Model options revealed for student association, major changes ahead
Two options for a new student representation model were released in a board meeting last week — both with an independent Māori association, less reps on less hours, and a pay cut losing living wage accreditation.
The refresh has been a long time coming, with a working group of eight student reps, two Massey reps, and an external lead facilitator going back and forth since July.
The current structure proved to be broken last year, with growing tension, resignations, and complaints.
The restructuring brought to light a lot of financial issues in the current system.
Distance rep Alhanis Jacobsen said in the meeting, “We were not running in a financially viable way ... this allows us to rein that back to a more reasonable space”.
Reps hourly rate would go down to just above minimum wage at $24 an hour. Te Tira Ahu Pae will lose its living wage accreditation, Jacobsen saying this is “not designed for small organisations”.
Whichever model is picked, representation is projected to cost around $245,000 yearly, give or take a few thousand.
Representatives' role changes
In comparison to other universities, our association has a much higher ratio of reps to students. Currently, there are 31 rep roles, three currently being vacant.
Both models would take this number down — Model One would see 21 reps, and Model Two would see 25-27.
These cuts would see the loss of campus vice-presidents, instead restoring reporting lines to the currently vacant role of representation manager.
The full-time general and Pasifika president roles would go down to part-time, allowing presidents to take on study at the same time if they’d like to.
Currently, reps hours take into account all the different boards and committees they sit on. But Jacobsen said there is an imbalance, “two reps can be paid the same amount of hours and one might be sitting on one board and committee, and one might be sitting on six”.
So instead, this time will be taken outside contracted hours, paid $50 koha per meeting. These seats will be open to all students too.
And for the few reps who are on the board for the year, Model One says they will be paid a $3000 honorarium. Model Two includes board time with an extra five hours contracted a week.
With less hours, there will be less responsibility and obligations to help with operations — like helping with events, as well as choosing to opt onto boards and committees.
The heated debate between if reps should be appointed or elected has been recognised – particularly in Model One where presidents would go through a pre-screening interview and then go to student elections.
Jacobsen said this change ensures “we have the necessary skills available in those spaces, but we’re also involving the wider student body in decision-making".
In Model Two, this is a maybe, with the potential for keeping appointments.
Another major difference was the amount of weeks reps would work. Model One would see reps working 44 weeks, presidents 48 weeks. In Model Two it would be the same for presidents, but reps would work 35-36 weeks. Essientally this asks the question: Do students want all reps over summer school, or just during semesters?
Currently reps are split up by campus and cohorts, like Māori, Pasifika, disability, rainbow, and post-grad. Model One keeps this somewhat the same. But Model Two would see these split up into “academic” and “engagement” focused reps with different responsibilites that cater to their strengths.
Non-student experts getting involved
Both model options include some kind of input from experts. But it’s still up for debate how much they should be involved, and if this disrupts the ‘for students, by students’ approach.
Do students want experts on the board? Or, an association staff member on the board, with experts on a separate advisory committee. From the looks of the meeting, most reps were feeling on the fence.
On top of that, even if experts are on the board, it’s yet to be decided if they’ll get voting rights.
Jacobsen said, “It is a pretty contentious issue on whether it remains by-students-for-students if we do move those into voting roles. But there’s also the balance of ensuring that we do have consistent skills and support at the board level”.
It was not yet clear who the experts would be, potentially Massey alumni or a financial risk advisor. They would be paid the same as the board members — $3000 honourium per year.
An independent Māori association
Before there was Te Tira Ahu Pae, there were ten different student associations at Massey. They all amalgamated into one at the end of 2022, struggling to find strong footing since.
In the board meeting, Manawhakahaere Ripeka Paapu said the switch back to independence is “Because Māori representation hasn’t been safe for Māori within Te Tira Ahu Pae.”
Last year, the Māori president resigned, and complaints of a ‘divided culture’ between board members surfaced.
And early this year, two Māori reps were kicked off the board two weeks before the end of their term amongst election disagreements.
The Māori association would still sit within and be funded by Te Tira Ahu Pae, but would have more autonomy over how they are structured and governed.
However, consultation with Māori students is still going, with a cross-campus hui for this Wednesday
“No solid decisions have been made, we’re still in the stages of consultation,” Paapu said.
