Managing Numbers for 2010 Entry

Managing Confirmation and planning Adjustment/Clearing

2 June 2010

Getting the right numbers – the literary context

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single institution in possession of additional student numbers, must be in want of a partner college.”Jane Austen

“Last night I dreamt of overshoots again.”Daphne du Maurier

"Annual target twenty students, annual intake twenty students, result happiness. Annual target twenty students, annual intake nineteen or twenty-one students, result misery." Charles Dickens

Timetable

SQA To Institutions – 30 July To applicants – 4/5 August

A Levels To Institutions – 14/15 August To applicants – 19 August

Within your institution Admissions group? Chaired by Pro-VC/Vice-Principal? Is it sitting now? Are all the right people on it? Is it getting the information it needs?

How do you select between those you might take?

Course…Educational Planning N224Target

From previous year

Those who have met the offer

Insurance from other institutions - those whom you expect to receive

Excess/ Shortfall

Those whom you might take

Clearing?

50 5 30 2 -13 53 N/A

What do you do to deal with the overshoot?

Course…Educational Planning N224Target From

previous year

Those who have met the offer

Insurance from other institutions - those whom you expect to receive

Excess/ Shortfall

Those whom you might take

Clearing?

50 5 60 7 +22

Making your selection

Consideration of an application still should: aim to select students who are able to complete the course,

judged by achievements and potential use assessment methods that are reliable and valid minimise barriers be justifiable be transparent

(The QAA Code Section 10 – still applies)

Managing the process - who should be involved

Senior Staff With the authority to give instructions to/reach agreement with

academic units

Planning and Finance Staff Who are clear about the implications for the institution of different

student numbers and

Departments/Faculties/Schools Who will actually have to teach the students

Managing the process - who should be involved

Admissions staff Who are aware of the processes and obligations

Technical staff Who can keep everything running

Support staff – in particular accommodation

Communication

Who needs to know the message inside the Institution?

Admissions team Academic staff Support staff in schools/ faculties/ departments Media or External Relations/ Marketing/ Student Recruitment Support staff – Accommodation/Security…. Telephone operators/ enquiry handlers MIS/IT staff and web page updaters

Communication

Who needs to know the message outside the institution?

Applicants Their families/ guardians/ carers Advisers, schools and colleges UCAS Other institutions Media

What if……

You undershoot There may be a general idea that this won’t happen this year – are

you and your marketing colleagues ready to take action if it does become necessary for you to actively recruit in Clearing/ Adjustment?

You overshoot You know you’re obliged to take all who have met or exceeded the

offer, including insurance but, even teaching the class twice, you just don’t have enough room or you’ll be fined too much money – what do you do?

Have your plans in place – think about it in advance.

Questions, comments – and examples of good practice - to:

enquiries@spa.ac.uk or 01242 544891www.spa.ac.uk