Massey to start out soft on student cuts policy

Students returning to Massey University after a summer break will need to knuckle down if they want their degrees, but they may have it easier than other universities.

Massey University vice-chancellor Steve Maharey said "substantially" more students will be dropped this year in a move to restrict student numbers.

However, Massey University will "proceed with caution" and has not set minimum grade requirements like some other universities.

Mr Maharey said Massey wanted to take a fair approach to exclusions and would be flexible towards students who had valid reasons for failing, such as illness or bereavement.

Mature students, new entrants and students taking extra time to complete their degrees will be most affected by the policy change, he said.

Measures to restrict numbers have been used in the past where bad grades and inability to pay fees could result in expulsion. These policies would be applied with "more rigour" this year with plans to become totally capped by 2011, Mr Maharey said.

"In a capped funding environment, it is important to ensure students who are highly-motivated and likely to succeed are given a chance to study."

The policy change was a response to the Government's new strategy to cap funding based on student numbers.

"Universities are required to maintain quality and if the Government will not increase funding then numbers have to be limited," Mr Maharey said.

The Ministry of Education released the strategy in December, aiming to simplify the tertiary education sector with a stronger emphasis on value for money and performance.

Tertiary Education Minister Anne Tolley said the strategy linked funding more closely to performance.

Massey University Students' Association vice-president Cassie Rowe said she would rather see struggling students supported than cut.

"However, we do understand that, sadly, managed entry is a reality of the current funding crisis tertiary education is facing."

UCOL dean of humanities and business and deputy chief executive of strategy Clive Jones said restricting students because of their grades was "like an ambulance at the bottom of a cliff."

UCOL's enrolment policies have not been affected.

He said UCOL worked hard to ensure students passed.

"If we get the student in the right course at the right level they're more likely to achieve."

UCOL did restrict classes where there were significant costs to extra students. It limited cookery students due to kitchen constraints, but was more flexible on business studies students.

He said he was uncertain whether UCOL would pick up students expelled from other universities. "[But] if any students are turned away they could well look at other student options."

- © Fairfax NZ News