10 October 2006
To: Principal contact for OFFA / Managers responsible for access agreements
Dear colleague
In the light of the first intake of students under the new fee regime, some institutions may wish to make changes to their access agreements for 2007-08. Any amendments may be submitted to OFFA up until 30 November 2006.
Adjusting to the new market
We have always made it known that in the first year of access agreements we would be as flexible as possible when considering any changes that institutions needed to make in adjusting to the new market as it developed.
Now that the first year’s intake of students is largely determined, institutions will have some evidence on which to judge the effectiveness of their schemes in attracting applications from their target groups. Some institutions will currently be making judgements about whether they have got their access policies right and whether adjustments to their access agreements might be necessary in order to more effectively direct resources to meet their own access agreement targets.
Given this is the first year and therefore exceptional, in order to allow institutions a reasonable opportunity to react to the market and develop their schemes, we will allow institutions to submit amendments to access agreements for approval, for 2007-08, up until 30 November 2006. This process will be reviewed for 2008-09.
Provision of information for students
In implementing any approved amendments, we will expect institutions to consider the information needs of applicants and prospective applicants by providing holding information where appropriate, and informing applicants of any changes to bursary packages as soon as possible after approval. Unclear information could leave institutions open to student complaints.
The deadline of 30 November 2006 should allow applicants to apply elsewhere, within the UCAS deadline of 15 January 2007, should their application choices be affected by changes to bursary packages. We also expect institutions to honour any firm financial commitments made to any current applicants holding an accepted offer.
Submission of amendments
Proposed amendments should be sent to accessagreements@offa.org.uk by 30 November 2006. We would be happy to discuss proposed amendments in advance of a submission if that would be helpful. Enquiries should be directed to Chris Scrase, enquiries@offa.org.uk or tel. 0117 931 7171
Institutions submitting amendments may wish to combine this with any updates regarding inflationary uplifts referred to in our guidance note of 18 September.