To: UTS Vice-Chancellor Andrew Parfitt
Protect our Education from UTS Budget Cuts: Open Letter to UTS
Dear Vice-Chancellor Parfitt,
As UTS embarks on significant cost-cutting measures, the UTS Students’ Association wishes to express our serious concerns about the potential impacts these decisions will have on the quality of education, student well-being, and the broader university community.
The announcement of $100 million in budget cuts, coupled with the merger of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences with the Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building into a "Faculty of Creative Industries," signals profound changes to UTS’s academic and operational structure. We urge the university to prioritise transparency, consultation, and student-focused outcomes during this process.
These cuts follow a concerning trend across Australian universities. From the “Melbourne model” at the University of Melbourne to ANU’s push for a smaller university, cost-cutting measures have led to fewer subject offerings, reduced specialisations, and diminished learning opportunities. Students are forced into narrower academic pathways, with less choice and fewer opportunities to explore or specialise.
Budget cuts have a high potential of disproportionately harming already marginalised students, such as those from regional areas, who often face significant barriers to accessing education. For regional students, and those who commute long distances or face higher living costs, the uncertainty about whether courses will be delivered in-person, online, or in hybrid formats adds unnecessary stress. A lack of clear communication exacerbates the challenges these students already endure, further undermining their mental health, wellbeing, and ability to plan their studies effectively.
Additionally, the reduction in casual staff threatens not only livelihoods but also the support systems on which students depend. Larger class sizes, less individual attention, and the removal of valued courses do not align with the vision of a university that champions global impact and excellence.
We call on UTS to:
- Conduct transparent and detailed consultations with students and staff about the proposed changes, facilitated through forums, surveys, and town hall meetings, and particularly through the NTEU and the UTSSA, to ensure any financial decisions made reflect the needs of the entire university community.
- Guarantee that any financial decisions made do not result in increased class sizes or diminished student support services, and release an impact assessment on how these cuts will affect teaching quality.
- Safeguard the diversity of subject offerings, ensuring students retain access to specialised and diverse educational pathways.
- Ensure transparent decision-making and clear, timely communication about course delivery modes and structural changes, prioritising the preservation of in-person learning opportunities that are essential for student engagement, well-being, and effective planning.
- Publicly release a timetable for the implementation of changes, with regular updates on decisions and their anticipated impacts.
Now is the time for UTS to affirm its commitment to the values of accessibility, inclusivity, and academic excellence that it markets itself on. Students and staff deserve a university that prioritises education over profit and community over cost-cutting.
Why is this important?
The cuts at UTS have the potential to devastate students, staff, and education quality, and marginalised students will be hit hardest. Join us to demand transparency, protect courses, and ensure UTS puts students and staff before the bottom line.
