Purpose

To allow the creation and maintenance of institution defined attendance types, and their definition in terms of load ranges

Subsystem

Course Structure & Planning

Structure

Two Blocks

Attendance Type Load

Image

Attendance Type

Explanation

An attendance type is an institution defined classification based on the proportion of full-time study load to be undertaken by a student, in a course. This is comparable to government attendance type but provides for greater flexibility by permitting classification at a more detailed level and the use of attendance type names specific to the institution. Typical attendance types are full-time and part-time. Each institution defined attendance type must be mapped to a government attendance type. More than one institution defined attendance type can be mapped to the same government attendance type.

In this block, the acceptable per annum EFTSU range necessary to meet the definition of each attendance type is recorded. This is used to calculate the attendance type and load of students for the purpose of government statistical returns and in some fee calculations. It is the total of a student's current course attempts across all enrolled teaching periods which is calculated and compared to the load ranges recorded here. For multi-teaching period enrolments the calculation uses the relevant apportionment factor.

Relationship Between Load and Attendance Type contains further information. The Apportioning Load section of Load Calendar Structure explains apportionment factors. See also derived versus nominated course attributes in relation to student fees.

A Research Percentage is also recorded against an Attendance Type. This is used as the default Attendance % value for a research candidature (RESF3211) in a course with that Attendance Type.

In the following block, the load ranges required to meet the definition of each attendance type, within the period of specific load calendars, is recorded. These are used to calculate the attendance type of students for institution purposes, such as calculation of service fees, and to ensure that a student's enrolment conforms to the course attendance type where this is 'forced'. A student's course attempt attendance type is validated against the load ranges recorded here. A Default EFTSU value is recorded for each attendance type, within the specified load calendar period. This Default EFTSU value must exist for calculation of some fees using the predictive fee assessment process. It should be noted that predictive fee assessments are performed for particular fee periods and that each fee period is related to a single load calendar. The default EFTSU values should be determined with regard to the periods involved.

Example

The load range for a year (in EFTSU) which defines each attendance type is recorded as the Academic Period Load Range. For government reporting purposes, a student's unit load is calculated across all course attempts and the student is deemed to be of a particular course attendance type if their load falls within the load range of the attendance type.

To create a new attendance type using the Maintain Attendance Types form:

1. Enter Insert mode.
2. Enter the desired code of the attendance type in the Attendance Type field of a blank record.
3. Enter a meaning for the attendance type in the Description field.
4. Select the appropriate Govt Attendance Type from the list of values (or key a valid value).
5. Enter the lower load limit and the upper load limit (representing the acceptable, per annum EFTSU range necessary to meet the definition of the attendance type) in the appropriate fields.
6. Enter the Research Percentage (representing the default attendance percentage for a research student in a course of that attendance type).
7. Save.

• The load limit ranges for two open attendance types cannot overlap.
• There should be no 'gaps' in the academic period load ranges, i.e. the full possible load range should be covered by the attendance types.

To modify an attendance type using the Maintain Attendance Types form:

1. Find the record to be modified.
2. Modify the record as required.
3. Save.

• If an attendance type has been used in the definition of a course, only the description can be modified. This is not recommended unless the change in description is minor and does not affect the meaning of the attendance type. A new attendance type should normally be created.
• An attendance type can be closed, preventing any further use, by selecting the Closed check box.

To delete an attendance type using the Maintain Attendance Types form:

1. Find the record to be deleted.
2. Locate the cursor in the record to be deleted.
3. Delete record.
4. Save.

Attendance Type Load

Explanation

Because a student's attendance type may be assessed in periods less than a full year (for purposes such as enrolment validation, service fees and travel concessions), it is necessary to be able to define the standard load range which constitutes each attendance type, in each of the shorter periods. The student's calculated unit load can then be compared to the load ranges defined for an attendance type, for the periods defined by specific load calendars.

Example

Full time study at an institution may equate to a load of 0.75 EFTSU or more in a year. The institution may wish to determine its students' attendance types for each semester. The institution may determine that a load of between 0.375 and 9.999 EFTSU constitutes a full time load in each of semester 1 and semester 2. Hence, a student may be deemed to be studying full time for the year if their load is 0.75 EFTSU but part time for semester 1 and full time for semester 2 if their loads for each of these periods are 0.25 and 0.5 EFTSU respectively.

To record the loads which define an attendance type, for periods defined by specific load calendars, using the Maintain Attendance Types form:

1. Ensure that the correct attendance type record is selected in the Attendance Type block.
2. Navigate to the Attendance Type Load block.
3. Select the relevant load calendar from the list of values (or key a valid value) in the Calendar Type field of a blank record.
4. Enter the EFTSU range which defines the attendance type for the selected load calendar in the Lower and Upper Enrol Load Range fields.
5. Enter the Default EFTSU value applicable for the attendance type.
6. Save.

• The enrol load ranges for two open attendance types, specified for a specific load calendar, cannot overlap.
• There should be no 'gaps' in the enrol load ranges for a specific load calendar, i.e. the full possible load range should be covered by the attendance types.
• A Default EFTSU value must exist for the processing of predictive fee assessment for that attendance type
• Load ranges and default EFTSU can be associated with both standard and aggregate load calendars
• Once in use, load range data should not be deleted or modified. A major change in teaching calendar or load calendar structure would require the creation of new calendars and new load apportionment.

Changes within this form will have the following notable effects:

Changes within this form will affect the calculation of a student's derived course attendance type.