Bursar admits blunder

Freshers at an Oxford college have been told they will be shut out of their rooms if they fail to pay the Pounds 1,000 tuition fee a week before term starts. They must also provide a financial guarantor should they default on debts.

A strongly worded letter from St Edmund Hall domestic bursar Geoffrey Bourne-Taylor last week reminded them to pay before September 25. An earlier note said: "You will also be required to provide a guarantor to whom we can apply for payment in the (we hope) unlikely event of your being unable to meet commitments."

Students condemned the letters as threatening, while one parent of a St Edmund Hall student said needing to provide a financial guarantor could deter people from poorer backgrounds.

It is unusual for universities to demand guarantors. Mark Strathdene, acting president of Oxford University student union, said: "There is no need for fees to be paid that early or for students to be put under the pressure and embarrassment of ringing up the bursar to make out a special case if they cannot pay on time."

Last week's letter stated: "It is important that you understand that the obligation to pay the newly imposed Pounds 1,000 fee is yours, even if your local education authority has agreed to make this payment." It went on to say a letter from the LEA was not enough.

But Mr Bourne-Taylor admitted he had perhaps been too hasty. "I think I must have spoken to about ten to 15 people who have telephoned, which was when I realised there was a misunderstanding," he said.

He said the last thing the college wanted was to turn people away or cause them distress and letters from LEAs would be perfectly acceptable.

He has now written to all freshers apologising for the mistake, although everyone eligible to pay fees has settled their bill.

Mr Bourne-Taylor said that asking for a financial guarantor was to help the college "know where to go" if there was a problem with students paying fees, accommodation or maintenance. "It gives us a bit more contact with parents. The financial guarantee is a question of giving a bit more pastoral care," he said.

He said parents often thanked him for alerting them if their children were overspending.

Students at the college are routinely called in for a chat with the bursar if they build up too much debt with the college.