Students Jade Cornfoot, Mark Byron, Zoe Dyer and Mikayla Ryan-Pinch started an online petition last Saturday after news broke Deakin was considering its future in Warrnambool. 

By Thursday afternoon, more than 3000 people had added their name to show they supported retaining a university campus in the city. 

“I feel so overwhelmed, but I’m also so happy we are receiving this support,” student Zoe Dyer said. 

Mrs Dyer said comments on the petition took a similar line, that rural students needed access to higher education close to home. 

“High school students are worried their option will disappear and community members are worried people will miss out on a higher education,” she said. 

She said the group of four started the campaign because they believed in a quality higher education for rural students.