Students turn to institute for answers

Students turn to institute for answers

Christchurch Polytechnic students are looking to the CPIT after the release of the Fee Maxima policy, which replaces a three year old policy of fee stabilisation which saw three years of no fee rises.

“It’s certainly not a step forward” said Christchurch Polytech Students’ Association (CPSA) president Mark Taylor. “Fees are too high as it is, and any increase, even one of 5%, can be significant” said Taylor.

“Now students are turning to the CPIT itself for answers” said Taylor. “The CPSA is writing directly to the CPIT Council asking some very direct questions about possible fee increases” said Taylor. “We don’t want an ‘Us and Them’ mentality to develop between CPIT and CPSA, most people just want what’s good for the students and the institution.”

The turnaround on this issue from the government has been massive. “It only goes to show what a good round of protests followed by some comprehensive lobbying can do” said Taylor, referring to the joint Canterbury/Lincoln/CCE/CPIT student protests earlier this year when the fee maxima draft was released.

CPIT students are now looking forward eagerly to two things, one was the student support review, the other being CPIT’s reply to the associations letter.

ENDS.

For further information contact:
Christchurch Polytech Students Association
President: Mark Taylor
Work (03) 940 8906

LETTER ATTACHED

To the CPIT Council –

On behalf of the students at CPIT, the Christchurch Polytechnic Students’ Association (CPSA) wishes to ask the CPIT some questions regarding student fees, in light of the recent release by the Ministry of Education of its Fee Maxima policy.

The CPSA will openly publish both this letter and the Council’s response, so that students will have, as soon as feasible, the information needed to plan their finances for next year and beyond.

The CPSA recognises the level to which CPIT’s hands are tied, both by budgetary constraints and by competitive pressure from other tertiary providers.

The CPSA regards the Fee Maxima policy, released by the Ministry of Education on 21st August, largely as a “mixed bag” of good and bad steps. For students, the greatest concern is of possible fee increases, up to 5% annually, for all courses that currently fall beneath the maxima. The CPSA believes these courses include approximately 60% of all those provided by CPIT.

The CPSA will advocate the best possible outcome for students in relation to fees, taking into account programme quality and other external factors, and is willing to work with the CPIT to provide that outcome. Students do not wish to be burdened further with debt. However, they also do not wish to see class sizes balloon or access reduced to facilities and equipment.

Our immediate questions to CPIT are:
- Which courses are facing fee increases?
- How much will they be?
- Will these (or other) courses face cuts in quality or resources?

Yours truly,

Mark Taylor
CPSA President
P O Box 40008
Madras St
CHRISTCHURCH

(03) 940 8907 Fax
(03) 940 8906 DD

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