Meeting Minutes
MINUTES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING HELD IN THE EXECUTIVE BULL-PEN OFFICE ON WEDNESDAY 19 MARCH 2025 AT 9.12AM
PRESENT
Liam White (Chair), Amy Martin, Daniel Leamy, Ibuki Nishida, Stella Lynch, Amy Whyman, Jett Groshinski, Deborah Huang, Seluvaia Ratoul and Callum Hadlow
IN ATTENDANCE
Donna Jones (Minute Secretary), Hannah Varrs (News Editor) and Bailey Hadlow (Executive dog)
EXECUTIVE QUICK ROUND UP
A brief update on what has been happening was expressed from around the table.
OUSA UPDATES
Six60 concert – this was a great success, went really well. Nice merging of town and gown with the 5000 in attendance.
Clubs & Socs – new roof progressing
RU Ok – Student health asked if our Student Support Centre RU Ok group could set up a drop-in centre around the busy areas of North Dunedin during St Patricks Day.
Ethel Benjamin Place – positive movement on the sale of this property.
APOLOGIES
Ngātiki Taylor and Josh Stewart
Moved from the Chair
137/25 THAT the above apologies be accepted.
CARRIED U
MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS EXECUTIVE MEETING
Moved from the Chair
138/25 THAT the minutes of the executive meeting held on 5 March 2025 be accepted as a true and accurate record with the above amendment.
CARRIED U
SPEAKING RIGHTS
Moved from the Chair
139/25 THAT Donna Jones, Debbie Downs and Hannah Varrs be granted speaking rights for the duration of this meeting.
CARRIED U
No updates this week. Committees still to be filled.
MARKETING AND MEDIA UPDATE
Liam has been doing a lot of media, especially radio interviews to do with St Patricks Day and study link.
STUDENT NUMBERS FOR SEMESTER ONE
For noting for quorum purposes.
POINT VALUE OF PAPERS
As attached. There is discussion that the university are proposing changes to the Undergraduate 18-point paper value.
A paper in support of a 15-point model was presented to Senate in 2024 outlining advantages.
Feedback from some academic staff say – it isn’t broken so don’t try and fix it!
It is viewed moving to a 15-point paper system would disadvantage students, academically, socially and financially. With a decrease in points from 18 to 15 points per paper there must be a reduction in content. We do not believe that there is a sufficient academic auditing system in place to ensure that course workload and assessment would decrease in proportion to the points decrease.
Overall, there seems to be a clear consensus of support for the 18-point paper to remain from the executive. For further thorough consultation this will go to the Academic Committee next week and a then a revised document will be presented brought to the next executive meeting to enable a decision to be made.
Amy Whyman left at 9.28am
POLICY COMMITTEE MINUTES AND POLICIES FOR NOTICE
Moved from the Chair
140/25 THAT the minutes from the Policy Committee Meeting (10) held on 9 December 2024 be received.
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
141/25THAT the Appointments Policy version 43 be put for notice
CARRIED U
Moved from the chair
142/25 THAT the Grants Panel Terms of Reference version 5 be put for notice
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
143/25 THAT the Accountability Policy version13 be put for notice.
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
144/25 THAT the Executive Discipline Procedure version 3 be put for notice.
CARRIED U
Moved from the Chair
145/25THAT the Political Action Committee Terms of Reference version 1 be put for notice.
CARRIED U
AGENDA COMMITTEES
These committees are part of the executive reporting.
It was agreed the Education accessibility committee should be absorbed into the Academic Committee as the members are the same.
EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING TIME APPROVAL
The Secretary will send a calendar invite out for the Executive Board Meeting to be held 9-11am on 1 April 2025 in the Gazebo Lounge. It was discussed that board meetings will be more formal with reports and attachments with agenda items. The members of the Advisory Board will be invited.
Debbie indicated her board papers wouldn’t be ready until 27 March for this meeting.
AFFILIATIONS
Three clubs from previous meeting for amendments still to come. Tabled for next meeting.
GENERAL BUSINESS
Rt Hon Chris Hipkins – Leader of the Labour Party will be visiting campus this afternoon and will have a meeting with the Executive, Liam is very excited.
Riding for the Disabled – those who offered to volunteer please show your availability on the calendar.
Stella left at 9.49am
Meeting closed at 9.51am
Signed: ___________________________________ Date: _________