Hello Margaret, welcome to dis-forum.

I do not have an answer to your first question, but will forward your query to
our Student Finance team who may be able to help.

As far as equipment is concerned, our Access Fund Committee has previously said
they can not fund items of equipment for individuals, but would consider
funding equipment that would become the property of the institution, so
available to future students who need it. I think institutions have a fair
amount of discretion to set their own criteria and guidelines.

Clare Davies
>Hello all list members I am new to this list and I am the Student
>Revenue Officer who is responsible for the administration of the
>Access Funds for this University.

>Recently I have been looking at the Access Funds for Academic Year
>1998/99 particularly with regard to part-time students. Two issues
>have come to light and I am wondering if anyone else has looked at or
>resolved these issues

>1. What constitutes a part-time students. There seems to be some
>idea that a part-time student is defined as students working to a
>minumm of 40 credit points. Many of our students are at present
>taking 3 - one semester units which would total 36 points and would
>make them ineligible whilst others would be on 4 single semester
>units and would total 48 points?

>2.Under ther terms and conditions of payment of grants for the
>purpose Access Funds Para 5 says
>" Any grant for Access Funds will be paid by the Secretary of State
>pursuant to section 7 of the Act is to be used by the Council to pay
>grant to institutions within the Higher education sector so that they
>may provide financial help to those whose access to further or higher
>education might be inhibited by financial considerations or who, for
>whatever reason, including physical or other disabilites, face
>financial difficulties. It may not be used to assist in meeting the
>private tuition fee".

>Does this mean that part-time students could put in claims to the
>Access Fund for Computer equipment and personal support in the same
>way that a full-time student would claim the DSA to cover such costs.

>If this is so the Access Funds will not go very far!

>We have recently been receiving claims for Post-Grad. students for
>expensive pieces of equipment however, for this gourp of students we
>have purchased equipment which we loan out on either or short-term or
>longer term basis. Does anyone have any comments or useful advice or
>money to give us!


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