Student choice forces cuts?

Media Release

For immediate release

Friday 26 May 2000

Student choice forces cuts?

Massey University's claim that students forced the University to axe 116 jobs border on the ridiculous the Massey @ Wellington Students Association said today.

Yesterday Vice Chancellor James McWha announced the proposed job losses in response to "changing student demand".

"It is hypocritical of James McWha to cite student changes as the reason for making the cuts when they have been aggressively expanding throughout New Zealand, and into Singapore and Fiji without any consultation as to how students feel about this. Students at Massey Palmerston North were firmly against the takeover of Wellington Polytechnic because they believed it would drain resources from the Palmerston North campus.

Perhaps this is what has happened?" said Massey Wellington Student President Matt Davies.

McWha claims that savings from programmes no longer in demand will be reinvested in the further development of web based teaching.

"Did the institution ask student opinion on this initiative? If students choose to learn this way there is already ample opportunity through other quality distance education providers."

"There has been no attempt to verify if students actually want this style of education, particularly on the Wellington campus which had a strong history of hands on teaching as Wellington Polytechnic."

"The latest development at Massey really brings up the issue of the viability of multi campus institutions. We believe that Massey are stretching their resources too thinly and are not responsive to the needs of students at all Massey campuses?" concluded Matt Davies.

For further information contact.

Matt Davies

President

Massey @Wellington Student Association (M@WSA)

PH 021 630 107.

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