How you submit your Extenuating Circumstances has changes - based on student feedback the process has been simplified!
As students we all know that sometimes life doesn’t go our way. Whether it be because of a dip in health, a family situation or a personal issue, sometimes situations beyond our control effect our university work. That’s why as a university we have Extenuating Circumstances policies, which are there to support students with their academic work when life is getting in the way. Recently, following your student feedback our system has changed to ensure we are supporting students in those difficult anxious times, so let’s have a look at what those changes entail.
Under the current policy a student must provide external evidence for their extenuating circumstances claim. This could be in the form of a fit note from the GP or proof of a case of bereavement. However, this approach has proven to be difficult for both staff and students and can make stressful times feel even more overwhelming. As a result, from the 1st of December onwards students will no longer be required to provide external evidence when applying for extenuating circumstances. Instead, they will submit a statement of impact. This statement of impact will allow the student to explain their circumstances, and how this has impacted their work. You do not have to submit a fit note (meaning you can avoid the charge from the doctors !) or proof of someone’s death, instead your statement becomes the evidence (in the majority of cases) to support your claim. You can still add any external evidence that may help your claim if you have it, but you no longer have to. This is a really positive student-centred change that prevents added stress and anxiety during challenging periods and helps promote an atmosphere of trust between the university and us students.
Please remember as well, that this is not a get out of jail free card, you will still need to do the work to get the grades, and an asking for an EC will not increase your grades at all!
Remember that the EC form will be adapting to reflect this change, so keep an eye out for further information on that.
Overall, though, as someone who has used Extenuating Circumstances for a variety of reasons, this change will be super helpful in those tough times, and I hope you all feel the impact of that as well. Our university is here to support us and our learning, and this policy change really reflects that.
For more detailed information about this please visit Extenuating Circumstances