It's hoped new pastoral care rules for university halls will give thousands of students the support they're currently missing.
The Government has announced a new Code of Practice, which will come into effect in 2021.
It comes after the death of a Christchurch student went unnoticed for weeks.
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Caitlin Barlow-Groome, from the New Zealand Union of Students' Associations, says the current care - in some cases - is poor.
"In this incident, where the student passed away, there was one 20-year-old student RA (resident adviser) looking after 45 people," Barlow-Groome told The AM Show. "That's not good enough in my eyes, we need to have better care - and a go-to peer support person."
Universities could face a $100,000 fine if they don't provide pastoral care. Barlow-Groome said it's well-overdue.
"Right now there's nothing across the board," she said. "Some institutes have standards, but a lot of them will definitely have to take a bit of a step up."
Barlow-Groome said however the rules need to take into account that many students thrive under the independence.
She told The AM Show some are happy in their new independent lives.
It's a great start, but she wants more detail, she said.
"People go to a hall for different reasons," she said. "Some people want to be independent.
"We just need to ensure that what is implemented, works for all levels."
The University of Canterbury Students' Association meanwhile is putting its hand up to help shape the new standards.
Association president Sam Brosnahan hopes all parties can have input.
"We have a job to be representing our students, and part of that is ensuring, particularly our first year students, have a minimal level of care," he told Newshub.
"As we know, university is a really stressful time for students to transition into," he said.
Brosnahan said the new rules will give people peace of mind.
He's pleased policymakers have responded quickly, he said.
"It was an unacceptable amount of time when our poor student was found."
Newshub.
