Review pans union’s worth to students

A REVIEW of the Tasmanian University Union says the organisation’s relevance was questioned by “mostly everyone” and recommends the Board of Management “seriously considers” dissolving the union.

The $120,000 review, obtained by the Mercury, made 34 findings, most of which were critical of the TUU.

It said the TUU had increasingly become irrelevant to students and the university, and questioned the legitimacy and mandate of elected representatives. Just 3.9 per cent of the UTAS student body voted in TUU elections.

“At all levels, TUU’s communication with the student body is flawed and seen as a serious problem,” the report said.

The report found issues with the cumbersome organisational structure, little benefit for distance students, and potential gender issues.

It recommended considering excluding distance students from student services amenities fee payments, which are required before students can graduate.

Nearly two-thirds of the UTAS student body is female, but executives on the Board of Management were all male, and there was only one female member on the TUU board.

The report said the board should seriously consider dissolving the TUU, but it was not the preferred option. Another option was a significant overhaul of the organisation.

The review was undertaken by Professors Leo Goedegebuure and Lynn Meek from the LH Martin Institute of Tertiary Education Leadership and Management at the University of Melbourne last year.

In a joint statement, TUU president Jess Robinson and acting board chairman Michael Stoddart said the next phase of the review had commenced with the TUU state council, which would consider the recommendations and the appropriate response.

“It is recognised that this phase should include wide consultation with the student body of UTAS, and research into other effective models adopted by university student organisations worldwide,” the statement said.

Students are asked to send feedback to feedback.tuu@utas.edu.au by April 11. The TUU operates independently of the University of Tasmania.