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STOP PRESS: CUSU's Denunciation List

CUSU is proud to announce that the following colleges are hereby excluded from the donations boycott, following their decision to publicly denounce top-up fees:

  • Churchill College

The position of other Colleges:

Jesus College

We (Jesus College) are opposed to any system for funding student tuition and maintenance that threatens our ability to attract and admit the most able students, whatever their personal circumstances and backgrounds.

Girton College

At the request of the JCR Committee, the Council of Girton College has issued the following statement. Girton College wishes to affirm its commitment to access for all students on the basis of merit and irrespective of financial need. In doing so, it wishes to support the University Council's call for rigorous exploration and consideration of all the available funding options.

Selwyn College

Selwyn College wishes to reaffirm its commitment to improving access for the most able students - irrespective of their socio-economic background. The College fully endorses the University Council's statement that 'the present system of higher education funding is not sustainable', shares its view that it is 'for the Government to demonstrate that access would not be adversely affected' if higher fees were to be introduced, and calls on the Government to explore rigourously all available funding options.

King's College

King's College Council agreed the following statements:

  1. King’s College wishes to remain a centre of academic excellence, attracting the most able students regardless of their financial or social background.
  2. To note with approval the University statement on top-up fees.
  3. The Council hope that the Government’s Higher Education Funding Review will rigorously explore and consider all available funding options, and take into account the adverse effect that top-up fees would have on Access to the University of Cambridge.

Homerton College

The Cambridge University Council has issued [a] statement with which Homerton College fully agrees.

Homerton College is committed to widening participation and extending access.

Caroline Hibbell HUS President
Steve Watts Admissions Tutor
On behalf of Homerton College Council

New Hall

We are aware that there is serious under-funding of UK Higher Education. We are also aware that the Government wishes to encourage Access and increased participation in Higher Education. This college has always been dedicated to providing an excellent academic education to talented students whatever their background. We challenge the Government to demonstrate that the proposals for Higher Education funding they will be making in the long-awaited review will assist rather than compromise their (and our) wish to maintain and improve Access.

Downing College

Downing College, Cambridge, opposes the introduction of top-up fees. It believes such fees would damage access because they would act as a major deterrent, particularly to those from less financially privileged backgrounds who might otherwise be persuaded to seek a university education.

Downing urges strongly that the serious financial shortfall affecting the higher education sector, about which urgent action must be taken, should be addressed by a mechanism which does not damage access.

For further information contact Dr S G Fleet, Master, Downing College, Cambridge.
Tel: 01223 334843.

Trinity Hall

"Following discussions with representatives of the JCR and MCR, the Governing Body of Trinity Hall welcomes our common recognition of serious structural needs in university funding and agrees that is necessary to explore options on meeting these, notably through proposals for a graduate contribution.
The Governing Body is not persuaded that a move to full-cost fees is appropriate, not only because this would be inequitable to present students, but because it would be likely to act as a deterrent to future applicants from a disdavantaged background, impairing our efforts for broader access to Cambridge.
Trinity Hall therefore supports the University's statement of 14 November 2002."