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MEMBERSHIP POLICY

CATEGORY : PROCEDURAL

LAST MODIFIED: 03/08/2005

VERSION NO.: 4FIRST RATIFIED: 15/03/2004LAST RATIFIED: 02/03/2006REVIEW DATE:  TBC

1. PURPOSE

1.1. The Education Act 1989, sections 229A – 229D, establishes the nature of membershipof students’ associations in New Zealand. The purpose of this policy is to give effectto the requirements of that Act.

1.2. Further, the purpose of this policy is to elaborate upon membership provisions in theConstitution and Rules.

2. COMPULSORY MEMBERSHIP

2.1. All students enrolled at the University of Otago are compulsorily members of theOtago University Students’ Association (“the Association”).

2.2. Upon payment of the annual students’ association levy all students at the Universityof Otago may exercise all the privileges and rights of membership of the Association.

2.3. The abovementioned privileges and rights in 2.2 include, but are not limited to:2.3.1. Being an officer of the Association;2.3.2. Voting in Association elections; and;2.3.3. Using and enjoying all services offered by the Association or any of its

subsidiaries or affiliates.

3. EXEMPTION FROM LEVY PAYMENT

3.1. A student may be exempt from payment of the annual levy on the grounds of 

financial hardship (cf s 229A(5) Education Act 1989).3.2. A student exempt from payment of the annual levy on the grounds of hardship is still

a member of the Association.3.3. The grounds for exemption from payment of the annual levy are to be assessed on

the same basis as the University from time to time adopts for exemption frompayment of its Welfare and Recreation fee.

4. CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION

4.1. A student may be exempt from membership of the Association on the grounds of conscience (cf s 229A(6) Education Act 1989).

4.2. A student applying for exemption on the grounds of conscience must have cleargrounds for his/her conscientious objection and he/she must demonstrate a deeplyheld philosophical conviction that compulsory association infringes on his/her rightsin ways and for purposes that are demonstrably offensivesimply state why they wishto withdraw their membership from the Association.

4.3. “Conscientious objection” shall include moral, philosophical and religious grounds,and includes dissatisfaction with policies of the Association.

4.4. “Conscientious objection” shall not include dissatisfaction with policies of theAssociation that can be affected democratically, nor dissatisfaction with the servicesof the Association.

4.5. A student granted exemption on the grounds of conscience shall be required to paythe annual levy, which will then be paid by the Association to the Capping Charitychosen by the Executive for that yeara recognised charity of the student’s choice.

5. APPLICATION FOR EXEMPTION FROM PAYMENT OF THE ANNUAL LEVY  OR CONSCIENTIOUS 

OBJECTION TO MEMBERSHIP

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MEMBERSHIP POLICY

5.1. A student wishing to apply for an exemption from membership pursuant to 3 or 4above must apply in writing to the Secretary stating his/hertheir grounds.

5.2. All exemption application must be received by the Secretary no later than tenthirty(10) days after the beginning of the first or second academic semesters.

6. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

6.1. There will be a Membership Committee (“the Committee”) that is vested with the

power to exempt a student from payment of the annual levy on the ground of hardship or exempt a student from membership of the Association on the grounds of conscience. The Committee may only exercise that power in accordance with thegrounds for exemption contained in this policy.

6.2. The Committee may only consider applications made in accordance with section 5above, except if the Executive, by general resolution, grants an application anexemption from section 5.

6.3. The Committee will meet no less than once a semester and no earlier than thirty (30)days after the beginning of each semester.

6.4. The Committee will be comprised of the:6.4.1. President;6.4.2. Finance and Services Officer; and;6.4.3. University Registrar or his/her nominee.

6.5. The Secretary will inform student applicant of the decision of the Committee inwriting along with their right of appeal.

6.6. Any student applicant dissatisfied with a decision of the Committee in relation tohis/hertheir application may appeal the decision to the Executive. Such an appealmust be made within ten (10) working days of the written informing by the Secretary.

6.7. The decision of the Executive will be final.

7. RELATED POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND FORMS

I. Education Act 1989II. Constitution and Rules of the Otago University Students’ Association Incorporated

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