Glossing over results

I’M A USQ alumnus.

And I have the deepest respect and gratitude for my lecturers.

But the university’s response to two reports over the past two months has given me pause.

Earlier this week, the Employer Satisfaction Survey revealed USQ had the lowest approval rating of 41 Australian universities that were compared for employer satisfaction.

This comes after a Department of Education report in December which listed USQ as one of the worst when it came to students completing their degrees within a six-year period.

The Chronicle’s reporters Amy Lyne and Tom Gillespie tried to speak with USQ vice-chancellor professor Geraldine Mackenzie after the reports were released, but in both instances their requests were declined and instead, the university issued media releases with comments from Professor Mackenzie.

In December, Professor Mackenzie said the university’s low completion rate was “misleading” because it didn’t take into account part-time, older or external students’ lives.

And yesterday, in response to Mr Gillespie’s questions, Professor Mackenzie glossed over the poor ratings and instead said the survey “reflects positively on all aspects of USQ graduate attributes”.

Universities are in competition with each other and rankings are important which is why the vice-chancellor reminds people that USQ was recognised by the Good Universities Guide as having graduates with the highest starting salary.

Professor Mackenzie is happy to applaud USQ’s success but ought to acknowledge problems so they can be addressed.

Transparency is especially important in universities. Traditionally, they are robust institutions which deplore spin.