STUDENTS can no longer request an adjustment of their marks because they face extenuating circumstances.
Under changes to the university’s extenuating circumstances policy, they will be offered an extension or a re-sit instead.
The university has also set out clearly what may be considered an extenuating circumstance, and it is also emphasising that students should ask for help before rather than after a deadline or exam has passed.
The changes have been agreed in consultation with the students’ union and all students should have received a leaflet and e-mail about the new policy.
The changes have been made to bring Swansea’s approach into line with other universities in the country, so that all claims are treated consistently and fairly.
The term ‘extenuating circumstances’ means serious and acute problems or events that are beyond a student’s control or ability to foresee.
The fundamental change is that the university will no longer alter marks on the basis of extenuating circumstances. Students will be assessed according to their actual performance and not according to their potential. As a result students will no longer have the option of simply asking the university to consider adverse circumstances as part of the assessment process.
Instead, students who are affected by circumstances may be allowed to take a particular assessment at a later date, or given an extension, or a penalty waiver.
“It is important that students inform their college or department about any circumstances affecting their studies sooner rather than later. If the college is made aware of such circumstances before an assessment deadline, staff will be able to give students appropriate advice and the college may be able to take steps such as extending a deadline, or waiving a penalty, or making arrangements for the examination to be sat in a special venue,” said academic registrar, Huw Morris.
“Students may even be advised to request to defer sitting an examination. The message is clear – students must speak to their tutors before the deadline for submitting work or before the examination.”
•Further information on the policy is available at : www.swan.ac.uk/registry/academicguide/assessmentandprogress/ policyonextenuatingcircumstances
