Fees
Voluntary Student Unionism at Edith Cowan University
What is voluntary student unionism?
The Higher Education Support Amendment (Abolition of Compulsory Up-front Student Union Fees) Act 2005 (the VSU Act) was passed by both Houses of Federal Parliament on 9 December 2005 and received royal assent on 20 December 2005, bringing into existence voluntary student unionism.
Under the VSU Act, 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.
All staff and agents of the University must comply with the provisions of the VSU Act. If found in breach of the VSU provisions, sanctions may be applied to the University.
When does voluntary student unionism commence?
The provisions of the VSU Act came into effect on 1 January 2006, with transitional provisions in place until 1 July 2006.
At ECU, voluntary student unionism applies to all students enrolling in a period of study that commences on or after 1 July 2006.
What action has ECU taken to comply with the VSU Act?
Student Guild membership
Under voluntary student unionism, no student is to be required to join, as a condition of enrolment, a student organisation, union or guild, unless the student chooses to become a member of that organisation.
The ECU Student Guild has been established by State Parliament under the Edith Cowan University Act 1984 (the ECU Act). Its primary purpose is to further the common interests of its members.
No student is compelled to join the ECU Student Guild as a condition of enrolment. Under the ECU Act, 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.
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.
Student Guild membership fee
Under voluntary student unionism, the University must not require a person enrolled with, or seeking to enrol with, the University to pay to it or any other entity an amount in respect of an organisation of students, or of students and other persons unless the person has chosen to be or become a member of that organisation.
Membership of the ECU Student Guild is free of charge.
Payment of the amenities and services fee
Under voluntary student unionism, the University must not require a person enrolled with, or seeking to enrol with, the University to pay to it or any other entity an amount for the provision of non-academic amenities, facilities or services unless the student chooses to use the amenities, facilities or services.
Under the ECU Act, an annual amenities and services fee must be paid to the University Council by each student except a student exempted by University statute.
Effective from 1 January 2009 the amenities and services fee at ECU is:
- Full time student $100.00 per year or $50.00 per semester
- Part time student $50.00 per year or $25.00 per semester
- External student $30.00 per year or $15.00 per semester
The fee is currently collected on a semester by semester basis.
Subject to the agreement of the Fees Allocation Committee, Council is to pass on to the Student Guild the fees collected which are then to be used to fund the provision of an agreed range of non-academic services and amenities to students.
University Statute No. 29 - Amenities and Services Fee was amended by University Council at its meeting on 20 April 2006 to provide that all students who do not choose to use the amenities and services provided by the Student Guild are to be exempted from paying the amenities and services fee. The amendments were subsequently approved by the Governor and appeared in the Government Gazette on 2 June 2006.
Accordingly, if a student makes a positive choice to use the amenities and services provided by the Student Guild, the student will then to be invoiced the amenities and services fee. Alternatively, if a student does not choose to use the amenities and services provided by the Student Guild or fails to make a choice, that student will not be liable for the fee.
Under the Amenities and Services Fee Rules, liability to pay the amenities and services fee arises on the Census Date for each semester. If a student chooses to use the amenities and services provided by the Student Guild but does not pay the fee by the due date sanctions may be applied by the University.
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.
rrangements regarding the level of access to and range of services to be provided by the Student Guild in the new voluntary student unionism environment are currently being finalised by the Student Issues Taskforce of Council.
How does voluntary student unionism apply to international students?
Amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS Act) in 2005 make it clear that the University will not breach the VSU Act if the tuition fee charged to an international student includes an amount that is used to fund the specific services required under the ESOS Act and National Code. These services are:
- arrangements for independent grievance handling/dispute resolution
- access to information or counselling services in the following areas:
- Orientation
- Academic progress
- Further study
- Accommodation
International students are otherwise to be treated in the same way as domestic students under the VSU Act.
In regard to the collection of the amenities and services fee at ECU, international students studying off-shore are currently exempted from paying the fee.
International students studying on-shore 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. Where an international student studying on-shore in Semester 2 of 2006 elects not to utilise the amenities and services provided by the Student Guild and based on a full student load (60 credit points), the total tuition fees for the second half of 2006 will be reduced by $50.00.
he amenities and services fee will not be factored into the calculation of tuition fees from 2007. If an International student studying on-shore chooses to use the amenities and services provided by the Student Guild and therefore pay the amenities and services fee, the student will be invoiced for the fee like other students.
Can a student be required to pay a fee for amenities, facilities or services that relate to their course of study?
Under the VSU Act, the University can 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.