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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU in my interpretation here or is the Uni?

98 replies

Welshmaenad · 30/03/2015 18:11

I'm a first year full time student working towards a degree and professional qualification.

On Mother's Day I was bitten by a dog. It fractured the top of the index finger on my dominant hand and bit through my nail down to the bone. There was a lot of concern as I'm a diabetic and an infection in a compound fracture could be very serious. There was talk of keeping me in on IV antibiotics but they agreed to let me home on strong oral antibiotics and painkillers. I was seen several times at fracture clinic, am now discharged, but was under strict orders to rest until the wound was fully healed - it's getting there but still not healed and is still painful. I also reacted very badly to the tetanus jab and was ill for over a week.

I have applied for an extension to one essay via extenuating circumstances through student services. The original submission date has passed. I was advised to ask for 4 weeks and my module leader supported my application (she actually wants me to apply for extensions for other essays too). I submitted a 2 week sick note supplied by fracture clinic, my clinic appt card, and actually showed them the wound.

They've come back and asked for a further sick note up to the amended submission date I've requested. My argument is, when submitting via Turnitin we are required to initial a field to confirm we are 'fit to sit'. If I'm expected to be signed off as 'unfit' until the date I submit, where is my 'fit time' to complete the work, and why am I being asked to simultaneously declare myself fit and provide a note saying I'm unfit?

I don't think I should require documentation saying I'm unfit for the entire length of the extension and gave communicated thus. I'm waiting to hear back but would like to know if I'm BU.

Before anyone points out I've typed this, yes I have, with one finger, and it took me ages, it's not feasible for a 2000 word essay.

If it's relevant, all other work has been submitted on time, I've not asked for EC before, my attendance is good and I'm getting 1:1 equivalent marks on most things submitted.

OP posts:

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 31/03/2015 07:45

You're saying that you should have an extra extension after your sick note has ended to enable you to do the work. The thing is that you will still have been able to plan and read during your sick leave so literally all you need to do is type up, which should take 3 hours even for the slowest typist. Call it a working 8 hour day for a bit of redrafting and quote looking up. So asking for any more than one day after the end of your sick note to do the actual write up is cheeky. As everyone also has said, it's only 2,000 words - I post more than that on MN using one finger on my iPhone during a working day (but not while actually in work just for the record ).

KatieKaye · 31/03/2015 07:45

If anyone from your university is on MN and sees just how able your are to type I don't think they are going to be very sympathetic to your claims of being unable to type a 2000 essay.

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 31/03/2015 07:49

That's a good point. Unless you've changed the details significantly OP and were actually nibbled by an Okapi on Shrove Tuesday then this is the world's most identifying thread and you should get it removed.

KatieKaye · 31/03/2015 07:58

Actually I think OP should just accept she has proven she is more than capable of typing and should just accept she's been swinging the lead, buckle down and write the essay.

ChopperGordino · 31/03/2015 08:06

IME "fit to sit" is separate from extensions being granted. I haven't known extensions to be anything more than at a module leader's discretion so evidence is not always required. "Fit to sit" is about whether there are any adverse circumstances affecting your performance, in which case if you judge yourself incapable of submittable work then you shouldn't submit and should supply evidence to show why.

However your university's regs may be different, and I would suggest meeting the two-week extension if you can, and if you think it is beyond you then ask the doctor for another note. I'm surprised your ML advised you to submit for longer than you needed (extensions have to allow for marking/moderation time), but it may be worth checking the university regs yourself if you haven't already done so.

roisin · 31/03/2015 08:07

OK, I'm not diabetic, but I had a similar injury a few years back. My finger bone was completely snapped, my finger end was almost amputated - literally hanging off in an alarming fashion, spurting a lot of blood. I was astonished at how painful it was.

However, the only time I had off work was for the actual appointments at fracture clinic and nurse, to have the wound re-dressed and the dozen or so stitches removed.

It's one finger, it's not a debilitating injury. Get a grip.

LadyIsabellaWrotham · 31/03/2015 08:08

That too Katie

Happyringo · 31/03/2015 08:11

Tbf I think a week before submission you should've had a draft ready, regardless of whether you've been on placement or not. Are you a student nurse? Writing essays whilst working full time on placement is par for the course I'm afraid, and only gets worse as you progress through the course and the essays get much longer!

Caboodle · 31/03/2015 08:19

I'm a bit on the fence about this; my feeling is that 2000 words is not a lot (my record for a 2000 word essay is 4 hours including 'reading' and getting to Uni to hand it in....) and if you have the planning done then that is the bulk of the work.
However, your medical history plays a part I think. Is their still a chance of infection or is the wound closed?
However, week extension = 400 words a day and weekend off. I think this is doable.
Possibly Y are being a bit U. I'd just crack on.

AuntieStella · 31/03/2015 08:26

The writing is one part of the task.

2000 words over 4 weeks is 71 words a day (far less than you are capable of, as evidenced by posts here).

I suggest you stop quibbling over the form, do the work and get it handed in. Write a letter if you believe the form does not reflect your circumstances adequately. Seek further extensions if you need them. But be realistic about your chances.

Roussette · 31/03/2015 08:38

OK... it's your index finger on your dominant hand. Just hold it out straight and use all the other fingers, what on earth is the problem? I've just tried it out and typed that sentence just as fast doing that.

All these extensions are really unnecessary unless you are in hospital and totally out of it. My DD was doing the same Uni course with a flatmate (intensive degree, lots of assignments and essays) and her flatmate spent most of the time pursuing extensions yet was quite happy to eat drink and make merry with my DD when they got the chance. There was absolutely nothing wrong with her, she was just disorganised and late typing up her assignments!

OP, you need to bite the bullet and just get on with it, it could be done by this time tomorrow if you wanted it to be!

Original poster

Welshmaenad · 31/03/2015 08:50

Caboodle, my medical history is relevant, as its complex - more so than I want to go into here but it's had an effect. There is still chance of infection - I actually took the nail off yesterday and it has reopened the round slightly but it was catching - and I'm still required to dress it daily. I have a standby script for more antibiotics.

OP posts:

sashh · 31/03/2015 08:59

I don't understand why a bite on one finger has stopped you using 8 more?

You have several options to complete an essay, there is software such as via voice that you could use, if you don't have a version on your computer then there will be one at a uni library. Many versions of windows have their own.

You could dictate your essay to a scribe - again ask the uni.

Submit your work so far and ask for a viva.

None of these require to use any fingers.

I don't think I should require documentation saying I'm unfit for the entire length of the extension and gave communicated thus. I'm waiting to hear back but would like to know if I'm BU

So you think the uni should give you an extension just because you asked for it?

FanFuckingTastic · 31/03/2015 09:03

I totally get that wounds on a diabetic can be very troublesome, I watched a friend with a very minor injury to the leg take months to heal and need lots of care, and one handed typing is a pain in the bottom, are your symptoms really very severe? I can't sit long in a chair, so would have to study in bed, pain can be managed so long as there isn't anything else to cloud your mind.

I find my mind works pretty well despite pain, but understand that sometimes infections can leave you feverish or feeling very ill.

muminhants · 31/03/2015 09:11

Unis don't have to and are preparing students for the reality of work

At work you'd get a sick note and go off for the four weeks. OK if you've less than two years' service they might sack you. But if you have, they'll have to go through a procedure to get rid of you and assuming this is a one-off, they wouldn't do it.

However, to be honest, I think 2000 words is not very much. Either get a friend to type for you as you dictate or type one-handed. Yes it will take a while, but if you've got 2 weeks, that's 14 days to do the 2000 words. Lets say 200 a day and 4 days to check it through and make corrections. You can do it, think positive!

sashh · 31/03/2015 09:30

At work you'd get a sick note and go off for the four weeks.

And if you only have a sick note for 2 weeks but take 4?

KatieKaye · 31/03/2015 12:46

That would be unauthorised absence and could result in dismissal from work.

OP despite your medical history you still haven't explained how you can type on MN but not type an essay? The fact you are typing here seems like evidence you are capable, whether one handed, one gingered or whatever.

MrsHathaway · 31/03/2015 13:16

It seems obvious to me.

OP is advised to take four weeks off. Those four weeks should date from the injury. The deadline should be extended by four weeks also... which means it expires the same number of days after the sick note as the deadline was after the injury - allowing her to eg attend classes and produce first class essays. I absolutely see the OP's point about the absurdity of declaring yourself sick until a millisecond before submission

My impression of the OP is that she prepared well and always intended to do the work, but equally intends to take medical advice seriously. This thread is more a philosophical question than anything.

Get well soon, OP, and pull your socks up. You absolutely must catch up over the holidays so you aren't behind when teaching restarts.

Custardcream14 · 31/03/2015 13:34

My department would have given you one week, it's not an extension, it's just an opportunity to for 7 days to say why you've submitted late.

madreloco · 31/03/2015 13:34

Who cares whether what they want is logical or not? Get whatever note they have asked for, and get on with your essay. You're just wasting time and energy arguing about it.

If you are expecting university admin to make sense, you have a couple of long years ahead of you!

sparechange · 31/03/2015 13:36

OP, didn't you have a thread yesterday about how your MIL keeps insisting on coming to stay but requires constant entertaining, and gets under your feet..?
Tell her to come because you've got a job for her to do... Assuming she can use a keyboard?

PurpleBananaPie · 31/03/2015 13:42

YANBU

I am also admin in a University. We have had a student successfully appeal against their marks before now as although they had a sick note signing them off for 4 weeks, we only gave an extension until the day after the sick note ran out.

Basically the sick note meant that they were not fit to work (nothing that would have stopped them writing and essay!) and the extension should have ignored that time completely and started once they were fit again.

tulipbulbs · 31/03/2015 14:09

You're being a little self indulgent. A degree is a discipline and that means overcoming obstacles to achieve it. That is what you sell to an employer as much as the knowledge you gain. The university has been generous in giving you two weeks. If you want more then give them the documentation. I've seen people given far less in more difficult circumstances. 2000 words is nothing. Wait until you have to do a thesis. University is a big step up, so take it.

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