University of Wollongong management’s new ‘888 course model’ proposal is alarming. The proposal makes drastic cuts to subjects and courses, and will force UOW students into generic degrees. This will have a detrimental impact on the quality of education students receive, as well as staff workloads and wellbeing.
All staff, students and supporters are encouraged to sign and share our petition to help pressure UOW management to drop the proposal and stop the 888.
Petition Background
On October 10th 2024, University of Wollongong management made its ‘888 course model’ proposal public. We have already seen cuts to subjects and courses for 2025, and if introduced in 2026, the new 888 course model will massively reduce subject choice and flexibility for students, and result in job cuts for staff.
Under this model, students would :
• Have to take 8 huge, generic subjects at the degree level, with no choice beyond 8 subjects for each major;
• Have zero true electives outside of majors;
• Face restrictions on taking study breaks during the degree; and
• Be stopped from taking on a double degree.
Staff are concerned this will lead to:
1. The merger or elimination of disciplines;
2. Staff cuts or redundancies;
3. Increased workloads for remaining staff;
4. Damaging effects on staff mental health and wellbeing; and
5. The erosion of quality higher education in the Illawarra region.
Who are we petitioning?
1. Vice Chancellor Professor John Dewar AO
2. UOW Senior Executive
3. UOW University Council
Petition Demands
1. DROP THE 888.
We call on the University Council and Senior Management to withdraw the ‘888 course model’, and to rethink the minimum numbers imposed for subjects to be run.
2. NO CUTS TO UNITS, COURSES, OR MAJORS.
Publicly commit to no cuts to units, courses or majors so staff and students can have certainty over their degrees and teaching workloads.
3. NO FORCED REDUNDANCIES.
Publicly commit to no forced redundancies at UOW for the next five years.
4. RESPECT WORKLOADS.
Do not overload staff with teaching so there is no increase in student to staff ratios.
5. STAFF-LED DECISION MAKING AND PARTICIPATION.
Be open and transparent about the impacts of any future proposals. Conduct staff ballots on the 888 model (impacts and implications) at each School level before it proceeds to Academic Senate.