Dear Eloise,

 

I refer to your request of 23 October 2025.  We apologise for the delay in
providing a response. The University’s response follows:

 

“I am conducting some research regarding Student Services Fees at
different tertiary education providers, and how providers gather learner
voice in determining fee allocations. I would like to request the
following information from your institution regarding Student Services
Fees (SSF or CSSF)

 1. The means in which learners or their representative groups are
consulted about Student Services Fees, such as annual surveys, forums,
student positions on SSF committees, and consultation on changes to
significant SSF-related decisions.”

 

The University of Auckland consults with students through two mechanisms:

o a survey open to all students, and,
o consultations with elected student representatives through the Student
Consultative Group (SCG).

 

The SCG provides a forum for senior University staff and student
representatives to share information and perspectives on strategic issues
affecting the student experience at the University of Auckland, including
the Compulsory Student Services Fee (CSSF), sometimes referred to as the
Student Services Levy.

 

Student members of the SCG are briefed on the proposed CSSF (for the
following year) at the June meeting and the SCG makes recommendations to
the Finance Committee and Council in August each year.  Council then sets
fees in October, for the following year.  

 

For further information on the SCG, please refer here:

[1]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about-us/a...

 

The University also publishes a page related to the CSSF here:

[2]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/fees...

 

On this page you can access the annual CSSF Levy Setting Consultation
documents which explain what the CSSF is, the forecast expenditure of the
CSSF for the current year, any proposed increase to the CSSF for the
upcoming year, and how students can be involved in the consultation
process.

 

Attached are copies of the 2025 and 2026 consultation documents.

 

“2. A copy of the questions asked in any annual or regular surveys related
to Student Services Fees (such as a PDF print out of survey questions).”

Please find attached a copy of the survey questions for the Student
Services Levy 2025 Consultation.  Please note that these questions may
vary slightly from year to year.

 

“3. How students are informed of the outcomes of such surveys and
consultations, and whether survey responses are made publicly available or
provided to students via other means.”

As noted in the document provided in response to question 2 above, a
student’s individual responses to the Student Services Levy consultation
survey remain confidential, however broad themes identified from the
survey are discussed at the Student Consultative Group in August.

 

“4. A breakdown of the most recent budget allocations for SSF categories,
such as the amount allocated to students’ associations, health centres,
sports, and pastoral care services. If this is unavailable, the most
recent proportions of allocations to SSF categories.”

Please refer to the documents provided in response to question 1 above.

 

You have the right to make a complaint to an Ombudsman if you are
dissatisfied with this response.

 

Yours sincerely,

Farleigh Quinlivan

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