VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR STUDENT SERVICES AT UNE
Explanatory Note
The Voluntary Contribution for student services at UNE is a voluntary fee that replaces the previous compulsory General Service Fee charged by UNE. This fee is not part of your HECS invoice and is payable on a Voluntary Basis only by students.

Following the introduction of the Voluntary Student Unionism legislation in December 2005, from July 2006 the UNE is no longer charging students the General Service Fee, which previously provided funding for a range of students support services, cultural & recreational activities provided by Services UNE and Sport UNE. Where possible these organisations have made changes to reduce costs and recover some of the cost of services on a user pays basis. However, some essential services cannot be charged for, or do not recover the full cost of deliver; but continue to be provided. Examples of this include the Breather & the Postgrad Centre; student representation on UNE academic & faculty boards (through the Undergraduate & Postgraduate elected student Committees); Second Hand Bookshop; Tune FM Radio Station; student employment and accommodation assistance; welfare and advocacy services; tax help; legal assistance; 1800 number for external students to access this assistance; a general information service; and much more.

While in 2006 the UNE pledged to provide some short term funding, this will only support the bare minimum of services, so any voluntary contribution made by students will supplement this amount and perhaps allow for the continuation of some services that otherwise might need to be discontinued.

How to pay?
The suggested amount of $80.00 is based on feedback from a student survey conducted by Services UNE Ltd in September 2005. Payment must be made separately to any HECS payment; but through the UNE Cashier. For further details go to www.une.edu.au/finance

FAQs
Q. I would like to make a Voluntary Contribution for student services at UNE. How do I do this.
A. The Voluntary Contribution can be paid to the UNE Cashier, but as a separate amount to any HEC's payment you make.

Q. I have received an invoice for Student Fees. What is this for.
A. The invoice amount covers your HEC's payment only. The Voluntary contribution for student services of $80.00 mentioned on this invoice is for a voluntary contribution only, designed to replace some of the funding previously available for non commercial student support services at UNE. While the UNE has pledged to provide some short term funding, this will only support the bare minimum of services, so any voluntary contribution made by students will supplement this amount and perhaps allow for the continuation of some services that otherwise might need to be discontinued.

Q. What sort of services might any voluntary fee provide.
A. Services UNE currently provide a range of non commercial services such as the Breather & the Postgrad Centre; student representation on UNE academic & faculty boards (through the Undergraduate & Postgraduate elected student Committees); student employment and accommodation assistance; welfare and advocacy services; etc. Any voluntary contribution will help ensure these services are continued and expanded where possible. Similarly, Sport UNE is unable to fully recover its cost of operation on a user pays basis, and any Voluntary Contributions will help close this gap.

Q. I have received an invoice for a Student Fee. Do I have to pay this as I thought this type of fee was no longer allowed to be charged.
A. The Voluntary Fee is sepatate to your HECS invoice and any payment is at your discretion. The charging of compulsory student fees is illegal.

Q. I have received this invoice for a voluntary Student Fee. How do I pay it.
A. You can pay by direct payment to the UNE Cashier, located at the bottom of the Lamble Building on campus, or alternatively go to www.une.edu.au/finance down to Payment Options for Voluntary Contributions for Student Services at UNE and download the payment form.

Q. I am an external student. Why should I pay this fee.
A. Any payment is voluntary, so you can choose to make or not to make any contribution. The contributions will be utilized to provide a range of student support services at UNE, including some services such as advocacy, legal help, the 1800 number, accommodation assistance, etc that are available to external students via the phone or when on campus.

Q. Is the Voluntary Contribution tax deductable.
A. Yes, the voluntary contribution is tax deductable.

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PRESS RELEASE - NOVEMBER 2006
2006 saw a record number of entries received for the Services UNE Short Story and Photography Competitions, with the winning entries announced at the Booloominbah Collection on Friday evening.

115 entries were received for the Photography competition, sponsored for the third year by the Armidale Express. Photographs have been on display at the UNE Bistro for two weeks while the Peoples Choice voting was open. Prizes were awarded as follows:
1st Prize of $300 to Emma Rowles for 'How’
2nd Prize of $150 to Emma Rowles for 'Walk on By'
3rd Prize of $50 to Kelley Atkinson for 'Will You'.

The Peoples Choice of a $50 voucher was awarded to Theodore Maczi for the work 'Ducks in the Water'.

17 entries were received for the Short Story Competition covering a wide range of subject matter and themes. The extremely high standard of entries led to the Judge and sponsor, the United Campus Bookshop to award four prizes being:
1st Prize of $300 to Rebecca Lally for 'Endued Unto That Element'
2nd Prize of $150 to Rebecca Lally for 'Breeding Harness'
3rd Prize of $100 to Helen Machalias for 'The Way Home'
4th Prize of $50 to Jason Green for 'The Tenement'

2006 Short Story Entries

Services UNE would like to congratulate all winners and acknowledge the high standard of work of all participants. We would also like to thank our sponsors for their continued generosity and support; and our judgets for their time and effort.

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PRESS RELEASE - NOVEMBER 2006
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Pettigrew has moved quickly to reassure the community of the University of New England's commitment to the Belgrave Cinema, stating emphatically that "there is no proposal to sell or close down the cinema".

Professor Pettigrew was responding to concerns raised in the media about the future of the cinema. "In fact Services UNE is continuing to invest in the cinema as demonstrated by the recent $150,000 investment in installing new seats and refurbishing the cinema. Consideration is also being given to broadening the range of its cinematic offering via digital equipment", he continued.

Professor Pettigrew said it was important for the University and the community "to continue to work together in the spirit in which the cinema was set up, to ensure the continued quality of service to the community and patronage by local residents".

Professor Pettigrew also clarified recent media reports that the Bistro had shut its doors. The Bistro, or "'Stro" as it is affectionately known, will continue to operate as a social venue for on-campus students. The only closure is related to the public service of alcohol through the Bistro Bar, which will cease at the end of semester, 22nd November 2006.

Professor Pettigrew has praised the Board of Services UNE for proactively working with the managers of licensed premises in Armidale to find suitable alternative venues for large events for students and members of our community.

Professor Pettigrew said "The Bistro itself will continue to operate as a hub on-campus providing a central meeting space for our students and the broader University community".

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SERVICES UNE LIMITED NEWSLETTER - JULY 2006
Services UNE Limited has over recent months been working through a number of issues to determine the level of ongoing commercial and non commercial student support services we will be able to continue to deliver following the implementation of the Voluntary Student Unionism legislation in July 2006. In total, Services UNE, under the banner of the UNE Union, UNESA and UNEPA received around $1.8m per annum in student fees to support and subsidise the range of services provided for students at UNE.

With some assistance from the University, who from 2007 will provide around $300,000 per annum of cash or kind support to maintain some of the essential student services, Services UNE will continue to provide a range of retail and support services such as Secondhand Bookshop; Campus Essentials and Post Office, Tune FM Radio Station; Restaurants; Entertainment and cultural activities; plus a range of student welfare and advocacy services including employment, accommodation, tax help, legal support and independent advocacy.

In the immediate short term, Services UNE will not be charging a voluntary membership fee, but will accept donations from students or former students or members who would like to contribute to the maintenance of essential student services at UNE. You can do this by making your donation at the Services UNE Office or by mailing your clearly marked donation to Services UNE Ltd, PO Box U53, UNE NSW 2351. Any donated funds will be utilized within the Student Support area which services all students at UNE.

Any longer term decision regarding membership will be made once we review the success or otherwise of voluntary contributions at Sport UNE and other Australian Universities in the wake of the VSU legislation.

In the meantime, Services UNE has and will continue to take a number of steps to reduce our cost of operation by reviewing and refining our structure so that this matches our resources; by optimizing the commercial opportunities available at UNE so that profits from these areas can subsidies non commercial but essential services; by utilizing lower cost options such as the internet for communicating to members about services, employment opportunities, elections, etc. In some instances we will move previously free services such as the Lunchtime Quiz to a user pays system, with the imposition of a small fee. For other services such as those provided for externals (free buses, etc) we will continue to identify ways to reduce the cost of the service or to continue on a user pays basis.

Services UNE Ltd also has a commitment to providing a mechanism for student representation at UNE and for some months has been working with students at UNE to develop a format for both Undergraduate and Postgraduate Advisory and Representative Committees and Elected Directors provided for in the Services UNE Ltd Constitution. These Regulations were recently approved by the Services UNE Board and have gone to the UNE Council for approval. Once this is received, Services UNE will immediately call for Nominations for the 10 Undergraduate and 10 Postgraduate Committee positions, with the respective, directly elected Committee Presidents also being elected as Directors of Services UNE Ltd.

Within a VSU environment, volunteers will be essential to ensuring we continue to provide a service to all members of the UNE community, regardless of their financial resources. If you would like to help, please contact Wayne Kratz at the Services UNE front office.

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UNE PRESS RELEASE - JUNE 2006
A The Vice-Chancellor of The University of New England, Professor Alan Pettigrew, has announced that the University will provide more than $700,000 a year to ensure the continuation of services that not only contribute significantly to the life of the University, but extend out into the Armidale community.

Professor Pettigrew's announcement follows detailed discussions with the Board of Services UNE and the management of Sport UNE about their loss of revenue as a result of the introduction of voluntary student unionism (VSU) on July 1.

He said these discussions indicated that there would be a combined annual loss of $2.8 million in student fee income to both organisations. "This will necessitate considerable restructuring of their operations," he said, "and financial support from the University's operating budget, to enable them to continue to deliver a range of important services for students from 2007."

"The University will provide $300,000 per year to support Services UNE, comprising $230,000 cash and $70,000 in-kind support," Professor Pettigrew explained. "In addition, the University will take over the provision of several services previously provided by Services UNE. Sport UNE will receive $400,000 per year to support its range of sporting facilities and programs that are so essential to the student life at UNE and the Armidale community. The operating costs of both organisations will also be reduced by having some administrative functions provided by the University."

He indicated that a major part of the contribution to Services UNE would support the operations of the Booloominbah Collection restaurants and the radio station TUNE! FM. "The Booloominbah Collection is open to staff, students and the general community and is at the heart of the University," he said, "and TUNE! FM makes an important contribution to both the education and campus life of our students, and the University's contact with the wider community."

Professor Pettigrew explained that UNE management would continue to work closely with the Board of Services UNE to ensure that student services related to welfare and advocacy services were adequately maintained. He said that discussions between the University, Services UNE and student representatives during the second half of this year would reveal the extent to which the University needed to provide an extra amount of up to $50,000 a year to support these services.

"We will be working with both Services UNE and Sport UNE to find ways to increase their income from commercial activities," he said, "and, in the case of Sport UNE, government grants. Our aim will be to maintain and improve services while reducing dependency on the University's resources that are provided to support essential teaching, research, capital works and related operations. There is an important opportunity here for the Armidale and surrounding communities to show their support for their University and its students by participating in and supporting facilities and functions operated by Services UNE and Sport UNE."