Just a thought regarding your comments about NZUSA, shouldn’t they be accountable themselves? Have a robust financial management policy, and lead by example?

Are you aware that OPSA is going through a referendum to withdraw from NZUSA with one of the main concerns being the lack of financial accountability and transparency?

Reminds me of the days at another poly, many years ago, where the student association brought the pub accross the road with an open cheque book and without seeking legal advice. the pub was full of asbestos and had to be closed within months of taking possession.

News wire is the best source in the media however I have not seen any stories about the meetings with the student body.

I have been at WISA and am the ITP chair for NZUSA, you could argue that NZUSA have had a supportive hand in the aftermath for WISA.

Yesterday I met with the student body and would like to note the following:

in this article http://www.newswire.co.nz/2010/08/whitireia-help/
it is stated that the following was agreed on my Tim Manu:

Whitireia to help student association recover
Aug 27th, 2010 | By Tanya Wood | Category: Front Page Layout, Latest News, News
whitireia council meeting MAIN 1

HELP OFFERED: Whitireia Polytechnic Council chair Roger Sowry (left) and CEO Don Campbell at last night’s council meeting, which considered the plight of the Whitireia independent student body.

THE insolvent students association at Whitireia will be helped back on its feet by the polytechnic, the polytechnic’s council decided last night.

Chief executive Don Campbell outlined his expectations for the Whitireia Independent Students Association (Wisa) to a polytechnic council meeting, which endorsed his actions.

New council chair Roger Sowry said Mr Campbell handled the student association situation properly and neither he nor the council was at fault for what happened.

Mr Campbell’s plan would help build a stronger relationship with the association.

Council member Aka Arthur said the behaviour of the association was wrong and asked what sort of controls would stop this happening again. He also asked if the matter could have been dealt with differently.

In a letter to acting association president Tim Manu – tabled at the meeting – Mr Campbell outlined the following suggestions to assist the association over the next financial year:

* A new constitution, to be approved by the polytechnic prior to student ratification.
* The constitution to include provision for elections involving all students for a new executive committee and president.
* Clear governance and management arrangements with the appropriate systems, structure and accountabilities in place.
* A contract with the polytechnic specifying the student services Wisa will provide.
* Wisa services to be developed in consultation with the student body.
* Wisa to provide monthly accounts and have monthly meetings with the polytechnic.
* A detailed audit of the 2009 and 2010 Wisa accounts to be undertaken by an external expert and made available to the polytechnic.

Mr Manu has verbally agreed to the conditions, but has yet to sign, said Mr Campbell.

my comments to this are:

Clarification:

1.
WISA have not agreed to allow the council approve the constitution as WISA is autonomous to Whitireia Polytechnic which is evident in section 229A of the Education Act. WISA have handed over the Audited accounts for 2009 and the current constitution should be in the hands of the Polytechnic, if not then WISA should be advised so they can hand it over (to keep in line with the Education Act). WISA have agreed to allow feedback from the Council to help create a strong set of rules. It was also discussed that the following would be inserted into the constitution:

The Association shall provide the Council with a set of financial reports within 48 hours upon receiving in writing a request from the Council formed by a Majority vote of Council.

2.
As was discussed with Don, the way WISA elections have previously been held seem questionable non transparent; with the new constitution that will be circulated on Friday the 10th of September 2010 for consultation (go to WISA and ask for a copy) there was always going to be a more transparent, democratic election section amongst many changes.

3.
When I was first asked to come and work on a structure and strong robust rules for the Association it would obviously include financial management, elections, structural rules, consultation and accountability, a fraud policy and the ability for the Association to perform police checks on members wishing to stand for office before being accepted to do so. There has been thought put into the issues that have presented themselves and how to ensure that student money will not be taken advantage of again by people who wish to live a high life through pecuniary gain. There will be many changes to the constitution and to go that step further readers will find it a completely different set of rules and I am sure people will be pleased with the rules that are open for consultation (especially compared to the current poorly written rules).

(It was proposed to Don that the Institute play a role in drafting a financial management policy – there was no conformation from Don that he wished to accept the offer and the offer still stand to Don and his team, which will be reiterated today).

4.
It is not the Councils role to have a contractual agreement on what services the Association will provide students as the Association is not contracted by the Institute to do work for the students with exception to agreement with the Institute and Association the services are contracted to the Institute, by the Institute or jointly by both parties.

5.
Obviously there will be lots of consultation with the student body, if you are going to spend money its much better to do so by spending money on things many want otherwise money will be wasted. And as discussed the way forward is addressing the issues that have been created and preventing them from occurring again and ensuring student membership is secure and utilised with the best interests of students in mind.

5.a.
When students attended the meeting held on the 2nd of September i asked students if they felt dropping the fee to $75 per EFT is reasonable and that the Association will work on providing services to students, Students agreed and a list of service ideas will be created by the student body at the next meeting of the student body and a review date for Assn fees will be discussed in 2011 at the AGM.

6.
The Institute and Association should be having monthly meetings anyway – to information share, problem solve and build a strong relationship for the benefit of the students both parties serve. Both parties are responsible for this to happen. Students should be expecting that their Association is having regular communication with the CEO and other staff at Whitireia Polytechnic.

7.
Well obviously the Association in not equipped to do their own audit so it should be needless to say that the audit would be conducted by an external person.

Further during the meeting with Mr Campbell I personally discussed having a forensic auditor and asked (with the agreement of WISA) that Mr Campbell release some money that belongs to WISA to directly pay a forensic auditor to ensure an thorough audit would be done. Mr Campbell declined and advised having the auditor he recommended would be sufficient (noting that I was advised at a later date that this particular auditor would cost around $500 per hour and there is no certainty that the audit would be carried out much like a forensic audit would – The cost is not so much the issue, its the value for money as WISA is in a fragile position both financially and reputation wise thanks to the abuse of positions that some former members held within the non profit organisation (WISA) and WISA is left flailing in the water begging for help with barriers in front of them and people demanding things that are unusually more hands on).

It is important to note that it is understandable that the Council seek security for student money which is commendable, and it also worth noting that the consultation has been positive and the requests from the student body thus far are going to be implemented and safety mechanisms are to be put in place to ensure the Association can carry out its duties in terms of representation, advocacy, support and services that enhance the student experience and ability for Whitireia students to get through their studies.

Hindsight is not something we often take pleasure in and this has definitely created discussion and steps towards preventive measures and ideas on ways to apply pressure on Associations that have members who raise alarm.

Just adding to what Meegan has said, the issue was receiving regular year to date reports to all FEDEX which has been worked on and is being resolved and further we have been receiving information for the past month as requested. The transparency is more around communication and visibility with student bodies which I feel each member has a responsibility to support and promote our national body too.

I support NZUSA and what it stands for.

What is Jo Hymers’ role? We were told that she is advising the Students Association. But she should not be their spokesperson! We don’t want an outsider speaking for Whitireia Students. She doesn’t know us! Many of us haven’t met her or know what she’s able to offer the Whitireia Community. It’s worrying to know that we have someone who seems to be here to defend and protect NZUSA. Afterall, it’s her income she’s protecting.

Also she was not defending NZUSA, nor was she there for them

she was never campaigning at Whitireia, my question to you is did you ask any of the exec members, or did you go to any of the class rep meetings where she was talking?

We’ve been to WISA. It hasnt been open. Its not a good start if we cant have access to information. The websites outdated now so we dont know whats going on. Good on you for helping out Jo. Pretty sad your not commited to being the chair for the SGM, but suppose its not your problem.

I don’t actually work for WISA or have anything to do with it’s opening hours, I just made a phone call to WISA to see what happened with the opening the staff member put signage around the student hub area – the hours were from 10am – 2 Monday to Thursday however the staff member was in the office until 4- 4.30pm so you must not have seen the signs around the building?

I never was informed of class rep meetings until too close to the time of the meetings, keeping in mind I currently have my own role to fulfill and have to drive from Palmerston to Wellington without pay and I have my kids to think of when I travel.

I would have gone to the last class rep meeting had I been given enough notice and not already cleared my Thursday to come down.

In saying that my function was in dispute with someone who will remain un-named and I had decided that perhaps it is best that I do not continue having involvement with WISA given that I originally offered to come help using my own time and then have to put up with a fair amount of immaturity from the un-named person which could have lead to me being plastered in the media negatively affecting me and my family and my job when all I was doing was supporting your student body to have something accountable and effective.

Since then the current Executive have asked that I continue to support and I have discussed still chairing, I don’t have a problem with chairing (as the role is only to facilitate discussion and to get it flowing constructively) and have said that I still can just not if it will create an issue for WISA. I am committed to helping students out with all my essence and if WISA asks me to chair then I will (I just don’t have time for power battles when I don’t have an interest in being a governing member or staff member of WISA).

I forgot to add, that since the issue of me having involvement and then not and then having involvement I am orgaisned and had scheduled my time to fit my current role when I was of the belief that WISA was going to be fine without my assistance (hence possibly having another commitment, which is to my own Association and I’m not sorry for that) Now that I have been asked by the Executive to continue to support I will try to re-schedule myself or I will find someone who will be good to chair to fill in for me.

I’d never leave WISA in the lurch… 0800 WHITIREIA if you want to call them… You go to Whitireia, you sound proactive… you should know how to contact your Assn, I just guessed the number and rang it as I never stored it on my phone…