KEY POINTS:
The University of Auckland has stepped closer to a plan to restrict entry to all undergraduate courses from 2009.
The institution's senate - the academic decision-making body - yesterday approved a proposal to limit entries to arts, education, science, theology and first year law.
The university says it is making the changes to cope with a shortfall of money driven by tertiary sector reforms.
It said last night that the decision - which will go to full council for rubber-stamping - would have minimal impact on student numbers.
The university's deputy vice-chancellor (academic), Professor Raewyn Dalziel, said it was not the only university having to face a change in admission policy due to the new Government funding policy.
"We plan to reduce the proportion of undergraduate students progressively by only a small percentage," she said. "Adjusting to the Government's new funding regime is likewise expected to have little effect on numbers admitted to those faculties."
She said the university planned to establish a taskforce to consider how to increase enrolment of under-represented students.
"The special admission schemes which set aside places for Maori, Pacific and other under-represented communities operating in faculties which already restrict entry will be expanded," she said. "The task force will be looking at the equity implications of the proposed admission policy to ensure that prospective students from all backgrounds have equal opportunity to achieve their potential."
The university said the policy had been recommended following extensive consultation across faculties and with students.
The students' association, which opposed the plan, said a proposed taskforce to look at equity issues was "the cart before the horse".
