16 September 1997
Vice-Chancellors refuse to supply student names

At the 15 September meeting of the AVCC, member universities agreed to support the Minister’s initiative relating to Australian Awards for University Teaching, designed to recognise and reward good teaching at a national level. Vice-Chancellors believe, however, a problem exists in relation to confidentiality in providing the names of the students, randomly selected by the universities, to obtain student feedback on institutional nominees for the awards. Vice-Chancellors believe if institutions are requested to follow instructions for drawing the random sample of students, the provision of student names is unnecessary.

Member universities also agreed that the Minister’s proposal for a National Survey of Course Experience (NSCE), designed to elicit views from all undergraduate students about the quality of their courses and teaching, is flawed for the following reasons:

the Course Experience Questionnaire used to survey graduates is inappropriate for use in evaluating the views of current undergraduates, and a new instrument needs to be devised and trialed;
thus the time-frame for conducting the survey is inappropriate; and
the use to be made of the data is unclear.

Vice-Chancellors support strongly universities obtaining constructive feedback from students, who already participate in such evaluation processes within their institutions. They have agreed that through the AVCC Standing Committee on Education and Students, they should work with the Minister’s reference group to develop a suitable questionnaire and to advise on testing and trialing the scheme. As with the Teaching Award, Vice-Chancellors believe there is also a problem of confidentiality in releasing the names and addresses of students to a private contractor or to the Government, for that matter, as proposed for the NSCE.

Vice-Chancellors reject the notion of a ‘hot line’ believing it will not play a constructive role in improving the quality of higher education. Information obtained will be open to various interpretations and Vice-Chancellors question the role of Government to intrude in the internal affairs of universities in this way.

Vice-Chancellors have therefore agreed:

to participate in the Australian Awards of University Teaching but not provide the names of the randomly selected students who provide feedback on institutional nominees;
only to participate in the NSCE if the AVCC through its Standing Committee on Education and Students has the opportunity to work with the Minister’s reference group to develop and trial a new questionnaire in a proper timeframe which is appropriate for use by undergraduates;
that under no circumstances will member institutions provide names, addresses or student identification numbers to a third party for the purpose of surveys or questionnaires; and
to reject the ‘hot line’ as not a useful process for improving the quality of higher education.

Media Inquiries: Stuart Hamilton, Executive Director, AVCC (02) 6285-8200

16 September 1997 Vice-Chancellors refuse to supply student names

16 September 1997
Vice-Chancellors refuse to supply student names