UC advocates preserving opportunities while focusing on outcomes

The University of Canterbury has written to all secondary school
principals and MPs to seek their views on enrolment policies and
practices for domestic students, and outline its progression standards
that make it harder for non-performing students to continue studying at
the University.

Vice-Chancellor Dr Rod Carr says the University wants to encourage
informed discussion on the long-term future of New Zealand's tertiary
sector, which is grappling with an unplanned and unfunded rise in
student enrolments.

In the letter Dr Carr says UC does not intend to adopt the approach of
some other universities which are seeking to address the problem by
setting their own admission standards for domestic students and limiting
entry not only to specified courses and programmes but their
institutions as a whole.

"Domestic enrolments respond to fluctuations in external factors over
which we have no control - economic pressures, changes in the
job-market, demands for graduates, the changing demographics of school
leavers etc. To a large extent we are at the mercy of 'the market'. The
straightforward approach is to restrict entry, but we have resisted this
for the time being."

He says UC is committed to equity and access and, for as long as
possible, wishes to retain open entry for students who are qualified to
take advantage of university study. He also says it is potentially
confusing for prospective students if each university insists on having
its own admission criteria in preference to operating in accordance with
national standards.

However, UC's enrolment of domestic students is done so on the basis
that they make the most of their opportunity to study at university -
which means doing the work and passing their exams.

"Our message to students is this: 'If you have the opportunity to study
at university - give it your best shot; but be under no illusion, you
must perform to retain a place - outcomes matter'."

Since mid-2009 the University of Canterbury has applied a "firm but
fair" academic progression policy that makes it harder for
non-performing students to continue studying at UC.

"This recognises that limited taxpayer support should be directed to
those who are able to take advantage of a university opportunity. We
also know that a world-class learning environment requires talented
students along with innovative and inspirational teachers, quality
research, well-designed programmes and appropriate facilities," says Dr
Carr.

When a student's results are such that they come under review, they are
given a warning and offered support in their study effort. If a student
has not made sufficient academic progress by the time of the next
review, they are excluded from a Faculty, preventing them from
continuing to study in the same qualification.

Exclusion from UC applies if a student has continued study (in areas not
already subject to exclusion) and, by the time of the next review round,
has not made sufficient academic progress. This exclusion prevents the
student from continuing to study at the University of Canterbury. The
reviews are conducted at mid-year and at the end of the year.

"While we continue to apply open entry criteria UC may enrol slightly
more domestic students on the basis that we would like to give them a
go. We are nevertheless strongly committed to enforcing standards,
therefore as an institution may see a greater number of students fail to
complete their qualification. The key is to ensure that this assessment
occurs within the first six months, rather than potentially wasting
staff and students' time and taxpayer funds over a longer period.

"UC believes supporting those who are capable and can demonstrate that
they are making the most of the opportunity to study at university is
the best use of New Zealand's limited education resources."

Dr Carr says excess domestic student enrolments at UC in 2010 are
approaching the Tertiary Education Commission's tolerance level.

"What this means, is that UC is not receiving government funding for all
of the domestic students it is teaching. This is not a sustainable
position. The fees students pay (usually by borrowing from the
Government), cover only about 30 percent of the full cost of tuition."

Dr Carr says the University is introducing an application to enrol
close-off date of 10 December 2010 for domestic undergraduate students
intending to enrol for the first time in 2011. The close-off date is
similar to what is already in place at a number of other New Zealand
universities, and is being introduced to help manage enrolment numbers
and processes more efficiently and smoothly. It will not apply for
application into teacher education programmes as there are existing
student selection processes for entry into these qualifications.