1998 Swinburne Higher Education Handbook

28 I Higher Education I General University Information
Student Loans
With the approval ofthe Loans Fund Committee, full-time students may obtain
financial assistance from the following funds:
Commonwealth Help for Needy Students Fund
Special Assistance for Students Program
Student Aid Fund
Rotary Swinburne Loan Fund
Overseas Student Loan Fund
Emergency short-term loans are available to full-time and part-time students from
the Student Union Aid Fund. For all loans, ask at Student Services on your campus.
Student Residences
On campus accommodation is available at the Hawthorn Campus. This consists of an
85 bedroom Residential College which offers hostel type accommodation and 36 two
and three bedroom apartments. The Residential College would be of particular
interest to first year students who have not lived away from home before, while the
apartments would suit students in the second year oftheir course or later, who have
already lived away from home.
Residential College
The Residential College features individual rooms furnished with a single bed, built-in
study desk and bookshelf, cupboards, chairs, wash basin and an electric jug. There is
hydronic heating in each bedroom and computer cabling with access to the University
Computer Network.
The shared facilities included:
Bathroom and toilets on each floor.
Fully equipped with self-catering facilities.
RecreationlTV Lounge areas.
Landscaped outdoor BBQ area.
Laundry facilities.
Tutorial rooms.
Apartments
The Apartments are well appointed and feature:
Bedrooms fitted with single beds.
Bedrooms have a built-in desk with ergonomic chair and computer cabling with
access to the University Computer Network
Gas heating.
Kitchens with stove, oven and fridge.
• Dining table and chairs.
Laundry with washing machine and dryer.
Individual apartment and bedroom locks.
Security entrance.
The Student Residences are located at21 Wakefield Street. Hawthorn.
Further information and application forms can be obtained by contacting 103) 9214
5555.
Student Union
The Student Union is the primary body offering support services to students at
Swinburne, as well as playing an important role in facilitating the representation of
student interests to the University. It is a legally incorporated company which all
students contribute to through the payment oftheir General Service Fee to the
University. Membership ofthe Student Union is free and involves filling out a Union
membership form.
Membership ofthe organisation entitles students to stand and vote in elections; and
all students are entitled to use services, whether they are members or not.
The Student Union has a solid history of achieving gains for students in the
educational arena, through contribution to the University policy making process and
assisting individual students who are experiencing problems. Considerable emphasis
has been placed on the development of student friendly academic policy and
regulations, workable processes and support programs where required.
Atthe same time a wide variety of services are offered to students on all campuses,
which strive to offer quality at an affordable price and in many instances are free.
Organisational aims
The purposes for which the Union is established are:
to advance the social. educational and general welfare of the student body of
Swinburne and to provide services for the student body;
to represent and safeguard the students in matters affecting their interests and
privileges and to afford a recognised means of communication between the
students and the authorities of Swinburne and other educational bodies;
to promote, encourage and coordinate the activities of student committees and
societies;
to strive for wider recognition and greater appreciation ofthe standard of all
academic awards of Swinburne.
Management
At the time of writing, the representative structure of the student body is undergoing
a thorough review with expectation that it will better reflectthe decision-making
flow of the University.
The Union is currently managed by an Executive comprised of the president, the vicepresident.
finance director, education director, activities director and media director.
The role ofthe Executive is to manage the business and affairs of the Union. The
meetings ofthe Executive occur at least once a month from February to November
and are open to all students.
The affairs of the Union fall principally into the following areas: education and
welfare services, social activities, and media. These areas are governed by
management committees, whose responsibility it is to develop policies ofthe Union
in the areas of their activity. The management committees consist of: the relevant
executive as chairperson, two to three students from the Union Executive, two to
four students elected from the student body. At monthly meetings the Executive
receive and consider pol icy submitted by the management committees.
In March or April of each year the Executive calls an Annual General Meeting to present
the preceding year's audited financial statement. In October or November of each year the
Executive convenes a budget meeting. Atthis meeting the proposed budgetforthe next
financial year is presented by the Executive to the student bodyfortheir approval. Further,
the Executive reports on the activities of the Union forthe period since the preceding
budget meeting.
Student Union Support Services
The Student Union offers a wide range of support services which all aim to improve
the quality of the educational experience of students and to foster a Swinburne
community spirit. All services are funded partially orfully by the General Service Fee
which students pay on enrollment. All services strive to meet the demands of
students as a group, without losing sight ofthe individual student, and ensuring high
standards are met.
Union Office
The union's head office is located on the fourth level ofthe Union Building at
Hawthorn. Union personnel located on this level include the president. administrative
officer, manager, accountant and executive.
Reception
The Union provides a reception area on each campus. Contact details are as follows:
Hawthorn
4th Floor Union Building, John Street.
Telephone: 103) 9214 5440
Facsimile: 103) 9819 2256
Prahran
Level 2, Building PK, St John Street
Telephone: 103)92146729
Facsimile: 103) 9214 6540
Li/yda/e
Levell, Building LA
Telephone: 103) 9215 7181
Facsimile: 103) 9215 7182
The reception area on each campus provides various services, including room
bookings, legal advisor bookings, insurance claims, facsimile, international student
identity cards, and general information.
Bookshop facilities for Lilydale are also housed at the Student Union reception.
Other services offered
Book Vouchers
Needy students can apply for book vouchers, which are jointly funded by the Student
Union, Bookshop, and Chancellery. They are available from the University's Housing,
Part time Employment and Finance Department on each campus.
Swinburne University of Technology 11998 Handbook