Emma Field moved to Hobart to study, with the hope of making new friends and enjoying campus life.
Key points:
- The university’s proposal would see the Sandy Bay site transform into a new neighbourhood and the university moved to buildings in the Hobart CBD
- The move still faces passionate opposition from some Sandy Bay and Hobart residents, and city retailers
- The Hobart City Council has agreed to commission a report into the proposed move, based on the motions and decisions made at a recent public meeting
But when she found out she would be studying in Hobart’s CBD rather than at the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus, she was “disappointed”.
“My classes have been quite great but I’m missing that social experience that my friends are getting at Sandy Bay, and I’m afraid that’s what’s going to happen if they move,” Ms Field said.
The university’s $600 million proposal would see the Sandy Bay site transform into a new neighbourhood, with the university moved to buildings spread across the Hobart CBD.
Many faculties have already moved their classes into the city.
But the move still faces passionate opposition from some Sandy Bay and Hobart residents, and city retailers.
Student opinions are mixed.
Ms Field said if she was not staying in student accommodation, she would have found it tough making friends.
“Everyone talks about university being where you meet life-long friends. People get married to people they meet at uni and I’ve always, especially moving down here, I’ve missed that,” she said.
“Here, no one even stays back after class, they just go to class and go home, and I really miss that to be honest.
“I’ve seen what a university campus in the city looks like and it may liven up a very tiny part of it, but at the expense of the university experience, I don’t think it’s really worth it.”
Final year economics and law student Fletcher Clarke is worried the move into the city will lead to a “fragmented campus”.
“I think it’s going to lead to a massive decrease in spaces for students both academic and social spaces … I think that will probably lead to a decrease in the student experience.
“Before COVID, the on-campus experience was really enriching. It not only leads to a great benefit to your teaching and learning day-to-day, but it’s important for you personally, and your own personal growth and development.”
He said that combined with online learning becoming more embedded in his courses, there was less opportunity to meet other students in his cohort, and in other faculties.
“I understand the merits of having online courses and they’re beneficial, but the university seems to be sacrificing the face-to-face in-person element for the online aspects of course delivery.”
President of the Tasmania University Student Association Sophie Crothers said the union was disappointed the consultation process so far had not involved students enough.
“We think it’s fairly likely that the move is going to go ahead, so we want to make sure that we’re not missing out on the opportunity to give students a voice as to what that future campus might look like,” Ms Crothers said.
She said when it came to what students thought about the move, it “wasn’t a straightforward answer”.
“Some of the benefits that I’ve heard students mention are just to do with having new facilities or just having things that are more modern and up-to-date, which I’d just like to note isn’t exclusive to moving to the city — I think that could also happen here on the Sandy Bay campus.”
She also said it might benefit students who already study in the city at IMAS, Menzies and the Hunter Street Art School because it would bring “greater social and professional connection for them”.
She agreed that at face value, the plan to move into the city would limit the student experience, but that the union would lobby the university to ensure the new student experience in the CBD was positive.
Council to commission report into move
University’s Vice-Chancellor Rufus Black said the university would press on with its plan to move from Sandy Bay to the city.
“We have a wide range of people right across not just Hobart but the southern region who are actually very supportive of providing greater access to education,” Professor Black said.
“Large numbers of people also see it will revitalise the city and make it better and many people concerned about the future of housing in Hobart see over 2,500 extra homes would make a huge difference to the future of the city.
“If you actually do look in the social media feed or in comments columns, you’ll find a much greater plurality of voices and they are the people who really care about these issues of accessibility, affordable housing … but they’re not necessarily organised as a vocal opposition group, which is what we have.”
The Hobart City Council has agreed to commission a report into the University of Tasmania’s proposed move into the CBD.
It will be based on the motions and decisions made at a recent public meeting opposing the plan.
Council was forced to hold the meeting after the Save UTAS Campus group’s petition opposing the move from Sandy Bay received more than 1,000 signatures.
The report will include motions from members of the public, including asking council to cease cooperation with the university, as well as reject the university’s plans altogether.
Council officers have under a month to prepare the report, which will then be debated at council.
Mr Black admitted if Hobart City Council did not approve the re-zoning and therefore re-development of the Sandy Bay Campus, the move into the city would be a much slower process.
The financial viability of the city move hinges at the moment on the profitability of the Sandy Bay campus.
