Access at the University of Glasgow Alec MacKinnon Kevin Francis Centre for Open Studies

“A University Introduction to Study for Mature Students” University of Glasgow: “Extra-mural”/Department of Adult and Continuing Education from 1951 Access for “mature students” from 1979 “…based on conviction that there are many adults potentially able to benefit from higher education who have not had the opportunity” Aimed at providing a supportive preparation for HE for those returning to education –maybe after many years and with only bad memories and no qualifications

“A University Introduction to Study for Mature Students” GU “Extra-mural”/Department of Adult and Continuing Education from 1951 Access for “mature students” from 1979 (Scottish Wider Access Programme from 1985; primarily FE sector) Initially to Arts and Social Sciences Became acceptable for Law during 1980s; Law option added early Science and Engineering from 1992 Accountancy, Social Work, Nursing in 2000s

Features Part-time –Juggle with work, family –‘toe in the water’ before burning bridges Focus on University subjects –Students choose two from a list of (now) 20 –Transferable skills acquired via in-depth study –Introduction to character of teaching and learning in an ancient, research-led university 2010 study of J Ferrie et al. (report in preparation)

Preparation for university study: Attrition from degree programmes due to (Yorke, 1999): –Flawed decision-making in entering the programme –Students’ experience of the programme and institution generally –Failure to cope with academic demands –Events in students’ lives external to the institution

Preparation for university study: Attrition from degree programmes due to (Yorke, 1999): –Flawed decision-making in entering the programme –Students introduced to university study in their chosen subjects –Students’ experience of the programme and institution generally –Failure to cope with academic demands –Events in students’ lives external to the institution

Preparation for university study: Attrition from degree programmes due to (Yorke, 1999): –Flawed decision-making in entering the programme –Students introduced to university study in their chosen subjects –Students’ experience of the programme and institution generally –Students introduced to university style classes, assessment, library, campus, VLE (Unions, Mature Students’ Club, swimming pool……!) –Failure to cope with academic demands –Events in students’ lives external to the institution

Preparation for university study: Attrition from degree programmes due to (Yorke, 1999): –Flawed decision-making in entering the programme –Students introduced to university study in their chosen subjects –Students’ experience of the programme and institution generally –Students introduced to university style classes, assessment, library, campus, VLE….. –Failure to cope with academic demands –Access aims to provide an adequate academic preparation with bridges being burnt –Events in students’ lives external to the institution

Preparation for university study: Attrition from degree programmes due to (Yorke, 1999): –Flawed decision-making in entering the programme –Students introduced to university study in their chosen subjects –Students’ experience of the programme and institution generally –Students introduced to university style classes, assessment, library, campus, VLE….. –Failure to cope with academic demands –Access aims to provide an adequate academic preparation without bridges being burnt –Events in students’ lives external to the institution –…are of course more likely for adults…..

Socio-economic background (home postcode)

Total confirmed students: 252 students using ILA: 115 (personal income < £22k) Glasgow City bursary: 23 (unemployment benefit, etc.) Partial fee waiver: 24 (unemployment benefit, etc.) Route of EntryOne or more parents in higher education DACE Access (N=161)35.4% Traditional (N=182)72.0% Other Access (N=129)34.1%

Outcomes Over , average 46% completion rate… –…but definition of “enrolled”? –65 – 75% of “fully committed” students complete Nearly all who continue after Xmas complete and gain adequate grades for progression to University DACE AccessTraditionalOther Access Mean GPA Median GPA Std. Dev

Outcomes once in GU DACE AccessTraditionalOther Access Mean GPA Median GPA Std. Dev

Current issues Level of demand Changing situation for Admissions International(!) demand Recruitment from disadvantaged groups

Conclusions GU Access Programmes provide a preparation and way into HE for a wide range of people Remains valuable and popular Emphasis today on statistics; huge range of human stories