Academic and Financial Advocacy Overview
Academic advocacy
The Student Advocacy service is a free, independent, and confidential service available to all enrolled students at Finders University. Our primary role is to provide students with academic and financial advocacy and financial welfare, we do this by providing information, advice, and support.
Advocacy for individual students Of the 478 academic issues, the six most common academic issues were –
We work in the best interests of students, whether individuals or groups by ensuring that students are fairly represented, both with University staff and external services. We do this by providing relevant information, referrals, advice and acting as an advocate on matters relating to University Policy and Procedures and with external services where students require financial advocacy.
Case management The number of student cases increased in 2019 to 756, up from 622 in 2018 (21% increase). Each student case involves one or more ‘issues’, which are broadly classified as Academic, Financial or Welfare in nature. It should be noted that a case may have multiple issues, including both academic and financial. The 2019 caseload generated 861 issues. This consisted of 478 Academic issues represented 55% of the total caseload, 378 Financial issues representing 44% of the total caseload and 5 Welfare issues making up 1% of casework.
20 FLINDERS UNIVERSITY STUDENT ASSOCIATION
• Review of final grade (116|24%) • Remission of fees (80|17%) • Complaint re academic matters (topic/teaching/extension etc) (63|13%) • Placement issues (63|13%) • Remark/Resubmission (41|8%) • Complaint re administration issues (enrolment/resourcing etc) (30|6%)
Financial advocacy Of the 378 financial issues, the 5 most common financial issues were – • Emergency financial assistance (142|37%) • Financial Counselling (71|19%) • Financial Hardship Grants (65|19%) • Student Loans (59|16%) • Tuition Fee by Instalments (23|7%)
Financial Counselling The number of students attending FUSA for Financial Counselling remained steady in 2019 with 71 students being assisted.
Loans Demand for $500 interest-free student loans increased in 2019, with 59 applications (50 in 2018).
