These changes will not only lock able students out of tertiary education, but it will lock them out of Aoteroa.

The current support structures we have in place, while not universal, are vitally important for many students to be able to access tertiary education. By limiting the support that students can receive, it will also limit the types of students who will access tertiary education. We are already aware that students from low income families are more debt averse and therefore will be less likely to access tertiary study if government support is limited. This raises worrying equity concerns.

The path to sustainable growth is through investment in a knowledge economy. We need a system that will help all able students to succeed, not just those students whose parents are rich enough to afford it.

But not only will these changes lock able students out of accessing tertiary education, they will also lock them out of New Zealand. New Zealand has one of the harshest loan repayment schemes in the world. By increasing the compulsory repayment rate by 20 per cent, this system is about to get even harsher. In a country that is struggling to provide jobs for students and graduates, has limited postgraduate scholarships and low wages what incentive are recent graduates given to stay? Coupled with this upcoming change, for many that ever present pull to Australia will be even more harder to resist.

Oh what a week it has been!

After weeks of mystery surrounding the Government’s intended changes to the student loan scheme, on Thursday last week Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce announced some big changes for students (and graduates) in the upcoming budget.

Both Steven Joyce and John Key had signalled earlier in the year that there would be some quite radical changes for students in the budget, and oh boy have they delivered on that promise. In a pre- Budget announcement Joyce outlined a set of changes that are expected to take $250 million off the loan book and create savings of around $60 million per year.

These include:

• Access to student allowances for your first four years of study ONLY;
• Four year freeze on the current parental income threshold for eligibility to allowances;
• Increase of the compulsory student loan repayment rate from 10 per cent to 12 per cent; and
• Probable cancellation of National’s loan repayment incentive scheme, which offered a 10 per cent discount on voluntary loan repayments over $500

These proposed changes are part of the Government’s ongoing campaign to tighten eligibility for student support and push for faster loan repayments. Earlier this year the Government passed a bill which saw the reduction of loan repayment holidays from three years to one. And in the Budget last year the government cut access to student loans and living costs for people over the age of 55 and removed access to course related costs for students studying part time.

For me, one of the most bizarre things about this announcement is that it has come just weeks after the NZ Longitudinal Graduate Survey Baseline Report announced that 15 per cent of students are living in ‘absolute financial distress’. That means that about 1 in 6 students are unable to afford the basic necessities of life such as food, clothing and shelter. Which would indicate to me that the current government support is not enough, or at least it is not getting to the people who need it the most.

The support structures that are currently in place, such as the student allowance, although not universal, are an integral part of ensuring that students have the support they need to succeed in tertiary study. By limiting this support, the Government is also limiting students’ ability to achieve.

But just as alarming as the 4 year limit on student allowances, which as I understand is likely to be applied retrospectively, is the increase in the compulsory minimum student loan repayment rate from 10 per cent to 12 per cent. That is a 20 per cent jump in the amount graduates will have taken out of their pay once they earn over $19,084 a year. While that may not seem like much, when you take into account our low repayment threshold at just over $19k a year, that is going to put further financial pressure on graduates who are trying to get started in their careers, purchase a home, start a business, or raise a family.

Yes, we do need to make sure that students pay back their loans, but we also need to ensure that they have enough money to live on and enough support to be successful in their study. While it does have great private benefit, we must not forget that tertiary education is also a public good and to ensure we come out of this current economic climate a stronger, we need to invest in tertiary education and students. Students should not disproportionately bear the brunt of the current economic climate when they are essential to us emerging from it stronger.

From the above data you would assume that the current support is not enough or is not reaching the people it really needs to. But our current Government wants to cut it.

Are you concerned about the proposed changes to student loans and allowances in the Budget? Will it affect your ability to study in the future? If so we would like to hear from you! Give me an email on president@vuwsa.org.nz.

At the VUWSA Initial General Meeting a few weeks ago, students voted to pass the 2012-2015 Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan highlights the goals and projects that students have directed VUWSA to achieve in the coming 3 years.

One of the key projects in the Strategic Plan is to review the current structure of the Executive, which governs VUWSA. The last time that the governance structure of VUWSA was reviewed was in 1989. The purpose of this review, as I understand, was to make VUWSA operate under more of a business model—with a small Executive focused on high level, strategic operations of the Association.

A lot has happened to VUWSA’s governance structure since 1989. We’ve had new portfolios established (Women’s Rights, Queer, Environment and International Officers), new committees established, significant staff restructuring and most recently the introduction of Voluntary Student Membership.

When running for VUWSA President, I campaigned on the promise of holding a Governance Review. Given the large amount of time it has been since we last properly looked at our Executive and the new challenges VUWSA now faces, such as VSM, it is about time we had a decent look at our governance structure. Not only what portfolios we should have, the review encompasses other issues and activities related to governance such as elections, remuneration and general meetings.

To ensure that VUWSA continues to develop as an effective student-led organisation we need to ensure that we have a robust, effective and accountable governance structure. If the overarching goal of the VUWSA Executive is to further the nine goals outlined in the VUWSA Constitution, then what sort of governance structure best achieves this task?

This is the ultimate goal of the Governance Review—to find this ‘best structure’. The first step of this is through the release of
a Green Paper. Over the last few weeks the Governance Review Committee, comprised of VUWSA, alumni and student representatives have been hard at work putting together an initial document for student and stakeholder consultation.

The purpose of this Green Paper is to get you starting to think more broadly and creatively about our current governance structure and how we might do things a bit differently. In the paper we have set out how things currently run, but we have also provided readers with some ideas on how other students’ associations nationally and YOUR STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION internationally do things a bit differently.

The main thing to remember about this review is that everything is up for revision. Come 2013 we might have a radically different Executive or we might have the status quo with a few tweaks here and there to get it performing a bit better.

But none of this will be possible without your contribution. VUWSA is your students’ association. And because of that we want to hear your views. So check out the VUWSA website or facebook, download the Terms of Reference and tell us what you think. You can send in a submission, fill out a survey or else you can attend one of the Forums we will be holding and give us your opinion right there and then.

Such big change like this does not come around very often—so make sure you get involved and take ownership of your students association.

And while you are submitting on the governance review—don’t forget to fill out the Student Experience improvement Survey that would have landed in your inboxes last week! Fill out ALL OF THE SURVEYS!

Have a great week!

Often it can fill like you fill out surveys and questionnaires and nothing ever happens with the feedback. But these changes are a direct result of what can happen when students engage in feedback processes. We get university systems that seek to make our experiences easier and more positive. Having a say in this survey will make a difference. And, better yet, if you complete the survey you go into the draw to win one of ten $100 New World vouchers.

And finally, VUWSA has accepted an invitation from the Wellington City Council and Wellington Returned Services Association to lay a wreath to commemorate ANZAC Day this Wednesday. I will be laying a wreath on behalf of VUWSA at the Citizens’ Service of Commemoration and Wreath Laying ceremony, which will begin with a service at Wellington Cathedral at 9.30am with the wreath laying at the Cenotaph on Lambton Quay at 10am.

I wish you all the best for your first week back. Try to get back on top of those readings, avoid sleeping in class if possible (you are paying to be there remember) and fill out the Student Experience improvement Strategy. Oh and don’t forget – only 7 more weeks and some exams till you are back on holiday again!

GOT A QUESTION, SOME FEEDBACK OR A WITTY ONE LINER – GIVE US A TWEET @VUWSA 

Have you ever seen that film Love Actually? It’s brilliant. I love it. It begins so well with a monologue by the adorable Hugh Grant as the film’s bachelor Prime Minister David.

He told us that whenever he got gloomy about the state of affairs in the world, he would think about the arrivals gate
in Heathrow Airport. We begin to see footage of families, friends, and lovers greeting each other at the gate. It’s a story of connection–and with Colin Firth in it, it’s a fantastic film.

Likewise, whenever I get gloomy about the state of affairs of this university, I think about the hustle and bustle throughout our university libraries. I think of the excitement of trimester one as the new students walk these corridors for the first time, looking with optimism at the future that lies ahead of them.

They go on to make new acquaintances, new friends, and new lovers. This is a university that centres itself around academia, but it’s also a space for an experience. It gives us all a space to live our lives.

One reason VUWSA was established was to formally recognise the connection we each have as students. It’s an association of people. We’re here to make your time at Victoria the very best that it can be.

At times, that formal aspect means that we have important student meetings to ensure that our relationship is an open one. That said, I don’t want you to date other students’ associations. I want us to go steady. But our relationship needs to be two way. Sure, the executive can sometimes do it by itself, but we’re so much better when we do it together. By “it”, I mean the work of VUWSA.

▴ Standardised nomenclature and common points systems to reduce confusion and create a more transparent and consistent learning and teaching environment

▴ Effective use of contemporary learning technologies to foster student engagement and build digital literacy

▴ The availability of opportunities for placements, practical, internships and exchange programmes, as appropriate to each academic programme or major

It’s great to see that many student recommendations have come through to this second consultation document, however it’s important to remember that none of this has yet been confirmed. It’s important that students are still feeding back their views on this second consultation document.

Head over to our facebook page (facebook.com/vuwsa) and find the link on our wall to the Review of Undergraduate Education survey and fill it out. We have asked some specific questions about themes in the second consultation document—so all you need to do is tell us whether you think they’re great, average or a bit lame.

This review could really change the way that undergraduate education occurs at Victoria, so make sure you get involved and find out what the issues are. We want to know what students like you think about these proposed themes and recommendations, so that we can feed this up to the Steering Committee.

VUWSA INITIAL GENERAL MEETING

On Wednesday VUWSA will be hosting our Initial General Meeting at 1pm in SU217/218.

General Meetings are the highest decision-making body of VUWSA. They are your opportunity to ask your reps questions about their work during the year and how they’ve dealt with certain issues. We’ll be presenting the 2011 Annual Report and 2012-2015 Strategic Plan for adoption at the meeting and we also have a few minor constitutional amendments to move. For more information on the Constitutional changes you can check out or website or the VUWSA notice board out the front of the Kelburn Office.

To sweeten the deal we’ll even be having a free pizza lunch and we’ve got 2 double movie passes to give away. Remember that you will need to bring your student ID card with your VUWSA membership sticker on it to be able to speak and vote in the meeting. If you don’t have your sticker yet don’t worry—we’ll be able to sort it out.

I hope to see a ton of you at the IGM on Wednesday—and don’t forget to fill out our Undergrad Review survey!

You is kind. You is smart. You is important.

Our Prime Minister is an important man. He makes many important decisions. He smiles a lot. He attends a lot of meetings and makes important speeches.

An example of this was at a Colliers international event last week. He talked to the group about the government’s commitment to the retention of interest free student loans, despite student debt currently exceeding $12 billion. National’s support of interest-free student loans is not new—it was party policy in the lead up to both the 2008 and 2011 elections. However, what is concerning are the condescending and arrogant remarks he made in relation to young people, particularly students, and their engagement in the political processes that operate in our country.

Key stated that it was ‘politically unsustainable’ to put interest back on student loans. He explained that interest- free student loans were ‘about the only thing that will get [young people] out of bed before 7 o’clock at night to vote’.

Now I don’t know about you, but I find the above comment to be both demeaning and completely incorrect. Furthermore, voting on Election Day is not the only way to get involved in our democratic processes. We’re living in a dynamic time and students are engaging with the political process in a number of different ways. The forms of engagement, what is being discussed, and how students are discussing it are all changing and evolving. You need only look to Generation Zero’s flash mob during O Week or the amount of signups, our political clubs on campus had during Clubs Week to see that it is far more than just interest free student loans that will get young people to the ballot box on Election Day. Students are concerned about the world we are living in and they are taking action.

With that point in mind, I would like to let you know some ways that you can get involved with some work VUWSA is currently involved with around gathering student opinion and feedback.

STUDENT SUBMISSION ON THE REVIEW OF MMP

The Electoral Commission is very interested in hearing from students regarding the current MMP electoral process. Their interest is particularly piqued by the fact that students and young people voted overwhelmingly to keep MMP (70-75 per cent compared with 58 per cent for the population as a whole) and with the referendum result it is likely to be the system that current young voters will have for the rest of their lives. It is intended that the group discuss an arranged set of questions, e.g. the importance of ensuring proportionality, the basis for eligibility for list seats including thresholds, the ordering of candidates on the list etc. So if you’re a bit of an electoral system ‘geek’ and would like to get involved, give me an email at president@vuwsa.org.nz

TERTIARY EDUCATION COMMISSION FOCUS GROUPS

The TEC are interested in finding out what sort of information students need to make informed and wise choices
as to institutions, papers, courses of study, and so on. This will be extremely important in informing what is likely to lead to requirements imposed upon institutions to report and may also lead to an opportunity for the TEC to publish collectivised data that will assist students in some of the choices they face. Once again, if this is something you are interested in, please give me an email.

These are only two current example of how you can become involved in
our political processes and make your voice heard. There will be plenty of opportunities to be involved in consultation at both an institutional, regional and national level this year. Some important documents that will be coming out for consultation later this year include the Wellington Bus Fare Review, and Wellington City’s Long Term Plan for 2012-2022.

John Key may be an important person, with an important voice. But don’t forget that you are too. Collectively, students can bring big change to this country—so get involved, get active and help shape a country that you want to live in.

And don’t forget that it’s only through us that people like John Key become that important.