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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Office of the Vice-President, Academic
MEMORANDUM
TO:
Senate
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FROM:
J.M. Munro
Vice-President, Academic
SUBJ: Revised Tuition Refund Policy
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DATE: March 7, 1994
The attached report concerning the effects of the revised tuition refund policy
in the 94-1 semester is provided for the information of Senate.
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J.M. Munro
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
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MEMORANDUM
TO: J.M. Munro
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FROM: Walter Wattamaniuk
Vice President, Academic
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Director, Analytical Studies
RE: Tuition Refund Policy
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DATE: February 15,1994
At its September 28, 1993, meeting, the Board of Governors approved changes
to the tuition fee refund policy for the 1994-1 semester. These are outlined on
Attachment 1. The purpose of this memorandum is to provide you and the Board
with information on the results of the policy for 1994-1.
In summary, the application of the policy was very successful. Some of the
effects were as follows:
1.
Throughout the period of telephone registration prior to the start of classes,
students consistently registered in 7% fewer courses than they would have
under the old policy. We believe they did this to avoid penalties for courses
they intended to drop later. Attachment 2 illustrates the evolution of the
average course load by day of registration for both 94-1 and for 93-1. Note that
average course loads were identical at the end of the third week of classes but
the peak in average course load during teleregistration was greatly
diminished in 94-1. Because of this, we estimate that roughly 3,500 more
course places were freed up over the course of the registration cycle and
became available for distribution over a wider pool of students.
2.
The first week of classes in 1994-1 saw a total of 3,300 course drops balanced by
3,800 course
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adds in the same period. In 1993-1, under the old policy, there
were 6,300 course drops in the first week and only 4,800 course adds.
3.
In the first three weeks of classes in 1994-1, there were a total of 4,900 course
drops and 5,300 adds. By contrast, in 1993-1 there were 9,400 drops and 6,700
adds.
4.
Because of the greater number of course places available, students were able to
access courses much more successfully. Using a measure that counts courses
that students are turned away from, we found that in 1993-1, students were
turned away from 2.3 full courses on average. In 1994-1, this had declined to
1.3 full courses.
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5.
We also count the number of full upper division courses that approved
majors in programs are turned away from. This number has declined from
2.7 in 1993-1 to 1.7 in 1994-1.
6.
Overall in 94-1, 60% of all undergraduates were able to get courses without
being turned away. By contrast, only 49% of students were able to do so in
93-3.
In total, about 1,650 students were affected by the policy this spring. The
number of appeals has increased. We expect about 250 appeals in 94-1 compared
to about 80 in 93-1.
While the policy was intended to be revenue neutral, it appears that about
$96,000 in additional tuition fee revenue will be generated in 94-1 because of the
penalties for course drops. This will decrease as appeals are received by the
Registration Appeals Committee.
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Attach.
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Attachment 1
Tuition Refund Policy Approved by The Board
1.
Continue 100% refund through one week after the last release of students to
the telephone registration system.
2.
Assess a penalty of $50 per course for courses dropped during the period
between the time specified in 1. above, and the end of Week 1 if the student's
course load declines as a result. The maximum penalty for withdrawal from
all courses during this period will be $100 (presently 100% refund).
3.
Assess a penalty of $100 per course
dropped*
during Week 2 if the student's
course load declines as a result (presently 100% refund less $100 deposit).
4.
No refund for courses dropped after Week 2 if the student's course load
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declines as a result (presently 100% refund less $100 deposit in Weeks 2
and 3 and 50% refund subject to retention of the $100 deposit in Week 4).
The established appeal procedure will continue to be available to consider
exceptions to the tuition fee refund policy.
* The application of this penalty in 1994-1 was altered such that a limit of $200 was
in effect. Students who would have incurred a penalty in excess of $200 were
advised of this special waiver which will be in effect only for 1994-1 - the first
semester of the new program.
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31.1.4
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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY
Office of the Vice-President, Academic
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MEMORANDUM
TO:
J.O. Stubbs,
President
SLJBJ: Report on Revised Tuition
Refund Policy
FROM: J.M. Munro,
Vice-President, Academic
DATE: February 16, 1994
The attached report from the Director of Analytical Studies summarizes the
experience in 94-1 with the revised tuition refund policy. This report should be
distributed to the Board of Governors for information.
You will recall that we had agreed that the unexpected tuition revenue
increase (currently $96,000, but the final figure will be less) would be committed
towards eliminating the accumulated deficit in the financial aid budget.
J.M. Munro
cc. W. Wattamaniuk
J.A. Osborne
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