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Supporting College HE Admissions 20 June 2014. Presentation shortcuts. Click on an image to jump to the relevant presentation, or anywhere else to progress in order. Welcome and Introduction Dan Shaffer, Head of Professionalism in Admissions. b ack to shortcuts. What is SPA?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Supporting College HE Admissions
20 June 2014
Presentation shortcutsClick on an image to jump to the relevant presentation, or anywhere else to progress in order
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Welcome and Introduction
Dan Shaffer, Head of Professionalism in Admissions
What is SPA? Set up in 2006 following the Schwartz Report Fair Admissions to
Higher Education: Recommendations for Good Practice 2004
“ The Group recommends the creation of a central source of expertise and advice on admissions issues. Its purpose would be to act as a resource for institutions who wish to maintain and enhance excellence in admissions. Such a centre could lead the continuing development of fair admissions, evaluating and commissioning research, and spreading best practice.”
“Equal opportunity for all individuals, regardless of background, to gain admission to a course suited to their ability and aspirations.”
What is Fair Admissions?
1. be transparent
2. enable institutions to select students who are able to complete the course as judged by their achievements and their potential
3. strive to use assessment methods that are reliable and valid
4. seek to minimise barriers to applicants
5. be professional in every respect and underpinned by appropriate institutional structures and processes
SPA's good practice framework
SPA’s framework supports you as you build to bridge the gaps:
established new practice
current new developments
new experienced staff
you external peers Where’s your gap?
www.spa.ac.uk/support
SPECIFIC GOOD PRACTICEOVERARCHING GOOD PRACTICE
STRATEGYAdmissions Policies
Planning and Managing Admissions
Effective Admissions Operation
Art and Design Admissions
Complaints and Appeals
Centralising Admissions
Part-time Admissions
Feedback
Native language Qualifications
Paperless Processing
Vocational Qualifications
Criminal Convictions
AgeTiming of disability considerations
Admissions TestsInterviews
Competence Standards
Refugees and Asylum Seekers
Equality Impact Assessments
Contextualised admissions
Student Number Controls
Applicant Experience Strategy
Principles of Fair
Admissions
College HE Admissions
SPA’s work with FE Colleges offering HE
SPA’s College HE ObjectiveTo support Colleges to further develop professionalism in fair admissions and good practice in HE admissions
In support of this objective SPA haveEstablished a project group to build a community of good practice in College HE admissions, in collaboration with AoCappointed a part time SPA Project Liaison Officer for College HE, on secondment from a college HE admissions role
Introduction
Today’s set-up: Sharing ideas, issues, intelligence Openness and confidentiality
Today’s planned outcomes: Improved networking:
sharing good practice; promoting new contacts and new ideas Develop communal plans to deal with key issues Your input into ensuring a supportive College HE
Admissions community
What are the issues for College HE admissions?
Nick Davy, HE Policy Manager, AoC
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College HE Admissions 2014 AoC Policy Team
Nick Davy, HE Policy Manager
HEFCE Higher education in England 2014: Summary of enrolment trends and characteristics Continued increase in FT HE enrolments in 2013 after dip
in 2012 UCAS applications up 8% for 2014 entry Continuing decrease in part time enrolments – down 50%
in HEI; less steep in FEC – circa 25% Decrease in other undergraduate numbers – foundation
degrees, HNs, short courses Since 2011-12 more full-time entrants to other
undergraduate courses other than first degrees have been studying in FEC than in HEI
HEFCE Enrolments Trends – FPE:08/09 -12/13
30,000 extra students allocated for 2014 Student Number Control to be lifted from 2015 Higher Technical Education – possible changes from 2016?
Colleges more autonomy over awards/validation?Position of Pearson Non-licensed awards?
National Student Survey schedule published Colleges to pay for Destinations of leavers Survey – July 2014
leavers QAA Higher Education Review – includes admissions Maintaining dialogue with HEFCE on the NSS/KIS threshold rules
Relevant Policy issues
2014 Admissions Conference
Any Questions?
Nick Davy - nick_davy@aoc.co.uk
College HE admissions: how we do it
Liz Wyman, Newcastle-under-Lyme College
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Newcastle-under-Lyme CollegeHE AdmissionsHow we do it
Liz WymanHead of Resources and Guidance
About Newcastle under Lyme College
• Large tertiary college in the West Midlands
• 3,600 full time students, 800 part time adults
• 1,400 work based students, 1,250 apprentices
• Small HE offer – around 300 students
HE Offer
• Lengthy partnership with one university – formerly the SURF partnership
• Just signed agreement with another university • Full time courses – FDs, HNC, HND, Fdn Year• Part time courses – FDs and Teacher Training• Across a range of subjects. Creative subject specialism.• Full time recruit through UCAS, via the university. New partner• doesn’t use UCAS with colleges• Part time apply either to the university or to college
System nuts and bolts
• Applications dealt with by college faculties (except Fdn Year)
• All applicants interviewed – some by telephone
• Some initially assessed for maths and English
• In some subjects applicants exclusively from our level 3
• Part time applications almost exclusively work based
Issues
• Neither central nor fully devolved• Small staff teams• Course leaders stretched across provision• Different calendars • Small applicant numbers• Internal applicants• Feedback
Issues (cont)
• Changes to university systems• Communication with university• Duplication of paperwork• Working with employers• Part time applications lack of structure• Communication between departments
College HE admissions: how we do it
Sally Dodsley, Vision West Nottinghamshire College
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Vision West Notts Admissions
Sally DodsleyHE & International Study Skills Coach
HE at West Notts• 22 HE programmes, 24 wef from September• BA Hons in 6 areas• Range of HNs and FdAs• Approx 600 students• Collaborative partnerships – UoD, BCU
Admissions
• Direct, online applications to the college – outside of UCAS
• Central admissions team, one admin managing HE applications – initial checks (personal statements, appropriate qualifications
Applicant Event• Presentation by the central HE team• Provide an Applicant Guide• Interview by curriculum team• Offer (or not) made and details sent to Admissions
Admin for posting
Keep Warm Activities• Summer School programme• LRC events• Taster days
Issues• Insufficient details on application forms – perception that
college doesn’t need the same level of information as universities
• Clarity and consistency re: entry criteria (L2/GCSE English and Maths expectations)
• Consistency of interview paperwork (clarity of conditions, renegade staff)
• Occasional hold ups at the partner institutions• Students don’t like the decisions and admin trying to deal
with this
College HE admissions: how we do it
Paul Sisterson, Newcastle College Group
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Considerations from a Mixed Economy College (& the new UCAS College HE Advisory Group) …
Paul SistersonUCAS Admissions Manager
Newcastle College
Chair, UCAS College HE Advisory Group
Newcastle College in context…
• Foundation Degree (awarded by Newcastle College Group, 2012 on)
• Top-up Degree (in partnership with Teesside University)
• Taught-degree awarding powers (TDAP) - application in progress through QAA
• FTE @ 1 May 2014: 3295 (including West Lancashire College)
• Applications through UCAS @ 16 June 2014: 2,514
• Centralized Admissions (Recruitment & Marketing) since 2002
Reflections from a Mixed Economy Collegeone year on…
1) explored facets of current practice characterizing HE admissions at Newcastle College…
2) shared good practice established by the SPA Code of Practice Group (CoP): http://www.spa.ac.uk/support/goodpractice/heinfe
3) discussed the manner in which HE Admissions @ Newcastle College tailors SPA good practice: http://www.spa.ac.uk/support/goodpractice/
4) Promoted the professionalism of College HE admissions staff… the merits for Personal and Professional Development (PPD) as a significant contribution towards the sustainability of the HE Offer…
So why conditions now warrant a comprehensive review of centralized admissions?
Considerations…
‘…all the points of interaction between HE (in FE) and a potential student . As a precursor to the Student Experience - the merits of which will, ultimately improve retention and improvement:’ http://www.spa.ac.uk/support/applicantexperience/ - accessed 9 June 2014.
1) Influencing Recruitment: using UCAS ‘Course Collect’ platform to your advantage…
2) Centralized Admissions: reasoning for comprehensive review of current practices…
3) Merits of Centralized & Devolved Decision-making in the context of internal & external progression (with special reference to Business & Enterprise, Health & Social Care, Creative Industries)…
4) Type[s] of Quality infrastructure to oversee centralized admissions (in the context of QAA UK Quality Code Chapter B2: recruitment, selection & admission…)
UCAS College HE Advisory Group…
Inaugural meeting, Cheltenham, 20 March 2014
Second meeting, Cheltenham, 16 June 2014
Provides UCAS with the representative voice of Colleges delivering HE; …acting as a conduit for communication & consultation…
Outcomes will feed into UCAS Change Steering Group and will inform future developments to the shared admissions service
Excellent response from the sector, will continue to ensure the Group is representative of colleges using UCAS’ HE admissions service
For further information contact Paul Sisterson paul.sisterson@ncl-coll.ac.uk & Caroline Cowburn c.cowburn@ucas.com
Confirmation and Clearing 2014 issues
Dan Shaffer, Head of Professionalism in Admissions
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Planning and managing admissions
collaboration
overview
predictenact
review
keep up to date
be ready
Issues at Confirmation and Clearing Staffing System and data issues Managing student number controls Conflict between getting numbers and fair
admissions Progression of own internal students against
external recruitment Conflict between Partner HEP control and own
college autonomy
To avoid issues at Confirmation and Clearing
and keep next year in mind
don’t panic
plan ahead
internal communication
external communication training keep data
up-to-date
process definite decisions promptly
chase missing results early
ask for advice if in doubt
Improving the applicant experience into HE• SPA’s Applicant Experience Strategy built under four broad stages
Adopted a behavioural view of ‘experience’
Interactive participation and engagement, not a passive journey
Linked and underpinned through effective
information, advice and guidance
pre-application application post-
application transition
ing ingsingwww.spa.ac.uk/applicant-experience
Most common reasons for early drop-out
Personal reasons
Lack of integration
Dissatisfaction with course/institution
Lack of preparedness
Wrong choice of course
Financial reasons
To take up a more attractive opportunity
According to National Audit Office reports 2002 and 2007:
Thank you
enquiries@spa.ac.uk 01242 544891www.spa.ac.uk
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