UTAS Vice-Chancellor Dumps on Launceston

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"UTAS Vice-Chancellor, Peter Rathjen, has conceded there had been substantial staff cuts in Launceston and the wholesale removal of courses, services and functions to Hobart. Before a packed lecture theatre at a recent Launceston campus ‘roadshow’ last Tuesday he said UTAS had “cross-subsidised” the north by “$750 million” since University amalgamation and this justified the cuts........ The implication was clear. Launceston .... in effect Launceston should feel grateful for any university presence at all. This sort of pernicious suggestion has to be scrutinized carefully ... all institutions engage in ‘cross-subsidisation’ ....  Most University revenue is generated from teaching students and from research grants.... Does that mean “unprofitable” administration - including the Vice-Chancellor - is cross-subsidised by teaching and research? .... Does that mean the administration is a “financial burden”, a “parasite” on the body of the University? .... It is dangerous and misleading to trot out the cross-subsidisation .... For instance, Medicine is a vital program of State significance but it is expensive and heavily subsidised. But no-one mentions the cross-subsidisation, nor should they..... In Launceston the cross-subsidisation argument is being used to swell the Hobart campus and justify downgrading the northern campus to a minor ‘branch office’ of the ‘real’ university. That is how it appears. ..... And that is how it is seen in Hobart. .... The proposal to shift the northern campus to Inveresk, announced with much fanfare, conceals the reality of what is happening to university education in the north. They bring a bit of bling and beads, and think the ‘natives’ will not notice..... Far from a ‘burden’ Launceston in the history of campus amalgamation tells a different story. In 1991 the Dawkins reforms forced UTAS to seek amalgamation with the TSIT as UTAS was simply too small to remain viable in the new national university environment....Then Launceston was vital to the success of UTAS..... Now the narrative has changed .... Now it is an economic ‘burden’ and we should feel grateful for the promise of a city campus.... EDITED DOWN"

Michael Powell is a tertiary lecturer.... Go to source here and read further comments

Thank you Michael Powell!

From a ratepayers' perspective this evolving UTAS debacle in Launceston with UTAS, and Prof Rathjen in particular, seemingly holding ratepayers and residents in contempt. 

Already the university, along with churches and schools, is being heavily subsidised by the city's ratepayers as each one subsidises the services  the university relies upon to exist and to deliver its programs.

Yes the university does make a major contribution to Northern Tasmania's economy but its a two way thing. UTAS' s emerging arrogance and apparent disregard for the city's and the adjoining council's constituencies is palpable. 

The university's assumed 'high moral ground' all so often is offensive as is Launceston Council's apparent unwillingness, or is it incapacity, to imagine the  impacts upon ratepayers' in the "asset stripping" going on. Moreover, the assumption that community assets can be handed over to the university without too much thought is concerning.

Here is an example of a  situation were the university and local government need to be paying more attention to the needs and aspirations of Norther Tasmania's ratepayers and residents as must the State Government.

Tandra Vale