MILLION DEFICIT & DESIGNER FURNITURE? 

The backgrounds of the current savings measures are not clear to most students.  

We have repeatedly urged the university leadership to communicate more transparently and directly with the students. This has only happened to a very limited extent. For this reason, we would like to explain the developments of the last few months step by step. Transparency is and remains important, especially in turbulent times! 

By now, it is no big secret that ZHdK has a large hole in its finances and must save money. Almost 7 million CHF need to be balanced, which is why the university leadership initiated the so-called stabilization initiative last semester.  Various savings measures are to gradually fill the gap in the financial budget. Since this spring semester, the following measures directly affecting students have come into effect:  

• The reduction of free psychological counseling hours from 5 to 3 hours 

• The elimination of the study fee exemption 

• The reduction of opening hours of the Toni grounds, Gessnerallee, and the workshops at Toni.  

A classification

The university leadership officially informed about the above-mentioned savings measures in December 2024 or January 2025 through the internal ZHdK-News platform. However, the discussion about these savings measures has already begun in the university leadership during the summer. What happened in between from VERSO's perspective: 

At the beginning of the semester, we learned as part of ZHdK's involvement that the university leadership plans to close the university premises at night starting in the spring semester 2025 within the framework of the stabilization initiative. VERSO immediately and vehemently opposed this. Our previously drafted position paper is still valid and is still available on our website. 
We could not prevent the night closure; however, the original proposal was somewhat softened, and the university leadership reacted and invited VERSO to a confidential conversation, during which it also presented other planned savings measures to our presidency. Already during that conversation, active measures like the reduction of free psychological counseling hours or the suspension of the study fee exemption (reduction of tuition fees for students in financial difficulties) were discussed.

VERSO has consistently opposed savings at the expense of students and has advocated for transparent communication. 
In the VERSO newsletter from December 2024, we had already informed about the planned night closure, only to find out a few days later that it was once again not mentioned in the ZHdK newsletter from December 19. Among the savings measures affecting students, only the reduction of psychological counseling hours was mentioned. However, this was extremely vaguely formulated and hidden as a sub-point in a separate section. 

This approach has greatly irritated us, as measures that had already been internally announced long ago were not made public. Subsequently, we drafted a statement on the ZHdK stabilization initiative criticizing the university leadership's approach. 
Only in January did the university leadership officially announce what has been a reality since February. 
In our view, the timing for such significant changes is clearly too short and a sign of opaque communication towards the students. 

What can we do? 

Since February, the above-mentioned savings measures have fully come into effect. Many students position themselves clearly against the measures and have the need to organize and voice their protest. We understand this, as we feel the same, and therefore we have a few suggestions on how we can show the ZHdK leadership that we do not agree with the measures of the stabilization initiative. Not everything can be immediately and realistically reversed. Therefore, we would like to illustrate where, in our view, it makes the most sense to make targeted protests. 

1. Reduction of free psychological counseling hours 

Getting a therapy slot as a student is anything but easy. High deductibles for health insurance and long wait times make it incredibly difficult both financially and logistically to get psychological support. Therefore, a free and uncomplicated offer from one’s own university in this area is even more important to bridge gaps and wait times. The reduction from 5 to 3 free psychological counseling hours is therefore extremely regrettable.  

Since the offer, albeit in a reduced form, still exists and comparable services are not available at other universities or are similarly limited, there is little room for effective protest here. Therefore, we would like to focus more on the other two measures – we believe more is possible here. 

2. Elimination of the study fee exemption  

Things don't look quite so bleak here: ZHdK is currently exploring options that can cushion the removal of financial support or offset it in other ways. VERSO has already informed itself on this matter and discussed different options in the semester council. More on this further down in the newsletter under “INSIDE VERSO”. However, it is realistic to expect that definitive news on this matter will come only towards the end of the year. We remain proactive about it and will keep you updated.  

3. Reduction of opening hours 

In particular, the shortened opening hours of the Toni area, Gessnerallee, and the workshops concern many students. Unrestrictedly accessible premises are essential for many students, especially for those who have to do wage or care work alongside their studies.  

The night closure is currently in a test phase (until June), and the university leadership explicitly asks for feedback to the head of physical security, Marc Berthoud. Based on this experience, an evaluation for a possible continuation will take place. VERSO will also be involved in this process – therefore, it is important for us to support our position with as many specific feedback and data against a reduction of opening hours as possible.  

You can participate as follows:   

• Feedback via email to Marc Berthoud – Please write to him why it is personally important for you to have 24/7 access to the studios, halls, and rooms of ZHdK.  

• The more feedback, the more representative the evaluation: marc.berthoud@zhdk.ch  

• verso.info@zhdk.ch in CC! 

• Requests for exceptions – It is still possible to submit a request for night use of the premises. So please ask your instructors to apply for exceptional access to the rooms for you. 
  One of the main arguments for the night closure was that supposedly only a few students remain in Toni so late at night.
  This must be disproven!

IMPORTANT:  
As ZHdK stated in its newsletter from March 5, 2025, access to the premises will now be available to all students around the clock from April 1 to June 5, 2025, due to diploma exhibitions. The workshops should also be open longer during this time. Therefore, the reduced opening hours will unexpectedly have less of an impact on the current semester. However, it should not be forgotten that if this savings measure is extended into the fall semester of 2025, there will be no diploma exhibitions. Therefore, we see no reason to forego feedback – there is already a month and a half of experience, and the semester is not over by June 5.  

What does this all have to do with designer furniture? 

Anyone who was in the Leihs a few weeks ago may have wondered, like we did, what delivery ZHdK received. “Vitra” was written on the boxes – a Swiss company for designer furniture, for whose products one must dig quite deep into one's pockets.   It is strange that money is still flowing here while cuts are being made elsewhere. At a university, the focus should be on providing the best possible education for students and not on a maximum stylish interior design, right? Our post on Instagram about this.