Overview of the Compulsory Student Services Fees (CSSF) framework

Roger Smyth

Group Manager, Tertiary Education

Compulsory Student Services Fees

What are Compulsory Student Services Fees (CSSF)?

Compulsory fees charged by tertiary education providers as a condition of enrolment ....

.... to deliver services that are not directly connected to the provision of education ...

.... but nevertheless enhance the student experience

The legal framework in 2010

In 2010, the Education Act 1989 allowed the Government to limit compulsory tuition fees, but not student services fees.

The Problem

Problems arising in 2010

The scale of the increase in CSSF

Providers could circumvent the regulation of tuition fees by collecting additional money through CSSF levies

There was no clear definition of CSSF

Lack of transparency

Potential risks to student services posed by the introduction of voluntary student membership

Categories of CSSF in 2010

Universities ITPs Institutions that charged a fee in 2010 8 14 Learner support services Careers information 7 6 Library services 1 2 Study support 3 3 Disability support 3 5 Māori and Pasifika 3 4 Adult students 1 3 Advocacy services 2 2 Student orientation 3 3 Pastoral care Health, counselling and chaplaincy services 7 11 Accommodation services 4 3 Financial support and hardship funds 5 7 Crèches/Early Childhood Education services 1 0 Sports and recreation 5 2 Other Building maintenance and capital development 6 0 Internet access 5 3 International student support services 2 2 Transport subsidies 1 1 Administration 1 2 Enrolment fee 1 0

Government’s Objectives

In regulating the CSSF framework, Government wanted to:

Enable greater involvement of students in the setting of the fees

Require more transparency in the setting and administration of the fees

Set clearer limits on what services should be funded through these fees

Ensure that appropriate limits were set on the amount that providers may charge

Options considered by Government

Status quo

Setting explicit controls through legislation

Giving the Minister the power to set directions on how providers may charge fees for services

The Ministerial Direction on CSSF – Decision-Making

If a provider decides to charge a CSSF levy, it has to comply with decision-making, accounting and reporting requirements:

Decision-Making Requirements

Providers have to make arrangements for decisions to be made jointly, or in consultation with the students, or their representatives, on the following matters:

The amount that students will be charged for student services The types of services to be delivered The procurement of these services The method for authorising expenditure on these services.

The Ministerial Direction on CSSF – Accounting and ReportingAccounting

Providers charging a CSSF levy must either hold CSSF income in a separate account or ensure that CSSF income and expenditure is accounted for separately in the accounting system.

Reporting on CSSF Universities, Polytechnics and Wānanga must provide information on CSSF in their annual reports. The following information must be included:   A description of the services funded out of the CSSF A statement of the fee income and expenditure for each

student service The compulsory student services fee levy charged per

Equivalent Full Time Student A note to their reporting stating how they are complying

with the accounting requirements of the direction.

Categories of Student Services

Providers may charge compulsory student services fees to support the delivery of the following categories of services:

Advocacy and Legal Advice

Career Information, Advice and Guidance

Counselling Services

Employment Information

Financial Support and Advice

Health Services

Media

Childcare Services

Clubs and Societies

Sports, Recreation and Cultural Activities.

Progress to Date and Next Steps

Yearly increases down to 2% on average in 2013

Compliance with reporting requirements improving, but variable

Compliance with decision-making requirements variable

2014 .... The same trend – low rises, improving compliance

Next Steps

The Ministry of Education is carrying out a review of the CSSF framework

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