RUSU renews calls for fee reductions

RMIT University Student Union (RUSU) has renewed calls for a 20 per cent fee reduction, fairer fee structures and additional fee options for struggling students following an open letter from Vice-Chancellor Martin Bean last week.

In a video posted this week on social media, ‘Fees & Funding. Our education is no joke’, RUSU Communications Officer, Xavier Fitzgerald said RMIT students should “stay mad” during the transition to online learning.

“We have to show them that we students care about our future, and we won’t let them do anything that negatively affects us,” Fitzgerald said.

RUSU said they are “serious about supporting RMIT students against unfair cuts and fee hikes”, particularly this year as students continue to pay the same fees while studying online.

RUSU’s video posted on social media this week.

Vice-Chancellor Bean said RMIT is “unable to support the direct request of 20% reduction in student fees”, in his letter.

“Irrespective of the financial challenges facing the University sector, we are unwavering in our commitment to deliver transformative student experiences,” Vice-Chancellor Bean said.

RMIT has invested $15 million to “provide additional financial hardship support and technology grants” to assist students impacted by COVID-19.

Vice-Chancellor Bean said RMIT had been “prioritising [any] practical based activities such as labs and studios, those activities that require hands on teaching first”.

But due to the introduction of stage four restrictions, no classes can return to campus.

It has not been stated how the money from students’ fees is being used during online learning.