Universities delay early offers – but they still undermine year 12,critics warn

Universities will suspend handing out places to HSC students until September after more than 43,000 early entry offers were made to pupils last year before they sat their final exams.

The NSW Vice Chancellors’ Committee have released new rules governing how early offers are made to year 12 students,but school principals argue the measures will fail to stop students losing focus in the final weeks of year 12.

University of Technology,Sydney made 11,700 offers through its early entry program last year.

University of Technology,Sydney made 11,700 offers through its early entry program last year.Janie Barrett

The principal at top-performing private school SCEGGS Darlinghurst,Jenny Allum,said universities should be barred from making early offers until after students sit HSC exams. She warned that bypassing ATARs can lead to complacency among students and was increasingly used by universities to secure enrolments in a tight market.

“HSC exams need to go ahead unimpeded. Early offers can lead to students being less motivated,and is demoralising for those that don’t get a spot,” Allum said. “It’s a tool used in a competitive market where universities need to attract the students.”

Multiple NSW universities have a direct early entry scheme for students and many havereported an explosion in offers made in recent years. While some principals say the offers – which in some cases are made before mid-year trial exams – help ease the stress of high-stakes tests,others warn it means students do not apply themselves as much as they might have in the last months of school.

Western Sydney University made a record 18,800 offers through its early entry scheme last year;the University of Technology made 11,700 offers;Australian National University and Charles Sturt University made more than 5000 each;and the Australian Catholic University more than 2600 to NSW school-leavers.

Higher education expert at ANU Professor Andrew Norton said all universities are using “very aggressive” recruitment practices as the sector struggles with weak demand.

“Universities are desperate to fill their places,” Norton said. “The biggest concern is that students are slacking off once they get an offer. The previous system – where students wait for an ATAR and rank courses via the Universities Admissions Centre – was efficient and fair.”

Barney Glover,who led the review of the early offer program and is chair of the Vice Chancellors’ Committee,said universities had agreed on key principles to govern early offers,including a moratorium on offers until September and that places were conditional on students finishing the HSC.

“Protecting the integrity of the HSC is critical and early offer programs must be justifiable and transparent,” Glover said. “We also agree that student wellbeing should be a major consideration when providing early offer programs.

ANU vice chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said early entry gave students certainty as they prepared to leave high school.

ANU vice chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said early entry gave students certainty as they prepared to leave high school.Louie Douvis

“The development of a set of principles is the first step to addressing current underlying concerns whilst maintaining benefits that accrue to students from these programs.”

St Mary’s Cathedral Colleges principal Kerrie McDiarmid said that early offers alleviated the anxiety of HSC exams for some students and September was “a better time to start making offers to students who by then are further down the study path and have more clarity about tertiary study”.

Last year,Charles Sturt University made early offers from May,and ACU from July. Western Sydney University and the University of Canberra made early offers from August.

ANU vice chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt said early entry gave students certainty as they prepared to leave high school. The university made 5041 early offers last year,up 72 per cent from 2020.

At Mackellar Girls Campus in Manly Vale,principal Christine Del Gallo said about 30 per cent of year 12 students had received an early offer last year.

“I don’t think easing stress for students is a reason to make early offers. Moving it to September will at least mean students keep working hard for trial exams.”

NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said that with universities agreeing not to issue early offers before September,students would stay focused on studying for the HSC and obtain subject knowledge they would need for university courses.

“These new principles will help strengthen the integrity of university admission processes,” Mitchell said. “It also reflects the responsibility universities have in placing the welfare of students at the heart of their admission processes.”

The NSW Vice Chancellors’ Committee principles apply to early offers made to students completing the HSC this year,for admission to university in 2024.

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Lucy Carroll is education editor of The Sydney Morning Herald. She was previously a health reporter.

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