# TCSI Early Exit Awards Packet

## Overview <a href="#overview" id="overview"></a>

Students who decide to discontinue their studies prior to earning their qualification may be eligible to graduate with a related qualification or award in a process known as Early Exit. For Higher Education providers, these academic outcomes are reported to the government in the form of an [Early Exit Packet](https://www.tcsisupport.gov.au/reporting/hestudent/course-admission-shortcuts/exit-awards). Paradigm offers an efficient mechanism for [reporting Early Exit awards via the Course Graduation screen](https://docs.silverband.com.au/home/paradigm-knowledge-base/student-enrolments/workflows/manage-course-enrolments/report-an-early-exit-award-via-the-graduation-screen).

This article provides an overview of the Early Exit packet, including the order of events that are needed for reporting an Early Exit award.

## What is an Early Exit

An early exit happens when a student, already admitted to the course, chooses to discontinue their studies for one of many reasons (e.g. withdrawal, transfers to complete a related course, medical reasons, etc.) and satisfies the academic eligibility requirements to graduate with a related course or award. For example, a student currently undertaking a bachelor’s degree may be eligible for an early exit to graduate with a diploma. It is common for providers to publish information regarding eligible exit pathways for each course in their official course or handbook material.

Read more about the TCSI Exit awards packet [here](https://www.tcsisupport.gov.au/reporting/hestudent/course-admission-shortcuts/exit-awards/2021).

## Processing an Early Exit in Paradigm Step-by-Step Guide <a href="#processing-an-early-exit-in-paradigm-step-by-step-guide" id="processing-an-early-exit-in-paradigm-step-by-step-guide"></a>

The provided workflow outlines the steps to initiate an Early Exit within Paradigm. We suggest beginning the process from STEP 1 and bypassing any sections you've already accomplished.

### <mark style="color:green;">STEP</mark> <mark style="color:green;"></mark><mark style="color:green;">**(**</mark><mark style="color:green;">1)</mark> Finalise ALL Early Exited Course linked Unit Enrolments <a href="#step-1-finalise-all-linked-unit-enrolments" id="step-1-finalise-all-linked-unit-enrolments"></a>

* Make sure that all linked Unit Enrolments to the Course to be early exited have the correct completion status values ([E355](https://www.tcsisupport.gov.au/element/355)), and that all the required Unit Enrolment details have been reported and validated by TCSI. To configure the E355 in Paradigm, you can follow the instructions outlined in the workflow available [here](https://docs.silverband.com.au/home/v/paradigm-knowledge-base/system-configuration/workflows/map-status-and-code-items-to-tcsi-values).

### <mark style="color:green;">STEP (2)</mark> Set the Early Exited Course Enrolment Status – TCSI Course Outcome Code ([E599](https://www.tcsisupport.gov.au/element/599)) <a href="#step-2-set-the-course-enrolment-status-tcsi-course-outcome-code-e599" id="step-2-set-the-course-enrolment-status-tcsi-course-outcome-code-e599"></a>

1. Update the Course Outcome code ([E599](https://www.tcsisupport.gov.au/element/599)) of the Course Enrolment to be early exited accordingly. To configure the E599 in Paradigm, you can follow the instructions outlined in the workflow available [here](https://docs.silverband.com.au/home/v/paradigm-knowledge-base/system-configuration/workflows/map-status-and-code-items-to-tcsi-values).
2. Do you need to provide credentials for the Awarded Course?&#x20;
   * **Yes** - proceed to [<mark style="color:green;">**STEP (3)**</mark>](#step-3-process-the-awarded-qualification-course-credentials)
   * **No** - Report an [Early Exit Award in Paradigm via the Graduation screen](https://docs.silverband.com.au/home/paradigm-knowledge-base/student-enrolments/workflows/manage-course-enrolments/report-an-early-exit-award-via-the-graduation-screen).&#x20;

### <mark style="color:green;">STEP (3)</mark> Process the Awarded Qualification/Course Credentials <a href="#step-3-process-the-awarded-qualification-course-credentials" id="step-3-process-the-awarded-qualification-course-credentials"></a>

* *<mark style="color:green;">Do you need to create a new Course Enrolment record for the awarded course?</mark>*
  * <mark style="color:green;">**No**</mark> - set the graduated award via the Graduation screen
    1. [Edit the Graduation Details](https://docs.silverband.com.au/home/paradigm-knowledge-base/student-enrolments/workflows/manage-course-enrolments/edit-graduation-details) of the course to be early exited.
    2. Go to the `GRADUATION` section and set the **Graduated Award** field accordingly.
    3. Add the other graduation details as required.
    4. Report an [Early Exit Award in Paradigm via the Graduation screen](https://docs.silverband.com.au/home/paradigm-knowledge-base/student-enrolments/workflows/manage-course-enrolments/report-an-early-exit-award-via-the-graduation-screen).&#x20;
  * <mark style="color:green;">**Yes**</mark> - This step is necessary if you want to provide the necessary course credentials to a student with the course or award they will receive when doing an early exit from their previous Course Enrolment.
    1. Enrol in the Awarded Qualification/Course. Refer to the [**Transfer Credits to the Awarded Course** instructions](https://docs.silverband.com.au/home/paradigm-knowledge-base/student-enrolments/workflows/manage-course-enrolments/transfer-of-credits-between-course-enrolments#transfer-credits-to-the-awarded-course)
    2. Refer to [Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Exemptions](https://docs.silverband.com.au/home/paradigm-knowledge-base/student-enrolments/workflows/manage-unit-enrolments/recognition-of-prior-learning-rpl-and-credit-exemptions) workflows in applying credits to Unit Enrolments (as necessary and as required)
    3. After enrolling in the awarded qualification/course and you have applied credit for all unit enrolments, update the Course Outcome code ([E599](https://www.tcsisupport.gov.au/element/599)) of the awarded course accordingly, e.g. “Completed”.

### <mark style="color:green;">STEP (4)</mark> If Continuing Study with a Different Course <a href="#step-4-if-continuing-study-with-a-different-course" id="step-4-if-continuing-study-with-a-different-course"></a>

This step is necessary if you want the student to be enrolled in a course that is different to the current or existing course that they have early exited upon.

1. Enrol in the New Course where the student will continue to study. Refer to the [**Transfer Credits to the Awarded Course** instructions](https://docs.silverband.com.au/home/paradigm-knowledge-base/student-enrolments/workflows/manage-course-enrolments/transfer-of-credits-between-course-enrolments#transfer-credits-to-the-awarded-course) (as necessary and as required).
2. Refer to [Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Exemptions](https://docs.silverband.com.au/home/paradigm-knowledge-base/student-enrolments/workflows/manage-unit-enrolments/recognition-of-prior-learning-rpl-and-credit-exemptions) workflows in applying credits to unit enrolments (as necessary and as required)
3. Enrol in all other Scheduled Units required to finish the new course for the specific enrolment time period.


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