UNIVERSITY of Notre Dame students say they’ve been blindsided by a new “amenities” fee which is being investigated for a possible breach of higher education guidelines. 

Students were notified about the “student services and amenities fee” last week, which brings Notre Dame in line with other WA universities.

NDA Pro vice chancellor Selma Alliex said in an email to students it was chosen for implementation after an “in-depth period of consultation” and meeting with “current student associations and student societies”. 

While the Notre Dame Student Association told the Herald it had been consulted, mostly in 2022, the current committees of LGBT+ club Stripes, and Indigenous, journalism, film and performing arts societies said it was before their time and they were fielding inquiries from upset members.

“The NDSA released marketing on our socials, campus signs and at our on-campus event asking for student feedback on SSAF,” student association president Eric De Sousa said.

• Notre Dame students say the new fee is “tone deaf” to cost-of-living pressures they’re facing. Photo by Steve Grant

“Quite literally just up until the release on the website we realistically didn’t know if it was going to officially be put through or not.”

One of the society representatives, who asked not to be named, said they were in a bind as they were being asked about a fee they’d had no input into.

“Fellow students have reached out to us regarding our involvement in the consultation process, or lack thereof,” they said. 

“This has put a strain on all of us who have been made answerable for the implementation of the fee when we are also just working students and volunteers.”

The $351 yearly fee, halved due to the mid-year introduction, is payable on the July 1 for the uni’s second semester and will fund “new opportunities and services to improve the experience of all Notre Dame students across all campuses” according to Ms Alliex’s email.

However, with much of the university amenities unavailable until September due to construction and facility upgrades, students are unsure why they are being asked for funds now.

Frustrated students started a petition to postpone the fee until facilities are ready, which has amassed more than 500 signatures.

“As students, we understand the importance of contributing to the university community, but we believe it is unfair to burden us with additional fees while essential facilities are still under construction,” the petition reads.

Punch

Secondary education student Maddy voiced her concerns on social media, attracting over 100 comments from fellow disgruntled students, and she says the fee introduction felt like a “punch in the gut”.

“The email felt like a total blindside. Especially considering the continual struggle with the cost of living crisis and no access to St Teresa’s [library, under construction],” she said.

“Students experiencing financial hardship such as supporting children, renting or working multiple jobs are naturally less likely to join student associations as they have limited time and energy to participate in extracurriculars.

“I’d be very interested to find out more about the consultation process because I think those voices were left unheard.” 

With the July 1 deadline to pay, Notre Dame Law students have questioned whether the university had breached a requirement to notify students within statutory time frames.

According to Higher Education Support Administration Guidelines, the university is required to publish a notice containing the particulars of the SSAF by April 1 for a fee payable in the second semester of that year.

Responding to students, the university said a “website was launched on March 28 which is prior to the April 1 deadline.”

Students received direct notice of the SSAF nearly a month later.

One student said they’d missed the quiet launch of the website and had “no idea about the amenities fee until after” the email.

The matter has been referred to the Department of Education, which confirmed it is looking into whether the guidelines were followed.

Behavioural science student Kat feels the announcement demonstrates the university’s lack of insight into the current student cohort and social climate.

“The timing was so tone deaf,” Kat said.

“They’re doing so much for future students, at the complete neglect and cost of current ones. 

“I should be focusing on my classes, not picking up extra shifts to make an additional surprise $400.

“Maybe introduce a facilities fee when we have facilities.”

Notre Dame was contacted for comment.

• Disclaimer: Grace Barlow is a journalism student at Notre Dame.  Students were anonymised by request.

by GRACE BARLOW