University Secretary's Department Statutes and Regulation

Regulation 15.1.R1 - UMSU Incorporated

 

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Recitals

  1. The Students’ Representative Council was formed as an independent unincorporated association at a special general meeting called by the Sports Union Council on 19 September 1907.
  2. Statute XXXIII, which was made by Council on 4 July 1914, provided that Council might at its discretion establish a Students’ Representative Council.
  3. Pursuant to Statute XXXIII Council on 23 December 1914 approved the constitution of the Students’ Representative Council which had been submitted to Council by that body and which at that date was the existing constitution of the Students’ Representative Council.
  4. On 13 July 1988 the members of the Students’ Representative Council authorised its incorporation under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 and approved a constitution, and on 13 September 1988 the Students’ Representative Council was incorporated as Melbourne University Students’ Representative Council Incorporated.
  5. The Student Council of the Melbourne Training College, the predecessor body of the Melbourne College of Advanced Education Students’ Association, was formed in 1923.
  6. On 14 October 1987 the annual general meeting of the Students’ Association authorised its incorporation under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 and approved a constitution, and on 27 November 1987 the Students’ Association was incorporated as the Melbourne College of Advanced Education Students’ Association-Carlton Incorporated.
  7. In accordance with a referendum of students, on 13 October 1988 the Melbourne University Students’ Representative Council Incorporated resolved to amalgamate with the Melbourne College of Advanced Education Students’ Association-Carlton Incorporated to form the Melbourne University Student Union Incorporated (“MUSUI”) and approved a constitution.
  8. On 27 October 1988 the annual general meeting of the Melbourne College of Advanced Education Students’ Association-Carlton Incorporated resolved to amalgamate with the Melbourne University Students’ Representative Council incorporated to form the Melbourne University Student Union Incorporated and approved the same constitution.
  9. MUSUI encountered financial and operational difficulties in 2003, resulting in the Supreme Court of Victoria placing it in liquidation on 6 February 2004. This was preceded by a restructure of the delivery of student amenities and services at the University through the establishment of MU Student Union Limited (“MUSUL”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the University, and the execution of a new Master Agreement between the University and MUSUL in December 2003.
  10. The University withdrew its recognition of MUSUI as an approved student organisation of the University on 13 September 2004 with effect from 1 January 2005.
  11. Pending the establishment of a new student union, Council recognised an Interim Students Representative Committee for the purposes of representing the interests of students and, in conjunction with the liquidator of MUSUI, otherwise fulfilling the functions designated in the previous Statute 15.1 as being carried out by MUSUI.
  12. Council approved the constitution of a new student union in August 2005, and with the support of an overwhelming majority of students held in a plebiscite that month, steps were then undertaken to incorporate a new student union under the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 and convene elections for positions in the new student union and related clubs and societies to take effect from 2006.
  13. Those elections were held in October 2005 and UMSU Incorporated was incorporated on 17 November 2005.
  14. On 16 December 2005, MUSUL and UMSU entered into a facilities and services agreement governing the terms on which UMSU is to perform what are described therein as core student representative activities, and to receive funding from MUSUL for that purpose. Subsequent funding agreements between the parties supplement but are otherwise subject to the terms of the facilities and services agreement.        
  15. In early 2009, Council agreed to consolidate into one  statute matters governing recognition of student organisations, and to provide for recognition of individual student organisations by regulation

Recognition of the Student Union

  1. Pursuant to statute 15.1,Council hereby recognises UMSU Incorporated (“the Student Union”) as a student organisation of the University and, for so long as Council, after considering the constitution of the Student Union and the role of other student organisations it recognises, is of the opinion that the Student Union remains capable of representing the student body of the University and is satisfactorily carrying out all of the obligations imposed on it by legislation or by any agreement with the University, Council will continue to recognise the Student Union.

Provisions of amenities and services

  1. At the request of Council, and in accordance with conditions determined from time to time by Council, the Student Union must provide amenities and services in accordance with the terms of funding provided to the Student Union by the University or MUSUL.

 

[Made by Council 16/11/09 – effective 16/6/10;]
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