[Unistats] Past Course Completions, Student Attrition and the Learning & TeachingPerformance Fund

[Nick Booth]

At 03:00 PM 22/12/2005, you wrote:

>We have an issue regarding reference dates for recording 
>completions, particularly in view of the use of the data in the 
>Learning & Teaching Performance Fund allocation model.  I am 
>especially interested to know:
>    * what reference dates (ie. date at which a completion is 
> recorded) that different student systems use for the DEST Past 
> Course Completions (PCC) file; and
>    * whether or not others are able to change the reference dates 
> to pick up all completers.
>As you now the 'student attrition inversion/retention' measure in 
>the Learning & Teaching Performance Fund allocation model uses the 
>enrolment and completions data files from the student stats 
>submissions to DEST. Under the new reporting regime, the reference 
>year for the PCC file is the calendar year. The PCC file 
>specifications state that:   "data are to be provided about each 
><about:blank>student who completed the academic requirements of an 
><about:blank>award course in the year prior to the 
><about:blank>collection year."
>
>Many Universities cannot process their completions in time to get 
>onto the PCC file, as exam results are released in late December 
>giving two working days before Christmas to change the status of 
>completing students on the student system - this process includes 
>checking that students have satisfied all requirements of their 
>degree, paid any oustanding fines etc etc.
>
>We believe that many universities may be locked into the calendar 
>year as per file specs (as Student 1 universities are) and may be 
>disadvantaged in LTPF calculations by 'missing' a significant number 
>of completing students who are changed to completed on the student 
>system after the 31st December cut-off date of the reference year up 
>to PCC submission deadline at end of April in the following 
>year.  Now that the collection year is a calendar year, Student 1 
>has (we think correctly) interpreted this to mean that the PCC 
>should refer to the calendar year prior to the collection year. 
>Other vendors may have interpreted the scope differently.
>
>Student 1 does not give universities any capacity to change the 
>reference dates of the file, so it would seem that Student 1 
>universities (UTS, Macquarie, Southern Cross, Curtin, Flinders and 
>James Cook) will be disadvantaged in the LTPF.  If DEST changes the 
>specifications for the PCC file then student systems can be changed 
>accordingly, however it is a different matter to persuade student 
>systems suppliers to change their interpretation based on the 
>current file specs.
>
>Interestingly DEST say that we can really include the 'missed' 
>completers between end December and 30 April submission date but 
>this goes against the specification!     I hope we can find a 
>resolution to this one.


This is similar to the definition we have had for years, as I recall.

The definition says "students who completed ... in the year prior to 
the collection year". It does not say "students whose completion was 
entered into student records in the prior year".

If I understand you correctly, then Student 1 has misinterpreted the 
definition. It is the year when the student was last enrolled that is 
relevant, not the year when completion status was entered into the 
student records system. Students who have just finished an award 
course have "completed the academic requirements" in 2005, regardless 
of when the completion status is entered.

The Student 1 universities should gang up on their supplier.

Regard to all


Nick Booth
34A Third Avenue, EPPING  2121
02 9868 2197

Always proofread. You might have something out.