Thirty-one people have been declined entry to the University of Otago this semester due to the newly introduced enrolment limitations. Instituted in May, the new cap policy is designed to address burgeoning domestic roll growth.
As a consequence entry was limited for 20 second-semester programmes, ten of which were previously open-entry undergraduate degrees. In addition to this, no new enrolments will be accepted in five sub-degree diploma and certificate courses, and places for interest-only students will be eliminated. Caps will also be introduced for Summer School and foundation studies enrolments, with students already being warned that Summer School registration is likely to close soon, due to the new funding constraints.
Speaking to the Otago Daily Times, Academic and International Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Vernon Squire said that he considers the number of students that had missed out to be relatively small. Professor Squire said the total number of people that had applied for second semester study was less than had been expected. Consequently, the number of students declined was also low. Those who missed out were a mix of part-time and full-time students whose intended areas of study were BA, BSc, BCom, and BTheol. These applicants "could not demonstrate the ability to successfully undertake academic study at the university," according to Professor Squires. They included new students seeking to enrol in their first year of study, students looking to transfer from other universities, and former Otago students wanting to return to study.
Next year the University will introduce a two-tier enrolment system. Although the University has not finalised criteria for the two-tier system, it is known that selection will mainly be based on past academic achievement. Students with strong academic records in Year 12 would be guaranteed entry, while those falling below this standard would compete for the remaining places. Enhanced admission places will also be offered to Maori and Pacific Island students who do not meet the guaranteed entry criteria.
University Caps 31 Motherfuckers
