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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have expected a reply by now

70 replies

QuestionableMouse · 04/01/2020 07:01

I've got an assignment due in on Monday and the wording isn't quite clear about one part. I checked the module guide and it isn't mentioned in there.

It's broken into parts and what we're expected to do for one part isn't stated so you have the work for parts a and c but not b if that makes sense.

Lecturer doesn't celebrate Christmas and said to email any time if we need help. I'm still waiting for a response but I can't finish the assignment. The other students are also stuck. I contacted him on Monday and I'm still waiting for a reply. Aibu?

Feeling slightly stressed!

OP posts:
TestingTestingWonTooFree · 04/01/2020 08:25

I’d re-send the email, you might get lucky and get a response.

Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 04/01/2020 08:27

@redcarbluecar it's under a heading that I thought was part of the first section but after reading it through properly I'm pretty sure there's a bit missing that should be linking the two parts.

OP posts:
Original poster
QuestionableMouse · 04/01/2020 08:28

@TestingTestingWonTooFree I don't really want to bug him. Might give it to lunch and then resend.

OP posts:
GiveHerHellFromUs · 04/01/2020 08:35

OP had a deadline, the deadline hasn't arrived yet. It doesn't matter when she 'could' have done it. It matters that she's contacted the lecturer a week before the deadline for help when he said she could ffs.

OP I know you've said other students are stuck - is everyone stuck or just some? Is there anyone else who can help ie another student or lecturer

redcarbluecar · 04/01/2020 08:37

I think there’s a bit of a lesson here in checking you understand an assignment brief before everyone goes on holiday. Can understand your frustration, but lack of response to an email won’t constitute extenuating circumstances if you miss a deadline. I think you maybe need to crack on and do what you can for now, speak to someone first thing on Monday and, if necessary, ask for an extension on the grounds of ill health, if you have evidence for that and if an extension is what you want.

Dolorabelle · 04/01/2020 08:38

YABU

Most universities close between 24th December and around 2nd January - literally close. They turn off heating and admin staff are often required to take these days as holidays. It is a holiday whether or not staff celebrate Christmas. We need the time completely off because the Spring term is usually a very busy heavy workload one.

Why didn't you clarify the assessment task during term time?

Did you attend an academic office hour, or make an appointment to see your lecturer in term time?

These are things you should have doe, rather than assume your lecturer will use their holiday time to teach you.

Dolorabelle · 04/01/2020 08:45

Early December. I've been working on it for a few weeks but didn't realise until recently that there was a part B! (they're not labelled a b c on the actual assignment)

This is your problem for not working through the assignment properly. If you'd read the whole thing I really cannot see how you missed a major part of it.

Brefugee · 04/01/2020 08:48

I think you know you're being a tad U for not having made sure you understood the assignment while you still had time to get answers.

Have you asked any fellow students? The best you can do now is resend the email and do what you can. And for the next assignment read it thoroughly and check, and check again what's expected. (are you in the first year? you'll get used to doing this. If you're not in the first year... )

burnoutbabe · 04/01/2020 08:53

Is there not a Facebook or WhatsApp group for your year? Ask them if they are also missing this section b. I know on our group there would be many texts if this was the case. Else it's just you misunderstanding something. So preparer your answers to what is written down and submit by deadline.

SomeHalfHumanCreatureThing · 04/01/2020 08:54

Can't people read? OP has said multiple times that her lecturer said it was fine to contact him over the break if any questions.

.. And not all universities are the same. Some shut down completely, many don't, and besides most people were back in on Thursday in our dept anyway, or at the very least were checking emails.

OP YANBU. If he said he was available for questions, then he should have been available for questions. Perhaps something has happened over the Christmas period which meant he was unable to.

ohprettybaby · 04/01/2020 08:55

the wording isn't quite clear about one part.
Could it have been written to be unclear deliberately?
I would use my initiative and, if there is any ambiguity, state my assumptions in giving my response. If you can't decide which way to take the question then include two responses based on different stated assumptions.

'Assuming that ..,.....,................. then blah blah blah. However, assuming blah then blah blah blah' IYSWIM.

Hepsibar · 04/01/2020 08:55

Can you contact other students to see how they have approached this?

I would also suggest sending another email, explaining you did contact as was suggested because you could not understand from the instructions etc etc and you have done what you can from the instructions and additionally had tonsilitis. Due to the extenuating circumnstances could you have an extension following clarification of instructions, then you need to work like billiO to submit something tiptop.

PS: the issue of whether the person celebrates Christmas or not is a complete red herring, it's a leave period, and he would have been doing you a favour responding when on leave ... the error is in being so definite about responding and of course less than clear instructions ... perhaps another time read them soon and clarify anything before leave starts.

Equanimitas · 04/01/2020 08:57

Why didn't you clarify the assessment task during term time?

Why do people keep asking this when OP has explained it at some length already?

ElbasAbsentPenis · 04/01/2020 09:02

Even if he said to contact him anytime, I wouldn’t take that as carte blanche to expect an immediate reply. He could be ill (as so many have been over the break). He could have family who are ill. He could have research and administrative deadlines of his own. He could have any number of things going on in his personal or professional life that means your email (about an assignment you received over a month ago now) isn’t at the top of his list of priorities. I get that you are impatient and anxious about this, but your question is one tiny part of an enormous workload. Hr is not your servant, and he is under no obligation to respond according to your preferred timeline. Presumably he will get to it as soon as he can.

slipperywhensparticus · 04/01/2020 09:03

My daughter has the same deadline she is stressing too

Does he have access to his work email? Send him another asking about a possible extension your original one might have hit his spam filter

Devereux1 · 04/01/2020 09:04

the wording isn't quite clear about one part.

Make an educated guess based on the wording. Clearly state your assumption. If every student is in the same boat as you say, then interpret the wording and get the assignment done.

ZebrasAreHorsesInPyjamas · 04/01/2020 09:05

Maybe this is a test (depending on your subject)? Right from school you are told when you get an exam paper to look through it all don't just start working through it.

Sorry to come across harsh, but the tutor not celebrating Christmas, your shift work and your tonsillitis are all irrelevant. The day you got your assignment you should have read it thoroughly and checked what needed doing to ensure you knew what was required and how long it would take you to complete and you would have known there was a problem which could have been sorted immediately before you came down with tonsillitis or had to work. Lesson learnt for next time.

I can only suggest you try and get hold of as many other students as you can, I am sure there must be some who were more organised.

ClashCityRocker · 04/01/2020 09:05

Is it OU OP?

If so, maybe post in your tutor group forum? There's also usually fb groups set up for most modules and you might find help on there in the meantime.

Actually, I'm sure that applies to other universities as well.

WeirdCatLady · 04/01/2020 09:07

I’m guessing it’s via the OU? Have you posted on the Forums asking for guidance? There’s usually at least one tutor on there to help. Just keep posting on their boards and emailing the tutor. Worst case scenario then just ask for an extension.

WeirdCatLady · 04/01/2020 09:08

Cross post with Clash, and good idea to check out the fb groups too.

redcarbluecar · 04/01/2020 09:09

In my experience, uni deadlines are pretty stringent. I’m assuming that late or non-submission would carry a penalty. Whatever the rights and wrongs here, I think you need to proceed on the assumption that i) you wont get a reply and ii) you wont get an extension. Blitz it today, doing what you can - you’ve been working on it already so you should be able to see ways you can approach it.

VeniVidiVoxi · 04/01/2020 09:10

Do you want to share the assignment instructions? Then you can say you sought the advice of a highly regarded body of experts in lieu of tutor's guidance....

lanthanum · 04/01/2020 09:17

Things I'd suggest (esp. if OU):

  • check your junkmail (it's amazing how often replies go there)
  • politely send the request again - in holiday season sometimes you check your emails for anything quick/urgent, leave anything longer to the next day, and then forget
  • ask in course forums /social media (OU course forums usually have a tutor monitoring them, which helps) If OU, you'll have a phone number for the tutor, too, so you could check what they've told you about good/bad times to call and give them a call instead of emailing again.
mousemousse · 04/01/2020 09:21

the issue of whether the person celebrates Christmas or not is a complete red herring, it's a leave period, and he would have been doing you a favour responding when on leave ... the error is in being so definite about responding and of course less than clear instructions ... perhaps another time read them soon and clarify anything before leave starts.

Agree with this, ultimately he was offering a favour, which he may not have thought through or may have changed his mind but he is under no official obligation to respond to you when on leave.

YetAnotherSpartacus · 04/01/2020 09:27

In the real world, academic staff members are expected to provide clear and comprehensive assessment guidelines. If a part is missing or unclear then the problem is theirs. The OP and her classmates would be justified in asking for a class extension and/or expressing their dissatisfaction in the subject feedback. Also in the real world, academic staff are supposed to provide out of office notifications on email. Plus, its bad form to promise help when none is forthcoming. Of course, the lecturer may be ill or incapacitated as well. OP - I suggest that you email him again. Encourage your classmates to do the same. If the subject has a discussion board post there as well.