Intake Presentation

Intro/Landscape

• Outline student demographics, compared to national averages
  • Gender division
  • Pre Entry Level (i.e. School, FE)

• Relevant internal and external policies
  • Academy QA Admissions Policy
  • The QAA CoP

• Practice in other institutions??

RSAMD Policies in Practice

Have results from a staff questionnaire that asks:

• Are you familiar with the RSAMD’s QA Admissions Policy?
• The 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”. Have you received any such preparation or training?
• The 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”. Were you aware of or have you been involved in any annual reviews?

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 circunstances

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.

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.

Applying

• Survey Feedback re: Pre-Application
• Compare student experience and RSAMD provisions to QAA
  • Esp 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.
  • Website scores really badly in questionnaires, prospectus scores OK - why isn't prospectus blurb copied and pasted online?

• Survey Feedback re: Application
  • This stage scores well in feedback & there isn't much about it in QAA

Interview

• Student survey feedback
• 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 the hell 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