I brought up this issue at a NASMA Training Day and was assured by the LEA 
     representative that discretion was widely used in accepting 
     applications after the 4 month deadline (4 months from the start of 
     the course by the way not from the start of the academic year).  I 
     think that the discretion was mainly used for EU applicants who 
     belatedly realised that they could apply for tuition fee assistance.  
     I urged all potential new students via Open Days and talks at schools 
     to submit an application to the LEA regardless of current income.  
     What if, in a subsequent year, there was a dramatic change in 
     parental income or there was irreconcilable breakdown between student 
     and parent, would the LEA reject an application as "out-of-time"?
     
     I feel that it is most unfair to push students into debt before they 
     really need the Student Loan.
     
     Sybil Green
     Senior Adviser
     Dean of Students Office
     Cardiff University
     [log in to unmask]     
     
> From:	OMEGA::SMTP%"[log in to unmask]"    17-FEB-1999 10:03
> To:	[log in to unmask]
> CC:	
> Subj:	Re: Deadline for Applications for Support
> 
> I have been banging on to the DfEE about this one for ages,=20
> particularly with respect to current first years.  LEAs do have=20
> discretion to accept late applications and I was assured yet again on=20
> Friday that they are being encouraged to use their discretion this=20
> year.  All well and good in theory; I just hope it holds out in=20
> practice.
> 
> I think the majority of current first years will be told about the=20
> change in procedures for student loans.  LEAs are contacting all=20
> those on their books and the SLC are contacting all those who have=20
> taken out a loan this year.  That leaves the small group who have not=20
> applied for any assistance at all this year and have not taken our=20
> advice about at least establishing eligibility with their LEA.  I=20
> certainly think institutions have a role to play in conveying the=20
> information to this group and here in Liverpool we are currently=20
> looking at the best way to do this.
> 
> As for students new to the system in 1999/2000 I don't think the new=20
> arrangements mean that they must apply for a loan within four months=20
> but that they should have applied to go through the LEA=20
> part of the process i.e. establishing eligibility (and being=20
> means-tested if they want to) within that time period.  Again, LEAs=20
> will have discretion as to whether to accept applications after that.=20
> As far as institutions are concerned I think we should be encouraging=20
> all relevant students to be establishing their eligibility with LEAs.=20
> We currently do so on the grounds that, although they may not need=20
> the financial help now, their circumstances or those of their family=20
> may change in the future. =20
> 
> Interestingly, one of the people from the DfEE said on Friday that we=20
> could threaten such students that, if they don't establish=20
> eligibility with their LEA, we might charge them full fees rather=20
> than =A31025.  I don't think it's as simple as that - students who are=20
> ELIGIBLE IN PRINCIPLE will still be entitled to the protection of=20
> having their fees limited to =A31025 under a condition of grant (you=20
> may have seen the latest draft regulations on which the DfEE are=20
> currently consulting).  Or have I missed something?
> 
> Pam
> 
> 
> On Wed, 17 Feb 1999 10:14:20 +0000 Eleanor Martin=20
> <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 
> > I have been following this correspondence with interest and have read=20
> > the just received DfEE booklet Financial Support for Students in=20
> > 1999/2000 to see how much light it shed on the subject.
> >=20
> > The position seems clear enough for those starting in September 1999:=20
> > they must apply within four months of the start of their course, this=20
> > being a hangover from the Mandatory Awards Regulations.  However, =20
> > the deadline might come as a shock to someone who did not intend to=20
> > apply to his/her LEA for support for fees (on the grounds that he=20
> > wouldn't get it) and who decided part-way through the academic year=20
> > to apply for a loan.  However much we try to publicize the importance=20
> > of applying early, there will always be some who don't understand the=20
> > message.  So I would guess LEAs will be in receipt of a lot of late=20
> > applications...
> >=20
> > The position with regard to 1998 starters is less clear.  Those who=20
> > applied last year to their LEA will probably be ok, since their LEAs=20
> > will write to them. But what of those who did not apply for support=20
> > last year, and who, by definition, cannot meet the four-month=20
> > deadline?  Or is the four months to be interpreted as being within=20
> > four months of the start of the academic year?  Or will these=20
> > students be protected under the new Regulations?
> >=20
> > Any enlightenment welcome!
> >=20
> > Eleanor Martin
> > =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D
> > Eleanor Martin, Assistant Registrar, Academic Division,
> > UEA.
> > Tel. 01603 592205
> 
> ----------------------
> Pamela Bell-Ashe
> University of Liverpool
> 
> Chair
> Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education
> 
> Tel:  0151 794 2243
> Fax:  0151 794 2249
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> 
> 


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