Albany Students' Association Inc.

Candidate Speeches Wednesday 8 September

Candidates standing for election to the 2011 ASA Executive Committee will have the opportunity to address the membership in a series of speeches planned for Wednesday the first week after the semester break.

International Debt Collection of Student Loans

Associate Finance Minister Peter Dunne is considering the use of international debt collection to claw back some of the money owed by students who have since left the country and defaulted on student loan repayments.

Ball Photos Online

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Architect of VSM Loses Associate Education Minister Position

With the ACT Party voting to remove Heather Roy in favour of John Boscowan as Deputy Leader, the role of Associate Education Minister has been transferred to Leader Rodney Hide.

Mrs Roy, who penned the Education (Freedom of Association) Bill before passing it to Sir Roger Douglas as sponsor, lost a motion of confidence at ACT's caucus and is currently on two weeks leave while she consider's her future with the party.

VSM Oral Submissions Complete

ASA joined students' associations from Auckland, AUT, Unitec and Waikato to present oral submissions to the Education and Science Select Committee on Sir Roger Douglas' Education (Freedom of Association) Bill on August 12.

With all submissions now complete, the Committee will adjourn to consider the information presented to them and then prepare its report to the Minister of Education and report back to the House later in September.

Domestic Summer School Enrolments Close Early

Massey University has closed Domestic student enrolments for Summer School 2010/2011 as it has already exceeded the Tertiary Education Commission's funding cap.

Degree funding to be linked to careers

Concerns have been raised by the Chair of the New Zealand Vice-Chancellor's Committee in response to Tertiary Minister of Education Steven Joyce's suggestion that funding to tertiary institutions may be linked to career paths - emphasising once again his focus on the job market as a principal driver of degree structures across the sector.

Minister puts Tertiary Institutions on notice over high non-tuition fees

Steven Joyce sent a thinly veiled threat to tertiary institutions that may look to dodge funding caps by charging unreasonably high non-tuition fees, especially for part-time students.

Current Qualifications to Drop by 15% Under New Framework

Minister of Tertiary Education Steven Joyce has announced that the new NZ Qualifications Framework (NZQF) will immediately see the number of qualifications offered drop by 15%. With a clear focus on streamlining qualifications for business, the Minister has signalled that he is tailoring tertiary education to move graduates into jobs driven by market supply and demand.

Massey to Shed up to 53 Jobs

Massey University today announced the draft results of a restructuring of services across all three campuses signalled at the start of current Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey's term. Under the proposal, approximately 120 current roles will be disestablished and 67 new roles created, a net reduction of approximately 53 full-time equivalent staff. The proposed restructure also includes changes in reporting lines.

Student Job Search closes Albany office

Funding cuts and the need to consolidate infrastructure has meant that SJS has had to retract staff and close its Albany campus Atrium office starting from 25 June. Access to their website will still be available to campus students through the Careers Advisory Service in Quad A, or via their 0800 757562 number. If you are an international student, you can still have your visa cited at the International Office.

Memorial Held for past Executive Member

The Campus Chaplain, Ricky Waters, led a memorial service at the Albany student grove to commemorate the recent death of past association Executive member Michael McCool.

Older Students to be Cut Out of Tertiary Education?

With the Government having to write-off tens of millions of taxpayer dollars from elderly students dying before they repay their student loans, and with the likely restrictions on new entrants soon to be confirmed by University Councils as they begin their 2011 fee setting rounds, is there still a place in tertiary education for 'everyone' or is it becoming (again) the province of the young, rich and the elite?

Smoke Free Day Winner

Congratulations to Michelle Blank who was the winner of the draw for the basket of goodies donated by Albany Village Care Chemist at last week's Smoke free Day on Wednesday 26 May.

Enrolment pressure forces early closure

Massey University will close second semester enrolments earlier than planned next month, cut back summer school offerings in semester three and introduce preferential entry next year as a result of the Government's freeze on funding for extra enrolments, Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey has announced.