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

[David De Bellis]

We are one of the Student1 sites. I agree with Nick. We have worked around 
it for years with some nifty (but time-consuming) backdating within the 
system. We have discussed this with DEST previously and have their blessing 
on such an approach.

Merry Xmas All
David

At 03:32 PM 22/12/2005 +1100, Nick Booth wrote:
>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.
>
>
>
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David De Bellis
Head, Planning Services Unit
Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
PH: +61 8 8201 2922
Email: david.debellis at flinders.edu.au
Flinders University Planning Services Unit Web Site: 
http://www.flinders.edu.au/unistats