RMIT University Student Union

RMIT University Student Union
Full name RMIT University Student Union
Native name RUSU
Founded 1944
Members 2, 896 financial members[1]
Affiliation RMIT University
Key people Himasha Fonseka (President), Ariel Zohar (General Secretary)[2]
Office location Building 8, Level 3, RMIT University, 330 Swanston Street Melbourne
Country Australia
Website www.su.rmit.edu.au

Established in 1944, the RMIT Student Union Council, commonly known as the RMIT University Student Union or RUSU, is the representative body for all students enrolled at RMIT University. The Student Union offers a range of services, including clubs and societies, publishing the RMIT student magazine Catalyst, student rights advocacy and support, Womyns, Queer and Postgraduate student lounges, campus activities and events and has offices at all Melbourne campuses and sites of RMIT University. It is a separate organisation to RMIT Union (now RMIT Link), which provides support to Arts and Sports clubs. RMIT Student Union is affiliated with the National Union of Students and the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations.

History

In 2006, with the introduction of voluntary student unionism (VSU) legislation, the Student Union underwent a major re-organization. Most of the staff were made redundant, the organization’s three separate campus councils were merged, and several services such as the second-hand bookshop were abandoned. While the organization suffered a drastic funding cut (from $3.9 million AUD to $1.3 million AUD) as a result of VSU, it managed to survive the cutbacks and continue providing services, advocacy and representation to students.

Current structure

As of 2006, the Student Union Council comprises 25 students, who are elected by RMIT students at annual elections. All members of the council must be financial members of the Student Union. The council meets regularly, and it is also responsible for electing the president and media officer, as outlined in the Student Union Constitution. A smaller group of student office bearers, known as the secretariat, meets more regularly to discuss day-to-day and urgent matters. Each Melbourne campus/site also has its own campus collective.

Constitution, regulations and policies

The powers of the council and secretariat are limited by the Student Union’s constitution, which was last amended in August 2012. The constitution sets out the organisation’s aims and objectives, the powers and rights of council members, the rights of members, and defines the organisation’s departments. Regulations are rules which the Student Union uses to govern matters such as conduct at meetings, or the operation of certain departments, and can be altered by a vote at a council meeting. The constitution can only be modified with the agreement of a majority of RMIT students at an annual general meeting.

RMIT student media

The RMIT Student Union funds the student-run magazine Catalyst & student run television on-campus production house RMITV. It continues to have strong ties with SYN radio station located within RMIT, however there is no formal or funding relationship between the separate organisations.

Catalyst Magazine was first published in 1944, the same year the Student Union was established. It continues today as the only official student magazine and news source through its website.

Current departments

As per the constitution, the Student Union currently comprises the following departments. Each of these departments is governed by a collective or committee of students who work alongside the office bearer (who in turns directs staff members):

References

  1. ↑ "RUSU Second Quarter Report 2014". RMIT University Student Union. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  2. ↑ "List of elected RUSU representatives". Retrieved 10 November 2014.

External links