UWS must reject up front fees
23 April 1998
Last evening the University of Western Sydney Macarthur Council voted to recommend the introduction of up front fees to the UWS Board of Trustees (which is the ultimate governing body for all three UWS network members- Macarthur, Nepean and Hawkesbury).
\"The NTEU condemns the actions of the UWS Macarthur Council in recommending the introduction of up front fees at UWS\", NTEU National President, Dr Carolyn Allport said. \"Staff have stood side by side with students all around the country in opposing the introduction of up front fees and we will continue to do so.\"
\"It is now paramount for the educational and social integrity of UWS that the Board of Trustees rejects the Macarthur recommendation to introduce up front fees. They have taken the responsible and equitable decision in the past by rejecting up front fees and they must now do it again\", Dr Allport said.
\"UWS plays a special role in the social and educational life of Greater Western Sydney. It is an excellent example of a university which serves the community in which it is located. The attempt to introduce up front fees is absolutely contradictory to the mission of UWS and the needs of western Sydney\", Dr Allport said.
\"Up front fees are the direct result of Federal Government policies. The Government has substantially weakened restrictions on the charging of up front fees at the same time as it has cut public funding. Dr Kemp’s funding report makes it very clear that his intention is to substantially increase the cost of higher education to students and their families. This will impact considerably on potential UWS students and should be opposed by the University\", Dr Allport concluded.