DELAYED COURSE APPLICATIONS FROM EXISTING STUDENTS

I had made sure that 27 March 2012 was in my paper calendar, mobile phone and e-mail reminder to register for AA315.  Imagine my surprise today when on ringing my local centre in Harborne I was advised that existing students are being made to wait two weeks longer as a decision has been made allegedly by the OU management board that new students (who of course will pay higher fees and thus bring in more revenue) are being given precedence over existing students who all want to apply for courses to progress their existing degree studies.

May I say at once what a fantastic regional centre I have in Harborne, Birmingham and that the staff there are superb in both their kindness and clarity of information, they are a genuine lifeline to local OU students.

When I asked what information the OU management board had cascaded to existing students to tell us in advance that new students would be given favourable treatment, the answer is that up until today, information about delayed access to existing students has not been communicated and that it is hoped that information will be posted on our 'StudentHome' pages later on today.  What form that communication will take is unknown i.e. possibly an e-mail or a general linked announcement.

My reason for posting such a lengthy e-mail is that on all our forums, existing students look out for each other and only when one of us finds out snippets of information like this can we cascade that information down.  Also, fellow OU students who work may be trying to log on to their courses tonight without going into their 'StudentHome' page and not understand why they cannot register.

Of course, those coming new to the OU need to be given help but why was the decision not taken to advise us all in advance about this decision which has been allegedly taken by the senior management team.  My concern has always been about a two tier OU when the new fees come in and we see new students who are having to pay treble the amount existing ones pay.  Of course these new students will also be eligible for student loans and will thus bring in much more revenue that existing students.  I have had occasion to write to the Vice Chancellor and ask why the OU has trebled fees but can still afford to pay just one senior management colleague i.e. the Vice Chancellor a total pay package in excess of £330,000.  My fellow students won't be surprised to know that response from the Vice Chancellor position came there none!

I hope the above will help any existing students who read this page to avoid any frustration as to why they cannot register either by telephone or online for existing courses today.  The dates I have been given are, telephone applications 13 April 2012 online applications 15 April 2012.

If any of the above information is incorrect in its accuracy I apologise in advance and at the time of writing is true to the best of my knowledge.  Perhaps the forum administrator could look into this course registration anomaly and let us all know in due course.

Happy Days.  ep327.