..to think that Exeter University should postpone their exams?

[TheEnigmaticFlea]

DD is in her second year at Exeter University (I have namechanged for this, if you realise who I am please don't out me as I have DD's photo on my normal profile & I know at least one Exeter academic is a regular mumsnetter)

This year, for the first time, the exams for last term's modules start on the first day of term, ie next Monday.

It seems pretty obvious to me that a lot of people aren't going to be able to get back, possibly including DD.

She contacted the university and was told that if she couldn't get back she may be allowed to take the exams in August,(which is when students would retake if they failed) but it seems from the reply that this isn't certain, it may depend on whether the university thinks she made enough effort to try to get back in time. If not, she would presumably fail the year and have to repeat it.

Apparently both Bristol and Bath universities (which are easier to get to for most people in the UK) have postponed their exams - why can't Exeter do the same? Even putting them off for a week would help.

I realise it would cause them a lot of admin problems - but nowhere near the scale of problem or expense that repeating a year would cause a student.

If they don't change their mind, then either we will have to put DD on a train & hope it doesn't stop halfway, or risk the roads & the forecast new snow to take her back by car.

And if we do, what 'evidence' are they going to accept that she did try to get there? If we drive, DH will have to make a subjective decision about the risks of continuing - if we turn back & someone else decides to risk it & gets through, will they say she didn't try hard enough?

Sorry, this is turning into a bit of a rant, but what would you do?

Exeter is a major train station - why can't people get back?

Because lots of trains are cancelled! i agree - I think they should defer their exams. there is indeed more snow forecast over the weekend and I think lots of people will not be able to get back.

i dont give a shit what they do

but loads of students don't leave the area - they have had two weeks to get back since Christmas, why leave it until the last minute? I don't see why the entire system should change for the few that can't return.

What would I do? I would put her on a train now as she has 3 days to get there.

Not all changes will be cancelled at the same time so she will get there before Monday.

My university is also running its exams as usual from next week, but if students are unable to attend then they will not 'lose a life' and will be able to resit with no penalties.

The university has not yet decided whether resits would be held at the usual August time or earlier in the year - it is going to wait to see what the situation actually is.

To be frank, I am assuming that most students will be able to turn up. Those that don't will not be penalised.

Postponing the exams would impact horribly on academics. When would we mark the exams? When teaching in the second semester? What about second semester modules that require students to have actually passed the first semester module before being allowed to take the second semester?

where do you live?

You should ring the University's exams office or your daughter's department and ask them for advice, esp the 'evidence' question as there will be many lazy 'stranded' students trying hard to use this as an excuse.

At the moment there are NO delays between most stations and Exeter. Check their live departure and arrivals boards online.

There is no snow forecast in this area at least until Sunday. I think you are worrying unecessarily. Take her back ASAP or put her on a train.

Then why bother to post, Ophelia?

I have checked trains leaving today for Exeter - at least half of them have warnings that part of the journey is cancelled/disrupted - and that's before any further snow, it could be worse tomorrow.

No uni is going to risk the publicity and negative pr of failing students if they honestly can't make it due to a well documented weather situation which has made many front pages in the last week.
If she honestly can't get back and there are many students in the same boat of course they'll make alternative provisions but i don't think they should post-pone the exams all out as there will be students who are available to sit them and who will have dictated their study time-table so that monday the optimum time to take their test. These people would be negatively affected by such a delay of the exams.

I imagine they might be careful about their policies in advance so that (some) students don't take advantage. The snow in Exeter atm isn't that bad, the motorway and dual carriageways to the city are clear, the trains are mostly running and there is an airport as well (although I'm assuming most flights are cancelled atm). Although I have no idea what's forecast over the weekend.

I agree with Mayorquimby - if they have a lot of students who genuinely can't make it back then they probably will make other arrangements. If they change it now then it could be a lot of disruption and a lot of people will just decide not to go back even if they could make it.

I hope your DD's OK - it must be a pretty stressful situation to be in.

Well, other universities have postponed, so presumably they can cope with the delay. Last year the exams were the second week anyway.

Libra - unlike your university they haven't said that students who couldn't make it wouldn't be penalised. What I really object to is the uncertainty - they 'may' be able to defer - how does that help her make a decision?

And anybody who is in a Hall can't go back early, as their rooms are let - they have allowed them to come back on Saturday instead of Sunday, which is something.

DD has tried ringing & can't get through (presumably because everyone else is ringing), when she contacted them through the website, she got the answer I mentioned above.

So the other half are running which means she will get there in the next 3 days.

has she set off yet? Give her some sandwiches, she may be waiting around a bit.

They have cleared most main and secondary roads around Devon- my children's schools went back today. I'm sure she'll be fine getting back. Do you want me to ring the people I know at the university to find out what the site's like there?

Heffa - thanks for the information - that looks more hopeful. (though according to one student on the Exeter facebook group who is trying to get back from outside the UK, Exeter airport is shut)

x-posted

she could still set off now and sleep on a friends floor if she got there today couldn't she?

I wouldn't leave it as late as tomorrow to set off, I would go now and stay in the library all night (my uni's library was open 24 hours before exam weeks) til my room became available again.

Good that her room is available early too, it would be a pain to leave it all til Sunday

Ok, fair enough - going back a few days early would solve the problem! I don't think it is true that most students stay on campus over christmas though - when I was at Uni, they were like ghost towns over the holidays. I'd put her on a train today, with a flask and warm clothes.

tbh it does look more likely that DD will be able to get back - but there must be a lot who won't make it, especially those who are overseas.
duchesse - that's very kind of you, but I don't want to put you to any trouble.

On the whole the rail networks have coped well with this weather.

Why can't she get on a train tomorrow morning? No trains are that delayed that it would take her two days to get there.

Expecting the country to grind to a halt because of a few inches of snow is unreasonable.

It's not so much getting the train, it's the getting to the the station - too far to walk,we don't have a car till tomorrow, the buses don't appear to be running from anywhere she can walk to & taxis are hopeless at the moment (not even answering the phone)

If we get the car tomorrow, hopefully we can get her to the station, or maybe all the way....

I wonder if the university are waiting to see how many students genuinely can't get there before making their decision? My own DC went back last weekend (a week early) in order to revise, ( their halls are available over Christmas) only to have no access to either heating or water. ( Boiler issues and a water main had burst). Whole campus affected. University gave those who had returned, keys to rooms in the one unaffected block AND supplied hot meals to all students free of charge until everything was back to normal. So, whilst me and DH sat here worrying about our poor baby DC1, DC1 and mates were having the time of their lives playing at being Scott of the Antarctic!

Exeter Airport website says it's open and expects to operate throughout today with no delays or cancellations. I doubt the airport is much use to the majority of people anyway though.

The forecast here is more snow over the weekend but not sure about Exeter itself (I'm up on the moor) so it might be advisable to send her back asap if there's anywhere she could stay. The University website says the site is open today although further snowfalls are forecast.

I think they will have to be a bit flexible. There are lots of EU / international students who have gone home for the holidays only to find their return flights are cancelled so they wont be back in time for exams. Maybe your dd would be able to resit with them?