UNE > News and Events > Browse by article > UNE moves to safeguard Union services

Next Academics’ wishes granted to research array of topics June 28, 2005  

Previous Global Internet analysis: Australia possibly 'out of phase' June 24, 2005 

UNE moves to safeguard Union services

June 27, 2005

Dennehy.thumb.jpgThe University of New England is safeguarding essential services for its students and staff by creating a new University-controlled company to manage the current activities of the UNE Union.

This move, ratified at a meeting of the UNE Council on Friday 24 June, follows the advice of an administrator appointed last month to ensure the successful future of the UNE Union operations. It will provide both the University and its students and staff with greater protection in a time of considerable change for tertiary education.

The new "controlled entity" will have a governing board that will comprise five members appointed by the University and two elected by students. The new arrangements will allow the operations of the UNE Union to continue trading from a position of financial strength.

"UNE has had little or no representation on the decision-making body of the UNE Union," said Mr Graeme Dennehy, UNE's Executive Director (Business and Administration), "but has carried the risk for several of its operations." The new arrangements, in addressing this anomaly, will give the University a more clearly-defined position from which to protect the rights of student and staff members.

Mr Dennehy (pictured here) said the clarification of this relationship was necessary in the light of National Governance Protocols and recent changes to the University of New England Act (1993) requiring clearly defined relationships and appropriate controls of student and staff organisations.

He said the relationship to the University of the new controlled entity encompassing the operations of the UNE Union followed the recommendations of the administrator, and would allow the controls required by the Act to be put in place.

He said the safeguarding of student services in particular had become a priority because of impending Commonwealth legislation that, in abolishing compulsory fees for students, could affect the funding of such services.


Media contact: Graeme Dennehy, Executive Director (Business and Administration), UNE (02) 6773 3895, Ingrid Rothe, Director, Marketing and Public Affairs, UNE (02) 6773 3402, or Jim Scanlan, Public Relations, UNE (02) 6773 3049.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at June 27, 2005 12:10 PM