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Original poster

Think DD has failed? Unsure what to do to support

168 replies

MintyJones · 19/06/2020 16:03

Just after some advice if there's any to be had!

DD has just received her dissertation grade. It's 55. She has two outstanding pieces of work which are yet to come back and are currently being assessed. She thinks they won't be good enough to bring her up to a 2.1. And crucially- she needs this 2.1 - she's about to start work in the public sector - a graduate programme with the entry requirement of a 2.1 (its the police btw)

She has always worked hard for what it's worth. And her first two years she cane out with a 2.1 each year - year 3 had been a different matter - some 2.1's and a couple lower. The uni had two long strikes and obviously the impact of corona virus too.

It's ooh these me asking her if she could have done more. I always saw her working away! She's never missed lectures (when they were on!) and had good relationships with her lecturers

So ... what do I do? Anything I can suggest to help?

I've told her to email her tutors which she's done. One said he was 'busy' and ' can't help anyway as you need to see what your other two pieces come back with' and the other has yet to respond. I've told her to try and work out what she needs for a 2.1 - but I don't really understand how to work this out myself and she didn't seem too sure either! I've also said the usual platitudes

Now I'm at a loss. She's in absolute floods and I want to help - I'm very practical! - but I'm not sure what to advise if anything at all. I didn't personally attend uni so all I know comes from her

Thanks in advance for any pointers - even if it's just reinforcing what I've said already - which is basically ' let's wait and see'

OP posts:
Monkey2001 · 19/06/2020 22:56

@MintyJones if you tell us which university it is, somebody may know whether they have a no detriment policy. Naming the university should not be identifying.

Original poster
MintyJones · 19/06/2020 22:59

Begins with a B and ends in an N and it's a seaside town well known for its flamboyancy!

OP posts:
ChubbyPigeon · 19/06/2020 23:55

Both unis in that city have a no detriment policy

Monkey2001 · 20/06/2020 00:10

For Sussex see www.sussex.ac.uk/staff/coronavirus/guidance-to-students-on-their-education/no-detriment-faqs

and the question "The University has introduced a No Detriment Policy, how will this work?"

For Brighton see staff.brighton.ac.uk/mac/public_docs/News/No-detriment-email-20-04-02.pdf

ChubbyPigeon · 20/06/2020 00:13

It literally took me 30 seconds to find out.

Providing shes passed the other modules she should get the average grade for semester 2 she got for semester 1 as a mjinimun

Original poster
MintyJones · 20/06/2020 00:24

And what does the no detriment actually mean? In plain English - I'm not good at this stuff it appears

So she ended year 1 with a 2.1 and same for year 2. Year 3 has been a write off with two strikes - one was really quite long - and then Covid19. So she has been at home for most of this year and just working from the kitchen or study. She's put everything in on time as normal and she really thought her dissertation was a good piece of work. Clearly it was not!

So anyway - no detriment. They can't just dish out 2.1s can they? But if Year 1 and 2 were a 2.1, that's taken into account?

Thanks

OP posts:
Monkey2001 · 20/06/2020 01:07

Look at the websites but it generally means that if she got 2.i for Y2 and semester 1 of Y3, she is pretty much guaranteed a 2.i for the rest of Y3. Most unis Y1 scores do not contribute to final grade.

Bluntness100 · 20/06/2020 07:32

No detriment means you can’t get worse than your average as long as you pass.

Original poster
MintyJones · 20/06/2020 09:53

Thank you. I'll ask her when I see her. I'm almost certain she finished year 2 on a 2.1 and semester 1 of year 3 on a 2.1

OP posts:
dancingthroughthedark · 20/06/2020 10:00

My son at a different Uni but one with a no detriment policy has sent out several emails to students explaining tne process. A few days ago they also sent him an email confirming the non detriment mark he has, has she not had any correspondence from her Uni at all ?

Original poster
MintyJones · 20/06/2020 10:01

@dancingthroughthedark no she's not received anything like that at all

OP posts:
dancingthroughthedark · 20/06/2020 10:19

There is a link on the Uni homepage to covid19 guidance . If you scroll down there is a list of all emails that have been sent to students and staff including 2 in May regarding no detriment . If she had a 2.1 average before the recent papers and dissertation as long as she passes them all then she gets her 2.1

Bluntness100 · 20/06/2020 10:38

Op is she maybe not explaining things to you?

She should know about no detriment. Even if she didn’t read her emails other students will be talking about it.
She should know what’s required for her to get a 2:1 and the relative weighting’s, it’s actually hard not to know.

Are you sure she has an average of 2:1? Her insistence she’s failed would indicate she maybe doesn’t and she’s not being completely honest with you all and was thinking she could pull it up to a 2:1 and has now realised due to the weight of the dissertation she can’t do it.

Otherwise I’d be very concerned she’s so heavily disengaged she doesn’t understand the simple basics of her degree course.

titchy · 20/06/2020 10:42

I'm sorry but she absolutely has received emails about the policy. Whether she's bothered to read them, or communicate to you is of course another matter. Clearly as she hasn't even looked on her own uni website I'm inclined to think the former.

titchy · 20/06/2020 10:43

Or she's hiding something as bluntness says.

Original poster
MintyJones · 20/06/2020 11:02

Ok so she ended year 2 on 65.7 and semester 1 of year 3 on 58

So this is either a 2.2 or a very very borderline 2.1 ?

OP posts:
Original poster
MintyJones · 20/06/2020 11:03

@Bluntness100 thanks for your help but you're making assumptions that aren't correct, sorry.

OP posts:
Original poster
MintyJones · 20/06/2020 11:04

She isn't hiding anything. Not that type of person. The issue is more me and my inability to grasp anything which isn't an A-C pass

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 20/06/2020 11:05

Op it depends on the weighting’s, what degree did she do?

Bluntness100 · 20/06/2020 11:06

I would say though she’s had this info, as per the links I’ve posted she’s been told her benchmark position by her course tutor. So she knows.

Original poster
MintyJones · 20/06/2020 11:09

No she doesn't know. I know you're trying to make assumptions about her but like I said - you are not correct. Please don't try and pick apart my phrasing or what I'm saying too much.

My post was quite simple - I wanted some info on how all this stuff works as she speaks and I struggle not to glaze over as I'm the least academic person out there

The links are useful though in this post so every day's an education

OP posts:
Original poster
MintyJones · 20/06/2020 11:17

Reading the no detriment, it appears that it's not correct that the 2.1 in year 3 will be taken into account at all.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 20/06/2020 11:18

Ok then ask her to read her emails Op. inc her junk folder. Because if she has not got what the uni has said they have sent her, then she has room for complaint. She should email the tutor and ask for her benchmark. And read the info on the website giving the emails that have been sent to students.

It’s just not really understandable why she’s not got any of her emails nor has she noticed that she didn’t have them. Her tutor has never mentioned it, and she was totally unaware of no detriment, the credits for her course, or the relative weighting’s.

My daughter has just finished her lpc, at the same uni she did her degree in, and all the students were aware of the no detriment policy it’s all over the website like it is with Brighton, emails being sent out, like Brighton has said they have done and students discussing on line and in their what’s app groups.

I get you’re saying she has received nothing and was totally unaware but I am saying that’s very hard for her to achieve particularly in light of her close relationship with her tutor. However it is what it is, and she should email her tutor and the students support groups explaining she’s received none of the communications listed in the website, is unaware of her course weighting’s and how the credits work and was not aware of no detriment and can they help her.

Original poster
MintyJones · 20/06/2020 11:31

She's got the emails and she's aware of the policy. This doesn't appear to have translated into an understanding of being able to work out her grade though! Honestly - hopeless!

I'm leaving it for now though as she's a bit happier this morning so don't want the floods of tears again just yet.

Her dissertation tutor came back to her this morning. Telling her to sit tight for now and wait and not worry and she can ' put in a word' somewhere if need be. So I'm not too sure about that. Seems an odd thing to say but I read the message myself so who knows

I'm leaving it this weekend and will see what's what next week

OP posts:
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