De Montfort University is given fine after over-recruiting students
De Montfort University will have almost £3.4 million slashed from its annual funding after over-recruiting more students than any other university in the country.
The Leicester institution took on 913 more students than it was allowed to last September – significantly more than that of the second worst offender, the University of Hertfordshire, which recruited an extra 502.
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De Montfort University, Leicester
The figures were released by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) today.
The university said "record applications" gave rise to "an exceptional set of circumstances" in 2009.
Speaking to the Leicester Mercury ahead of the fines being made public today, Dominic Shellard, the new vice-chancellor and chief executive at De Montfort University, said controls were now in place to ensure recruitment targets for 2010 and future years were not exceeded.
He said: "We fully accept the fine. Every university was informed of the consequences of breaching the cap in November 2008.
"I have completely rebuilt our relationship with the HEFCE and their chief executive, Sir Alan Langlands, will be visiting De Montfort in October.
"This year we've taken a full review of our admissions process and we hope not to exceed the cap this year.
"Because of our good financial health we're still expecting a surplus on our budget for next year.
"The fine won't affect the quality of our student experience.
"We are not having to take any drastic measures because we are losing this money."
Mr Shellard, who took on the role on June 25, added: "I am extremely proud and honoured to be the new vice-chancellor at the university.
"It's an excellent institution and is well positioned to prosper in the next few years."
The fine will be deducted from the university's funding allocation from the HEFCE for 2010-11.
The funding council is docking grants by £3,700 per additional pupil, leaving De Montfort with a shortfall of £3.378 million.
A HEFCE spokesman said: "This action is being taken to reduce the pressure on student support costs and to safeguard the position of institutions that followed the warnings given by Government and HEFCE about not recruiting above the permitted level.
"They will be implemented in equal instalments from HEFCE monthly grant payments between August 2010 and January 2011."
Despite the fine, De Montfort will still receive a grant of almost £60.4 million for 2010-11 – a slight increase of 0.3 per cent on last year due to other adjustments that have been made to funding.
The university is one of 61 higher education institutions facing fines.
A HEFCE spokesman confirmed the University of Leicester stayed within its limits when recruiting students in 2009. It will receive a grant of £64.3 million – an increase of 2.6 per cent on last year.
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by Anon, Anon
Friday, September 10 2010, 2:35PM
“From a similarly misguided article's comments:
"Prof Richard Head 13 May, 2010
Yet another piece of sensationalism-seeking journalism.
The matter of fact is that De Montfort DID NOT over-recruit. It was perfectly within the "upward trajectory" set up by ...... HEFCE.
The real issue is that HEFCE was asked by Lord Mandelson to make cuts worth tens of millions(!) of pounds . So HEFCE went back on its own earlier targets/"trajectories" to formerly "under-recruiting" universities so us to raise money from them"”
by Jack, Leicester
Friday, September 10 2010, 2:31PM
“@Nick
It's hardly surprising that if you trek half a mile from the residential areas of Leicester to the DMU campus centre in the early hours of the morning that you're going to find 'noisy' students.
Do you imagine Leicester Uni/Loughborough are any different?”
by Julie, Leicester
Thursday, July 22 2010, 10:40PM
“Oh goody, does that mean the new swimming pool will be finished soon then? It must be nearly done, they cleared the land ready by the end of last year.”
by John, Leicester
Thursday, July 22 2010, 7:42PM
“@Alan I'm sure DMU is very sorry for doing well for itself during hard times for all and after a gov cut half it's grant.
@Nick you always post the same video, but I didn't see you confirm that anyone in your video was actually a DMU student... As for the start of your video nightclubs look like that at closing time.. in fact thats pretty tame and at least there are no residential properties outside the club.
@Sadie, if it was a thriving business why did it not make a better offer than DMU for it's lease?”
by Alan, Leics
Thursday, July 22 2010, 5:30PM
“"Because of our good financial health we're still expecting a surplus on our budget for next year."
Nice to know somebody is doing so well in this recession.and not having to cut back in fact they are getting an increase, perhaps there is something wrong in the grant assesments.”
by Nick Di Perna, West End
Thursday, July 22 2010, 2:43PM
“"I have completely rebuilt our relationship with the HEFCE and their chief executive, Sir Alan Langlands, will be visiting De Montfort in October.¿
Now you just have to rebuild the relationship with the local community your institution has destroyed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2matok4SOw”
by Sandie, Westcotes
Thursday, July 22 2010, 1:21PM
“I'm pleased to hear that DMU are in "good financial health" and that they're "still expecting a surplus on their budget for next year".
Perhaps then, they will do something with the huge wasteland they have created in the heart of my community after they insisted on the demolition of the much loved Bowstring Bridge and Pump & Tap in 2009. DMU insisted this thriving business had to close and be demolished before Christmas last year and now, 8 months on, we have been left with nothing but scrap land surrounded by ugly metal security fencing.
Cheers DMU!”
by Peter, Wigston, Leicestershire
Thursday, July 22 2010, 1:14PM
“Quote:
"They couldn't care less about being an institute of higher learning, quantity over quality, and money over everything else."
SR of Leicester, do please enlighten us with your evidence to back up this ridiculous statement.”
by SR, Leicester
Thursday, July 22 2010, 12:26PM
“This just proves that De Montfort (especially) and all the other Mickey mouse universitys/ex polys are all about the money and gettting the numbers through the doors. They couldn't care less about being an institute of higher learning, quantity over quality, and money over everything else. Uncle bill is bang on the money DMU are just a bunch of money grabbing imbeciles. Them receiving this huge fine is hilarious though.
Oh and well done labour for this ridiculous policy of getting 50% of the population into 'uni'. Worked a treat hasn't it...”
by Tom, Leicester
Thursday, July 22 2010, 10:47AM
“Never mind, at least this might put a stop to them buying up more city centre land!
They are a discrace and this proves it, no wonder there is such a demand for student housing!”