Intake Presentation: Difference between revisions
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== Intro/Landscape == | == Intro/Landscape == | ||
We have researched student support from application to matriculation on the BA TPA programme | |||
=== Demographics - Gender === | |||
Our intake last year was 61% Female, 39% Male - quite close to the scottish averages of 58% - 42% | |||
Also in line with scottish trends the majority of Male 1st years progressed from FE, with only 11% progressing from school. A much larger amount of Female students progressed directly from school - 33% | |||
=== The Policy Landscape === | |||
To frame our investigation of the student experience, we familiarized ourselves with the RSAMD's QA policy on admissions, and the QAAs Code of Practice. Our investigations have shown that they RSAMDs policies are reasonably well aligned with the QAA, but that there are inconsistencies and there are problems with the implementation of the policy | |||
== RSAMD Policies in Practice == | == RSAMD Policies in Practice == | ||
We investigated staff familiarity with the policy - half the staff were unaware of it. | |||
The QAA CoP precept 8 states: ''Institutions should ensure that all those involved in recruitment and admissions are competent to undertake their roles and responsibilities.'' The RSAMD policy states that ''All staff involved in the selection of students will be adequately prepared for that roll. This preparation will include equal opportunities training''. | |||
Only 1 member of staff had any related training. | |||
The QAA CoP precept 7 states: ''Policies and procedures related to admissions and enrolment should be kept under regular review to ensure that they continue to support the mission and strategic objectives of the institution, and that they remain current and valid in the light of changing circumstances'' The RSAMD policy states that ''The specific admissions process for each course will be subject to annual review by the appropriate School Committee and, if required, subsequent consideration and approval by the Academic Board'' | |||
No staff have ever been involved in any formal reviews. | |||
The School of Drama Guide for Applicants document, sent with every application pack, describes a marking scale used in TPA interviews to assess a candidates suitability. | |||
No staff (not even the programme leader) were aware of this. | |||
== Student Experience Pre-Application == | |||
Our researched showed that the prospectus was generally considered the most useful source of information to potential applications, however the RSAMD website scored really badly in our questionnaires. | |||
QAA Precept 2: ''Institutions should ensure that promotional materials are relevant, accurate at the time of publication, not misleading, accessible, and provide information that will enable applicants to make informed decisions about their options.'' | |||
The website material is very scant - there are only 4 short paragraphs of information regarding the TPA programme, and they are on a page the is buried reasonably deeply in an unintuitive navigation system and on poorly presented page with regard to accessibility. There are no links between the information about the programme and the information regarding application - which lies down a separate path in the navigation system. | |||
If the prospectus is carrying up to date, well formatted information, shouldn't this de be disseminated through to the web also? | |||
== Current RSAMD Brochureware == | |||
'''Student Support Service Information''' | |||
Green A5 Booklet | |||
In Welcome section "the Academy aims to ensure that all students recieve any support they may need '''during their course'''" What about support pre-matriculation after acceptance of offer, oversight or neglectful? | |||
Applications and Admissions starts with advice on "Audition Process" no mention until body of text in paragraph 2 of "If you would like to discuss arrangements for your audition '''or interview'''..." Poorly worded and/or misleading to applicants? | |||
Otherwise general suppport info AFTER matriculation but heavily bias towards special needs students. | |||
'''Guide For International Students''' | |||
Purple A5 Booklet | |||
Generally a very good post acceptance pre-entry information document for international students from "Pre-departure checklist" to "Immigration Control" to "Cost of Living in the UK" to "living in Glasgow...health" (which should really be a warning) | |||
Generally a very good document, shame the home students don't get the same level of information since coming to Glasgow from a small rural town may be just as much of a culture shock (if not more so) than some international students experience. | |||
'''Information for Disabled Students and Applicants''' | |||
Yellow A5 Booklet | |||
"Please note: this information has been written with a primary audience of students in mind" same as Green Booklet but much more prominent. | |||
"Students' Experiences" quote from 2nd year student. Similar quotes do not appear in other booklets. | |||
Fairly extensive information which the green booklet is apparently a "cut down n paste" version. This highlights the Green booklets focus too heavily on special needs and doubling up of information. | |||
'''General Observations of 3 Booklets''' | |||
Cheap, don't have commonality of style and don't seem to written as a 3 pack. Feels a bit like a amateur fanzine or village gala week programme. | |||
'''Guide for Applicants 2008/2009''' | |||
Yellow A4 Document | |||
On cover page "guide available in alternative formats upon request...please contact the Registry" doesn't appear in A5 booklets | |||
1st page "Closing date for undergraduate applications to the School of Drama 14th January 2008" | |||
Website contradicts this [http://www.rsamd.ac.uk/studying/apply_drama.htm here] as 31st March 2008 and [http://www.rsamd.ac.uk/drama/tpa.htm here] as '''15th June 2007''' | |||
Application fees of £35 for application to one programme and a "reduced" £50 for more than one programme seems bizarre in that application to more than one programme is probably detrimental to chances of success on any. | |||
Still heavy use of the word "Audition" throughout as selection method. | |||
No mention of Overseas applicants for TPA Programme despite being specifically mentioned in CPP, Acting and DFTV programme selection processes. | |||
Generally good programme information but difficult to really assess due to my own understanding. <font color="#00a000">Need to ask someone unconnected to read and comment.</font> | |||
Again, generally good information for preparation for interview but needs looked at with new eyes. | |||
'''*MARKING SCALE Page 16 ''' | |||
'''No member of the TPA Lecturing staff, and therefore Interview Panel,were aware of the "Marking Scale" laid out on page 16. Also e-mail address and Course Leader listed is out of date since December 07.''' | |||
== Interview == | == Interview == | ||
In the main the students we questioned considered that they we prepared for their interview, and that it was clear what would be asked of them in the interview. | |||
Academy Policy states: ''For the BA (Digital Film and Television) overseas applicants may, at the discretion of the Academy, be interviews via the internet'' | |||
What ''via the internet'' does that mean? and why only DFTV? | |||
== Post interview/Pre Starting Study == | == Post interview/Pre Starting Study == | ||
Latest revision as of 14:44, 13 March 2008
Intro/Landscape
We have researched student support from application to matriculation on the BA TPA programme
Demographics - Gender
Our intake last year was 61% Female, 39% Male - quite close to the scottish averages of 58% - 42% Also in line with scottish trends the majority of Male 1st years progressed from FE, with only 11% progressing from school. A much larger amount of Female students progressed directly from school - 33%
The Policy Landscape
To frame our investigation of the student experience, we familiarized ourselves with the RSAMD's QA policy on admissions, and the QAAs Code of Practice. Our investigations have shown that they RSAMDs policies are reasonably well aligned with the QAA, but that there are inconsistencies and there are problems with the implementation of the policy
RSAMD Policies in Practice
We investigated staff familiarity with the policy - half the staff were unaware of it.
The QAA CoP precept 8 states: Institutions should ensure that all those involved in recruitment and admissions are competent to undertake their roles and responsibilities. The RSAMD policy states that All staff involved in the selection of students will be adequately prepared for that roll. This preparation will include equal opportunities training.
Only 1 member of staff had any related training.
The QAA CoP precept 7 states: Policies and procedures related to admissions and enrolment should be kept under regular review to ensure that they continue to support the mission and strategic objectives of the institution, and that they remain current and valid in the light of changing circumstances The RSAMD policy states that The specific admissions process for each course will be subject to annual review by the appropriate School Committee and, if required, subsequent consideration and approval by the Academic Board
No staff have ever been involved in any formal reviews.
The School of Drama Guide for Applicants document, sent with every application pack, describes a marking scale used in TPA interviews to assess a candidates suitability.
No staff (not even the programme leader) were aware of this.
Student Experience Pre-Application
Our researched showed that the prospectus was generally considered the most useful source of information to potential applications, however the RSAMD website scored really badly in our questionnaires.
QAA Precept 2: Institutions should ensure that promotional materials are relevant, accurate at the time of publication, not misleading, accessible, and provide information that will enable applicants to make informed decisions about their options.
The website material is very scant - there are only 4 short paragraphs of information regarding the TPA programme, and they are on a page the is buried reasonably deeply in an unintuitive navigation system and on poorly presented page with regard to accessibility. There are no links between the information about the programme and the information regarding application - which lies down a separate path in the navigation system.
If the prospectus is carrying up to date, well formatted information, shouldn't this de be disseminated through to the web also?
Current RSAMD Brochureware
Student Support Service Information
Green A5 Booklet
In Welcome section "the Academy aims to ensure that all students recieve any support they may need during their course" What about support pre-matriculation after acceptance of offer, oversight or neglectful?
Applications and Admissions starts with advice on "Audition Process" no mention until body of text in paragraph 2 of "If you would like to discuss arrangements for your audition or interview..." Poorly worded and/or misleading to applicants?
Otherwise general suppport info AFTER matriculation but heavily bias towards special needs students.
Guide For International Students
Purple A5 Booklet
Generally a very good post acceptance pre-entry information document for international students from "Pre-departure checklist" to "Immigration Control" to "Cost of Living in the UK" to "living in Glasgow...health" (which should really be a warning)
Generally a very good document, shame the home students don't get the same level of information since coming to Glasgow from a small rural town may be just as much of a culture shock (if not more so) than some international students experience.
Information for Disabled Students and Applicants
Yellow A5 Booklet
"Please note: this information has been written with a primary audience of students in mind" same as Green Booklet but much more prominent.
"Students' Experiences" quote from 2nd year student. Similar quotes do not appear in other booklets.
Fairly extensive information which the green booklet is apparently a "cut down n paste" version. This highlights the Green booklets focus too heavily on special needs and doubling up of information.
General Observations of 3 Booklets
Cheap, don't have commonality of style and don't seem to written as a 3 pack. Feels a bit like a amateur fanzine or village gala week programme.
Guide for Applicants 2008/2009
Yellow A4 Document
On cover page "guide available in alternative formats upon request...please contact the Registry" doesn't appear in A5 booklets
1st page "Closing date for undergraduate applications to the School of Drama 14th January 2008"
Website contradicts this here as 31st March 2008 and here as 15th June 2007
Application fees of £35 for application to one programme and a "reduced" £50 for more than one programme seems bizarre in that application to more than one programme is probably detrimental to chances of success on any.
Still heavy use of the word "Audition" throughout as selection method.
No mention of Overseas applicants for TPA Programme despite being specifically mentioned in CPP, Acting and DFTV programme selection processes.
Generally good programme information but difficult to really assess due to my own understanding. Need to ask someone unconnected to read and comment.
Again, generally good information for preparation for interview but needs looked at with new eyes.
*MARKING SCALE Page 16
No member of the TPA Lecturing staff, and therefore Interview Panel,were aware of the "Marking Scale" laid out on page 16. Also e-mail address and Course Leader listed is out of date since December 07.
Interview
In the main the students we questioned considered that they we prepared for their interview, and that it was clear what would be asked of them in the interview.
Academy Policy states: For the BA (Digital Film and Television) overseas applicants may, at the discretion of the Academy, be interviews via the internet What via the internet does that mean? and why only DFTV?
Post interview/Pre Starting Study
- RSAMD Policy says:
- The outcome of an application will be notified in writing to the applicant by Registry
- Our survey says:
- Letters, phone, told in person, sent an email