Otago Polytechnic Students' Association
Otago Polytechnic Students' Association is an independent organisation founded in the 1960s for Otago Polytechnic students, and is the sole students' association at OP.
OPSA's aims include:
- Promoting and supplying services, facilities, support and amenities for students.
- Working towards removing barriers to education.
- Representing the needs and aspirations of students; promoting the advancement of education.
Facilities and services
[edit]OPSA provides access to many facilities and services like the student ID card, Clubs & Societies Centre, a second-hand bookshop, UNIPOL Sports Centre,[1] a digital student newsletter/paper (StudentNews), free pool tables, free campus telephones, the Student Discount Directory, social events, and Student Job Search.
Student support
[edit]OPSA also provides support services like advocacy, campaigns, representation, financial assistance,[2] and advice.[3] OPSA is often involved with local authorities representing a student view, especially in transportation and housing issues.[4]
Education campaign
[edit]OPSA advocates everyone's right to tertiary education, and that user-pays education creates a significant barrier to this right. OPSA seeks a return to free tertiary education as it was before 1989.[5]
Structure
[edit]OPSA is governed by an annually elected body of students, and runs a class-representatives network.
- 2014 President: Rebecca Swindells (née Hohaia)
History
[edit]OPSA was created two years before the 1966 opening of Otago Polytechnic. King Edward Technical College set up the Polytechnic Full-time Students’ Association in 1964 to organise social and sporting activities for full-time tertiary students in anticipation of King Edward Technical's split into Otago Polytechnic and Logan Park High School.[6] Membership was initially compulsory for all full-time students.
The Association's name was changed to the Otago Polytechnic Students’ Association in 1968. OPSA became an incorporated society in 1976, officially a not-profit making organisation in 1986, and was awarded charitable status in 1994.
OPSA was a founding member of NZTISA, the national student body of polytechnics and technical institutions, in 1971. During the 1970s OPSA expanded into the role of student representation and campaigning for student rights.
Recent events
[edit]Since 2011 membership of New Zealand students' associations was made voluntary by the government, at Otago Polytechnic any enrolled OP student may consider themselves a member. OPSA's income is largely from a service contract with the Polytechnic.[6]
OPSA campaigned against the Government's removal of student representation from polytechnic councils in 2009.[7][8]
In 2008 and 2009 OPSA took the unusual move of threatening to expel any members involved in illegal violence at the Undie 500.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Rudd, Allison (26 September 2009). "Unipol stake under review". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ Rudd, Allison (26 June 2010). "Hand-to-mouth existence harsh fact of student life". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ url=http://www.otagopolytechnic.ac.nz/students/student-hub.html >
- ^ http://www.dunedin.govt.nz/__data/assets/minutes_agenda/0011/72479/ma_r_fsc_tertiaryupdate---2009_06_22.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on 2013-03-02. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
- ^ a b Ian Dougherty (2014). By Students For Students: A History of the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association. OPSA. ISBN 978-0-473-13620-8.
- ^ Rudd, Allison (24 November 2009). "Chance of no representation stuns staff and students". Otago Daily Times. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ "Bill angers Otago Polytechnic Students Association | Channel 9 | Online". Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2010-01-06.
- ^ "Students face expulsion over rogue Undie 500 disorder". Stuff.co.nz. NZPA. 21 August 2008. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
External links
[edit]- OPSA's official site has comprehensive info about OPSA including a social events calendar, student services, news, and media releases, etc.
- StudentNews student magazine
- Otago Polytechnic site
- UNIPOL Sports Centre
- Clubs & Societies centre
- Student Job Search
- NZUSA is the national student body OPSA has been a member of.