THE peak body representing students at the University of Ballarat has collapsed because of a lack of funding.The university's student association has battled financial problems for the past 18 months and no student elections were held last year.The association is currently in discussions with the university over the sale of assets and changes to the provision of services.Association president Levi Laurie yesterday said the university decided not to continue funding the organisation at the end of 2008.The association which included 10 directors with portfolios ranging from welfare to sport continued to run in 2009 but has been unable to survive financially. Mr Laurie said the association had a proud history - former Premier Steve Bracks was a founding member - but was now in negotiations with the university about the transfer of student services. He said the closure would represent a major loss for students. "I think the student experience will certainly suffer, and I think without a truly independent organisation, the welfare of students is compromised," Mr Laurie said. President of the National Union of students Carla Drakeford said four years after the introduction of Voluntary Student Unionism many associations, particularly in regional areas, were struggling for funds. While Ballarat is believed to be the only Victorian university to lose its association, Ms Drakeford said it was not alone, with student unions in New England and the Sunshine Coast also having collapsed. "Students have to basically fight for themselves, instead of having one organisation fighting for them," she said. University of Ballarat vice-chancellor Professor David Battersby said government funding for student associations no longer existed."In the past 18 months we have been having discussions with the University of Ballarat Student Association about its future," he said. "The university has resolved to provide a number of the services that had been formerly provided by the student association."Prof Battersby said students would continue to have a voice on campus. He said there were elected student representatives on both the university's governing and academic boards."We consider student engagement at this level to be part and parcel of the student experience," Prof Battersby said. "Life goes on, for most students there won't be any difference."Ballarat MHR Catherine King said the prospective closure was disappointing for the student body."I understand that the University of Ballarat is working with the student association to cushion the impact of the former Howard Government's legislative changes which ripped hundreds of millions of dollars out of the sector nationally," she said."The Rudd Government remains determined to deliver on our education commitment to restore student services and amenities to ensure democratic student representation."