AT LEAST one cafe has been forced to cut staff while others will close their doors for longer periods over January following the introduction of the University of New England's trimester calendar year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The new system now sees the town deserted by students from October, three weeks earlier than in previous years.
Students instead study online during an additional semester between November and February.
Traders across the city claim the semester changes have severely impacted their business.
Vinko Patlis from Bistro On Cinders, pictured, said he would be closing throughout January.
“We always close over the Christmas holidays and we come back at the end of January,” he said.
“But over the last two months the town is dead, the students are vital part of our little economy and they are not here so we are suffering.
“It is a long time students won’t be in town and it will have a lot of repercussions.”
Caffiends' owner David Andrews he felt the impact immediately.
"The first week that uni went on their break we saw a noticeable difference," he said.
"It is a lot quieter in town and with all so many people gone we have had to cut our staff’s hours because of it."
The university's pro-vice chancellor Eve Woodbury said that prior to implementing the changes to the university year UNE consulted with all major internal stakeholders but did not consult directly with Armidale businesses.
“We spoke to just about everybody at the university about this,” she said.
“We had school meetings, we spoke to students, we had online surveys… it has been a long consultation period.
“We consulted with council as they speak to a lot local businesses but they didn’t raise any major concerns.”
The university has seen more than 7,600 students enrol in the third trimester which sees study options moved to online learning.
Ms Woodbury said that given the positive student response, the university anticipates that in the coming years there would be more on campus study options as well as seeking alternative uses for the campus over the summer months.
“As the student interest in trimester three grows the university would look to see more on campus and residential schools take place over this period,” she said.
“The university is looking to have a better use of the summer period with a wider range of options with more school and sporting groups and conferences.
“This is a long term plan and I think it is good news for Armidale.”
Changes to the university calendar have been in response to the 2009 Bradley Review into higher education.
As part of this restructure the University of New England secured $36.6 million in December last year as part of the federal government's structural adjustment fund.
This has assisted the university to establish their future campus and the redevelopment of UNE's courseware for online delivery.
