Access at the University of Glasgow

Alec MacKinnon

Kevin Francis

Centre for Open Studies

“A University Introduction to Study for Mature Students”

• University of Glasgow: “Extra-mural”/Department of Adult and Continuing Education from 1951

• Access for “mature students” from 1979• “…based on conviction that there are many adults

potentially able to benefit from higher education who have not had the opportunity”

• Aimed at providing a supportive preparation for HE for those returning to education – maybe after many years and with only bad memories and no

qualifications

“A University Introduction to Study for Mature Students”

• GU “Extra-mural”/Department of Adult and Continuing Education from 1951

• Access for “mature students” from 1979

• (Scottish Wider Access Programme from 1985; primarily FE sector)

• Initially to Arts and Social Sciences

• Became acceptable for Law during 1980s; Law option added early 2005-06

• Science and Engineering from 1992

• Accountancy, Social Work, Nursing in 2000s

Features

• Part-time– Juggle with work, family– ‘toe in the water’ before burning bridges

• Focus on University subjects– Students choose two from a list of (now) 20– Transferable skills acquired via in-depth study– Introduction to character of teaching and learning in an ancient,

research-led university

• 2010 study of J Ferrie et al. (report in preparation)

Preparation for university study:

• Attrition from degree programmes due to (Yorke, 1999):– Flawed decision-making in entering the programme– Students’ experience of the programme and institution generally– Failure to cope with academic demands– Events in students’ lives external to the institution

Preparation for university study:

• Attrition from degree programmes due to (Yorke, 1999):– Flawed decision-making in entering the programme– Students introduced to university study in their chosen subjects– Students’ experience of the programme and institution generally– Failure to cope with academic demands– Events in students’ lives external to the institution

Preparation for university study:

• Attrition from degree programmes due to (Yorke, 1999):– Flawed decision-making in entering the programme– Students introduced to university study in their chosen subjects– Students’ experience of the programme and institution generally– Students introduced to university style classes, assessment,

library, campus, VLE (Unions, Mature Students’ Club, swimming pool……!)

– Failure to cope with academic demands– Events in students’ lives external to the institution

Preparation for university study:

• Attrition from degree programmes due to (Yorke, 1999):– Flawed decision-making in entering the programme– Students introduced to university study in their chosen subjects– Students’ experience of the programme and institution generally– Students introduced to university style classes, assessment,

library, campus, VLE…..– Failure to cope with academic demands– Access aims to provide an adequate academic preparation with

bridges being burnt – Events in students’ lives external to the institution

Preparation for university study:

• Attrition from degree programmes due to (Yorke, 1999):– Flawed decision-making in entering the programme– Students introduced to university study in their chosen subjects– Students’ experience of the programme and institution generally– Students introduced to university style classes, assessment,

library, campus, VLE…..– Failure to cope with academic demands– Access aims to provide an adequate academic preparation

without bridges being burnt – Events in students’ lives external to the institution– …are of course more likely for adults…..

Socio-economic background (home postcode)

SIMD Decile10987654321

Fre

qu

ency

125

100

75

50

25

0

SIMD Decile

2011-12

• Total confirmed students: 252• students using ILA: 115 (personal income < £22k)• Glasgow City bursary: 23 (unemployment benefit, etc.)• Partial fee waiver: 24 (unemployment benefit, etc.)

Route of Entry One or more parents in higher education

DACE Access (N=161) 35.4%Traditional (N=182) 72.0%Other Access (N=129) 34.1%

Outcomes

• Over 2005-2010, average 46% completion rate…– …but definition of “enrolled”?– 65 – 75% of “fully committed” students complete

• Nearly all who continue after Xmas complete and gain adequate grades for progression to University

DACE Access Traditional Other Access

Mean GPA 12.7884 12.7789 12.5159

Median GPA 12.7200 12.6700 12.5000

Std. Dev. 1.35392 1.31793 1.36334

Outcomes once in GU

DACE Access

Traditional Other Access

Mean GPA 12.7884 12.7789 12.5159Median GPA 12.7200 12.6700 12.5000Std. Dev. 1.35392 1.31793 1.36334

Current issues

• Level of demand• Changing situation for Admissions• International(!) demand• Recruitment from disadvantaged groups

Conclusions

• GU Access Programmes provide a preparation and way into HE for a wide range of people

• Remains valuable and popular• Emphasis today on statistics; huge range of human

stories