IMPACT OF THE UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC CALENDAR ON ADMISSION PROCESSING EFFICIENCY IN NIGERIAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

Abstract

The university academic calendar serves as a critical framework for guiding both academic and administrative activities. In public universities in Nigeria, disruptions to this calendar can significantly hinder the efficiency of the admission process. This study investigated the relationship between the academic calendar and admission processing time in public universities within Bayelsa State. Utilizing a correlational research design, data were collected from 384 respondents, including admission officers, university administrators, and newly admitted students. Analysis was conducted using Pearson Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The findings revealed a statistically significant relationship between the academic calendar and admission processing time (r = 0.639, r² = 0.408, p < 0.05). This indicates that the university academic calendar accounts for 40.8% of the variance in admission processing time. The study concludes that maintaining stability and predictability in the academic calendar is essential for timely admissions. It also recommends policy reforms, infrastructural improvements, and the integration of digital tools to enhance the alignment between the academic calendar and the admission process.