whose decision is it?

adocholiday · 03-09-2011 12:21am #1

someone I know (not me) has accepted a place in a part time course. I understand that part time students are not eligible for the grant and I told this person the same. They applied anyway and got accepted.

I told them that they should double check to be sure. They rang the awarding body and said look its a part time course want to clarify. Lady said oh il check...came back said yeah no prob its progression etc.

This person is now due to register and is worried about how the college will treat it. Who does the final decision lie with? This is v important because they won't be able to do the course otherwise.

whereismysheep · 03-09-2011 2:59am

Lies with the social welfare offices, as it is they who are paying your friend, not the college, also when your friend registers the issue of the grant shouldnt come up, as it hasnt anything to do with the college per-say.

adocholiday · 03-09-2011 9:50am

Well what happens now then? Does anyone know what the procedure is between the college and awarding body? My friend registers online and has to produce the grant letter to the college same as everyone else. Surely the college will raise a query somewhere?

I forgot to mention that my friend is progressing from an undergrad degree for which they received the full grant, to a part time hdip. Just in case its relevant.

p28559 · 03-09-2011 12:15pm

your friend should write to the awarding authority to inform them just to be sure to be sure......if they say its covered then its covered...if your friend knows that the course should not be covered by the grant and accepts the money the awarding authority in theory could refer the matter to the gardai for fraud....if they find out......i wouldnt risk it.

Annasopra · 03-09-2011 12:44pm

Part time courses are not eligible for grants. If the county council says that she can get a grant then perhaps there are some circumstances for that. She needs to apply.

adocholiday · 03-09-2011 2:30pm

She has applied and was awarded. Rang to clarify and was confirmed. It would seem that the person in the awarding body made a personal decision to award it, which I think is cause to be worried. Someone else could be dealing with the next stage of it. Thanks for the feedback everyone

ninty9er · 03-09-2011 2:33pm

Define "part-time".

What is the course?

adocholiday · 03-09-2011 2:43pm

ninty9er wrote: »

Define "part-time".

What is the course?

It's one day per week for a year. Actually the person on the phone asked the same question and was satisfied that a day per week for a year was ok. Rather not give any details at the minute though. It's listed as part time on the curriculum.

adocholiday · 05-09-2011 10:20am

Bump

Annasopra · 05-09-2011 10:59am

adocholiday wrote: »

Bump

Why are you bumping this? your friend has been approved!

adocholiday · 05-09-2011 11:20am

I want to know if the acceptance letter is the end of it. Is there any more parts to the application process where the decision could be queried or reversed?

If not then apologies for bumping the thread

Annasopra · 05-09-2011 11:30am

adocholiday wrote: »

I want to know if the acceptance letter is the end of it. Is there any more parts to the application process where the decision could be queried or reversed?

If not then apologies for bumping the thread

I'm not sure to be honest. It sounds a bit dodge though.

adocholiday · 14-09-2011 7:55pm

Ok update here. My friend has registered at college etc all going ok. Today she went to collect student card but was told that she is required to pay a third of her fees before it can issue.

To cut a long story short she ended up having to contact the awarding body. They contacted the college who said that they won't accept a grant for a part time course. The awarding body explained that they were happy awarding the grant but no joy.

They rang my friend explained the situation and want her to get a letter from the course director stating that she is at the course and will have a qualification at the end of it. They will see how to progress then.

What's your opinion on it? I thought that the college had no real say in the grant. Surely refusing to accept the grant is out of line on their part?

Annasopra · 17-09-2011 9:35pm

adocholiday wrote: »

Ok update here. My friend has registered at college etc all going ok. Today she went to collect student card but was told that she is required to pay a third of her fees before it can issue.

To cut a long story short she ended up having to contact the awarding body. They contacted the college who said that they won't accept a grant for a part time course. The awarding body explained that they were happy awarding the grant but no joy.

They rang my friend explained the situation and want her to get a letter from the course director stating that she is at the course and will have a qualification at the end of it. They will see how to progress then.

What's your opinion on it? I thought that the college had no real say in the grant. Surely refusing to accept the grant is out of line on their part?

I think that this is a very odd situation - why would the awarding body allow this through in the first place. It seems like the person in the awarding body is going out of their way to bend the rules and to be honest I don't think it's fair or ethical - If your friend is doing a part time course then she isn't entitled to a grant. Just like every other part time student. I sympathise but I don't see why the rules should be bent for your friend. That being said I don't know the full circumstances

adocholiday · 17-09-2011 10:41pm

It is a most unusual situation but the impression I am getting is that this particular awarding body have done this before. They don't seem too bothered by the fact that it is a part time course at all. There are no other circumstances per say. The applicant has no unique criteria that would sway a decision. But it's all completely legit. No false claims have been made or false information given. She has been completely up front with everything.

At the same time, the system fails part time students spectacularly. This same girl is currently unemployed but can't claim dole while in college because she is not available 1 day per week. At the same time she cannot officially avail of the grant because she has the opportunity of working in a full time job.... If the govt want people up-skilling and not just waiting around for things to change they need to look at helping out part time students in some way because most postgrads are part time! But that's an argument for another thread!

Obviously this is not a common occurrence so there is no real precedence. Just have to wait to see how it works out.

btw in case anyone is interested, I will not be giving the details of the awarding body or the college in this situation. Have had some contact re this and for my friend's sake I'm keeping this info private.

whose decision is it?

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