At Cardiff University, we have substantial Access Funds remaining.
I quote from the Terms and Conditions for Payment of Grants:
"Some students find that they need financial assistance late in the
academic year, perhaps because they have not been able to find
temporary employment for the long vacation. Institutions are
recommended to hold back some of their access funds, and keep in
place arrangements for consideering late applications."
The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales has decreed that the
end of the academic year is 31 JULY and any funds unspent at that
date (including interest) must be returned to them. HEFCE however
regard 31 AUGUST as the end of the academic year (which is eminently
rational as this coincides with academic year as defined in Mandatory
Awards and Student Support regulations). It hasn't been a particular
problem to us in the past as we have "spent out" usually by June but
this year, as we still have funds, we would really like to address
the difficulties experienced in the long vacation INCLUDING August.
Could I please ask my colleagues in Wales to let me know whether they
would support a combined approach to the Welsh Office to exercise some
latitude? Our initial approach some years ago led to the response
that "there is a Welsh Office memorandum which states that 31 July is
the end of the academic year" so they would not budge.
Please reply to me direct (e-mail and telephone below) rather than
bombard our English colleagues who do not have the same difficulty.
Many thanks
Sybil Green
Senior Adviser
Dean of Students Office
Cardiff University
01222-874179
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