When the faculty structures were introduced in 1996, the college of music lost its status as a college with four schools and was reduced to a school within a faculty with four departments. In 1997, there were major fee increases and students were not allowed to take up places. In the spring of 1997, parents were informed that the fees were being increased for £165 to £250. They were also told they had to pay the fees in June, whereas previously they had paid them in September. In September, new students who were willing to pay fees were not allowed to enrol. Heads of departments were instructed that they could only fill 50 places. In September 1997, students were refused places and part-time students reduced from 2,000 to 1,400. On 23 January 2003, at an emergency meeting of staff of the Dublin Institute of Technology Conservatory of Music and Drama, the director of the conservatory announced to staff that all students were to be reassessed and re-auditioned in March, tuition fees were to be increased and parents would be instructed to pay fees for the new academic year by April. This is a disastrous situation which militates against other things.