What is Open Entry ?

In many respects New Zealand's system of university education is based on what is known as open entry. The opposite to this is often referred to as restricted entry.

Open entry can be interpreted in different ways. According to Dr Alan Johns, Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC), if it was to be interpreted as meaning that a student can go to a tertiary institution of his or her choice and also take the course of his or her choice then open entry does not exist in New Zealand.

However, if the situation is that students can go to a tertiary institution of their choice but may have to accept taking the second or third choice of courses then open entry does not exist.

It is the second interpretation which tends to be accepted and applied in New Zealand. In other words, open entry should be seen as being on a continuum. There are degrees of "openness". Hence while open entry exists it is not absolute. Within it there are cases of restricted entry.

In New Zealand the relationship between the degrees of open and restricted entry is not a fixed one. It wavers and in a time of fiscal cuts in education spending the relationship can be expected to waver in favour of restricted entry.

The Challenge of Open Entry

The foundation of our university system — open entry — is in danger of being undermined by the imposition of cuts to university expenditure. The fear of such cuts were realised by the $3 million cut to the current budgets of the universities.

Stupidity ran supreme soon after the announcement of the cut when the Minister of Education, Merv Wellington, claimed on Radio New Zealand's Morning Report that restricted entry was:

"....contrary to Government attitude and Government policy and Government philosophy;

Vice Chancellors throughout the country, including the Chairman of the New Zealand Vice Chancellors' Committee, Dr Irvine of Otago, have stressed that restricted entry is the logical outcome of cuts in expenditure

The message has been expressed most clearly by Dr Johns to the media and in one interview which was circulated to student newspapers. If real savings have to be made then universities will have to substantially reduce student numbers. There are three ways of doing this. One is raising the academic criteria for entry. The second is by cutting back on the real value of the bursary. The third, which overlaps with the first, is by expending restricted entry.

What about Increasing Enrolments ?

The attack on the principle of open entry is occuring at a time when university enrolments are increasing. In the 1970's, as the figures in Box 1 indicate there has been three main trends — a marked drop in the rate in increase in the 1972-74 period, a surge in 1975-76, and a steady increase in 1977-78:

N.B. These figures do not include Massey extra murals of whom there were 6,029 in 1978 compared with 2,204 in 1971.

The erratic nature of these changes make it difficult to predict future rolls. Nevertheless, the UGC has singled out eight points which have to be considered when making such predictions.

Von Zedlitz-Home of Romance languages for how long?

Given these eight factors the UGC has concluded that all thing being equal rolls are likely to increase from the 41,835 in '78 to about 48,400 in '84 — an increase of about 20%. The years 1980 - 1984 is the period of the next five year block grant or quinquennium to cover the operating costs of the universities. This 20% increase is one of the key negotiating points of the UGC in its battle with Treasury. The UGC can only argue that the next quinquennium must be increased substantially in real terms so that he universities will be able to adequately cater for the 20% increase.

However, both Mr Wellington and Treasury (the de facto Department of Educalead to reductions in the student enrolments or at least in the rate of increase. An obvious method of doing this is by gradually instituting restricted entry to such an extent that the open entry principle no longer applies. The UGC fully appreciates this situation.

The Extent of Restricted Entry

Although the principle of open entry is adhered to nevertheless, it is not absolute. [unclear: tion)] are well aware that to undermine this point they must create a situation that will In all universities some degree of restricted entry exists.

The Chart below outlines the subjects effected by restricted entry at the seven universities. It does not go into the extent or range of restricted entry in all subjects.

Future Trends:

While this states quite clearly that restricted entry can exist within an open entry policy nevertheless there comes a point when restricted entry reaches such a level that open entry can be said to no longer exist.

Universities are having to seriously consider restricted entry as an economic necessity. At least since 1976 they have been under considerable financial restraint and this was markedly accentuated by the the recent $3 million cut.

Hence the question is begged - [unclear: what] needed to ensure adequate space and [unclear: sta] The only answer is adequate finance.

Thus inadequate expenditure [unclear: underm] open entry and leads to restricted entry. The $3 million cut should not be seen [unclear: as] the cause but rather an important [unclear: contri] buting factor in this apparent process.

It can not be said that the point at [unclear: w] open entry ends and restricted entry [unclear: take] over has been reached. But the trend [unclear: is] finitely in that direction. Universities [unclear: m] than ever are having to seriously [unclear: conside] whether to further extend restricted [unclear: ent.]

The professional schools at Otago [unclear: Un] versity are being looked at closely. [unclear: Con] deration is being given to reducing in [unclear: tak] to second year medical and dental [unclear: classe] as is admissions to Home Science, Physical Education, Pharmacy and Surveying. Less likely but not impossible is [unclear: restricti] entry to the general non-professional faculties.

Given the high degree of restricted [unclear: en] try that already exists at the opposite [unclear: en] of the country it is difficult to [unclear: envisage] further extentsion at Auckland [unclear: Univer-] sity. But it is possible that further restrictions will be placed on the number of students acceoted for Civil [unclear: Engineeri] Law and Medicine. However [unclear: employme] difficulties are also important in this [unclear: fac] tor.

[unclear: t] is interesting to look at some of [unclear: th] implications of extending restricted [unclear: ent] at Canterbury. There the criteria for [unclear: im] posing restrictions is being examined. Possibilities include an effective [unclear: discrimina] tion against those who do not pre-enrol, those who are not first year students or who are not advancing further in the [unclear: su] ject, and (for professional courses) [unclear: those] who do not complete their qualifying [unclear: ec] rse in minimum time.

There can be no doubt that the [unclear: princ] pies of open entry is under strong [unclear: attack] At a time when enrolments are [unclear: increasin] university funds are being reduced. [unclear: How] ever, because it is contrary to its own policy the Government is playing a [unclear: devious] game. It is forcing the universities to [unclear: do] the dirty work by reducing finance to [unclear: su] an extent that the only way for the universities to survive financially is to cut down significantly on student numbers.