Submission Pro Forma

							2005 Report on QUT Equity Scholarship Schemes

Summary In 2005, QUT gave a substantial amount of financial support to students from low-income backgrounds. A range of financial support measures were funded by QUT’s allocation of 15% of the increased HECS fees, by the Commonwealth Government, by the Learning Potential Fund (LPF), by contributions from faculties and divisions and by the Student Guild. Over $3m was awarded to 1224 students in the form of scholarships, bursaries and textbook bursaries, and almost 350 reconditioned computers were given away. In addition, 248 Commonwealth Learning Scholarship (CLS) recipients from 2004 were paid their next instalment.

Growth of low-income support measures Small bursaries for students, funded by the Equity Endowment Fund (now the Learning Potential Fund) have been in place since 1999. In 2003, QUT established a small-scale scholarship scheme for commencers, using funds from the ViceChancellor, Registrar and Head of Division (TILS). The first computer give-away scheme was established in 2003 involving reconditioned ex-QUT computers with free ISP connection being given to needy students. Commonwealth Learning Scholarships were introduced in 2004. The allocation of 15% of the increased HECS funds for support and outreach for low-income students has enabled the expansion of the program in 2005. QUT has established a pilot program of Access Scholarships for school-leavers from schools in low socio-economic areas, and has increased the number of Equity Scholarships and bursaries available. Coupled with existing arrangements and the CLS scheme, the increased funding has enabled a scholarship or bursary to be awarded to 78% of the 1566 students who applied this year.

Learning Potential Fund This year the LPF generated $115k of interest for student bursaries. The standard amount of $500 was varied somewhat in that some $250 bursaries were allocated as were some $1,000 bursaries. Along with supplementary funds from the University, 540 bursaries were awarded, about 430 of which were LPF-funded. Once again, an Alumni representative sat on the bursary panel. The growth of the LPF, along with higher interest rates, meant 2005 was the largest number of bursaries awarded to date.

Process Students applied for the all Equity Scholarships schemes via one application form, which was available online or at key points at each campus. Applications for Access Scholarships were made on a separate form which was available to Year 12 students at their school. In 2005 staggered closing dates and allocations enabled late commencers to be captured. In semester 2, further applications were accepted for bursaries only. In total, the QUT Equity Section received 1566 applications (including 302 for bursaries only in semester 2). The QUT Equity Section has developed a comprehensive means of assessing poverty which has be trialled and improved over a number of years. Applicants are awarded points for information provided in their application (both qualitative and quantitative) and sorted according to the total number of points. The focus is on financial need as established through income, expenditure and life circumstances data. A selection panel of QUT representatives considers the lists and establishes cut-off points for each scholarship type. The most valuable scholarships are awarded to eligible students with the highest number of points.

Equity Section November 2005

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The Commonwealth Learning Scholarships Guidelines mandate a formal appeals process for aggrieved nonrecipients. As in 2004, no requests for appeals were forthcoming in 2005. Outcomes In 2005, 836 students received a CLS, Equity Scholarship or Access Scholarship through this scheme. Bursaries were awarded to 708 students and textbooks bursaries were awarded to 52 students. In total 1224 students received financial support, amounting to over $3M being paid to recipients in 2005. In addition 248 CLS recipients from 2004 were also paid the next instalment of their four year scholarship. In addition to QUT’s 2005 CLS allocation, an additional 51 CLS were awarded in 2005 due to 2004 CLS recipients completing their degree, discontinuing or their financial situation had changed. The total number of scholarships allocated by type is shown in Table 1 below. In conjunction with these scholarships 344 reconditioned computers were given to students suffering financial hardship who did not already own a computer or have access to one. Fifty of these computers were dedicated to commencing Caboolture Campus students. Table 1: Total Number of Scholarships and bursaries paid in 2005 Actual 2004 recipients paid in 2005^

Scholarship Type

2005 allocation

Additional reallocated

Total no. paid

Total $

SEMESTER 1 - 2005 CAS ($2042 per semester for up to 4 yrs) CECS ($2042/up to 4 yrs) QUT Equity S’ship ($2000/1yr) Access ($3000/1yr) Student Guild Textbook bursary ($200) SEMESTER 2 - 2005 CAS ($2042 per semester for up to 4 yrs) Central bursaries ($1000 & $500) Central bursaries (bonus $250 to CECS-holders) Faculty bursaries ($500-$1000) Student Guild Textbook bursary ($200) 136 200 30 367 $749,414

112 -

270 250 20 22

21 41 4 -

403 291 24 22

$822,926 $582,000 $72,000 $4,400

120

223

-

343 301

$700,406

-

301

-

$172,000

112

239

-

351

$87,750

-

56

-

56

$33, 240

-

30 Total paid in 2005

-

30

$6,000 $3,142,386

^ Excludes completions, discontinued, lapsed and intermittent enrolments Equity Section November 2005

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Table 2: Number of student recipients by type of benefit as at end 2005 Type of benefit CAS CECS QUT Equity Scholarship Central Bursary Faculty Bursary QUT Textbook Bursary Free Computer Number of students 343 351 291 652 56 52 344

As always, the need for scholarships was greater than the amount available. However, due to the number of scholarships and bursaries offered, a smaller proportion of students than ever before missed out on receiving some financial or computer support. Figure 1 shows the growing percentage of successful applicants in these schemes since 2003.
Figure 1: Proportion of successful applicants for Equity Scholarship Schemes 2003-2005
80

Percentage of applications

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 2003 2004 Year 2005

CAS

CECS

Equity Scholarships

Equity Bursaries

Computers

Applicant Pool Analysis The proportion of successful applicants roughly matches the proportion of applicants when disaggregated by Faculty. The highest proportions of CAS recipients were students from interfaculty courses (26%), followed by the Faculty of Health (18%) and Creative Industries (14%). The highest proportions of CECS recipients were in the faculties of Education (22%), Health (14%) and interfaculty courses (14%). The faculties of Education (20%) and Health (17%) also received the highest proportions of QUT Equity Scholarships. The applicant pools loosely corresponded to the faculty representation of both rural and isolated and low socio-economic status students in most faculties. As specified by the Commonwealth Guidelines special consideration was given to Indigenous CLS applicants. Fifty-two Indigenous students applied for a scholarship or computer in 2005. Seventy-seven percent of Indigenous applicants were successful in receiving a CLS. Thirteen Indigenous students were awarded a CAS which represents about 5.6% of total CAS recipients. Twenty-seven Indigenous students received a CECS which represents 9.3% of CECS recipients. Four other Indigenous students or 1.4% of this recipient pool received a QUT Equity Scholarship. Four Indigenous students also received a computer.

Equity Section November 2005

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Acknowledgements The 2005 Equity Scholarship Scheme was successful thanks to the cooperative effort of various partners around the University:  Teaching and Learning Support Services for making the free computer scheme possible,  Financial Services for facilitating payment to students  Corporate Communications, Development Office and Marketing and Recruitment for publicity and assistance in bringing scholarships to the attention of students  Student Guild and faculties for providing extra bursaries and using the central administration process. The tracking of the impact that these scholarships have on student’s lives has commenced and is the subject of a separate report. Administrative issues which are being reviewed for the 2006 scheme are the timing of payments; refining of scoring methodology and procedures; training of assessment staff; and the allocation process. Despite there having been no announcement from the Government regarding QUT’s CLS allocation, the 2006 cycle has already commenced and a number of applications have already been received.

Recommendation 1. That the report of equity scholarship schemes in 2005 be noted.

Equity Section November 2005

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