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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I've massively fucked up and not know what to do?

64 replies

SeriousCreativeBlock · 06/07/2016 11:54

LONG, sorry.
Okay so full disclosure I have anxiety, bipolar, and an autoimmune disease. I also have a 3.5 year old DD and study at university. My mental disorders mean that sometimes I struggle with speaking to people I deem to be authority figures, and I get panicky over important emails etc.

My personal tutor at university seems to not like me at all, so I'm reluctant to go to her over this. When I tried to inform her about my autoimmune disease, she stated that it was not an excuse for "lack of engagement" in lectures.

Exam results came out yesterday. I've done way better than expected (mostly high 2:1s) BUT the system is saying that I haven't handed in 3 pieces of coursework. In actual fact, it's one piece of coursework I haven't handed in and that's because my computer hard drive died right before I was due to hand it in. Took it to PC world and they've been useless and unable to retrieve any data. In any case, the university don't accept computer issues as a reason for non-submission.

It's not that essay I'm bothered about, as I know that it's my fault and I've learned the hard way now to back up my files. It''s the other two that I put weeks of work into, lost a ridiculous amount of sleep over, and 100% HANDED THEM IN.

Anyway, so despite doing really well in my exams, I can't pass this year. I know I need to email someone but every time I think of emailing my personal tutor, I have panic attacks.

So my aibu I guess is AIBU to not know what to do and to try to find someone other than my PT to contact?

My biggest fear is being told that I have to withdraw from the university, which would be terrible as I'm in the 3rd year of a 4 year course. Or that I can retake but I'd have to take a year out and I know student finance won't fund me to do that.

OP posts:
Original poster
SeriousCreativeBlock · 06/07/2016 11:56

Oh i forgot to say that since my laptop died, I have no way of accessing these essays, and my only hope is finding the print outs I did, which could take hours in this house.
I was also locked out of my usual email address anyway (forgot password, reset is connected to an old phone), so even if they'd tried to contact me, I wouldn't have seen them.

OP posts:
iremembericod · 06/07/2016 11:58

Universities have to draw a line on submissions and if it didn't go through you do have to take responsibility for that.

You have no evidence your tutor will not help you so they must be your first port of call. Explain what has happened succinctly and ask what your options are from here.

I wouldn't necessarily think they abu if they don't accept your reason, they have to draw the line, so you really simply need to know what your options are from here.

Once you know that you can start to deal with it. At the moment you are catastrophising without any evidence.

DollyBarton · 06/07/2016 12:01

Ok, deep breath! It will be ok. Firstly, start work on that list essay. You will in all likelihood have to redo it to pass so it would look good to be able to show you have started it. I know from bitter experience that you do a much better job second time around and that it also comes to the page much easier so get cracking on that.

You need to speak to whoever you supposedly submitted the missing pieces of work to and take it from there.

I can promise you they will NOT chuck you out for this but they might if you don't deliver the unsubmitted work and come to an agreement on the 2 missing pieces which might entail being given the summer to rewrite and submit them. Or do you not still have these pieces of work??? If you do it will be proof that they were done previously and have just gotten lost somewhere.

So next step is start work on the unsubmitted piece and go speak to the person at the location you submitted the two missing pieces.

jopickles · 06/07/2016 12:01

Are they not giving you a chance to resubmit these pieces of work for a capped mark? Was the work only handed in at the end of this semester? I know its hard but you really should speak to someone about your options as you should be able to resubmit the work to allow you to complete the year. If you can't speak to your tutor you should have a student support office that you can speak to

RadicalPessimist · 06/07/2016 12:02

I'm a bit confused here. Did you submit the missing assignments online or in person? Either way you should have a receipt surely?

QueenJuggler · 06/07/2016 12:03

Did you email the essays to hand them in? If so, focus on finding out how to access your account.

MelB1992 · 06/07/2016 12:04

I think it would be good for you to send your tutor an email... It could help grow your confidence. Although you may think they do not like you they would still have to address your concerns in a professional manner.

You don't have to put anything rude at all. Just a simple:

Dear X,

I am slightly concerned after looking in the system that 2 pieces or coursework that I handed in are marked as outstanding. Would you mind having a look into this for me?

If you remember the dates you handed them in include this.
Try not to worry too much, you haven't done anything wrong!

calamityjam · 06/07/2016 12:04

Firstly, don't panic and secondly are you me? Seriously, you can definitely sort this out. Do you hand your work in over turnitin? If so it is very easy to retrieve. Do you hand in a hard copy? If so you will have signed a receipt, problem is then your tutors who lost them.

RadicalPessimist · 06/07/2016 12:05

I use to work as a university lecturer. Assignments did sometimes go astray which is why students were always given a receipt on submission so they could prove it was our error if an essay went AWOL.

SoupDragon · 06/07/2016 12:06

Have you taken your laptop to a specialist data recovery place rather than PC World?

TallulahTheTiger · 06/07/2016 12:07

What system do you use for handing in? Back in the early 00s for my undergrad we handed in in person and got an actual receipt from uni office- for my more recent masters we used turnitin which gives digital receipts, and can be accessed through students portal on uni website. Good luck!

HapShawl · 06/07/2016 12:08

It's difficult to advise because all universities/courses work slightly differently

Do you have a record of the submissions that they claim were not submitted? (Online/paper receipt?)

You could try contacting the administrator for your course, or the module leaders for those assignments, but I would try and speak to your personal tutor if you can in the first instance

Original poster
SeriousCreativeBlock · 06/07/2016 12:10

Hi thanks for all the responses.
I did have an email receipt but I can't currently access that email account to find it.
PC world wasn't my first choice, DGM took it there as it was under warranty and so we hoped they'd be able to sort it out.
We upload essays online and don't hand in hard copies, so I'm guessing it's a me problem not a them problem.

OP posts:
LimpidPools · 06/07/2016 12:14

Is there a department secretary you could speak to?
Or a lecturer that these essays were for?

Also, you need to get into that email account. It must be possible, so try again!

Original poster
SeriousCreativeBlock · 06/07/2016 12:14

I think I'm also worrying that my PT is going to be really annoyed I haven't been in contact since these essays were handed in in January, but I didn't know there was a problem and (I know it's not their responsibility to do this) no one gave me a heads up in person...

OP posts:
AlpacaPicnic · 06/07/2016 12:15

It would be worth taking the computer to a specialist to see if they can help. If that doesn't help, does your uni have a computer science program? As a last resort, nothing to lose scenario...?

BeyondCymru · 06/07/2016 12:17

If you upload them online, is there not a copy saved in 'the system' (however you submit it) when it is sent? I know mine does.

Deep breaths, it will work out okay. Do you have anyone who could speak on your behalf? Flowers

KoalaDownUnder · 06/07/2016 12:20

So when you try to reset the password on your email, what exactly happens? It sends a text message to a phone number you no longer have?

There must be a way around that.

Original poster
SeriousCreativeBlock · 06/07/2016 12:22

Yeah it sends a text to my old number presumably. If there's a way around it, I haven't found it yet Sad

OP posts:
feralcat19 · 06/07/2016 12:22

If you handed it in on Turnitin, they you should have gotten a receipt (to your uni email account - that's how it works for where I am). It could be that you submitted it to a different box online but someone should be able to 'find' it if you definitely submitted it. Do you have a Course Administrator or Departmental Administrator who could advise also?

KoalaDownUnder · 06/07/2016 12:25

You need to seek out a tech person.

People change phone numbers. It's a reasonably common 'thing'. I'm not very tech-savvy myself, but I can't believe it would result in being permanently locked out of your (university?) email account.

thisisafakename · 06/07/2016 12:25

I promise your PT does not hate you. If she is like any other uni lecturers, there isn't enough time in the day to have vendettas against individual students.

But in this case, I suggest it is the module leader you need to speak to for both the essays that have recorded as no submission. If you did submit them and were emailed a receipt, it is the fault of the uni, not you. Seems odd that it should happen for both pieces of work though. Are you sure you followed the correct procedure?

I have anxiety too so I can understand how you feel, but tell yourself that you are not the first or the only one to have troubles during your degree. The staff will be very used to handling this. If any of the staff have office hours, would you feel better speaking to them in person?

ikklepig · 06/07/2016 12:25

Is there a student services/ pastoral support service that you can access given that you also have ongoing medical conditions. This should be on their website somewhere.

They can sometimes liaise between you and your PT, especially if you are finding this is provoking your stress and anxiety- it's not about you not having a good relationship etc. it's about your uni having a duty of care to support you so won't be seen as you complaining about your PT (as you're not, you just want help to sort the essay issue).

My first step would be to get hold of the receipts/ proof of submission for your assignments- if it's a university email account that you are locked out of, email or ring computer services dept immediately with details of your student number. They are usually pretty good and quick to respond provided it's not the middle of the summer holidays.

You say you upload the essays online to submit them- can I ask which website service your uni use? Is it Blackboard/ Turn it in?

If you can log back into the online submission portal you should be able to get an electronic copy of your essay and a timed and dated receipt for your assignments this way.

Final point, don't worry about what your PT might think, who cares if she's annoyed- your priority is sorting out passing the year

twofingerstoGideon · 06/07/2016 12:26

OP, you must have student services, or similar at your uni. Ask the Student Union if you're not sure who this might be. They usually have people who will advocate on behalf of students and may be able to help you approach your personal tutor if you don't feel confident about doing it alone.
Well done on your other results!

CarrotVan · 06/07/2016 12:28

First things first

  1. As you have informed your personal tutor of your health issues were you referred to Disability Support and do you have reasonable adjustments and a support plan in place? If not then you can possibly make an academic appeal on the basis that the University were on notice of a potential disability and failed to support you which could be a breach of the Equalities Act
  1. Do you not have a University email address? Your receipt for submission should have gone to that address if submitted electronically. If submitted via the virtual learning environment (Blackboard, Moodle etc) then you may be able to check the submission details there
  1. You should contact the School Support Office (or equivalent) as soon as possible and ask why those pieces of coursework are marked as outstanding as you definitely submitted them. Ask them to investigate. It's very easy to check if submitted electronically.
  1. Check your programme handbook or University policies for details of the academic appeals procedure. This is time limited - usually to 20 working days after results are published so you might need to get moving. You can get advice on how to proceed from the Students' Union
  1. Always use cloud storage or your networked University file storage - the reason Universities don't accept computer issues as a reason for late or non-submission is because we make lots and lots of computer clusters available, usually 24/7, for our students.