What is FTES?
Full Time Equivalent Students, FTES, is an important measure used as the basis for the resource allocation.
FTES is calculated by dividing attempted units by 15 for undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students and by 12 for graduate students (seeking a master’s or doctoral degree). For example, suppose an undergraduate psychology major is taking the following courses in a given term (see below). Because the student is an undergraduate student taking 15 units, the student generate FTES of 1.
| Course | Unit | FTES |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 1500 | 3 | 0.20 |
| PSY 3020 | 4 | 0.2666 |
| ENGL 1010 | 3 | 0.2666 |
| MATH 1090 | 3 | 0.20 |
| MATH 1101 | 1 | 0.0666 |
| TOTAL | 15 | 1 |
There are two means of distributing FTES to departments or colleges: course-based or student-based.
The course-based FTES is FTES aggregated by departments or colleges that offer the courses. The student-based FTES is FTES aggregated by departments or colleges that students' majors are under. For example, the student above produces the student-based FTES of 1 for the Psychology department, because the student is majored in psychology. The student produces the course-based FTES of 0.4666 for the Psychology department, 0.2666 for the English department and 0.2666 for the Mathematics department.