Actions and intentions ‘misrepresented’ by graduates: NTUAC
The NTU Alumni Club (NTUAC) has been transparent and fair in its recruitment campaigns, said its president R Sinnakaruppan.
He was responding to Yahoo! Singapore's article (NTU Alumni Club's 'shady' recruitment tactics anger students) published last Friday, which documented NTU graduates' complaints of a membership clause in the convocation package NTUAC offered which was allegedly "hidden" in the terms and conditions section.
Said Sinnakaruppan: "NTUAC is a not-for-profit organisation, a club by the graduates, for the graduates. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to come up with "shady" membership schemes for our very own graduates."
He added that the club's intentions and actions have been "misrepresented" by some graduates. "We regret this and we will do everything possible to explain to the minority of graduates who have misrepresented the intentions of the club," he said.
The NTUAC has been under heavy criticism recently for its convocation package, which drew unhappiness from NTU graduates who signed up for it.
Many were unaware of a clause in the terms and conditions fine print of the agreement, which stated that two years' membership in the NTUAC is mandatory for those who purchased the package. As such, they were unpleasantly surprised by a bill which arrived a few months later, charging them for the club membership.
However, Sinnakaruppan said that the convocation package was offered to NTU graduates "at a great expense to the club".
"The club has made its membership package, very affordable to the graduating batches, with the view to allow them to enjoy the club facilities, immediately upon graduation," he said, adding that the entrance fee of S$800 was waived for new members and monthly subscription reduced.
According to the NTUAC president, graduates who signed up in 2009 and 2010 did not have to pay membership fees for the first year of their enrolment. They pay a discounted S$20 a month for their second year of membership, 50 per cent of the original price of S$40.
Last year's graduates received a free monthly subscription for five months before the 50 per cent monthly subscription fee started in January 2012.
NTU students graduating this year will pay their monthly subscription of S$15 for the first five months, S$30 for next 6 months and S$40 for subsequent months.
Said Sinnakaruppan: "At the point of recruitment and in our contracts, the graduates have clearly been told that they will have to pay the full subscription of S$40 per month when it becomes due as per the contract."
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NTU Alumni Club's 'shady' recruitment tactics anger students
