Careful consideration about access and equity issues has led Charles Sturt University (CSU) to retain the current HECS fees level for 2005.

The University’s decision against lifting student contributions for 2005 beyond the annual adjustment for inflationary pressures (CPI) was supported by the University’s governing body, the CSU Council, at its meeting on Friday 5 March [see background]. 

Under the higher education reform package introduced last year, the Federal Government placed the responsibility on individual universities to set HECS charges from zero to a maximum 25 per cent above current levels. 

“In reaching a position on what must be acknowledged to be a sensitive decision, the University has had to weigh up the issues of teaching and research quality, student equity and access and the sustainability of CSU,” said Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Goulter. 

“The decision to hold student contributions at their present level for 2005 apart from the CPI increase is, I believe, a responsible move. We have also been measured in our approach. This decision has been made possible by the University’s solid financial and business planning. 

“I also strongly reaffirm the University’s position on the need for the indexation of government funding and that future long term strategic decisions will be impacted if there is no indexing,” Professor Goulter said.

The Vice-Chancellor said the University will review HECS levels on an annual basis, and will continue to monitor the changing funding environment to ensure CSU remains flexible and responsive to its core values and mission beyond 2005.

Background information:

In 2004, the full-time full year contributions for each band are:
 

• Information on Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of changes, over time in retail prices of a constant basket of goods and services representative of consumption expenditure by resident households in Australian metropolitan areas.
  The simplest way of thinking about the CPI is to imagine a basket of goods and services comprising items typically acquired by Australian households. As prices vary, the total price of this basket will also vary. The CPI is simply a measure of the changes in the price of this basket as the prices of items in it change.