As we know HESA require HEIs to provide a stat' return of
students currently in receipt of DSA. This University's
interpretation of this was to only count a student if they
have actually received DSA in this particular academic
year. Students still with us who obtained a PC two years
ago (for example) and have not received anything since have
been not counted.
However, talking to colleagues in other institutions
recently indicated that many were counting all students who
ever received DSA and were still enrolled. The logic being
that the student was still enjoying the benefit that the
DSA provided. I informed our Systems Office of this
apparent confusion who took up the matter with HESA. It
seems that our interpretation is the correct one. HESA
intend to send clarification to HEIs.
Mind you, a student may have had a computer system two
years ago but if they got payment for a printer cartridge
from the DSA general allowance this year one would imagine
they count as a valid stat. But students don't tell us
about such things, so how would we know? If all who could
get such comsumables did so it would make a significant
difference to the numbers. Personally I don't think that
it would be appropriate to count these, but I could be
wrong.
Bryan Jones
Equal Opportunities Adviser
London Guildhall University
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