University Exceeds Enrolment

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31967, 19 April 1969, Page 14

University Exceeds Enrolment

r.Vt» Zealand Press Association»

HAMILTON. April 17

The University of Waikato had exceeded enrolment for 1969 by about 25 per cent, the vice-chancellor (Dr D. R. Llewellyn) said in Hamilton today.

He was replying to the suggestion by an Auckland University lecturer in education, Mr E. W. Braithwaite, that money should qot be invested in the university until there was more evidence of its capacity to grow. Mr Braithwaite was clearly unaware of the way in which universities were planned and financed, Dr Llewellyn said. “He should know that recurring grants for universi-

(ties extend over a five-year J period and only in exceptional circumstances are changes made during any such period,” he said. The present five-year period ■vould terminate at the end . of this year, by which time, the university was planned' by the University Grants! ■Committee to have 450 students. The building programme, appointment of staff and range of courses had been geared to this figure. “In fact we have exceeded this number of students by about 25 per cent,” said Dr iLlewellyn. , Last year only Auckland University had a higher percentage increase in student numbers. The only additional evidence of the capacity of , ;the University of Waikato to grow would have been a higher student enrolment, which 1 was not possible until facili- ' ties were adequate. ' This expansion had been j planned for 1970. i Dr Llewellyn said he believed that students expect- 1 ing to enrol at Auckland 1 University would prefer to go ( to a full-time institution elsewhere, such as the University of Waikato, where a full 1 range of courses and facili- i ties were offered, rather than . be directed to a branch col- | lege or satellite institution. ,