UCC Express

Page 1

EXPRESS

UCC

Tuesday, 03 December 2013 | www.uccexpress.net | Volume 21 | Issue 7

VERGE TALKS TO X FACTOR ALUMNI UNION J

FEATURES INVESTIGATES SUSI P10

FESTIVE FOOD P10 Picture: Emmet Curtin

USI ends association with DrinkAware Eoghan Lyng | Arts & Literature Editor @EoghanLyng

Collegiate Choir: Members of UCC Choral Society singing at the turning on of the Christmas lights on Campus last Thursday

Portion of Exam Repeat Fees for Fund Student Hub Project Audrey Ellard Walsh | Editor @AudreyEWalsh

As confirmed by the UCC Express on the 8th of October, re-sit fees for examinations will be effective in UCC from August 2014. We reported that the fees, which are set at €35 per 5 credit module capped at a maximum of €245 per student, will be used to pay for the introduction of a new web admissions system, CRM. It was reported that the fee would generate approximately €100,000 a year, which would be pay for the software, priced at circa €840,000 in 8 – 10 years. We can now confirm however that the income expected to be generated through the charging for exam repeats will in fact be significantly higher year on year.

Based on estimations made from 2011 failure figures, estimated revenue from fees set at €35 may be in excess of €250,000 per annum. Students’ Union President Padraig Haughney revealed to The Express that the SU have successfully negotiated with Finance Committee for the ring-fencing of the excess €150,000 per year to be used for the proposed Student Hub Project. This was confirmed by University Bursar Diarmuid Collins. Money for the Student Hub project will be generated now from exam repeat fees, a pre-existing capital fund generated through the Capitation Fee and potentially an outside source in the form of a donor. This money will initially pay the mortgage on the building and then the estimated €400,000 per annum running cost of the new project.

The Student Hub will be a ‘onestop shop’ for student services on campus. As laid out in the project’s tender, the proposed new UCC Student Hub will integrate the Student Support model providing: (a) Student Learning- Flexible learning spaces, formal small group shared learning spaces and informal social learning spaces in a technology rich environment. (b) Student Development & Employability - An integrated student services model in one central location fostering new relationships and creating new synergies in support of students’ personal development, employability skills development and academic success. (c) Student Administration Services -A one-stop-shop to facilitate more student friendly,

accessible and efficient student administrative services. The proposal is for circa 3500 m² to 4500 m² of accommodation comprising circa 1500 m² of existing building to be refurbished and 2000 m² to 3000 m² of new build. This will be located on main campus incorporating the existing Windle Medical building and the adjoining area between it and the Kane Science building. It has also been agreed between the University and the Students’ Union that in eight years time, when the CRM software upgrade is fully financed further consultation with the SU will take place regarding future application of the then freed up €100,000 per year.

A motion has been passed at the Union of Students in Ireland (USI)’s National Council outlining that USI will not be working with DrinkAware.ie in the future. In an open letter written to Fionnuala Sheehan, CEO of Mature Enjoyment of Alcohol in Society (MEAS), President Joe O’Connor and Deputy President/Vice President for Welfare Denise McCarthy elaborated on the Union’s decision. “The discussion to discontinue our interaction was one which had been discussed for quite some time by Students’ Union Officers across the country,” they wrote. “It is felt that we are best placed to develop a student awareness campaign independently through working with other bodies that are not funded by a selfregulating drinks industry.” Moreover, the letter made reference to how Arthur’s Day damaged the credibility of the campaign, “Encouraging students to drink responsibly is still an encouragement for students to drinkregardless of how it’s qualified.” In response, Sheehan described DrinkAware as “an alcohol social responsibility organisation” which “does not encourage anyone to drink. “We seek to address the realities of alcohol in Irish society as they have developed over time. MEAS/drinkaware. ie has a target audience of 18-24 year olds, and the reality is that 87% of this age cohort does drink alcohol, whether various parties like this or not. “From extensive research we have conducted we know that adopting a ‘do not drink’ approach to this age group is actually a turn-off and is regarded as a nanny-state approach.”

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