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UWS rules out higher student fees in 2005
Date: 12/08/2004
The University of Western Sydney has today ruled out higher student fees next year at an open meeting of the UWS Board of Trustees.
The University made its decision not to increase HECS fees. This resolution is in keeping with the University's mission to provide high quality higher education for the people of Western Sydney, and to meet the rapidly growing demand for university education in the region.
The decision has been made against the background of a predicted budget deficit of up to $3.8m this year.
However, Vice-Chancellor Professor Janice Reid says the University wants to ensure that access to university is based on students' educational achievements and academic capacity, rather than their ability to pay.
"We will do everything we can to bring the University back into the black and will not transfer the financial burden to our students.
"UWS has a large number of students who are the first in their families to attend university or are mature age students with mortgages and family responsibilities. We are very aware of the detrimental effect an increased debt burden could have on students and their families in Western Sydney.
"The costs of higher education to students such as accommodation, textbooks, travel and forgone income already represent significant barriers for many potential students," Professor Reid says.
In order to remain financially viable, UWS will need to embark on an institution-wide strategy to build the University's capacity to earn more non-government income, and to make major and sustainable cost savings.
The University of Western Sydney is the sixth largest university in Australia, with over 37,000 students. It has campuses at Hawkesbury, Penrith, Campbelltown, Bankstown, Parramatta and Blacktown.
So far, 26 Australian universities have decided to increase HECS fees, while only eight universities, including UWS, have voted against HECS increases.
Date: 12/08/2004
The University of Western Sydney has today ruled out higher student fees next year at an open meeting of the UWS Board of Trustees.
The University made its decision not to increase HECS fees. This resolution is in keeping with the University's mission to provide high quality higher education for the people of Western Sydney, and to meet the rapidly growing demand for university education in the region.
The decision has been made against the background of a predicted budget deficit of up to $3.8m this year.
However, Vice-Chancellor Professor Janice Reid says the University wants to ensure that access to university is based on students' educational achievements and academic capacity, rather than their ability to pay.
"We will do everything we can to bring the University back into the black and will not transfer the financial burden to our students.
"UWS has a large number of students who are the first in their families to attend university or are mature age students with mortgages and family responsibilities. We are very aware of the detrimental effect an increased debt burden could have on students and their families in Western Sydney.
"The costs of higher education to students such as accommodation, textbooks, travel and forgone income already represent significant barriers for many potential students," Professor Reid says.
In order to remain financially viable, UWS will need to embark on an institution-wide strategy to build the University's capacity to earn more non-government income, and to make major and sustainable cost savings.
The University of Western Sydney is the sixth largest university in Australia, with over 37,000 students. It has campuses at Hawkesbury, Penrith, Campbelltown, Bankstown, Parramatta and Blacktown.
So far, 26 Australian universities have decided to increase HECS fees, while only eight universities, including UWS, have voted against HECS increases.
