Student protection plan for the period 2018/19 - Milton Keynes College
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Student protection plan for the period 2018/19
Applicable to Higher Education Programmes offered by Milton Keynes College
Provider’s UKPRN: 10004375
Address: Chaffron Way, Leadenhall, MK6 5LP, Milton Keynes
Introduction
This document provides information relating to:
1. An assessment of the range of risks to the continuation of study for College Higher
Education students, how these risks may differ based on students' needs,
characteristics and circumstances, and the likelihood that those risks will crystallise.
2. The measures that Milton Keynes College have in place to mitigate those risks that
are considered to be reasonably likely to crystallise
3. Information about College policy in relation to refunding tuition fees and other costs
to our Higher Education students in the event that we are no longer able to preserve
continuation of study
4. Information about how we will communicate with students about the content of this
student protection plan
The key contact point for enquiries about this student protection plan is Jeremy Wilsdon,
Assistant Principal- Quality and Student Experience (jeremy.wilsdon@mkcollege.ac.uk ).
1Section 1: An assessment of the range of risks to the continuation of study for College
Higher Education students, how these risks may differ based on students' needs,
characteristics and circumstances, and the likelihood that those risks will crystallise.
The risk that the provider as a whole is unable to operate is low, this judgement is
supported in the analysis provided in the grid below:
Potential Risk Probability Evidence to support judgement
of
occurrence
of risk
Significant financial Low ESFA rating the College as ‘satisfactory’ in relation to
issues leading to the financial health
College being unable Ofsted judging the college to be good across all areas of
to operate provision and evaluative judgements (June 2017). This
rating is enabling the College to access new funding
opportunities and giving it greater levels of credibility
within the current retendering process linked to the
Offender Learning (OLASS contract) - a significant part
of what the College does.
Closure of a College Low The College currently operates across three campuses,
owned facilities with Higher Education programmes being delivered at
delivering Higher each one.
Education The College has longer term aspirations to re-locate to
Programmes one central campus from September 2021, this does
not pose a risk to our delivery of Higher Education,
though the potential changes in location will need to be
communicated to those exploring applications for
College Higher Education programmes at the earliest
opportunity. Business continuity plans exist in relation
to both current College campus and each curriculum
and business support area.
Closure of a facilities Low A robust due diligence process is in place to assess
delivering potential risks associated with subcontracting and
subcontracted Higher support the College in ensuring that such arrangements
Education clearly align to current strategic priorities. The due
Programmes diligence process assesses how facilities are owned,
leased or rented by the subcontract partner.
2Potential Risk Probability Evidence to support judgement
of
occurrence
of risk
Loss of validation or Low College Higher Education Programmes are delivered
Awarding Body with the following bodies:
approval University of Northampton (Foundation Degree in
Health and Fitness) validated programme
University of Bedfordshire (Foundation Degree in
Psychology and Criminal Behaviour) franchised
programme
Pearson Higher National Certificate and Diploma
programmes that the College is approved to deliver
External Reviews undertaken by partner universities
and Pearson align with the judgements made by QAA in
May 2017 that confirm that the College meets all
expectations of the UK Quality Code. External Examiner
Reports are consistently very positive.
Subject to validation/ Medium In this instance the key risk relates to students
approval provision expressing an interest in a course advertised as ‘subject
being closed to validation’ being not being able to apply should the
course fail to be approved or validated.
The risks relating to subject to validation provision are
low, in the last five years there has been only one
course that failed to secure either validation or
approval.
New provision Medium This category is a medium risk category since these
(courses that have programmes are essentially new products. The risks
been running for less associated with this type of provision relate to:
than 2 years) being Student applications being below the agreed viable
closed number for the course to run, resulting in students who
have applied not being able to enrol on the course that
they had applied for.
Student applications being above the agreed viable
number for the course to run but below the budgeted
income target, resulting in loss of anticipated income
for the College.
The Foundation Degree in Health and Fitness
programme that was approved in May of 2016 did not
recruit a viable cohort in 2016/17- the first cohort
started in September 2017. All other new programmes
have recruited in the academic year following their
validation/ approval.
3Potential Risk Probability Evidence to support judgement
of
occurrence
of risk
Established Low This category is low risk. Once a programme is
provision (courses established and the College has a developed a practical
that have been understanding of the demand for places on the course
running for 2 years or business decisions linked to the delivery of these
more) being closed programmes each year will often reflect historical
patterns of recruitment. Whilst the risks are essentially
the same as for new provision the likelihood of them
occurring is lower:
Student applications being below the agreed viable
number for the course to run, resulting in students who
have applied not being able to enrol on the course that
they had applied for
Student applications being below the budgeted income
target, resulting in loss of anticipated income
Franchised provision Low Where the College delivers a programme that was
linked to the developed by a partner Higher Education Institution,
University of where College involvement is limited to delivery.
Bedfordshire closing This category represents a low risk, since only the FdA
Psychology and Criminal Behaviour (franchised through
University of Bedfordshire) in the current product
portfolio is delivered through this model. Whilst the
potential risks for the College may be higher in relation
to the partner having a greater influence over viability
decisions, this particular programme has a strong track
record of attracting a good number of applicants that
has consistently been above the agreed minimum
viable size.
Subcontracted Medium Where a partner organisation delivers Pearson Higher
provision closing National programmes though a subcontract agreement
with Milton Keynes College, represents a mediumlevel
of risk. This higher level of risk reflects the degree to
which the College does not have direct control of the
assets of the partner.
4Section 2: The measures that Milton Keynes College have in place to mitigate those risks
that are considered to be reasonably likely to crystallise
The following table provides evidenced statements of the measures in place to preserve
continuation of study for students in those areas in the previous section that are considered
medium or high risk.
Potential Risk Probability Measures in place to mitigate risk
of
occurrence
of risk
Subject to validation/ Medium During this development phase all discussions with (and
approval provision information presented to) students reinforces the fact
being closed that they cannot currently assume that the programme
will be available to apply to, they can simply register an
interest in the programme. The way in which
information about courses in this category is presented
on the website and in prospectuses reinforces this
‘subject to validation’ status. We will only publicise a
programme as ‘subject to validation’ on our website
when the University (awarding institution) we are
partnering with to validate the programme has formally
confirmed that they are working with us towards the
validation of the programme in question. When the
new provision is a Pearson (awarding body) product the
programme would only be advertised when the College
has received approval from Pearson.
Decisions on course closures will be taken by the 1st
June. This enables students to apply for alternative
programmes via UCAS before the UCAS closure date of
the end of June. The College will honour its
commitment to students currently on programme.
New provision Medium Internal approval and external validation events are
(courses that have designed to establish the market viability of these
been running for less programmes; however, until recruitment campaigns
than 2 years) being start in earnest actual numbers will not be certain. To
closed mitigate the increased risks associated with lower
levels of student recruitment the College agree lower
minimum viable group sizes for the first year of a new
programme.
Decisions on course closures will be taken by the 1st
June. This enables students to apply for alternative
programmes via UCAS before the UCAS closure date of
the end of June. The College will honour its
commitment to students currently on programme.
5Potential Risk Probability Measures in place to mitigate risk
of
occurrence
of risk
Subcontracted Medium Where a partner organisation delivers Pearson Higher
provision closing National programmes though a subcontract agreement
with Milton Keynes College, approving such a
partnership involves a rigorous due diligence process.
Prior to the due diligence process taking place a
partnership proposal form will be completed by a
member of the Senior Leadership Team. The proposal
form includes a contingency planning section that
requires the College to identify the steps that would be
taken to protect student progress should the
subcontract partner cease to be a going concern. These
steps will include the identification of alternative
venues and staffing arrangements, that will focus on
meeting the needs of any current students at an
appropriate alternative venue.
Section 3: Information about College policy in relation to refunding tuition fees and other
costs to our Higher Education students in the event that we are no longer able to preserve
continuation of study
The College continues to refine the Refund and Compensation Policy for Higher Education
Students. The current draft has been uploaded to the registration portal and will be
presented for approval at the next Academic Board (November 2018).
The College will incorporate provisions within its annual budget for the potential payment of
tuition fee and other refunds and compensation payments to learners. A combination of cash
reserves and (where appropriate) insurance policies will be designated for those students
where an increased risk of non-continuation of study has been identified. We will ensure that
this is in place by 1 August 2019.
6Section 4: Information about how we will communicate with students about the content
of this student protection plan
This student protection plan will be published on the College website once OfS approval has
been gained.
Any changes to current, or the development of new HE programmes must be submitted to
the College HE Academic Board. Staff presenting changes or suggestions for new
programmes will be expected to supply any additional risks arising from the plans for
inclusion into the existing risk assessment and information on how they will communicate
any relevant issues in a timely manner to affected students.
The Student Protection Plan will be updated annually, when new risks are identified, or
when the assessment of likelihood of a risk occurring changes. The Assistant Principal with
strategic responsibility for Higher Education has specific responsibility for monitoring and
ensuring the risk assessment is suitable, acceptable and feasible. Programme Leaders and
Senior Management are required to inform the Assistant Principal with strategic
responsibility for Higher Education of relevant potential impacts as and when they occur.
Students will be involved in the review of the Student Protection Plan via discussions at the
HE Student Forum .
The method of communication to students relating to material changes to their
programmes will vary dependent on the specific situation.
For students currently on programme
For significant changes, issues and resolutions will be communicated in person to the
student or students involved during an organised meeting. The meeting will be held
by the Programme Leader, or in the absence of the Programme Leader, the Assistant
Principal with strategic responsibility for Higher Education will take responsibility for
ensuring a meeting is arranged and attended.
For material changes where the impact on students is minimal and short term
temporary (for example a heating issue), students will be emailed to inform them of
the situation, followed by a telephone call from a member of the Programme Team
to ensure that the message has been received and understood. Temporary issues
which may result in a longer suspension of teaching, such as campus closure due to
severe weather for example, will be communicated to students via the College
website.
Any temporary suspension of programmes will not impact on the planned delivery
hours of a programme. Procedures are in place to extend programmes or put on
additional sessions to ensure that students are not disadvantaged due to
circumstances out of their control.
7For applicants to Higher Education Programmes
The College will communicate course closure (for whatever reason) to applicants by
the 1st June through email, letter and telephone. Responsibility for ensuring the
communication has been received and understood by the applicant lies with the
Admissions Team.
Where material changes to programmes are made (for example, a change of
advertised modules or day of delivery), students will be formally contacted via letter.
Students will be required to acknowledge receipt of the letter and given the
opportunity to accept or reject their place. The College will ensure that students are
informed of such changes prior to the closure of clearing so that those students who
choose to reject the programme due to the changes have the opportunity to apply
for alternative courses.
Should situations occur that cannot be communicated to students in good time or have the
potential to cause student offence or annoyance, the College complaints procedure will be
clearly signposted to the students or applicants affected.
In the case of incidents that could result in significant student distress, the College will
ensure that students have access to appropriate independent advice and support.
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