RMIT Fee Waiver
From MelbLCAWiki
The section Draft contains our draft application; the section "GUIDELINES ..." is a copy of the UniMelb guidelines, for ease of reference. Obviously, please only edit the Draft section...
RMIT Property Services - Application for Venue Hire Fee Waiver
Media:Fee_Waiver_Application.pdf
Draft
Event Number
Event Name
Event Date/s
Venue/s
Company Name
Contact Name
Phone No
Description of the Event
Event's Target Audience
Are there entry fee's to be charged?
Yes/No
If YES approximately how much, per entry?
Student: $ Hobbyist: $ Professional: $
The conference is run entirely by volunteers. Neither the organisers nor the speakers are remunerated for their participation in the conference. The organisers aim to make the conference accessable to as many as possible, even those on limited incomes. It is for this reason that a tiered entry fee is charged: students are charged very little (approximately $2 per hour of conference), hobbyists (gainfully employed, but paying their own way to the conference) pay a bit more, but only those who are working full-time for a company that is paying for them to attend, pay the highest level.
Linux Australia, the overseeing organisation, is also a volunteer-run organisation; it charges no membership fees, and those involved (e.g. committee members) are not paid for their labours. The conference represents the majority of LA's revenue stream, and the majority of its outgoings.
The three-level tiered fee is somewhat unique, and in the past a competition was run to find worthy contributors from all states and territories, plus New Zealand, who could not otherwise afford to attend, and sponsor their attendance in full including airfares and accommodation. There are only two other comparable conferences in the same space, both of which are run in North America. Attendence fees at OLS are $CA275 for students (thrice our student fee), and $CA500 for general registration (almost twice our hobbyist fee; there is no separate provision for non-students who are not sponsored to attend). The fee for a comparable attendence at OSCON (tutorials and presentations) is $US1000 for students (ten times our price), and $US2000 otherwise (almost seven times our hobbyist price; again, there is no separate provision for non-students without sponsorship). We believe that our model is incredibly fair and reasonable: the conference aims merely to cover its costs and leave a small operating surplus for Linux Australia, and fund a community grants program.
LCA also aims to assist attendees by arranging significantly discounted (usually around 30-40%) stays at colleges for attendees who choose not to stay at hotels. Again, this is somewhat unique within the space: often, the price of a hotel stay can easily exceed any other costs incurred while getting there.
Strategic Linkage (please tick appropriate box)
1. Community Partnership/Sponsor
2. Staff/Student activity
3. Teaching & Learning
4. Research & Innovation
5. Industry Partnership
6. Other (please provide details)
Why should this event be considered for a fee waiver?
Supporting documentation
Guidelines
PROPERTY SERVICES – Application for Venue Hire Fee Wavier A group or individual may apply for a full or partial waiver of the venue hire charge if there is a primary relationship to RMIT’s core business. Groups or individuals who have been granted a fee waiver will still be liable for out of pocket expenses such as; Public Liability Insurance, AV technician, audio visual equipment hire, set-up costs, security and any additional cleaning and or repair costs. Fee waivers shall be based upon the relationship between the event and its contribution to the University’s goals, directions and policies. RMIT reserves the right to refuse any request for exemption without explanation. In deciding whether to provide a partial or full fee waiver RMIT will take into consideration, the following.
1. The Event
a. Is it consistent with the University’s teaching, research and community
development objectives?
b. Is it endorsed by a relevant University referee
2. The Profile of the Hirer
a. What is the capacity of the hirer/organisation to pay full costs?
b. What is the strategic significance to the University of the hirer/the event?
c. What is the risk/benefit to the University of providing or not providing a waiver
or reduction?
3. Funding Sources
a. Has the event been considered by and/or received funding from other University
funding programs/schools?
b. Are there entry fees to be charged or is the event free to the public?
4. Marketing Benefits
a. What is the potential value of the event to the public profile of the University and
is there related media interest?
b. What undertakings have the organisers made to develop a promotion/media plan
that acknowledges University support?
If successful in obtaining a fee waiver RMIT should be referred to as an event sponsor in all event material (advertising, programs etc) and the venue should always be referred to as an RMIT venue. i.e. RMIT Storey Hall or RMIT Capitol Theatre. When complete please forward this application to the University Timetabling and Room Booking office, fax 03 9925 2706
