Students kept in dark?

Press, 25 November 1980, Page 6

Students kept in dark?

University students with financial problems have rot been given full information, about the assistance avail-] able, the University of Can-] terbury council was told yesterday. The students’ president, Mr A. J. Stuart, criticised the omission of details of the university’s two loan funds from this year's offi-j cia! calendar. He said he was disappointed about the omission, especially as the information had appeared the previous year.

There was an onus on the university, he said, to mention the fact that, where there . was sufficient hardship, money was available, Mr Stuart said. The Vicechancellor (Professor A. D. Brownlie) replied" that the calendar was gradually becoming a record of law rather than of general information.

. Information about the funds was readily available in the student handbook, which went to every student, he said. Professor Brownlie said 1

112 people had applied for, ; assistance this year and ) eight had been .granted assis:stance. The amount lent was i ! $l6OO, leaving $6600 “in the’i kitty.” The reason that few. loans had -been applied for,. he said, had to do with the availability of banking services.

- Mr Stuart questioned the size of the loan funds. The council, agreed that precise figures should be supplied to a later meeting. The meeting also decided to look at ways of involving council ' members ■more closely with ; the .university. Several ' spjr-’ er.s suggested inviting staff members to council meetings.

“If the lay members know what is going on, they would become valuable liaison people with the rest of the town,” said Mr I. D, Legjjat. “Then when difficult decisions have to be made. 1 there will be a better basis for understanding.” 'j

Professor P. 3. Lawrence, head of the Education

[Department ‘was declared Professor Emeritus, after an, association with the imiversiity of mare than 40 years. 'He will retire in January. The 'retirement was also announced of Mr A. D; Stockwell, a reader in the English department. Professor A. M. Kennedy announced his resignation as

head of the .department of chemical engineering as from .the end of May 1981. He -will retain his ship.Degrees conferred sit the meeting were:— Doctor . .of Philosophy: Bruce James Harker (electrical engineering). 1 Masters of Arts, second-class honours, division one: John Brodie Armstrong (political science); Stephen John -Bryant (history). I Master of Scienoe with dis- 1 -tinction: John Peter Wilson (geography). J Master of .Science: Charles! Chin Chons Yong (chemistry). -I Bachelor of Science, seconciolass honours, division two:,! Kevin 'Francis Cosgriff (economics).

nachelnr -of Science: Thar Beng <Cheons. Bachelor of Engineering, second-class honours, division two:- Martin -Campbell -Board (chemical).