Uni threat to terminate student's studies

[Allshallbewell2021]

My ds has just succeeded in his appeal against a termination of studies based on non attendance. He had no idea that lectures were mandatory. His attendance is lower than the bar they expect but the dept dealing with him have not been explicit about either of these figures.
His work is up to date.
He did not know lectures were mandatory -lecturers said they were 'important'.
He has had a large number of challenges which have effected his attendance.
I can't the brutality of the process. The stasi like language.
The lack of seeing young people (particularly the Covid uni cohort) as uniquely unlucky in uni terms.
The lack of support for someone struggling
The treatment of a student in a way which seems like they've committed real crimes not just misunderstood the rules.
When did the unis become such vicious places? I was so naive. I am horrified by their attitude. It seems like how you'd treat someone guilty of a serious crime.

Thank you for all your responses.

Obviously he is a lying eejit; son of an eejit - the uni must have behaved impeccably.

I hope he can graduate despite not deserving to.

Good night xx

How petulant. What was the point of posting, OP? You’re clearly one of those parents who doesn’t think their child could ever put a foot wrong.

Wow.

No I do appreciate everyone's experience & advice. I've read all your responses and judging by what I read there is a broad experience in different settings of varying practice.
The letter re the appeal was really unpleasant in tone - which is of course fine and maybe deserved. I just expect some compassion, but many of you disagree.
Many people have acknowledged that the students who had their first year in Covid were very unlucky. Many left and didn't come back. It was a real loss.
I appreciate everyone's feedback genuinely. I feel sad for my son, he's a disappointing uni experience and has been to loads of lectures. He missed sone owing to personal issues and failed to engage effectively.
I get it. It was useful to hear your advice. I can't see any where in any literature that lectures were mandatory. He should have known but he really didn't. What else can I say? It's my view and clearly sone of you think we're pretty stupid. Which is why I felt like bowing out is all.
It seems like he and I have done everything wrong in most eyes so I will go and feel bad about myself offline - will that do?

And also very few people have mentioned that unis can make mistakes too? Is that not the case?

Of course. But believe me they don't make nearly as many as the students (understatement). Honestly, these days pastoral care is taken extremely seriously and universities really don't deregister students on a whim.

Of course universities can make mistakes BUT every university I've worked at has had a clear attendance monitoring policy which is communicated to students and the sanctions for poor attendance are made clear.

Your son didn't attend lectures....I don't understand why you think the university is at fault in this situation.

What is with all these recent posts that go "My child did something that was clearly stupid/against the rules, but their educational establishment is clearly in the wrong for reacting in an understandable way to this"?

Fifty years ago, times have changed

Those were the days! (1972-5)

Thank you. I hear what you're saying. I hope he can graduate within the conditions which have been set.
He's had a tough few years and at least if he manages to get a degree - that will be some compensation.
I don't think he's perfect at all - far from it. There are more exculpatory things I could say but they are private.
I just feel for the young ones who struggle and don't find it easy to ask for help. Not excusing anything of course

I'm sorry your DS has been struggling. You didn't need to say what the specifics were, but if you had mentioned this in your initial post you would have had more supportive answers. Unfortunately a lot of posters don't bother to read the updates, so have only replied to your first post.

I know that DD's university (Newcastle) contact students who have missed a lot of lectures to check up on their welfare. If the student doesn't engage then it is taken further. I don't know what happens as I have no experience of it.

Did your DS not say whether he had warning letters/emails asking him why he wasn't attending, and telling him he should be?

He should have had several of them if it went to termination.

Thank you Rampantivy, I appreciate that.

I genuinely feel he has messed up. There may be a great deal that I don't know of course.

Crossing my fingers he can graduate.

I was just really unprepared for the letter he was sent. I had no idea they would have that kind of cruel tone while still acknowledging someone's struggle; it feels like a contradiction.

But it helps to hear the majority of these posts have little sympathy for him. I get it; and it helps to show me why the uni look at him the way they clearly do. He does need to learn that for sure.

Part of what makes a university degree valuable in the eyes of employers is not just the subject matter learned.
It is the proof that the student accepted and met the challenge of a complicated path of study with various demands on their time and attention. Getting to lectures, getting the work turned in, and navigating the process is part of the point.

the level of support offered to students and the allowance for personal issues is higher than in the past. It would be best for your son to take this as a wake up call and a notice to fully engage in the support services available to him.

university students are still learning and growing. They make mistakes. He can put this one behind him and move forward.

My DD had appalling attendance due to an injury then MH, she got 1sts in her assignments and exams so accused of cheating 🙈

I wish him all the best OP

Exactly what I was thinking, @Prescottdanni123.

Birdyboop - looking through his emails there were not the many informal and formal contacts posters describe. But who knows maybe he was approached in person.
Ponderingwindow, I agree and so think he has come through a huge amount of personal challenge and I hope he manages to graduate. It is up to him.
Randomness that's hard.

Thank you Nimbostrstus100! Xxx

Was that his personal email or uni address?

There is no way the Uni would have gone to a termination process without engaging with your son first.

I can't help feel that you have only been told half a story here.

I'm really sorry that he has been struggling and I'm glad the decision has been overturned, but I think you are also being naive here.

He may well have incorrectly believed lecturers were optional but ignoring or not engaging when he's been contacted about it (which absolutely would have happened) is on him.

So what are you/were you expecting?

No action to be taken? A personal escort to lectures?

He's an adult and it's incumbent on him to know the requirements of the course and proceed on that basis.

If he had reasons no to attend then it was his responsibility to engage with the Uni and request support.

It's not school and students are treated as the adults, but with support available and that's why it's such a good segway to leaving home and becoming independent.

His uni email I think.

Breadin, I agree - I think I have been naive.

Thing is OP there is no indication in your posts that the Uni did make a mistake.

Several posts in you finally concede that the Uni had tried to engage with him and he ignored the emails.

Given the petulant post previous to this I think some posters might consider the the issue here is that the apple has not fallen very far from the tree...

Rose tinted glasses.

Zero tolerance would imply no warnings etc?

Have you actually seen that your DC work is up to date?

Why would you pay for a service and not use it? Why even enrol in uni if you can just self teach and breeze it?