The University of Tasmania will compensate students who have been overcharged their student Services and Amenities fees for the 2000 academic year, following consultation with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
The compensation package includes the purchase of additional computer equipment for the University's libraries for the benefit of continuing students, and free academic transcripts for all leaving students.
The overcharges affected some 12,000 full and part time students at the Hobart and Launceston campuses, and amounted to $4.07 for full-time students and $1.02 for new students charged an entrance fee.
The University approached the ACCC and advised that an internal review of the costing methodology used in calculating the fees had shown up errors in allocating costs and applying cost savings under the New Tax System which led to the overcharge.
The ACCC accepted that the errors were made inadvertently and in view of the small amount of each refund and the effect of fees and charges on refunds by cheque, the ACCC supported the alternative actions proposed to appropriately compensate students.
For continuing students, the University will purchase computer equipment to the value of $26,425 to enhance student access to databases and journals in the University libraries. Students completing their courses this year will receive four academic transcripts free of charge (normally only one transcript is provided free and an additional three transcripts costs $10). The measures have the support of the two student bodies.
"The ACCC acknowledges the University's prompt action in notifying the ACCC of the error, and welcomes the cooperative approach taken to fully compensate students", ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today.