Meeting highlights
Jos tenders his resignation. Edwin receives a rap over the knuckles from Dan. The students Support Review recommendations are received. The General Manager's quarterly report is received and he is asked questions about the International Food festival and the Comedy Debate. Ethical behaviour, limitation of enrolment, and the University's code of conduct receive cursory attention.
MINUTES OF THE OUSA STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD IN THE BOARDROOM OF THE OTAGO UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION ON TUESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2009 AT 5.20PM
PRESENT
Edwin Darlow (Chair), Mike Bridges and Sarah Parvaiz
IN ATTENDANCE
Stephen Alexander (General Manager), Dr Jacques van der Meer (Student Support Centre Review Panelist), Ross Blanch (Student Support Centre Review Panelist), Ruth Chapman (Student Support Centre Review Panelist) and Donna Jones (Minute Secretary)
APOLOGIES
Sarah Parvaiz and Mike Bridges for leaving early.
Parvaiz/Bridges
96/09 THAT the above apologies be accepted.
CARRIED
CO-OPTION OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS
Parvaiz/Bridges
97/09 THAT Dan Stride, Margie MacMurdo-Reading, Cordelia Huxtable, Claire Jackson, James Meager, Nathalie Saurat and Lloyd Burr be co-opted onto the Standing Committee henceforth for the duration of this meeting.
CARRIED
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING
Motion 70/09 should read Parvaiz not Sarah.
Parvaiz/Jackson
98/09 THAT the Minutes of the Standing Committee of the Executive held on 14 July 2009 be accepted as a true and correct record with the above amendment.
CARRIED
MINUTES FROM THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE MEETING
These are for noting.
MATTERS ARISING
Fees setting - Daniel Stride admitted that he wasn't at the last Executive meeting where fees setting was discussed but wished to express his condemnation of the 'aye' vote by Edwin Darlow today at the University Council Meeting to increase tuition fees.
He stated that OUSA has a SGM motion (49/88) to not support increases in student fees and he felt Edwin's actions were unprecedented.
Mike left at 5.27pm
Mike returned at 5.32pm
STUDENT SUPPORT CENTRE REVIEW
Edwin introduced the Review Panel and thanked them for their hard work and then Jacques was invited to address the meeting.
Bridges/Saurat
99/09 THAT Jacques van der Meer, Ruth Chapman and Ross Blanch be granted speaking rights for the duration of this meeting.
CARRIED
Jacques emphasised the thorough and worthwhile process also the excellent initiative by OUSA and the Student Support Centre Manager for agreeing to undertake this review. He commended and applauded Stephen Alexander, Ross Blanch and Amy Prebble for their initiative and hard work with setting this up and following it through.
The submissions received were excellent.
A recommendation was that a position be created for a Researcher. Also the Education Officer has a lot of administrative work to undertake and maybe this could be shared.
Parvaiz/Saurat
100/09 THAT Stephen Alexander be granted speaking rights for the duration of this meeting.
CARRIED
Stephen spoke about the staffing structure when the SSC first begun and how it has expanded.
It was asked if the extra tutorials being run by OUSA cost any extra money once the Tutors were paid.
The Review panel was thanked very much for coming to the meeting and for their exemplary hard work.
Mike left at 5.41pm
Meager/Parvaiz
101/09 THAT the Student Support Centre Review be received.
CARRIED
BANK SIGNATORIES
Stephen Alexander explained that the present bank signatory motions are specific to the ASB but that with the change in the economic climate OUSA had diversified its funds.
The following motions would enable them to be applied retrospectively.
Saurat/Burr
102/09 THAT Stephen Alexander during his term of employment with OUSA is
confirmed as a bank signatory for all OUSA Banking relationships.
CARRIED
Saurat/Burr
103/09 THAT Donna Jones during her term of employment with OUSA is confirmed as a bank signatory for all OUSA Banking relationships.
CARRIED
Saurat/Burr
104/09 THAT Natasha Mason during her term of employment with OUSA is confirmed as a Bank Administrator for all OUSA Banking relationships.
CARRIED
Saurat/Burr
105/09 THAT Edwin Darlow and Mike Bridges are confirmed as bank signatories until 31 December 2009 for all OUSA banking relationships.
CARRIED
GENERAL MANAGER'S THIRD QUARTERLY REPORT
International Food Festival
The Events crew taking over the International Food Festival organizing was viewed as a positive move. It is a massive undertaking for the International Students' Officer.
Great Comedy Debate
There has been a steady decline in sales over the years for the Great Comedy Debate and even with OUSA promoting many special deals to sell tickets it hasn't been popular with students. It was asked if this event was scrapped whether Events would consider taking on another event.
Stephen was thanked for his hard work. He said it was a combined staff effort as he had only been back at OUSA for part of this period.
Stride/Huxtable
106/09 THAT the General Manager's third quarterly operational report be received.
CARRIED
WELFARE COMMITTEE MINUTES
Jackson/Huxtable
107/09 THAT the minutes of the Welfare Committee Meeting held on 15 October 2009 be received.
CARRIED
EXECUTIVE MEMBER RESIGNATION
Jos Hadfield formally resigned today, sighting personal reasons. He had a meeting with the Secretary and said he would tidy up emails and tie up loose ends before he leaves.
It was agreed that this position would remain vacant owing to it being near the end of the year.
Stride/Huxtable
108/09 THAT the Education Office, Jos Hadfield's resignation be received.
CARRIED
GENERAL BUSINESS
Code of Conduct Appeal
Edwin gave some feedback but said he would advise the cost and more details in an email once he gets more information. He will be obtaining more information from the OUSA Lawyer Hayden Wilson of Kensington Swan.
Limitation of Enrolment Committee
Fiona Bradley is requesting feedback please. She is attending this meeting next week and would like to pass on any feedback. Edwin is also on this committee and would be happy to have a chat with anyone.
Ethical Behaviour Policy Review
The University is currently undertaking a review and has invited OUSA to provide feedback on the latest revision of the Ethical behaviour policy. Amy Prebble is collecting information from staff with this review. If the Executive have any feedback please send it to Edwin.
Meeting closed at 6.01pm
Signed: _________________________________ Date: _____________