13 February 2012

2012 FAQs

As the start of first semester 2012 draws closer, we've been receiving some questions about changes students will face this year - most notably the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and what it means for the USU. In addition, as announced in our last blog post, the concluded negotiations between the University and USU over control of the commercial outlets has raised a number of questions. 


To help clear up some confusion, we've created a FAQs page to answer all your queries (see tab above or click here).


If you still have unanswered questions please comment below and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

Yours sincerely,

Sibella Matthews
USU President

6 comments :

  1. I heard that UNSW union has received so much money from the SSAF that union membership is Free ie ZERO dollars

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  2. Do we know what the University is going to spend the money it got from the SAFF fee on? Because from what this sounds like everything is going to be the same and the university is not contributing anything.

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  3. I'm unable to comment to what UNSW are doing as I don't know the full extent of what their student union and their university administration have agreed to.

    In regards to your question Ira, we don't know what the University will be spending the SSAF funds on yet. The University has not announced any specific details to how the money will be spent, only the areas of priority listed in the FAQ. The Budget Allocation Committee is yet to decide where the money will be directed, which means the USU must continue to operate with business as usual.

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  4. ARC membership is now free for UNSW students and half their SSAF money goes towards ARC. It was $69 to join in 2011.

    The UNSW SRC is also working with their Uni to figure out where the other half of their SSAF money should go (https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/students/working-together-students)

    Gee, I wish the Uni treated the USU like UNSW treats ARC.

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  5. I have attempted to contact Prof Armstrong via email (as requested by him in his original email to students) but have been ignored twice.

    If students that are not on main campus are expected to pay the SSAF then distribution of the funds should be partially aimed at off-campus institutions such as clinical schools. Within the medical faculty a total of $25,000 per clinical school will be paid by students that are no longer situated on campus and as such an equitable level of funding should be directed to these locations.

    I have garnered support from colleagues and will continue to do so:

    http://www.change.org/petitions/deputy-vice-chancellor-education-university-of-sydney-equitable-distribution-of-ssaf-for-medical-students-in-clinical-placement

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  6. In other words, the Union Board is completely useless.

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