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Dear Students,

I believe you are aware of news articles in the media regarding the dialogue on financial aid and a potential revision in fees. While we appreciate the consultative approach adopted by the NUS Provost, I believe it is our prerogative to question rigorously, provide constructive feedback and implement concrete measures to safeguard the interest and enhance the welfare of students instead of agreeing blindly, jumping to conclusions or taking an extreme adversarial stand.

NUSSU has sought the assurance that any revision will not affect current undergraduate students of NUS and financial aid will be tailored to increase social mobility of current and incoming undergraduate students. In a snapshot, these are the key points mentioned during the dialogue:

• From AY2012/2013, NUS will increase the bursary quantum for the neediest Singaporean students to help cope with expenses
• Total quantum will increase from the current S$4,750 (CDC/CCC + NUS Bursaries) to more than S$8,000 for the neediest Singaporean students
• The University has set aside more funds to assist needy students for special programmes like University Town Residential Programmes, SEPs, overseas exposure, etc.
• Singapore citizens will be allowed to hold more than 1 Bursary – up to the total bursary quantum prescribed for their social economic status – and financial aid will be pegged to needs and socio-economic status

The 33^rd NUSSU Council has constantly and rigorously queried the NUS Senior Management on various issues close to your hearts – not just tuition fees – since we took office last year. Other measures implemented by NUSSU include analysing the median household per capita income and other parameters of the applicants for our Bursary Awards and Book Grants. The result of these measures led to an increase in the quantum of these financial aids as well as a revision in the application framework to hopefully widen the outreach so as to include more students who may fall through the cracks.

NUSSU has also sought clarifications (from the NUS administration) to common queries by students regarding tuition fees:

1. NUS has, and will continue to broaden curriculum options like communications and career workshops (these will be made accessible for  all students in the incoming and graduating cohorts), improve staff-to-student ratio, introduce new and innovative academic programmes that students can pursue as well as hire the best academics
2. In annualised terms, fee increases for the past two years are lower than prevailing inflation rates
3. The University has clarified that active cost management measures are in place, together with cost-cutting measures like minimisation of advertisements, centralised procurement, etc. NUS is committed to continue such measures.
4. To provide a top quality education for our students, NUS needs to compete  globally for top faculty and staff. In certain professional disciplines such as Law and Business, the pressure is even greater in retaining and attracting good faculty staff – which is one of the main reasons provided for the high expenditure on manpower (approximately 70% of annual expenditure)
5. Revisions to tuition fees are not utilised to offset costs of constructing University Town
6. NUS has already committed to actively conduct fund-raising to improve the pool of financial aid

Of course, we will not stop here, and I would like to share with you some concrete initiatives that NUSSU has already undertaken, since last year.

Request for Greater Transparency in Campus Accommodation Fees

The 33^rd NUSSU Council, JCRCs of the six Halls of Residences, University Scholars’ Club (representing Cinnamon College) and the Tembusu College CSC have put forth a combined paper – in January 2012 – requesting for greater transparency in the utilisation and allocation of campus accommodation fees collected from students, a review of current policies as well as a possible reduction in certain costs incurred and paid for by students. The NUS Senior Management has agreed to a combined meeting involving all stakeholders and we will provide updates in due course.

Follow-Up with MOE

Following the dialogue we had with the Minister for Education in December (http://nussu.org.sg/happenings/council-blog), the NUSSU Council has drafted a detailed paper to be submitted to the Ministry – taking into account all your feedback and comments – with several proposals included as well. The key issues discussed are:

1. Social Mobility
2. Immense Emphasis on Academic Excellence and Lack of Recognition for Other Important Aspects like Community Involvement, Co-Curriculum Activities as well as Character Development
3. Quality of Education
4. International Diversity

More information will be disseminated soon..

Increased Welfare Initiatives

NUSSU and its Constituent Clubs are committed to implement initiatives to enhance the welfare of our students. In addition to current initiatives (e.g. Welfare Packs), these are the various new initiatives that are already in place since the start of this academic year, or are slated to be implemented soon:

1. Increase in the quantum of our NUSSU Students’ Fund Bursary Award from S$1,500/year to S$1,000/semester as well as an increase in the quantum of our NUSSU Students’ Fund Book Grants from S$200/semester to S$300/semester
2. Apple Day 2012 – where a significant number of free fruits have been given out at respective canteens
3. Widening the outreach of NUSSU Funding to support more student initiated projects
4. Proposing for post-exam reviews and feedback to close the learning loop
5. Welfare Week

With that, I earnestly welcome you to provide your feedback and comments. Please feel free to approach us directly if you require any further clarifications as well, or have suggestions to put forth.

Thank you and I look forward to receiving your feedback.

For students, by students