University Expects Record Enrolment

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30063, 22 February 1963, Page 10

University Expects Record Enrolment

Enrolments at the University of Canterbury next week could bring the total to nearly . 4000—by far the highest on record. The Registrar (Mr G. G. Turbott) conservatively estimates this year’s figure at 8700 (100 more than last year), but he says that some long-range forecasts of the Education Department put the 1963 total as high as 4188.

Whatever the result at the end of next week, Mr Turbott says it is clear that student numbers are begining to climb steeply again, supporting predictions that the university will have to cater for 6500 in 1975. It is not yet clear what effect the tripled fees and new bursary scheme will have on this year’s numbers Last year the late announcement tended to level some rising rolls but, as things settle down, these effects are not expected to last. The university expects to be able to take aU who seek entry. Prior application by science and engineering students has enabled provision to be made for them, and rearrangement of accommodation and the acquisition of new buildings are expected to cope with those in other faculties. Mr Turbqtt yesterday urged all students to allow up to half a day to complete formalities, although he expects that most will be finished more quickly. One Form One enrolment form will be used, instead of many. Form A tor those enrolling for the first time has extra space for the matriculation declaration and for a record of previous academic attainments which will be valuable to the liaison officer. It also has a diagram of the university to assist students to find the many departments. Form B for those returning and the rest of Form A covers claims tor scholarship and bursary assistance, enrolment in the’student health service and the university library, course and lecture details, and arrangements about fees. Some sections require repetition of information because they will be sent to different departments. Enrolments will be accepted for the faculties of law, commerce, and fine arts on Monday: fine arts again.

teachers' college students and holders of first and secondyear post-primary teachers’ studentships on Tuesday; and all other faculties and advanced studentships on Wednesday. Provision is made for late entries in al] other faculties on Thursday and Friday. Fine arts students will commence enrolments at the School of Art at Ham ami come into the city to complete the formalities; professional engineering students yet to enrol will also go first to Ham; but moat will report to the central site—-first-year students to room 41 in the east (old Boys' High School) block and others to the geography block. After collecting forms they will consult their tutors and then have forms checked and pay fees in the university hall. A “traffic check” will ba made this year to find out where and how any hold-ups occur.

All the information about each student will be transferred to punch cards the same day so thM, for the first time, the university will be able to produce immediately a great variety of statistics on numbers, courses, subjects—“almost anything except how many have red hair," as one official put it.