Dear Mr Brooks,

 

I refer to your email of 11 February 2022.

 

“(1) Is completing the DELNA (screening test or diagnostic test) a
compulsory requirement for undergraduates to graduate? For avoidance of
doubt, the term undergraduate used in this OIA request only refers to
students undertaking a Bachelors (including conjoint) degree(s).”

The Academic English Language Requirement is a requirement for all
domestic students, and all international students applying on the basis of
a New Zealand secondary school qualification or results at another New
Zealand tertiary institution, who are admitted to a University of Auckland
bachelors degree qualification, with the exception of the Bachelor of
Education(Teaching) Huarahi Mâori specialisation. The Academic English
Language Requirement can be met by an entry qualification, an acceptable
result in DELNA screening and/or diagnosis, or the student passing an
academic English language course (approved by Senate or its
representative). Full details are as set out in regulations 22 and 23 of
University’s Enrolment and Programme Regulations, publicly available here:
[1]https://www.calendar.auckland.ac.nz/en/g...

 

“(2) Number of undergraduate students that were prevented from graduating
(not eligible to graduate) because of not attempting DELNA (i.e. students
that did not chose to sit the DELNA screening and/or diagnosis test). For
avoidance of doubt, the term undergraduate used in this OIA request only
refers to students undertaking a Bachelors (including conjoint) degree(s).

(3) In regards to (2), did the University of Auckland at any point of time
remind those undergraduate students who have yet to sit/attempt DELNA
through their student email, asking them to sit DELNA? For avoidance of
doubt, the term undergraduate used in this OIA request only refers to
students undertaking a Bachelors (including conjoint) degree(s).

(4) The total number of undergraduate students that have been formally
awarded a qualification from the University of Auckland without
attempting/sitting DELNA. For avoidance of doubt, the term undergraduate
used in this OIA request only refers to students undertaking a Bachelors
(including conjoint) degree(s).”

Under section 12(2) of the Official Information Act 1982, requests need to
specify the official information requested with due particularity. To make
an OIA request for the information referred to in parts 2-4 of your email,
you need to specify which years your request relates to.

 

Yours sincerely,

Rebecca Ewert

General Counsel

 

From: Mr Brooks <[2][FOI #18540 email]>
Sent: Friday, 11 February 2022 8:27 PM
To: legal <[3][email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - DELNA

 

Dear University of Auckland,

I am requesting information from the University of Auckland regarding
DELNA (Diagnostic English Language Needs Assessment)

Could you please provide information or answer the following questions:

(1) Is completing the DELNA (screening test or diagnostic test) a
compulsory requirement for undergraduates to graduate? For avoidance of
doubt, the term undergraduate used in this OIA request only refers to
students undertaking a Bachelors (including conjoint) degree(s).

(2) Number of undergraduate students that were prevented from graduating
(not eligible to graduate) because of not attempting DELNA (i.e. students
that did not chose to sit the DELNA screening and/or diagnosis test). For
avoidance of doubt, the term undergraduate used in this OIA request only
refers to students undertaking a Bachelors (including conjoint) degree(s).

(3) In regards to (2), did the University of Auckland at any point of time
remind those undergraduate students who have yet to sit/attempt DELNA
through their student email, asking them to sit DELNA? For avoidance of
doubt, the term undergraduate used in this OIA request only refers to
students undertaking a Bachelors (including conjoint) degree(s).

(4) The total number of undergraduate students that have been formally
awarded a qualification from the University of Auckland without
attempting/sitting DELNA. For avoidance of doubt, the term undergraduate
used in this OIA request only refers to students undertaking a Bachelors
(including conjoint) degree(s).

Yours faithfully,

Mr Brooks

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Dear Mr Brooks,

 

Thank you for  advising your request is for the years 2019-2021.

 

“(2) Number of undergraduate students that were prevented from graduating
(not eligible to graduate) because of not attempting DELNA (i.e. students
that did not chose to sit the DELNA screening and/or diagnosis test). For
avoidance of doubt, the term undergraduate used in this OIA request only
refers to students undertaking a Bachelors (including conjoint)
degree(s).”

Zero. As stated in my earlier response, DELNA is not itself a graduation
requirement. Failure to meet the Academic English Language Requirement can
result in discontinuation under the Enrolment and Programme Regulations.
The Academic English Language Requirement can be met through DELNA. See
the University’s Enrolment and Programme Regulations here ([1]Enrolment
and Programme Regulations - The University of Auckland ) for the
University’s rules on the Academic English Language Requirement and DELNA.

“(3) In regards to (2), did the University of Auckland at any point of
time
remind those undergraduate students who have yet to sit/attempt DELNA
through their student email, asking them to sit DELNA? For avoidance of
doubt, the term undergraduate used in this OIA request only refers to
students undertaking a Bachelors (including conjoint) degree(s).”

 

N/A.

“(4) The total number of undergraduate students that have been formally
awarded a qualification from the University of Auckland without
attempting/sitting DELNA. For avoidance of doubt, the term undergraduate
used in this OIA request only refers to students undertaking a Bachelors
(including conjoint) degree(s).”

The University does not record this information for graduates in a
systematic way, and cannot provide it without substantial collation or
research. The University’s systems ensure that graduating students meet
the Academic English Language Requirement – it is not important for
University graduation purposes whether this requirement is met through
DELNA or some other means. Neither consulting with you, extending the time
limit, nor imposing a charge would allow this part of your request to be
granted.

 

You have the right to make a complaint to an Ombudsman if you are
dissatisfied with this response.

 

Yours sincerely,

Rebecca Ewert

General Counsel

University of Auckland

 

 

From: Mr Brooks <[2][FOI #18540 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 15 February 2022 4:06 PM
To: Rebecca Ewert <[3][email address]>
Subject: Re: 2022-OIA-0036-Brooks

 

Dear Rebecca Ewert,

Thank you for your prompt reply to my OIA request dated 11 February 2022.

For parts 2-4 of my request, I'm asking for the years 2019-2021
(inclusive). I hope this satisfies section 12(2) of the OIA 1982.

I do note that if my current timeframe (2019-2021) requires extensive time
to research and collate the information, then I'm willing to shorten my
request to a particular year. Please do let me know if this is the case.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Brooks

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