Chinese Visa At Bangkok Embassy

Some friends of mine who are lecturers at the local uiversity are accompanying some students for a trip to China. In the past the university handled all the visa applications through the chinese embassy in Bangkok. They have now been told that they have to make the application personally and that they will have to travel from Phuket to Bangkok to do it. Does this mean that all future applications for visas have to be made personally and if so does that put all Visa application companies out of business with the Chinese Embassy (I find this hard to imagine). Any info from recent visitors to the local Chinese Embassy would be gratefully received. I note that the application form allows representation by persons other than the applicant but as we all know things change.