Policy Manual June 2015


AAQA 2 ALTERNATIVE ADMISSIONS



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14 AAQA 2 ALTERNATIVE ADMISSIONS


Congress regrets:

The almost exclusive focus of the current third-level admissions route on prior academic attainment.



Congress believes:

That taking into consideration contextual data can ensure that an individual’s true potential for performance in higher education is considered.



Congress also believes:

That such consideration would broaden the socio-economic demographic of the third-level student body; the current admissions system disproportionately advantages applicants from fee-paying secondary schools.



Congress notes with approval:

That an Irish Universities Association (IUA) alternative admissions route is being piloted in Trinity College Dublin. The alternative route shall offer 7530 students in total a place in a competitive Level 8 degree programme in September 2014 on the basis of Leaving Certificate results, performance relative to classmates, and a personal statement.



Congress mandates:

That the USI shall support initiatives to create an alternative common admissions route for all publicly-funded third-level institutions where contextual data, including but not limited to socio-

economic background, is considered in addition to prior academic attainment.

Congress also mandates:

The President to lobby for state investment in retention activities to prevent disproportionate drop out levels of those from non-traditional backgrounds.



Congress further mandates:

The President and the VP Academic Affairs & Quality Assurance to lobby for improved information, advice and guidance and careers information at all levels of education.


14 AAQA 3 CONSULTATION ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE STUDENT CONTRIBUTION CHARGE


Congress notes:

That in November 2011 USI agreed with the Higher Education Authority that HEIs were obliged towards ‘meaningful consultation’ with students on the expenditure of the student contribution charge.



Congress regrets:

That meaningful consultation does not occur in many institutions; most HEIs consult ineffectively and insincerely in forums where students have legally-mandated representation but are not the only representatives present.



Congress therefore mandates:

The President to work with the HEA to define best practice for ‘meaningful consultation’ in the context of the distribution of the student contribution charge, and to lobby the HEA to ensure the application of this established best practice.


14 AAQA 5 ACADEMIC TEACHING STAFF ANNUAL LEAVE


Congress recognises:

The current academic teaching staff annual leave agreement has significant repercussions for the examination process.



Congress further recognises:

This agreement has led, in several institutions, Christmas examinations being scheduled for after the festive period and similarly delays the examination results and appeals process.



Congress believes:

This delay affects the academic quality of submitted coursework with students having to divide time between their studies and traveling home to their respective families during this time.



Congress further believes:

The adjustment of bringing forward the start of the academic calendar by one week will alleviate the pressures on the examination correction period and the processing of appeals.



Congress therefore mandates:

The Vice President for Academic Affairs & Quality Assurance and the President to negotiate with the relevant bodies to adjust the academic teaching staffs working calendar by March 2015.


14 AAQA 6 THE ROLE OF THE STUDENT IN THE GOVERNANCE OF IRISH HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTES


Congress notes:

That a review of how Third Level places of study are governed is imminent.



Congress notes with concern:

Widespread evidence of Irish Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) becoming increasingly undemocratic in their approaches to decision making, and the negative and potentially destructive impact that this could have on the student democracy and the voice of the student overall.



Congress affirms:

That students are the key stakeholder in any college’s community and that this should be reflected in governance structures.



Congress mandates:

The President to arrange for a USI white paper on Irish HEIs as Democratic Institutions for presentation at the June National Council, in order to form part of a lobby of relevant bodies and policies.



Congress also mandates:

That the Vice President for Campaigns and all Regional VPs assist in dissemination of this information to the grassroots as part of the campaign.


14 AAQA 7 STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES QUALITY ASSURANCE POOL


Congress commends:

The work completed to date on mandate 12/AA 2 which calls for the establishment of an agency for student training in Quality Assurance.



Congress recognises:

The importance of student participation in Quality Assurance review procedures including modular, programmatic, departmental and institutional reviews.



Congress notes with concern:

The many reviews which go ahead without meaningful student participation as many review organisers experience difficulty finding students to sit on reviews and the lack of consistency in training or briefing students.



Congress therefore mandates:

The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Quality Assurance to establish a pool of students who will be notified when reviews are seeking students. The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Quality Assurance will be responsible for updating the pool membership on an annual basis. The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Quality Assurance will arrange training or briefing events for the Quality Assurance Pool members.




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