Under sections 227A(4) and 235CA(4) of the Education Act 1989, I give notice of the proposed direction relating to compulsory fees for student services.
N o t i c e
1. Title-This notice may be cited as the Education (Compulsory Student Services Fees) Notice 2011.
2. Commencement-The proposed conditions outlined in this notice apply for the 2012 academic year only.
3. Proposal-I propose to give this direction on compulsory student services fees pursuant to section 227A(1) and 235CA(1) of the Education Act 1989.
4. Call for submissions-Any tertiary education provider and any other person, body or organisation that has an interest in this matter is invited to make a submission on the proposed direction as set out in this notice.
All submissions should be sent to:
Student Services Fees Submissions
Tertiary Education Policy
Ministry of Education
PO Box 1666
Wellington 6140.
Or email:
tertiary.strategy@minedu.govt.nz
5. Date for submissions-All submissions must be received by 29 September 2011.
Dated at Wellington this 8th day of September 2011.
HON STEVEN JOYCE, Minister for Tertiary Education.
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Proposed Direction on Compulsory Fees for Student Services
Pursuant to sections 227A(1) and 235CA(1) of the Education Act 1989, I give the following direction to tertiary education institutions and private training establishments (together referred to in this direction as "providers"):
Objective
1. The objective of the direction is to establish a framework for how compulsory fees for student services are administered
for the purposes of ensuring transparency and accountability of providers to students.
Coverage
2. All providers that charge a compulsory student services fee to domestic students that are enrolled in programmes funded by the Government must comply with the provisions of this direction.
Effective date
3. This direction takes effect from 1 January 2012.
Decision-making
4. Providers must establish adequate arrangements for decisions to be made jointly, or in consultation with the students enrolled at the provider, or their representatives, on the following matters:
(a) the maximum amount that students will be charged for student services; and
(b) the types of services to be delivered (within the categories set out under paragraph 8); and
(c) the procurement of these services; and
(d) the method for authorising expenditure on these services.
Accounts for student services fees
5. Providers must hold student services fees in a separate bank account to be used solely for the purpose of expenditure on student services and must ensure that the account is audited.
Reporting on student services fees
6. Tertiary Education Institutions must include a description of the services funded out of the student services fee and a statement of the fee income and expenditure for each type of student service in their annual report.
7. Private Training Establishments must provide students with a written report, describing the services that have been funded out of the student services fee and a statement of the fee income and expenditure on each type of student service.
Categories of student services
8. Providers may make the following categories of services available:
(a) Advocacy and legal advice: Advocating on behalf of individual students and providing independent support to resolve problems.
(b) Careers information, advice and guidance: Supporting students’ transition into post-study employment.
(c) Counselling services: Providing non-academic counselling and pastoral care, such as chaplains.
(d) Employment information: Providing information about employment opportunities for students while they are studying.
(e) Financial support and advice: Providing hardship assistance and advice to students on financial issues.
(f) Health services: Providing health care and related welfare services.
(g) Media: Supporting the production and dissemination of information by students to students, including newspapers, radio, television and internet-based media.
(h) Childcare services: Providing affordable childcare services while parents are studying.
(i) Sports and recreation facilities: Providing sports and recreation facilities for students.
9. Student services fees may also be used to meet the capital and maintenance costs associated with providing the facilities through which these services are delivered.
HON STEVEN JOYCE, Minister for Tertiary Education.