EXPENDITURE ON ADDITIONAL ACCESS MEASURES Sample Clauses

EXPENDITURE ON ADDITIONAL ACCESS MEASURES. 3.1 Assessment of Queen ▇▇▇▇’s access and retention record 3.1.1 ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ has a strong record in recruiting students from under-represented groups, and we work hard to support student retention, success and employability. We have assessed our proportion of under-represented students as slightly above average, and our record on retention as in need of further improvement. Evidence for this assessment is found in the table below, which uses HESA data for the two- year period from 2008-09 to 2009-10: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ actual performance HESAbenchmark for Queen ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ location- adjusted benchmark for ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ young full-time first-degree entrants from state schools 85.3% 84.3% 81.6% young full-time first-degree entrants from low participation neighbourhoods 6.0% 8.0% 4.8% young full-time first-degree entrants from National Statistics Socio– Economic Classification groups (NS-SEC) 4-7 29.3% 24.8% 25.5% 2008-09 young full-time first degree entrants not in higher education in 2009-10 10.1% 5.6% young full-time first-degree entrants from state schools 85.7% 86.3% 83.6% young full-time first-degree entrants from low participation neighbourhoods 5.3% 8.5% 4.9% ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ actual performance HESAbenchmark for Queen ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ location- adjusted benchmark for Queen ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ full-time first-degree entrants from National Statistics Socio– Economic Classification groups (NS-SEC) 4-7 36.6% 29.3% 30.3% 2007-08 young full-time first-degree entrants not in higher education in 2008-09 9% 6.2% 3.2 Estimate of expenditure on additional access and retention measures 3.2.1 The increase in the level of tuition fees charged for all courses from September 2012 is substantial, and we do not underestimate the potential impact on recruiting students from under-represented groups and on student retention. In 2012-13 we will therefore commit 30% of the additional fee income raised from tuition fees above £6,000 to support additional outreach and retention measures. Details of how this significant level of additional investment will be spent are set out in Table 3 of Annex B.

EXPENDITURE ON ADDITIONAL ACCESS MEASURES. The table below (Table 2) outlines the assumptions concerning the amount of fee income to be spent on access measures each year, for the first five years of this access agreement. The University understands that both fees and therefore expenditures contained within the agreement are subject to annual inflation at a rate determined nationally. However, for ease of comparison all figures are at 2006/07 prices, and assume that the current level of student recruitment continues. 2006/07 Year 1 £,000 2007/08 Year 2 £,000 2008/09 Year 3 £,000 2009/10 Year 4 £,000 2010/11 Year 5 £,000 Total fee income 5,850 11,700 18,450 18,900 18,900 Bursaries 1,245 2,508 3,612 3,612 3,612 Additional outreach work 640 640 640 640 640 Enhanced financial guidance and information and post-entry support 400 400 400 400 400 1 The impact of students taking a gap year in 2005/06 is factored into the first 3 years’ income 2 Expenditure on access measures represent a greater proportion of income in the early years, because a many of the access measures comprise outreach work so do not increase proportionately with fee-paying student numbers.

EXPENDITURE ON ADDITIONAL ACCESS MEASURES. 3.1 The University College notes that it has been successful in attracting and retaining students from under-represented groups over the last five years. It is a specialist, selecting institution, and its catchment area comprises regions where the proportion of non-traditional learners is lower than the national average (primarily, the south- west and south-east). 3.2 According to our monitoring return in 2011, 40.3% of AUCB students are from groups which are historically under-represented in higher education. We perform well against challenging benchmarks, especially in relation to overall student retention, and the enrolment of students in receipt of the Disabled Students’ Allowance; internal monitoring confirms the success of this work. We aim to maintain our current strong performance, and to secure improvements in those areas where achievement has been less strong. 3.3 The Arts University College notes that it is difficult to determine the proportion of additional income which is dedicated to new system access measures whilst both systems are progressing through higher education, and consequently is focused in particular on the expenditure in “steady state” (from 2015/16). By this time, we anticipate allocating an absolute minimum of 18% of additional fee income to additional access measures, although we anticipate that annual expenditure will be significantly higher than this.

EXPENDITURE ON ADDITIONAL ACCESS MEASURES. The College has a long standing and well-evidenced commitment to widening participation and fair access. For example, over 60% [extrapolated data from sample return size to reflect total cohort size] of our HE students enter through ‘non traditional’ routes. We intend both to sustain our performance of widening participation, especially for career changing individuals moving from established but now unsuitable jobs, to more challenging and rewarding jobs in the rural environment and economy (food production, leisure and tourism, countryside management). To this end, we propose to allocate 55% of our additional fee income above £6,000 on measures to support access and retention, especially access for those on very low wages, typical of rural industries. This amounts to an estimated annual total of £45,275 in 2012-2013 and together with the estimated (anticipated). This comprises: = £24,000

EXPENDITURE ON ADDITIONAL ACCESS MEASURES. The London Studio Centre’s assessment of its performance against HESA benchmarks made for the accepted participation is that it performs above average in most areas; we therefore aim to spend approximately 27% of the additional fee income above £6,000; with 20% specifically allocated to financial support for students. Due to the Government raising the level of tuition fees for University students in 2012, the London Studio Centre is changing its current scholarship and bursaries for students in order to support those students from the lowest income backgrounds with the increased fee.

EXPENDITURE ON ADDITIONAL ACCESS MEASURES. As the introduction to this Access Agreement makes clear, London South Bank University is already highly successful in the field of widening access to, and participation within, higher education. Current HESA performance indicators on access and participation show that the University performs well in those measures which focus both upon the participation of under-represented groups within higher education and on the continuation measures used by HESA. We exceed benchmarks in all widening participation measure and meet or exceed them in most continuation measures. Areas of our student population that would benefit from increased, targeted resource, are: Students within NS-SEC classifications 4 to 7 who apply to courses at a lower level than first degree. Mature students from low-participation neighbourhoods. To enhance access for these groups, we have decided to continue to work with partner colleges at a lower overall fee level than that which we would charge for the courses delivered on campus. We will also continue to support student entry through Access Courses (we are currently the 6th highest recruiter of Access students in the UK) and target our outreach work with local partner colleges so as to encourage participation from mature students. Our success rates on continuation measures have improved, year on year, since 2007, and nearly 90% of full-time undergraduate students continue in higher education after first enrolling. We recognize, from internal analysis, that our students face challenges in progressing smoothly between the levels of their course, and will, from time to time, reduce their level of study to accommodate re-takes or repeat years by part-time study. Internal evidence would reflect that this is a product of students working (sometimes nearly full-time) alongside their studies and we feel that the widening of loan support to part-time students will have significant impact upon this behavior, with greater numbers of students electing a part-time route from the start of their course.

EXPENDITURE ON ADDITIONAL ACCESS MEASURES. Given the widening participation objectives noted above, the College intends to spend 20% of additional fee income above £6,000 on access measures. This will equate to £25,625 in 2012-13. In line with OFFA guidance, we will target bursaries for students in support of the objectives and milestones identified in this agreement.

EXPENDITURE ON ADDITIONAL ACCESS MEASURES. The College invests in significant access initiatives as identified in the sections on outreach and retention below. Internal data on recruitment from priority groups suggests indicative performance against widening participation bench marks has been good and the College is committed to undertaking further analysis in this area. The College recognises there could be threats to participation under new funding arrangements for 2012 and will continue to invest in outreach measures to ensure that potential applicants are fully informed of the higher education opportunities available to them. The College has no direct National Scholarship Programme (NSP) numbers allocated for 2012-13. However, 12 NSP’s at £3000 have been allocated via UCLAN indirect contract. These will be match funded with a further 12 at £3000 by the College. Myerscough will provide support for those students as detailed under the UCLAN Access Agreement. Students will be able to select how they would like the funds to be allocated through discounted accommodation or other similar institutional service, and/or a financial bursary. From 2013-14 the College will have NSP numbers on a direct contract and the College will continue to provide the above match funding and support mechanisms for those students. Bursaries based on the National Scholarship Programme will be targeted at new students from low income households with a declared income of less than £25,000. Full details of eligibility and support arrangements will be published for potential applicants. As the College has no National Scholarship Programme allocation for 2012-13 we will extend the above financial support to all eligible students up to an overall allocation of £22,500. The additional bursaries will be targeted at, and made available to all students from households with less than £25,000 income. Additional bursaries will be in the form of means tested payments in kind up to a value of £1000 per student dependent upon level of household income, to ensure students with the greatest need receive the maximum award. Students will be able to select how they would like the funds to be made available through contribution towards accommodation, course equipment, food and travel. This amounts to an allocation of an estimated £22,500 based on the current 15% of students who are from ▇▇▇▇ uplift areas (see table above). This scheme is initially for students in year one, but will be reviewed annually dependent upon the level of National Scho...