VSU Legislation - The impact at individual universities in Australia
In-depth university interviews
Terminology used to describe VSU impact at in-depth interview sites
The in-depth interviewers adopted a ranked ordinal scale to describe the extent of VSU impact, for those cases where the impact was adverse, at the universities subject to in-depth interviews.
Where the financial effect of VSU was an increase of more than five per cent in real terms in gross income for a major area of campus services at a university subject to in-depth interview then the outcome was described as ‘positive’.
To describe a nil or adverse VSU impact on campus services at a university subject to in-depth interview a four point ranked ordinal scale was used (‘none’, ‘mild’, ‘moderate’ and ‘severe’) for each major area of campus services.
| Table 11.1.1 Ordinal Scale Used to Describe Level of VSU Impact for In-Depth Interviews (assessed relative to percentage change in real terms in gross income 2005 to 2007) |
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| Gross income 2005 to 2007 | > 5 % | -5 to +5% | -6 to -20% | -21 to -50% | -50 to -100% |
| Term used | positive | none | mild | moderate | severe |
For example, if at a given university the gross incomes inclusive of compulsory amenities and services fees in 2005 for the sports association was $1 million and the gross income of the student union and SRC combined was $2 million and in 2007 the gross incomes inclusive of grants from the university were $0.7 million and $1 million respectively then the impacts would be described for these purposes as:
- sports association – moderate (income fell from $1 to 0.7 million); and
- student union and SRC combined – severe (income fell from $2 to 1 million).
The consensus amongst the in-depth interviewers was that a scale based solely upon changes in gross income was an overly crude measure. A 50 per cent reduction in gross income which translated into a 50 per cent reduction in staff could potentially have a materially more severe impact on an organisation which pre-VSU had five staff than on an organisation which pre-VSU had 20 staff.
Given the above the content of Table 11.1.1 was provided to the in-depth interviewers as guidance only – it was not prescriptive. The in-depth interviewers all used the terms on the scale to describe the level of VSU impact in each case but were permitted to exercise some judgment based upon the particular circumstances of each case when deciding which term to use to describe level of impact.
The in-depth interviewers conducted regular team meetings during and after the course of the conduct of the in-depth interviews for purposes of discussing their cases within the team and subjecting their work to peer review to ensure as much as possible that a consistent approach was taken when describing the level of VSU impact.
In-depth interviews - organisations
The links below lead to pdf files containing the results of interviews held at the universities, and provide information on campus services provided.
- Flinders University
- Macquarie University
- Queensland University of Technology
- RMIT University
- University of Melbourne
- University of New England
- University of New South Wales
- University of Newcastle
- University of South Australia
- University of Southern Queensland
- University of Tasmania
- University of the Sunshine Coast
- University of Western Sydney
- University of Wollongong
- Curtin University of Technology
- University of Sydney
Receive the full ACUMA / AUS VSU Impact Study by email
You may also be eligible to receive the full VSU Impact Study in pdf format; simply complete the request form below and we will review your details and, where appropriate, email the complete study to you in pdf format.
Please note, however, that the VSU Impact Study was produced as an ACUMA member resource and, whilst each request is considered on an individual basis, access is generally restricted to ACUMA member organisations and partner organisations only.