Dennis & co
I understand why UCAS may want to avoid the HESA issue, but it is
still an example of non-joined-up thinking, with applicants/students not
being given the service/information they are entitled to. The fact is that
virtually all of the data that UCAS pass to HEIs is either passed directly
on to HESA or forms the basis of processing for some HESA column or
other. Neither the student nor the HEI has any choice about this; there
is no opt-out. So wouldn't it be SENSIBLE (even if it isn't legalistically
absolutely necessary) for a statement to this effect to go in what UCAS
say at the outset. Otherwise it puts HEIs in the position of (a) everyone
reinventing the same wheel, in terms of joining information - not a big
deal, admittedly - except there will be loopholes at institutions less
clued-up about this; and (b) having to explain to the student that they
are now committed and have no choice about having their data passed
to HESA, although they weren't told this when they supplied the data to
UCAS.
Surely we can do better than this!
Owen
On Wed, 5 Apr 2000 12:37:46 +0100 Dennis Barrington-Light wrote:
> From: Dennis Barrington-Light <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 12:37:46 +0100
> Subject: Re: UCAS Advice
> To: Adrian Tribe <[log in to unmask]>
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
> Nothing is said in the circular about HESA. My view is that, unless
UCAS are
> going to pass data directly to HESA without going via the HEI, then it
is up
> to the HEI to inform the student about passing data to HESA. After all
we
> will have to tell students what we are doing when they register so we
might as
> well include it then.
>
> Dennis Barrington-Light
> Head of Student Records and Statistics
> University of Cambridge, 10 Peas Hill, Cambridge CB2 3PN
> Tel: 01223-332303 (Direct line) Fax: 01223-331200
> Email: [log in to unmask] or [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>
> Adrian Tribe <[log in to unmask]> on 05/04/2000 12:20:58
>
> Please respond to Adrian Tribe <[log in to unmask]>
>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> cc: (bcc: Dennis Barrington-Light/REG/Central-Admin)
>
> Subject: Re: UCAS Advice
>
>
>
>
> Does the note from UCAS say anything about the data having to be
passed
> on to HESA? At the first two JISC workshops this issue was
discussed
> and it was felt that on UCAS's blurb to applicants this should be made
> clear. It would appear from your first paragraph below that this isn't
> the case. Is that right?
>
> Best wishes,
> Adrian
>
> At 12:10 05/04/00 +0100, you wrote:
>
> >Today I received a copy of a briefing note from UCAS re the DPA.
The notes
> >about applicants' consent generally make sense, but there are two
points of
> >particular interest/concern.
> >
> >1 UCAS point out that they currently advise potential students
that
> >data
> >given will be used only (i) by relevant HE staff for considering
applications
> >and (ii) to enable HEIs to set up initial records. UCAS then (in this
> >circular) advise that "it of course follows that to use it for any other
> >purpose would be in contravention [of DPA]".
> <snip>
>
> Adrian Tribe <[log in to unmask]>
> Web Editor, Birkbeck College, University of London
>
>
>
>
>
>
_____
Owen Richards
Academic Registrar
University of Sussex
Tel: 01273 877019
Email: [log in to unmask]
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