Call to UCD to reverse changes regarding same-rate college fees for all postgraduate research students

To:  UCD Heads of Colleges, UCD Office of the President, Dail Eireann

On October 23, notice was given to the postgraduate research community in University College Dublin of a change in structure regarding the rate of college fees. In September UCD had apparently decided that the programme fees of all years of postgraduate research students will be charged at the same rate. Yet, the college has only officially notified its postgraduate students at the end of October. Previously, postgraduate research students would pay ‘full fees’ for their first three years if full-time, and first six years if part-time, the rate of fees would then have been decreased in subsequent years. This is the norm in many universities around the globe.

• The postgraduate research community and academics within UCD strongly believe that the rise in fees for those subsequent years is in stark contrast to the university’s claim of commitment to research. It thus damages the university’s reputation as a high-ranking research institution.

• The world is currently slowly recovering from a world-wide recession, which has affected many, including those in the postgraduate community. The rise in fees is a further blow to these students and their families. While many institutions, businesses and government organisations are reducing or freezing prices of their products due to the financial difficulties of many, UCD seems to be increasing its price, seemingly unaffected by the difficulty it would bring to many in its own community.

• Come academic year 2009/2010, the postgraduate research students will suffer two set-backs due to this decision; the respective students will be hit by the already unacceptable increase in their registration fees, and on top of that they will be presented with an increase of 100% in their programme fees.

• In exchange for the increase in both registration and programme fees for many postgraduate students, the postgraduate community is presented with a reduction in required services. Due to the employment freeze, the main library opening and service hours are reduced, the UCD Archives has also seen a reduction in opening hours, and the general administration services has also not gone unaffected.

• While the college is committed to building a cinema, a theatre, a swimming pool and debating hall on its grounds, which are located within 20 minutes from Dublin city centre, where all these facilities can be found in vast numbers, it does not seem committed to continuing to assist its research students during financially difficult times.

• UCD has reduced wages for nearly all staff within the college, including that of postgraduate tutors, and ironically, it is those that the university is now demanding more money from.

• In response to this decision, many postgraduates sincerely feel that the university does not appreciate them as much as other students within the community. They furthermore feel pressurised into rushing to complete their research, which could consequently be of lower quality.

• On behalf of the present and future UCD postgraduate research community, on behalf of present and future academics, and on behalf of all those in Ireland committed to making postgraduate education available for all, the undersigned strongly urge the UCD Heads of Colleges to repeal this decision for all those reasons listed above.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Call to UCD to reverse changes regarding same-rate college fees for all postgraduate research students Petition to UCD Heads of Colleges, UCD Office of the President, Dail Eireann was created by and written by Nienke van Etten, Áine McNicholas, Denis Doolan (nienke.vanetten@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.