Macquarie University announces no HECS increases or undergraduate fee-paying programs for 2005
October 12, 2004
The Council of Macquarie University today agreed with the Vice-Chancellor’s recommendation not to increase HECS rates for 2005.
Council welcomed the recommendation. "I think it’s absolutely the right decision," said Macquarie University Chancellor, Maurice Newman. "We’re united with the rest of the Macquarie community on this."
“Macquarie University welcomes the flexibility in the Government’s new rules for HECS, and is pursuing strategic initiatives to promote national priorities as well as access,” said the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Di Yerbury.
“While the Federal Government’s new flexible HECS arrangements allow universities to increase HECS by up to 25 per cent, and to allocate up to 35 per cent of domestic places in an undergraduate program to fee-paying students, there will be no change to Macquarie University’s arrangements for 2005, except for selected reductions as mentioned below,” Yerbury said.
“Macquarie looks to Government to commit to a consistent flexible approach for the future and to reduce bureaucratic red tape. Uncertainty and burdensome reporting will limit opportunities,” she added.
Macquarie has already announced reduced HECS arrangements for advanced science and technology programs to encourage top students to take up these disciplines.
Under these arrangements, announced in January, the student contribution rate for special units in advanced science and technology will be zero for 2005 and 2006, and the student contribution for the honours year in science and technology programs will be the lowest band.
