Extramural Presidents Blog » Tertiary regulations

Changing Academic Regulations

ralph — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 02:37:39 +0000

There has been further discussion regarding the manner in which the ‘eight year rule’ and ‘complete on that years regulations’ will be implemented. As you know academic regulations have been passed that introduce an eight year limit and also require students to complete their qualification under that year’s regulations, not the enrolling year as has been in the past).

Check with your school to see if changes apply to you

After loosing the battle to have the eight year rule changed to a twelve year rule and to be able to complete under regulations up to three years old, I have been asking for clarification on how these rules will be applied. We still do not know. A further document, seeking to clarify the transition must be approved at academic board at the end of October.

If, as the original paper obliquely suggested, these changes apply from 2012, then we are out of time to properly inform students. The way things are rolling changes will occur when students are on break over summer. Not only that, as enrolment opens on the 1st October, (and the new enrolment software may make decisions about regulations), students may have enrolled before the decision about when these changes apply is made.

If you are concerned about the regulations you will be completing under, particularly if there have been changes to your programme since you first enrolled then you should see your school before you finish up for the year.

Dire Times for Extramural Students

ralph — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 01:27:20 +0000

LET ME STUDY!

Distance Education has fallen out of favour with our Government. For Massey students this may translate to missing out on a place if you are not enrolled with a qualification pre-specified. It may also mean that you cannot get a place if you are new student and it will mean strict enforcement of regulations; if you fail you are out.

In a sensible reaction to New Zealand’s Tertiary Education Strategy, places for distance students at Massey will be reducing. By the time this column goes to press the Massey University Investment Plan for 2011-13 will have been released. This investment plan will likely outline how Massey’s distance student numbers will reduce over the next few years by around 15%, equating to approximately 2,500 students. I expect that Massey’s plan will also address the Government’s focus on youth and Maori students by signaling an intention to increase the number of Maori students and the number of young students (those under 25). And with a $1.8 million boost in student services levies for 2011, Massey will also focus on further developing the academic and pastoral support for students with the aim of improving completion rates.

At the same time, Massey, internally and through its 2020 Strategy, has said it is committed to distance education and the student profile that accompanies that mode. This is not necessarily at odds with Massey’s current Academic Reform Project: rationalizing offerings, which can only be described as prolific and unsustainable, in order to better reflect the current needs of students. But it is at odds with the message that the Investment Plan carries. Clearly there will be a focus of cuts in distance offerings if academic reform is to fit the investment plan vision. So how can Massey’s internal rhetoric be reconciled with Government direction?

Can Massey create an oportunity from the Govt direction?

I believe that within this period of change there exists an opportunity to strengthen Massey’s position as New Zealand’s preeminent distance education provider. If existing resources are focused on developing the best quality delivery for the distance offerings that remain, and we can be reassured that other providers are being discouraged from expanding their distance programmes, then when the wind changes Massey will be in possession of the most advanced (both technologically and pedagogically) distance education delivery in the country.

Over 25s become ‘Special Admissions’

ralph — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:46:03 +0000

University study? Think again.

Massey and other universities around New Zealand are being forced to introduce regulations that deliver on the Governments Tertiary Education Strategy. Forced because some institutions would prefer to maintain a student body that reflects New Zealand’s education needs, not some reactive strategy that fails to understand educations role in society and economic recovery.

The govenment, not satisfied with the impact of the TES are now looking to restrict access further for mature students. Imagine enquiring about a course and being told that your University Entrance qualification is not good enough. Sorry UE is not what is says. UE means you only have the right to enter university as a Special Admission.

That means you will have to meet a set of criteria that could be cuturally based, academically based or luck based. You will not know if you are successfull until the last minute and your place will gone if you fail or take a break for more than two years.

There is a window of opportunity to have your say. NZQA, who are reviewing entrance criteria, are calling for submissions. I will be submitting on your behalf. Please send me your views and I will make sure thay are included in the EXMSS submission.

National Student Conference

ralph — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 22:27:45 +0000

Delegates break for a bite to eat and networking time

Representatives from Student Associations around the country met at the end of January to discuss issues that will affect all students. The conference is an opportunity to connect students from both polytechnics and universities in order to develop networks and build strategies to promote student support across the country. Four representatives from EXMSS attended the conference.

Much of this year’s discussion related to the government led restrictions being placed on the tertiary sector. High on the agenda were political issues such as the removal of the student positions on Polytechnic Councils, the bill to make Student Association membership opt-in and the reduction of access to tertiary education in the university sector.

Of major concern for the EXMSS team was the omission of life-long learning and the focus on youth and full-time students clearly evident in National’s Tertiary Education Strategy.

Students associations are effective at keeping these issues on the government’s agenda. Because students are described by the TEC as the most significant stakeholder in the tertiary sector it makes sense that students are in the position (funded and organized) to engage with both their institutions and with government. National student conferences are essential to ensure effective engagement at institution and national level.

Actions stemming from the conference include national strategy‘s relating to: the Freedom of Association Bill, lobbying Polytechnics to form Student Advisory Committees for their Councils, monitoring of the success of the Youth Guarantee scheme and maintaining pressure on the Government to provide continued access to education for Maori and minority groups.

Representing Exm Students

admin — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 21:29:43 +0000

As your President I see it as part of my role to bring proposed changes to Massey and Tertiary regulations to your attention. Recently I have been involved in making submissions on the following:

a) Defining Masters and PhD coursework. The Master’s definitions fall, with little dispute, into three categories 1. Coursework only, 2. Coursework plus thesis and 3. Thesis only. Now here’s the rub – it has been suggested that a PhD, which it traditionally thesis only, could have up to 30 credits of coursework included. What do you think about this?

b) A proposal to provide additional information on the Massey Transcript. This could alternatively take the form of a Supplement that a graduate could request after graduation. The intent is to have common information supporting tertiary qualifications throughout South-East Asia for the purpose of assisting employers. Is this a good idea? How much information is too much information? It has been suggested that this may be a compulsory document, is that a good idea?

As well as these issues I can now report that the time at which you can withdraw from a paper without academic penalty (i.e. DNC – Did Not Complete – on your record) has changed from 50% of the coursework to 75% of coursework. I think this is a very positive change with respect to students and I was vocal in my support when this was first suggested.