Since the introduction of the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) in mid 2012 the University has used student feedback as the driving force for how funds should be distributed and utilised. The UTAS community has seen a range of fantastic services, projects and initiatives flourish in response to this. While staff and students will no doubt witness the various benefits, this webpage will feature selected services, projects and initiatives from across the different UTAS campuses to provide everyone with the opportunity to see these in more detail. As the SSAF funding outcomes are extensive, information on this site will be limited, however rotated regularly.
In collaboration with UTAS, TUU contributes to Orientation and the annual Open Day, as well as organising many other varied events. SSAF funding has seen fun and exciting social events come to life; recently there has been Market Day, Multicultural Night, TUU Uni Games, Malaysian Night Market, Fiesta International, Moonlight Cinemas and O-Week and Dis O-Week activities. The Community Friends and Networks Programme has been a huge success by connecting students from all corners of the University through social engagement opportunities such as weekly catchups as well as excursions and exciting initiatives such as the Human Library. Visit the Community Friends and Networks Programme website for further information.
The Off the Wall Art Project being managed by Commercial Services and Development (CSD) is now well underway, with most of the art installations now complete for viewing. Proposals were sought from students in June for conceptual art projects and 8 projects have been selected to proceed. Students have been given a unique opportunity to activate UTAS campuses with conceptual art. The installations have progressively been popping up across the campuses. The feedback has been positive with staff, students and visitors reporting to be excited with the vibrancy as they walk around campus. For further information and photos visit www.utas.edu.au/off-the-wall
This smart phone application was developed to provide students with a range of useful tools in one app. The My TUU app provides students with the latest news, student discounts, interactive campus maps, various contacts as well as a personal student diary and social calendar. The app is available for free for both iPhone and Android smart phone users. http://tuu.com.au/about_the_tuu/news/view_get_the_app_15120868/
With around 130 Clubs and Societies affiliated with TUU, grants have been approved throughout the year by the Sports and Societies Councils for the purchase of supplies and equipment, subsidising sporting competitions, maintaining sporting facilities, administration of affiliated clubs and provision of grants to assist with hosting conferences such as Students of Sustainability Conference and Fairly Educated Conference in 2013. A very successful Clubs and Societies Day was held in Semester 1, accommodating all students' needs, with hundreds of students joining their favourite sporting club or society to enhance their university experience. To celebrate outstanding achievements for UTAS sports people, the Blues Awards will be awarded later this semester and the newly introduced Societies Awards will recognise outstanding achievements by societies. SSAF funding has also subsidised the attendance of 31 athletes to travel to the Southern University Games, with UTAS being proudly represented in Cross Country, Ultimate Frisbee, Netball and Basketball.
These two initiatives were developed using SSAF due to the high demand for these services from students. Student legal services provided by senior UTAS Law School students have been expanded to offer free migration advice to UTAS students with Migration Lawyers. Workshops will also be held in Semester 2 with Community Legal Service on topics such as Employee Rights and Centrelink. In addition to this, SSAF funding supports the Safety Net Grant Scheme, the purpose of which is to provide emergency financial assistance to eligible students who are experiencing financial hardship which is adversely affecting their education. The main criteria for assistance under the Scheme is that a student demonstrates a genuine need and that their capacity for continued study may be in jeopardy due to financial hardship. This service, that also provides emergency loans and food parcels, has supported numerous students who as a result, have been able to successfully continue their studies at UTAS. A financial counselling service is currently being developed and will be rolled out shortly.
This discount is applicable to UTAS student clubs with greater than 51% student members and was created as an incentive to encourage clubs to pursue more student members. To date two UTAS student clubs in the south and one in the north have registered for this additional discount on venue hire, but further clubs are still able to register until the end of 2013. Letters have been sent out to all UTAS clubs to remind them to increase student involvement in their clubs and take advantage of this discount. The new student Sports Liaison Officer, a position funded by SSAF, will also assist this initiative by working with student clubs to increase the engagement of students through building relationships. Visit the Unigym website for further information.
The introduction of a 30% subsidy for UTAS student memberships encourages students to maintain their health and fitness throughout their time at UTAS by ensuring the cost of student membership remains affordable at the lower end of the commercial market. To date 762 students have taken advantage of this subsidy. Joining the Unigym is now even more affordable and accessible for UTAS students. Visit the Unigym website for further information.
The waiver for UTAS Student Facilities Membership Fees at the Unigym has been successful in providing UTAS students the opportunity to access sporting facilities and has benefited 231 students to date in 2013. This is particularly useful as not all students are interested in attending the gym on a regular basis. Visit the Unigym website for further information.
Due to ongoing corrective works on the Unigym sports hall floor, the rock climbing wall has been inaccessible to the UTAS Rock Climbing Club. The space is due to be ready for use again in September and the SSAF funding will assist to ensure maintenance works to the climbing wall are completed and it is ready to go in good condition. An engineering report on the wall has been completed and Unigym staff will liaise with climbing club members to determine any other necessary works. Visit the Unigym website for further information.
The services, projects and initiatives above are just a snapshot of what is being delivered across the various campuses. Information on other SSAF funded projects will be updated here regularly.