ANU’s plan to centralise student services under the “Renew ANU” restructure has triggered strong backlash from students, particularly those in the College of Law, Governance and Policy (CLGP). The proposal would remove key student-facing roles like the College Enquiries Team and replace them with a centralised administration model, a change many believe will come at the cost of student care and academic support.

 In a message circulated to CLGP students, the university confirmed the restructure of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) portfolio, which “includes plans to centralise student administration services across campus.” 

It warned that “some changes to our services are unavoidable,” citing “ongoing staff shortages and a temporary recruitment freeze” as reasons for the immediate suspension of student appointment bookings.

“We strongly oppose the cuts”

 The ANU Law Students’ Society (LSS) responded swiftly with a public statement criticising the move, arguing it would severely damage the law student experience and strip students of a reliable support system.

 “The ANU Law Students’ Society strongly opposes the cuts to the College Student and Education Support Team at the College of Law, Governance and Policy,” the statement reads. 

“The Enquiries Team is a central pillar of support for ANU law students… Not only do they act with great professionalism, but they show unmatched compassion, diligence, and care for every law student.”

 The LSS warns that if the Enquiries Team is removed or centralised, “students would lose an important source of support,” and their concerns would be lost “into the ANU bureaucracy.” The society also raised concerns about depersonalised service, stating that “requests… would be handled by a faceless person outside the College who doesn’t understand the nuances of Law School.”

 Academic support concerns

 The LSS also highlights that the Enquiries Team doesn’t just answer emails, they are vital intermediaries between students and academics.

“The many queries and concerns handled by the Enquiries staff would be passed onto academics. Most staff don’t have the time to handle logistical concerns,” the statement says, adding that this could weaken the research-focused feedback loop that helps shape course design and delivery at the law school.

 Even if centralised staff had the time, the LSS argues they “don’t have the experience or capacity to handle complex student concerns in such an empathetic way.”

 The university has invited student feedback during a consultation period running until late August. Students can email their views to org.change@anu.edu.au and download the Proposed Study Plan 2025–2029 for context.

 In a follow-up message, the university acknowledged the concerns stating, “We understand this is a significant change, and we value your feedback. If you believe these changes may negatively affect your student experience, we encourage you to share your thoughts.”

 While the university states it remains committed to supporting students through the transition, the appointment booking system remains disabled. Students are now being asked to email their queries and wait 3-5 business days for a response. The message also notes that if an enquiry cannot be resolved via email, a one-on-one appointment may be arranged, but this is no longer the default.

What happens next?

As of early August, the LSS is the first major student body to formally oppose the restructure.

“We ask the ANU Vice-Chancellor to consider how important Enquiries are to ANU Law and the student experience. We request that they reverse the decision to remove the Enquiries Team and centralise the services they provide,” the statement said.

The coming weeks may see similar statements from other colleges or student groups. For now, the future of college-based student support at ANU remains uncertain.