University Legislation

Legislation
		Statute No. 22--Fees

Statute No. 22--Fees

(approved 5/10/1999) (last amended 01/08/2006)

1.	The Senate by Regulation may impose the following fees and charges:
	(a)	tuition fees;
	(b)	charges for use of services, facilities, equipment and materials;
	(c)	administrative charges;
	(d)	rental fees and deposit charges for student accommodation;
	(e)	contributions under the Higher Education Contribution Scheme, as required by the Commonwealth Higher Education Funding Act.
2.	The Fee Regulations and Rules shall be made available in such a way as to make them reasonably accessible to those affected.
Amenities and Services Fee
3.	(1)	Every student, other than those exempt under either sub-section 3(5) of this statute or the Fee Regulations, is required to pay the amenities and services fee, in accordance with s.20A of the Murdoch University Act.
	(2)	The amount of the fee shall be determined by Senate after receiving a report and recommendation from the Guild of Students. In the absence of a report by the Guild by 15 September in any year, concerning the fees payable for the following year, Senate may determine the fee in any event, provided that if it does not do so, the fee shall remain unchanged for the following year.
	(3)	The Senate may determine different fee levels for different classes of students.
	(4)	The Senate shall pay to the Guild the amenities and services fees received from all students who are members of the Guild, or 51% of the total fees received, whichever is the greater.
	(5)	At the time of enrolment, the University will provide all students with a list of amenities, services and facilities covered by the Amenities & Services Fee, together with the amount of the fee payable if a student elects to use or have access to those amenities, services and facilities. A student may elect not to use or have access to those amenities, services and facilities, in which case the student is exempt from paying any Amenities & Services Fee.
4.	(1)	The fees may be used by the Guild for any or all of the following broad categories of amenities and services to benefit students:
		(a)	representation,
		(b)	advocacy,
		(c)	student societies,
		(d)	welfare, cultural, social, commercial, sporting and recreational activities,
		(e)	other amenities and services (including capital investment and reserves) to benefit the student community,
		(f)	any compulsory government taxes and charges associated with the fee,
		(g)	other services and amenities consistent with the objects and powers of the Guild, and
		(h)	the administrative costs of any or all of these activities and facilities and of collecting the fees.
	(2)	A portion of the fees transferred to the Guild (in an amount agreed between the Guild Secretariat and the Senate) shall be applied by the Guild to capital works for student amenities and facilities, to be spent in accordance with a plan developed in consultation with the Vice Chancellor
	(3)	Any proposal to amend the broad categories of amenities and services listed in sub-section (1) must have the approval of the Senate, after receiving a joint recommendation from the Vice Chancellor and the Guild President. If they are unable to agree on a joint recommendation, a recommendation shall be made by the Vice Chancellor (or nominee), Guild President (or nominee) and an independent chair chosen by mutual agreement of the other two persons (or, failing such agreement, a person appointed by the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia).
	(4)	The part of the amenities and services fees not paid to the Guild is to be spent on student amenities and services in a manner agreed by Senate and the Guild. After inviting suggestions from those students who elect not to be Guild members, the Vice Chancellor shall present proposals for consideration at a meeting with the Guild President. That meeting shall make a recommendation to the Senate. If they are unable to agree on a joint recommendation, a recommendation shall be made by the Vice Chancellor (or nominee), Guild President (or nominee) and an independent chair chosen by mutual agreement of the other two persons (or, failing such agreement, a person appointed by the Institute of Arbitrators and Mediators Australia).
5.	(1)	The Guild of Students shall account to the University for the fees received, as follows:
		(a)	the annual financial statements of the Guild shall be audited by an independent auditor external to the University, whose appointment requires prior Senate approval;
		(b)	a copy of the audited balance sheet and statement of income and expenditure of the Guild shall be provided to the Senate each year as soon as practicable after it has been adopted by the Guild, but in any event not later than four months after the conclusion of the Guild’s financial year; and
		(c)	the Guild shall provide a report on its use of the fee to the Audit Committee of Senate at least quarterly.
	(2)	The Guild shall provide a quarterly report on its finances to the University’s Chief Finance Officer, who may refer it to the Resources Committee of Senate.

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The information contained on this page was correct as at 05/08/2008 but is subject to amendment without notice.