Massey moves to cut student enrolments

Massey University is cutting second semester enrolments short and restricting summer school entry, potentially denying more than 1500 applicants.

Faced with high enrolments and restricted Government funding, the university has brought forward its enrolment deadline by two weeks to June 15.

Current and postgraduate students will not be affected.

Vice-chancellor Steve Maharey said the university was approaching its 16,500 limit for Government-funded students.

An extra 1500 applications were anticipated as a result of other universities, including Victoria and Otago, closing second semester enrolments early.

More than 1500 students were locked out of Victoria when enrolments were abruptly closed two weeks ago.

Massey's move comes just 10 days after Mr Maharey reassured students the university would not follow Victoria University's lead.

However, high enrolments have left the university no choice but to bring the deadline forward.

"We have come under considerable pressure from growing numbers of students wanting to enrol, particularly in sciences and particularly on the Albany campus," Mr Maharey said.

Maori, Pasifika and distance-learning enrolments are also squeezing enrolment spaces.

"The implications of the environment in which we are operating are that there are unlikely to be places for all those who wish to enrol and that we will also have to limit the scope of our offerings in semester three [summer school]."

The university will introduce "preferential" entry next year, where students will be accepted based on NCEA grades, Mr Maharey said.

Students without school qualifications may still gain entry through a range of criteria including their background and likelihood of success.

The move comes as no surprise to Extramural Students' Society president Ralph Springett.

The Massey University Council, which he is a member of, had discussed the significant risk of enrolments getting out of hand and allowed the vice-chancellor to take necessary measures to solve the problem.

"I'm disappointed the Government doesn't recognise this as an issue and see potential for economic growth through university [study]."

Union of Students' Associations president David Do said he was disappointed by Massey University's decision, but agreed it was a symptom of underfunding.

Students most in need – Pasifika, Maori and workers looking to upskill – are the ones who will miss out, he said. "Where do these people who don't get into university go to? There's no tracking of them."

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce agreed space was tight at universities and some people will be forced to wait until next year to enrol.

But he predicts the "unusually" high demand for university places will level off next year.

Lower unemployment, an extra 1700 Government-funded university places and greater restrictions on interest-free loan entitlements could lessen the pressure on tertiary institutes in 2011, he said.

"When we have limited places it's important we have places for people keen to progress," he said.

But Labour fears the future consequence of restricted tertiary entry. Labour Tertiary Education spokeswoman Maryan Street said Massey University's move is a reflection of the Government's lack of investment in tertiary education. "This makes no sense when we need more and better skilled people going through education."

- © Fairfax NZ News