Hi everyone - thank you for your continued support. We've got some new stuff for you! New Support! We are thrilled to be receiving some fantastic support from the La Trobe branch of the National Tertiary Education Union and from the Wodonga Student Association who are helping us strategise further and accrue more assistance. PLEASE KEEP SPREADING THE WORD – THIS PETITION IS NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS! Staff and Student Meeting Our first meeting was held yesterday with Dr Pete Green and Dr Fiona Bird at La Trobe University in Bundoora. Thanks for joining us via video-link AW students! Many questions were raised and answers given, but we’ve only just begun to scrape the surface. The main points of discussion and information included: • Students feel we have not been consulted regarding any restructuring decisions, and feel that the University’s culling intentions are mis-aimed. • Finance and ‘subject viability’ pressures drive the University’s decisions. • The small size of the student body at AW strongly contributes to the lack of viability of many subjects offered (and formerly offered) at AW. • The University plans to continue running two field trips out of AW, but Arid will be replaced after 2017. It was not clear who would run the subject if the University does not reinstate Dr. Alexei Rowles. • Murray Darling Freshwater Research Centre is now under the jurisdiction of the School of Life Sciences; MDFRC staff are keen to teach, and EEE plans to introduce an Aquatic Ecology subject in the future. • Arid Zone Ecology is on the chopping block because the University feels it replicates Mallee Field Course too closely. However, the overwhelming response from students is that we like Arid better! (Additionally, Mallee is a ‘high-achievers only’ course, which students feel excludes those with good practical skills and students from other departments; Arid also teaches conservation content, which students feel is extremely important). • The University feels it cannot operate three field subjects out of AW, as this would compromise teaching and research integrity at AW. • Students have suggested that which field trips are offered to which year-level should be reconsidered in order to continue to accommodate Arid Zone Ecology. • The University is currently developing new courses to offer across the campuses (whether or not students have been consulted here is unclear). • AW students are concerned about the pastoral care of first-years and ongoing postgraduate research supervision options in the absence of Susan and Alexei. These conversations only begin to scratch the surface of what we find problematic about the University’s ongoing commitment to relevant and accessible regional education. There are larger, systemic issues at play here, and we need to continue the conversation – thankfully, we’re just beginning to be listened to.