is provided here.
What is voluntary student unionism?
Under Commonwealth law, voluntary student unionism means that no student is to be:
- required to join, as a condition of enrolment, a student organisation, union or guild, unless the student chooses to join that organisation, union or guild;
- required to pay a membership fee to a student organisation, union or guild, unless the student chooses to join that organisation, union or guild; or
- required to pay a fee to the University or any other entity for the provision of non-academic amenities, facilities or services unless the student chooses to use the amenities, facilities or services.
If found in breach of these provisions, sanctions may be applied to the University by the Federal Government.
When does voluntary student unionism commence?
Voluntary student unionism effectively commenced on 1 July 2006.
Does ECU have a Student Guild?
The ECU Student Guild has been established to further the common interests of its members.
No student is compelled to join the ECU Student Guild as a condition of enrolment.
Am I a member of the ECU Student Guild?
A student automatically becomes a member of the Student Guild on enrolment, for the period of enrolment, unless the student wishes to opt out of membership.
How do I opt out of membership of the Student Guild?
Arrangements have been put in place by the University to enable students to make a choice on enrolment about their membership of the Student Guild.
If a student wishes to opt out or resign from the Student Guild during semester a form can be obtained from Student Central.
Does the Student Guild charge a membership fee?
Membership of the ECU Student Guild is free of charge.
Do I need to pay the amenities and services fee?
Under WA law, the University must collect an amenities and services fee which, subject to an agreement, is to be passed on to the Student Guild to fund the provision of an agreed range of non-academic services and amenities to students.
The amenities and services fee at ECU is:
- Full time student $50.00 per year or $25.00 per semester
- Part time student $25.00 per year or $12.50 per semester
- External student $15.00 per year or $7.50 per semester
The fee is currently collected by the University on a semester by semester basis.
From Semester 2, 2006, arrangements have been put in place by the University to provide students with the choice on enrolment to use or not use the amenities and services provided by the Student Guild and therefore pay or not pay the amenities and services fee.
In other words, if you choose to use the amenities and services provided by the Student Guild, only then will you be invoiced the amenities and services fee.
Liability to pay the amenities and services fee arises on the Census Date for each semester. If you choose to use the amenities and services provided by the Student Guild and do not pay the fee by the due date sanctions may be applied by the University.
How does voluntary student unionism apply to international students?
International students studying in Australia are treated in the same way as domestic students and will be provided with the same choice as other students to use or not use the amenities and services provided by the Student Guild and therefore pay or not pay the amenities and services fee.
International students studying off-shore are currently exempted from paying the fee.
Can I be required to pay a fee for amenities, facilities or services that relate to my course of study?
The University can still require a student to pay a fee for goods or services that:
- are essential for the course of study in which the student is enrolled or seeking to enrol; and
- the student has the choice of acquiring from, but does not acquire from, a supplier other than the University; and
- either:
- are goods that become the property of the person that are not intended to be consumed during the course of study; or
- consist of food, transport or accommodation associated with provision of field trips in connection with the course of study.
Who can I contact to obtain more information about voluntary student unionism?
If you have a question about the amenities and services fee or tuition fees, please contact the Student Fees Office.
More information about voluntary student unionism at Edith Cowan University can be found here.