To Mandi's comments, I would also add the identifiability of foreign
students, many of whom can quite legitimately use their names in
different arrangements. For such people, it is useful to be able to
search our system by date of birth before trying to match up other
details.
Mark Holt
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Mandi Barron
Sent: 11 August 2005 12:04
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [data-protection] UOW SUSPECT: RE: data protection and
dates of birth in the US.
Well, I think we may have to agree to disagree on this.
The point about needing to know date of birth for certificates is so
that the University issues the (replacement) certificate to the right
person. Although it doesn't appear on the certificate itself HEIs need
to be sure they are given them to the right people. And year of
matriculation is important but we have had certain instances where we
have had students on the same programme with the same name. Perhaps
asking only for day and month may help but as we admit students at all
ages, it is feasible that we have students with the same birthdates but
several years apart.
And I don't believe we are discriminating. As I deal with our student
appeals and complaints, and have had a recent one where a student says
they should never have been admitted in the first place as they couldn't
cope with the demands of the programme, I believe that it is important
to know what additional support an applicant will require if any. It is
up to them whether or not they choose to accept it of course.
And many programmes interview all applicants. It is fairly obvious at
interview who is a school leaver and who isn't
As I said there are many factors involved in student admissions. It is
not as clear cut as it may seem on the surface.
Regards Mandi
Mandi Barron
Assistant Registrar (Regulation) and Information Officer
Bournemouth University, Registry
HR108, Heron House, 10 Christchurch Road
Bournemouth, BH1 3NA
tel: +44 (0) 1202 964783 fax: +44 (0) 1202 963869
email: [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Roland Perry
Sent: Thursday, August 11, 2005 11:53 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [data-protection] UOW SUSPECT: RE: data protection and
dates of birth in the US.
In message
<[log in to unmask]>, at
11:24:55 on Thu, 11 Aug 2005, Mandi Barron <[log in to unmask]>
writes
>I consider education certificates to be such a vital piece of
>documentation (well I would wouldn't I!) so we need to be sure when we
>issue these that they are issued to the correct person.
Indeed, but mine have no DoB on them, so unless you were thinking of
contacting my University, knowing my DoB isn't going to help (and they
would probably want my matriculation year rather than DoB).
>After all certificates are used as the basis of verifying identity
That's the first time I've heard anyone suggest that.
>and also of
>obtaining positions of trust. Having said that, this information could
>be collected at enrolment and not on application.
>
>More fundamentally, we are expected to base decisions to admit students
>on a variety of factors and not just qualifications held and we have a
>duty of care not to set student up to fail.
>
>Whilst date of birth is no indicator of potential, it may indicate some
>issues that may need to be explored before offering a place. Issues
such
>as length of time since last studied may have some bearing upon a
>person's ability to cope with a particular level of study - e.g.
>refresher in study skills or IT update may be required.
Ah, so you *are* discriminating on age. Glad we got that sorted!
>There is also an expectation in these days of inclusion that we should
>be recruiting from all backgrounds (age, ethnicity, gender etc) and we
>are required to formally report on this. If, for example, we have no
>students over the age of 35, is this because our marketing does not
>appeal to this group, or are we discriminating at interview or
somewhere
>lese in the process? Ironically by not knowing applicants details from
>the earliest stage, we cannot address any discrimination (intended or
>otherwise) that is present.
I know that is a commonly held position, but as others have suggested,
this information should be collected and processed (anonymously)
entirely independently of the applications. All you need to know is that
"people over 50" appeared to be discriminated against, not their names.
--
Roland Perry
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