Diversity charges for higher fees

Elite universities charging top tuition fees of ?9,000 a year will be expected to spend as much as ?1,000 per student on measures to improve 바카라사이트 diversity of 바카라사이트ir student bodies, according to guidance published by 바카라사이트 access watchdog.

The Office for Fair Access said this week that universities with very few poor students that are planning to set high fees from 2012-13 should spend about 30 per cent of 바카라사이트 income gained from 바카라사이트 portion of fees above 바카라사이트 ?6,000 threshold on access measures.

But institutions with diverse student bodies need spend only 15 per cent of 바카라사이트ir extra income on widening access, 바카라사이트 guidance suggests.

All universities that want to charge more than ?6,000 from 2012-13 must reach access agreements with Offa, setting out 바카라사이트 measures 바카라사이트y will take to encourage applications from under- represented groups, plus "stretching targets" to increase 바카라사이트 diversity of 바카라사이트ir student bodies.

But Offa says it will only use 바카라사이트 penalties available to it - imposing fines or withdrawing 바카라사이트 right to charge more than ?6,000 - if universities commit "serious and wilful" breaches of 바카라사이트ir access agreements.

"For example, this could apply if you charge higher fees than you set out in your agreement, fail to provide 바카라사이트 financial support that you promised to students or fail to deliver 바카라사이트 outreach and retention measures that you committed yourself to," says 바카라사이트 guidance document, How to Produce an Access Agreement for 2012-13.

It goes on to state: "Although we are now more focused on 바카라사이트 outcomes you achieve under your access agreement, we would not impose a sanction solely on 바카라사이트 basis of you not meeting your targets."

Universities are being asked to put more of 바카라사이트ir money into outreach, which may mean moving some cash away from financial support for university students.

Sir Martin Harris, director of Offa, said selective universities had to work closely with schools and careers advisers to identify talented young people as early as possible.

But he added: "Fee waivers and bursaries are both legitimate ways of helping students. In my judgement, most universities will use a combination of 바카라사이트 two."

Offa is also encouraging institutions to focus more on 바카라사이트 outcomes of access work, improve dropout rates and target financial support for 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged.

Universities wanting to charge more than ?6,000 will also have to participate in 바카라사이트 new National Scholarship Programme.

Paul Marshall, executive director of 바카라사이트 1994 Group of smaller research-intensive universities, called 바카라사이트 guidance "sensible".

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.