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EFTSL - Equivalent Full-Time Student Load

Introduction

EFTSL is a numeric value describing the proportion of full time study load which a student is undertaking. This value is normally calculated in Callista using the relatively simple formula:

• Load for a Unit Attempt (EFTSL) = Credit Points attributable to the Unit Attempt/Annual Credit Point load for a full-time student

A number of steps are performed to determine the Credit Points attributable to a Unit Attempt. Similarly, the number of Credit Points constituting full time study is determined, by the System, from a collection of information. These steps are described under EFTSL Calculation.

A different EFTSL calculation is used for research students and this is described under EFTSL calculation for research units.

Override EFTSL

An EFTSL figure can be manually recorded against a Unit Attempt in ENRF3000. This ability might typically be used:

• Where a student is enrolled in a generic unit which does not have a fixed Credit Point value
• As a means of storing a fixed EFTSL value against a Unit Attempt
• For exceptional purposes determined by the institution

EFTSL recorded in this way is used throughout Callista instead of the calculated value.

Where is EFTSL Used?

EFTSL for a Unit Attempt is displayed in the Student Unit Attempt screen of ENRF3000 and in the Student Course Attempt - Administration Details Inquiry Screen (INQF1200). The displayed value is the total EFTSL for the Unit Attempt across all Load Calendars that it spans. It is adjusted for discontinued units to take account of only those Load Calendars spanned while the Unit Attempt was Enrolled.

The Attendance Type of a Student Course Attempt is derived by comparing the total EFTSL of the Enrolled Units comprising the Course Attempt with the definitions for full and part-time Attendance, recorded in CRSF1170. Where the Derived Attendance Type of a Course Attempt conflicts with its nominated forced Attendance Type, a lamp is displayed in ENRF3000.

In the Student Finance Subsystem, the Derived Attendance Type of a student can be used to determine the rate at which particular fees are charged. Depending on the System Fee Trigger Category, Attendance Type may be derived by summing the EFTSL for units in a particular Course Attempt or across all of a Student's Course Attempts. Also, a Fee may be charged at a per EFTSL Rate. In this case a student liable for the fee is charged an amount determined by multiplying their calculated EFTSL by the per EFTSL rate.

The Statistics Subsystem reports a student's derived Attendance Type by comparing the definitions for full and part-time Attendance, recorded in CRSF1170, with the student's total calculated EFTSL across all courses and units. The EFTSL for each unique combination of Load Calendar, Student, Course Attempt, Unit Attempt, Teaching Calendar, Teaching Responsibility Organisational Unit and Discipline Group is likewise reported.

EFTSL Calculation

All EFTSL derivations in Callista use the same calculation.

Note that EFTSL calculations are performed only for 'standard' Load Calendars. Where an EFTSL figure is required for a period represented by an Aggregate Load Calendar (e.g. for Fee Calculations in Fee Periods spanning multiple Teaching Periods), EFTSL is calculated for the Aggregate Calendar's subordinate Standard Calendars and summed to arrive at a figure for the Aggregate Calendar.

The process which calculates the EFTSL of a Student Unit Attempt:

• Determines the annual load figure to be used in calculating the EFTSL values for Student Unit Attempt records within a particular Student Course Attempt by:
• If the Unit Version is explicitly linked to a Course Annual Load record, the load recorded for that record is used (CRSF1210 > CRSF12C0), or else,
• If the Course Annual Load structure contains entries for the Course (CRSF1210> CRSF12C0);
• For each passed Unit Attempt,the number of Credit Points for units which the student had passed, at the point in time (Census Date) the unit was studied, is totalled and
• The resulting figure is compared to the Course Annual Load Values (CRSF12C0) to determine which year of the course the student was undertaking and
• The Annual Load figure for the year of the course in which each unit was studied is used, or else,
• If annual load is standard across all years of a course, Standard Annual Load for the Course Version is used (CRSF1210)
• Calculates the Credit Point Load for the Student Unit Attempt/Load Calendar Instance combination by:
• Using the Override Credit Points if set for the Student Unit Attempt (ENRF3000), or otherwise,
• Using the Enrolled Credit Points for the Unit Version (CRSF2210)

and either:

• Apportioning this load according to the Unit Load Apportionment for the Unit Attempt, where specified (ENRF01K0) or else
• Apportioning the load according to the default Load Apportionment details for the relevant Teaching Period (ENRF01K0)
• Calculates an EFTSL figure for each Student Unit Attempt/Load Calendar Instance combination by dividing the Credit Point Load by the Annual Load figure
• Splits the EFTSL figure for each Student Unit Attempt/Load Calendar Instance combination according to the Teaching Responsibility Apportionments (CRSF2210 > CRSF2220 or CRSF2520) and the Unit Discipline Apportionments (CRSF2210> CRSF2230) of the Unit Version/Unit Offering Option.
  (Note that the EFTSL figure for Research Units is split according to the Organisational Unit(s) of the Research Supervisor(s) rather than Teaching Responsibilities.)
• Truncates the resultant 'split' EFTSL values to three decimal places and sums the results for each Unit Attempt.

That is, EFTSL is initially calculated for each unique combination of Load Calendar, Student, Course Attempt, Unit Attempt, Teaching Calendar, Teaching Responsibility Organisational Unit and Discipline Group, before Truncation and Totalling are performed.

For example, Unit ABC123 has a credit point value of 12 against a standard annual load of 96.
The unit is taught 33% by the faculty of arts and 67% by the faculty of education.
This unit is 50% in the discipline group 'arts' and 50% in the discipline group 'education'.

The calculation would be performed as follows:

12 / 96 => 0.125

*0.33 => 0.04125

* .50 => 0.020625 - truncated to 0.020 (arts/arts)
* .50 => 0.020625 - truncated to 0.020 (arts/education)

* 0.67 => 0.08375

* .50 => 0.041875 - truncated to 0.041 (education/arts)
* .50 => 0.041875 - truncated to 0.041 (education/education)

Figure is rolled back up to the unit level by adding up all the breakdowns:

Last Modified on 10 January, 2005