Welcome to the RUSU Campaigns
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2021 Priorities
This year the SUC has compiled a list of our top 20 priorities to try and ensure the best possible student experience at RMIT. We know a lot of you are going through a tough time and we have tried our very best to create a blend of initiatives that focus on ensuring immediate support to students impacted by COVID 19, whilst also putting plans into place that will hopefully serve students for many years to come. Here are some highlights:
Access to Education
Fair and equitable fee structures are essential and as such we will be advocating to the university to extend the 2020 fee freeze to 2021 as students continue to be severely impacted by COVID 19. We will also continue to fight for the maintenance of student-staff ratios and for RMIT to engage in consultation with students prior to discontinuing programs.
Consistent Quality in Blended Learning
As some students return to campus and blended learning commences, we want to work with RMIT to ensure that students are satisfied with the blended delivery model and feel they are gaining a meaningful education experience.
Student spaces for RMIT Students
Introducing swipe card access to student spaces on campus to ensure that they are accessible only to RMIT students, especially during peak times.
Sustainability
Call on RMIT to declare a climate emergency. Work with RMIT to offer more options for recycling and composting on campus.
RUSU President Akshay Jose gave a presentation to the RMIT Council on February 18th 2021, and personally called on them to follow RUSU's lead in declaring a climate emergency.
VE Student Experience
Work with RMIT to ensure students have a smooth transition to the College of VE structure, with particular focus on moving more VE processes, such as online timetabling.
Active Bundoora Community
Supporting an active lifestyle at Bundoora by creating more options for cyclists and building an open-air gym.
RUSU Statements
Declaration of a Climate Emergency
On 20th January 2021 the RMIT University Student Union Council unanimously passed a motion to declare a climate emergency.
RUSU Stands in Solidarity With Survivors Of Gender-based Harm
On January 14th, 2021, former Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins bravely came forward and publicly alleged that she was sexually assaulted by a colleague in Parliament house. Shamefully, the Government has not held those responsible to account, and has instead chosen to protect the perpetrators and cover up their crimes.
Royal Commission Statement
April 15, 2021, was the 30th anniversary of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which contained numerous recommendations for reform. In the three decades since the commission published its findings, First Nations people in Australia are still unacceptably being incarcerated and dying in prison.
In 2020 we achieved...
- Retention of the library Makerspace and ensuring key services like ELS and counselling received adequate resourcing.
- Financial hardship and technology grants and emergency grocery vouchers for student struggling with costs of living and online learning due to COVID-19.
- No fails on transcripts for the whole year, reflecting the disruption caused by the global pandemic.
- One-off extended census date to give students more time to decide whether to enrol or take leave in light of the COVID-19 lock-downs.
- Submissions to government inquiries to advocate for free tram zones and non-discrimination against LGBTQIA+ students and community-members.
- Student housing outreach: RUSU provided over 20,000 free meals to student housing during COVID-19 in 2020.
- Multilingual communications including an anti-racism campaign during COVID-19.
- Online mental wellbeing outreach and support in collaboration with RMIT Creative, RMIT Together and RUSU Compass.
In 2019 we achieved...
- Collaborative artwork promoting respect for women and non-binary people.
- Have Your Say Summit, providing an opportunity for students to help shape RMIT and RUSU’s student programs and hear from RMIT leadership.
- A new medical hub at RMIT city campus, providing bulk billing for local students and direct billing for international students.
- Clearer policies surrounding inherent requirements, promoting student equity and participation.
- Extended library hours during peak periods.
- Better access to SAI Global standards to support students who require these to complete their assessments.
- RUSU Little Libraries and Food Bank cupboards to support the student community.
In 2018 we achieved...
- Improved teaching standards regarding student assessment.
- Improved academic progress policy.
- Equitable Learning Service accessibility improvement.
- A review of policy and process regarding sexual harassment and assault at RMIT.
- Creating a more mental health friendly campus.
- More phone charging stations on all campuses (including Brunswick and Bundoora East).
- Edible gardens at Brunswick and Bundoora.
- Affordable parking permits for Bundoora students.
- More international vending machines with a wider range of food option.
- Sanitary vending machines in accessible spaces.
In 2017 we achieved...
- Inclusion of an Indigenous Officer position in RUSU’s Regulations and appointment of the Union’s first Indigenous Officer, Jedda Rocha Costa.
- Preservation of a number of Assessment Principles as the Assessment Policy was transferred to the new policy framework, safeguarding important appeal rights for students.
- Inclusion of the recommendations of the Group Work Working Group in the new Assessment Process.
- Working with DPVC Learning and Teaching for each College to develop a mechanism to ensure a three day response time when academics are contacted regarding extensions and/or special consideration.
- Increased student access to University spaces, including a new activity space in NAS which is available to over one hundred RUSU clubs and departments.
- Provision of safe and accessible Queer and Women’s lounges on the City campus.
- Expansion of the AskRMIT Questions to include additional information on support services and to encompass topics such as sexual harassment and assault, mental health services and the Equitable Learning Service.
- Compulsory PowerPoint slides on mental health and support services to be delivered by teaching staff during student orientation.
