Thank you, apologies if I miss things here, there’s a lot to read from all the replies.
@StinkyWizzleteets I’m unsure what happened and so are the university. We understand it is potential human error but this has never been addressed by the university directly, only that it was to be followed up but they’ve heard no more. It was a total loss of access to the system, not able to login, no timetable, as if they weren’t registered. Not associated with internet or computer access.
When we look for the regulations, will that help with looking for where the grounds for appeal may lie?
We’re not suggesting they mitigate for a later diagnosis at all, it’s just that is an additional diagnosis that potentially could contribute to the stress of the overall situation. Also could explain the overwhelm with the situation, it is different to the existing diagnosis. Yes, they gave a mitigation with the extension however this was also over the same two week period that the examinations occurred that were successful on mitigation and where the circumstances had deteriorated, which is why the mitigating circumstances application was made with appropriate evidence. Neither the assessment with the declined mitigating circumstances or the examinations were sat, both were recorded as absent/missing I believe.
They did highlight these issues prior to the mitigating circumstances being applied for or even extensions before that, I’ve seen the correspondence and this was definitely the case. None of this is because they've looked at grades and are hoping for inflation, there was nothing to look at. The circumstances were more significant during the exam period and this was only raised after the examinations/assessment because that’s when the university request mitigating circumstance applications are put forward. It wasn’t to do with grades, there was nothing to grade, it was that the circumstances were not adequately considered considering the same application was granted for examination assessments but not for the assessments that had been granted extensions. They requested a first attempt at all assessments affected. I understand all learning was online except seminars. The computer access was specialised facility offered by the disability team.
@zippy It was flagged at the time but the assessment didn’t occur until a couple of weeks later. It set them back as they were unable to access any resources/seminars and missed live help sessions because of the access. The time when the seminar assistant runs through assessment/examples that they’d been expected to do prior could not be done as they were without access. No clarification how this happened, just ‘human error’ on the university’s part. It was just them on that programme, they were removed from the sites, not their error at all.
@Notrainagain They have taken time before but it is as a result of the ongoing communication difficulties, university’s disregard to concerns raised that have contributed to this. They have consulted relevant professionals to do with their health that have stated this, this has not come from them. They are unable to take further time out from the degree now. I understand I’m likely to be supportive of them but I agree. They are more than capable of working in real world situations, they already work alongside their degree but the hassle from the university and changes with Covid etc I think would unsettle most.
@poetryandwine They had support prior to Covid but when Covid hit this was disrupted. It wasn’t set up until after the first term, after Covid hit.
They were hot on the university commitments, the IT access issues were not their error. They believe they are capable with the right support and just being left to getting on with it. The meetings they were advised before would help, did not. When they had concerns these were dismissed by the member of staff present, instead being raised in emails and it taking more time to chase on their behalf. I would tired if that was me! Their grades also suggest they can do it, it’s just this decision on the circumstances that has set them back.
The private support is something they do not have much choice with. They've done it as the waiting list for the NHS is nearly a year and they have needed medical evidence to support the varying applications as above.
It also makes it difficult to think of returning for them as a decision is probably not likely to be given over the Summer and if it isn't upheld is it worth continuing? If the modules remained capped, of which there is currently 3 or 4 I understand, whether this is worth continuing with the degree and enormity of the debt that remains if they don't have anything to show for it. I understand they would still have another year of assessments on top of this and the grading could be worked to get the best grade but they feel it may be a waste of time or the overall disappointment may prove too much to continue doing their best on the remaining time/assessments.