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Tuition Fees and GATE. Dr. Camille Samuel Vice President – Student Affairs November 2011. Pertinent Details - COSTAATT. Established by an Act of Parliament in 2000 with a mandate to broaden access Currently 7 campus sites Student Population - Over 11,000 students
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Tuition Fees and GATE Dr. Camille Samuel Vice President – Student Affairs November 2011
Pertinent Details - COSTAATT Established by an Act of Parliament in 2000 with a mandate to broaden access Currently 7 campus sites Student Population - Over 11,000 students COSTAATT - 4 tier admissions system – 5 CXC/CSEC; Advanced level; COMPASS; and PLAR - a different kind of support required when entry is through the last two. A diverse student population
COSTAATT – Academic Support Model • COSTAATT’s mandate, its flexible admissions policy, and GATE funding have: - increased access by academically prepared and underprepared students - increased access by economically constrained students • Creating a dilemma of access vs success for the College • COMPASS Programme – Deliberately caters for the academically underprepared
The Academically Underprepared Their Profile • Weak academic foundation • Hard working • Many socio-economic challenges • At times - inconsistent presence in College – semesters missed! • Slow progress through the system
Academically Underprepared - Support Required • Tutorial sessions – Faculty and Peer Tutorials • Student progress tracking • Longer time on tasks • Repeats must be allowed • Counseling and developmental advising services
The Academically Underprepared – Why Support? • The COSTAATT Graduate and GDP – approximately 11,000 graduates who are productive citizens • Education = Improved standard of life - No opportunity in the current tertiary landscape for the academically underprepared and financially constrained! • Marginalization of this Group - Societal Cost Heavy!
COSTAATT Reality • The COSTAATT student may progress through the system at a slower rate • The learning curve for the COSTAATT student may be gentler • We believe that we are serving a noble cause.
Implications Tuition Fees - GATE Strategies to Consider • Fixed programme fees across sector – Credit System – facilitated by the ACTT. This initiative could potentially result in a decline in overbilling by some institutions.
Implications Tuition Fees - GATE Strategies to Consider 2. Continued Gate Support – Industry Priority Areas – linked to manpower needs – students must be made to contribute to our economy!
Implications Tuition Fees - GATE Strategies to Consider 3. Tighter monitoring and reporting on academically underprepared grouping in all institutions – Progress Rule Should Apply!
Implications Tuition Fees - GATE Strategies to Consider 4. All State funded institutions should be encouraged to develop a well structured College Prep Programme – to reduce drop outs/excessive failures
The Result! • More academically prepared students – progressing through the system – reduction in wastage ($) • Increased productive manpower for the country • Reduced Government spending on at risk groups in the society!