Last week the University of Sydney Union (USU) received official confirmation from the University regarding the allocation of the Student Services and Amenities Fee.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Derrick Armstrong confirmed in a letter that the USU will be allocated $3,184,000 of the SSAF funds in 2012, a result the USU is very pleased with as it means financial security for our organisation in 2012 and better service for the campus community.
This year’s allocation has been termed ‘transitional funding’ and a 'one-off arrangement', in recognition of the drastic budgetary model changes brought about by the new legislation.
This means the USU will work with the University during the year to plan future allocations from 2013 onwards, developing proposals which expand our programs and student services, such as possibly establishing a universal Access Benefits Program scheme.
In the meantime, the 2012 allocation puts the USU in a secure position for the year, as the funding represents the equivalent of past funding agreements which ceased at the end of last year.
The decision on how to distribute the $10.4 million in SSAF funds was recommended by the SSAF Budget Allocation Committee and approved by the Senior Executive Group, which is chaired by the Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence. The distribution was also endorsed by all the student organisations on campus.
During the process of deliberation, the USU strongly advocated fair distribution of the fees towards only services and programs that genuinely provide value for money and improve student life and welfare on campus.
The USU maintains this belief and hopes for continued investment in our services and programs.
We would love to hear from you, the students; with your ideas and thoughts on what you would like the USU to offer the campus in the future with expanded programs and increased funding that we are aiming to receive in 2013 and beyond.
Let your voices be heard so we can ensure that you benefit from the money you provide.
USU Board of Directors
Free fruit juice! All round campus!
ReplyDeleteOr 6 million soft serves.
What exactly would a universal Access Benefits Program entail?
ReplyDeleteThis is great news, and only a fair return to students on what is, after all, their investment. Hopefully the University administration (and most importantly, us students) will continue to see the importance of allocating SSAF funds to the USU in the future. And hopefully the USU leadership will not relent in securing this campus as a sweet little slice of the world.
ReplyDeleteSpiff work USU Board, keep it up!
Thanks very much for your comments. When we refer to a "universal Access Benefits Program" we mean free Access Cards for all students who are paying the SSAF. You would still have to opt-in to become a USU member, as voluntary student unionism is still in place, but opting-in would also be a free process.
ReplyDeleteGreat news. However, are we likely to see subsidised Access membership in 2013?
ReplyDeleteHi Tom, thanks for your question. We won't know until later this year once negotiations have started for 2013 but we will keep you posted.
ReplyDelete