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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not attend online seminars?

85 replies

coolstef · 08/03/2022 13:54

I'm in my 4th and final year at university and am due to finish in 2 months. It has been online for the past two years due to COVID. I have not set foot on campus since 2020.

I consistently sit at a 2.1 without much effort at all, I am fine with that and a 2.1 is what I am hoping to graduate with (on track for this). However, I haven't attended any online seminars this full academic year. It says the seminars are mandatory.

The reason I haven't attended is due to my experiences of online seminars last year I find them to be a complete waste of time. I gain nothing from them, learn nothing in them and would much rather focus my time elsewhere like on the actual assessments and my dissertation.

I have never been pulled up for my lack of attendance and always submit my work on time and as I said consistently get 2.1s.

However, my friend doing the same course has started to ask me am I not worried about getting kicked out due to my lack of attendance? I'd never really thought about it as no one has questioned me about it. I had a look at the uni policy and they said that they would give three chances before being kicked out and try and support you to engage more. Additionally, I am engaged with the course, this is shown in my work and working to the deadlines.

So am I being unreasonable to assume that since no one has been in touch they are not going to just kick me out of uni for not attending the seminars?

My personal tutor is very happy with me and says I'm the most hardworking student she's had this year.

OP posts:
Original poster
coolstef · 08/03/2022 16:24

I cannot find anywhere that the requirements of my course or module is adequate attendance. I can't ask a member of staff without flagging it up. In one of the modules it mentions lack of attendance may result in a warning or removal from the module. On the other module it says nothing.

OP posts:
Original poster
coolstef · 08/03/2022 16:25

@RampantIvy

My personal tutor gave me a glowing reference and I have been accepted into a masters course. Granted she has no idea about my attendance as she has only been working with me in regard to my dissertation

So, your personal tutor is also your dissertation tutor? Are you sure?

As an employer I would expect you to not wait until you were pulled up on something before you did what you were supposed to do.

Sorry, my research tutor gave me a glowing reference. The masters course requested one academic reference. So they don't require input from my personal tutor who I don't even know.
OP posts:
Hawkins001 · 08/03/2022 16:30

All the best op

OchonAgusOchonOh · 08/03/2022 16:31

@coolstef

I cannot find anywhere that the requirements of my course or module is adequate attendance. I can't ask a member of staff without flagging it up. In one of the modules it mentions lack of attendance may result in a warning or removal from the module. On the other module it says nothing.
It doesn't need to say that. If it states the seminars are mandatory and you have not attended, then you have not met the necessary requirements to pass the module.

Whether they enforce that or not is another question.

Original poster
coolstef · 08/03/2022 16:45

Guess I'll just have to wait and see then!

OP posts:
balalake · 08/03/2022 17:20

I would expect if the university was to take any action it would have started by now.

I hope it is only university where you take the view you have about attendance.

luckylavender · 08/03/2022 17:24

@coolstef

I understand what everyone is saying, I should be attending but what's done is done and there's only 2 seminars per module left. What I'm asking is if it's not been flagged up so far what's the likelihood of it being a problem now?
Nobody knows. But this attitude irritates me frankly.
Original poster
coolstef · 08/03/2022 17:26

@luckylavender what attitude? Why does it effect you so much? I'm a stranger on mumsnet.

OP posts:
Hollyhead · 08/03/2022 17:32

I work in HE, if your course doesn’t lead to professional registration the seminars will be marked as mandatory to cover themselves in the case that a student doesn’t attend, then fails. They could, if the content wasn’t mandatory, be able to reclaim their fees, however if mandatory and failed after non attendance the university has covered themselves. As you’re passing I suspect even if your non attendance has show. Up it’s been decided it’s not a cause for concern, particularly as teaching for final year students is almost finished now.

RampantIvy · 08/03/2022 17:48

what attitude?

You don't get it?
When you get a job will you consider attendance at work to be voluntary as well?

Original poster
coolstef · 08/03/2022 17:56

@RampantIvy

what attitude?

You don't get it?
When you get a job will you consider attendance at work to be voluntary as well?

I'm a mature student, worked full time in one job for ten years before starting uni. I have a work ethic. Not attending seminars that I literally gain nothing from is very different. But thank you for your patronising 'lecture'.
OP posts:
SaskiaRembrandt · 08/03/2022 18:07

I'm a bit dubious about a university that doesn't check whether students are attending, if only for welfare reasons. That doesn't sound like a great place to study.

tttigress · 08/03/2022 18:11

Do you have to say anything in these Seminars? Maybe just log in with the volume off?

Cheeseandlobster · 08/03/2022 18:14

[quote coolstef]@luckylavender what attitude? Why does it effect you so much? I'm a stranger on mumsnet. [/quote]
I agree with Lucky Lavender. You sound a bit arrogant. What makes you so special that you don't have to do what everyone else does? I was a mature student. Some seminars were more of a waste of time than others but I always got something from them. I often found other students questions and the answers provided were very informative. Maybe you would be on track for a first had you attended the seminars. Just a thought.

Cheeseandlobster · 08/03/2022 18:15

Also how many seminars did you actually attend before you declared them a waste of time?

luckylavender · 08/03/2022 18:17

@RampantIvy

what attitude?

You don't get it?
When you get a job will you consider attendance at work to be voluntary as well?

This
Original poster
coolstef · 08/03/2022 18:19

@Cheeseandlobster

Also how many seminars did you actually attend before you declared them a waste of time?
Three years worth as stated in the OP. Maybe I could have got a 1st by attending all the seminars - but as it stands I'm going to get a 2.1 and that's on me and nobody else's business. I don't think I'm so special - it's a conscious decision I made but am now worrying about the consequence of that decision which once again, is on me and me alone.
OP posts:
luckylavender · 08/03/2022 18:20

[quote coolstef]@luckylavender what attitude? Why does it effect you so much? I'm a stranger on mumsnet. [/quote]
Why do you post if you don't want comments? It's a very entitled attitude to pick and chose what you do until you suddenly realise it may affect you.

Original poster
coolstef · 08/03/2022 18:21

@luckylavender I am allowed to respond on this open forum called mumsnet. I appreciate everyone's input and do hope people will respond but you're just downright rude.

OP posts:
Original poster
coolstef · 08/03/2022 18:22

@luckylavender sorry, thought you were another poster. Ignore the 'downright rude' comment.

OP posts:
Original poster
coolstef · 08/03/2022 18:25

It was @Cheeseandlobster who was rude

OP posts:
EarringsandLipstick · 08/03/2022 18:26

@Cheeseandlobster asks a fair question though - how many seminars did you attend before deciding they were a 'waste of time'? 🤔

Original poster
coolstef · 08/03/2022 18:28

[quote EarringsandLipstick]@Cheeseandlobster asks a fair question though - how many seminars did you attend before deciding they were a 'waste of time'? 🤔[/quote]
Which I've answered.

OP posts:
Cheeseandlobster · 08/03/2022 18:29

[quote coolstef]@luckylavender I am allowed to respond on this open forum called mumsnet. I appreciate everyone's input and do hope people will respond but you're just downright rude. [/quote]
Nope. You are being quite scathing of anyone who is stating you are in wrong. You should have attended the seminars. The decision was yours but it was the wrong one and I think you know this. What a waste of 4 years to not graduate with your cohort when you could have logged on with your camera off and half listened while you got on with other things. It doesn't show much forward thinking.

Original poster
coolstef · 08/03/2022 18:30

@Cheeseandlobster I'll come back in may and let you know if I'll be graduating with everyone, don't worry too much, I have a good feeling.

OP posts: