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HOW TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS AFFECTING YOUR STUDIES (Complaints and Appeals) 2010 - 2011 Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre www.susu.org/suaic Southampton University Students’ Union www.susu.org

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HOW TO DEAL WITHPROBLEMS AFFECTING

YOUR STUDIES(Complaints and Appeals)

2010 - 2011

Students’ UnionAdvice & Information Centrewww.susu.org/suaic

Southampton UniversityStudents’ Union

www.susu.org

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Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre (SUAIC)

OPEN Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 9.00am - 5.00pm & Wed 11.00am - 5.00pm

Vacation periods: 10.00am - 5.00pmWed 11.00am - 3.00pm

Contacting SUAIC:Telephone: 023 8059 2085

Fax: 023 8059 5235

e-mail: [email protected]

Website: www.susu.org/suaic

Address: Students’ Union Building 40 Southampton University University Road Highfield Southampton SO17 1BJ

• We are an appointments based service, however, occasionally quick queries can be dealt with immediately. All other enquiries will need an appointment.

• Check with SUAIC for Winchester School of Art surgeries.

• The advice and information service is provided by a team of trained and experienced staff who deal with matters of particular relevance to students.

SUAIC Mission Statement:The Students' Union Advice & Information Centre aims to provide all students at the University of Southampton with free, independent, confidential advice and representation in a friendly, relaxed environment.

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Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre www.susu.org/suaic 3

IntroductionThe purpose of this booklet is to let you know what you can do if you encounter problems that affect your studies whilst at The University of Southampton.

This booklet is produced by the Students’ Union and gives independent and impartial advice on managing most issues affecting your studies. It will guide you through the appeals and complaints processes and let you know what you can do if you are unhappy with any aspect of your University experience, or if there is something affecting your ability to study.

Who is this booklet for?• All students who would like advice

on how to avoid potential problems with their studies.

• All students experiencing difficult circumstances at some point in their academic career.

• Students who have received a letter informing them that their course has been terminated.

How to deal with PROBLEMS AFFECTING YOUR STUDIES (Complaints & Appeals)

Top Tip – If you think things are going wrong or you are unhappy with any aspect of your University experience then

ACT IMMEDIATELY.

Don’t expect someone else to complain, or that The University should somehow ‘know’ what’s wrong – seek advice from SUAIC

about the best course of action.

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• Students who do not agree with a decision of a Fitness to Practice Panel.

• Students who do not agree with the decision of an Academic Integrity Panel.

• Students who have been invited to a preliminary meeting as part of the Appeals, Academic Integrity or Complaints Processes.

• Students who have already begun the appeals process and would like to take advantage of the extra support and guidance available from SUAIC.

• Students who are unhappy with a particular aspect of their experience at The University and would like to resolve the problem or are considering making a complaint.

What can we do for you?SUAIC has a team of trained advisers who are experienced in helping students through the appeals and

complaints processes. We can help you at any stage but we think that the earlier you seek our advice, the better.

We can guide you through the regulations, help you identify the appropriate staff to approach and also accompany you at meetings to give you support and/or representation at any stage. We are certain that we can make the whole process clearer, easier and much less stressful.

YOU CAN EXPECT US. . .• To go through the regulations

with you to make sure you fully understand how to make a complaint or appeal.

• To help you decide whether you need to make a complaint or to appeal against a decision.

• To advise you what evidence and information is likely to be helpful, based on our experience.

• To attend the meetings with you if you would like us to.

Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre www.susu.org/suaic

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YOU CAN’T EXPECT US. . .• To tell you the what outcome will

be.

• To decide for you whether or not you should appeal/complain.

• To tell you what to say.

Know your rights, know your responsibilitiesThe Student Entitlement Declaration www.soton.ac.uk/quality/strategies/sed.html details what you can expect from the University before you arrive and during your studies. It is not intended to be legally binding but is a good place to start when considering whether you have grounds for a complaint or appeal.

You should also take a look at the Student Guidance Document www.soton.ac.uk/quality/strategies/sgd.html which guides you through what the University expects from you. This is also a good place to start when trying to establish what has gone

wrong for you. SUAIC will always take a supportive approach but will help you to work out if you have not fulfilled your own responsibilities.

You will also find information in your Course Handbook and in The University Calendar (a term used in older universities for all the rules and regulations) at: www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/index.html

You should have fully read and understood the enrolment regulations www.southampton.ac.uk/enrol/why_enrol.html which form an educational and financial contract between you and the University. These regulations are important because they tell you about the behaviour expected from you, including the payment of debts to the University.

You may also receive official correspondence from your school giving important information about any alterations to your academic environment.

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Problems with your Course or University StaffIndividual Problems eg. relationship with your tutor or your supervisor.

Occasionally students find that they simply do not ‘gel’ with their personal tutor. This is nobody’s fault and each school allows students to request to change tutors. No personal tutor should be offended by such a request and they should not treat you any differently because of it. You will need to check your course handbook or speak to your school office if you feel you need to change tutors.

If you consider that the problems are of a more serious nature, and to the point that they are affecting your ability to study then you should seek advice. You can discuss your concerns with a number of people:-• Personal Tutor• Course Leader• Programme Director• Course Director• School Manager• Course Rep• Education Support

• Students’ Union Advice and Information Centre (SUAIC)

• Counselling Service• The Mentor Service• The Disability Service• The Accommodation Service• Your Residence Support Adviser

(Halls)• Harassment Contacts

Contact details for all of the above are at the back of this booklet.

Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre www.susu.org/suaic

Top Tip – Once you know your rights (what you can expect the University to provide you) and your responsibilities (what the University can expect from you) then you can decide how best to

proceed with a potential problem.

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MediationMediation is a process that complements the University’s formal arrangements for dealing with all types of conflict including grievances and complaints, relationship issues and communication difficulties as well as harassment, discrimination, victimisation and bullying. It offers early assistance before problems escalate into major issues for all concerned and will help you consider options to resolve your situation. The role of mediator is to facilitate a process that will lead to a resolution which all parties are able to agree on, and creating ‘win/win’ outcomes.

For more information see:www.southampton.ac.uk/hr/support/mediation/index.html or discuss with a SUAIC adviser.

Group ConcernsIf your concerns affect a group of students then you should discuss this with your Course Representative. Your Course Representative will

then report the issue to your School President or Vice President Academic Affairs who will provide further advice and support. Alternatively you can seek advice from SUAIC who advise the relevant officers in the Students’ Union if appropriate.

Often problems with your course can be resolved informally by following the University Complaints Procedure. See the Complaints section later in this booklet.

Special ConsiderationsAll schools will have a process in place which will allow you to let them know that you are/have been experiencing problems affecting your ability to study – before your grades are agreed by the relevant Board. This is usually called a Special Considerations form but is sometimes referred to as a ‘mitigating circumstances’ form. This is your opportunity to tell your school that something might be affecting your studies straight away.

Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre www.susu.org/suaic

SOONER, RATHER THAN LATER!

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Please note that you cannot question academic judgement in either an appeal or a complaint. If you are concerned about your supervision then the school need to know about this sooner rather than later.

Concerns about supervision which remain unresolved should follow the Complaints Procedure.

They may be able to take this into account or provide other necessary support. If you are having problems and you do not tell your school at the time then they will want to know why. If you are unable to give a reasonable explanation for why you couldn’t/didn’t want to tell them then this will weaken your case.

What’s the difference between a complaint and an appeal?A complaint can be made when you are dissatisfied with the University relating to course problems, staff, facilities, and services. An appeal relates to a particular issue that may be personal or with the University that has had a direct impact on your ability to study. It is not always clear whether you should appeal or complain, seek advice from SUAIC for an impartial opinion and help to focus on what outcome you would like to achieve.

Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre www.susu.org/suaic

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The University have produced some very useful guidance notes to help you through the complaints process. These can be found on SUSSED:

Go To: Student Resources Online gResourcesg Rules & Regulations gComplaints & Appeals.

SUAIC can help to provide extra support and guidance.

Will I get in trouble if I complain?Many students get really worried about making a complaint as they don’t want to be seen as a trouble-maker or a moaner, or worry about damaging future relationships. The University makes it very clear in their regulations that students will not suffer any disadvantage or recrimination as a result of making a genuine complaint.

Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre www.susu.org/suaic

Staff at SUAIC do not encourage unnecessary complaints, however we feel that a culture where students can raise their concerns without fear of recrimination is a healthy way to improve experiences for everyone.

If you are worried, seek independent advice from SUAIC.

What do I stand to gain from complaining?There can be various outcomes to a complaint depending on your particular circumstances, however you can be assured that the procedures are designed so that you get a fair hearing.

Staff at SUAIC will help you to identify your desired outcomes and will give advice on how realistic your expectations may be.

Complaints should normally be made within 2 months of the problem

arising, or as soon as is practicably possible.

COMPLAINTS

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The RegulationsPLEASE USE ANY GUIDANCE NOTES ALONGSIDE THE ACTUAL COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE – These can be found at: www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionIV/student-complaints.html

The Regulations Made EasyStaff at SUAIC are here to guide you through the regulations. Below is a brief summary of the process.

Stage One: PRELIMINARY COMPLAINT Raising a ConcernThis is your opportunity to discuss your concerns with the school or service. You will need to speak to the appropriate staff members including those involved in your complaint. Often complaints can be resolved at this level, depending on what outcome you are looking for.

You can also ask your Course Representative to raise issues on your behalf if they are related to your

course or there is more than one student wishing to raise the same concern. An informal chat can often help to clarify misunderstandings and give you a good idea as to whether you want to continue with your complaint.

Stage Two: FORMAL COMPLAINTIf you haven’t been able to sort things out at the Preliminary stage then you will need to send a written complaint on a Stage 2 Complaints form produced by the University. A link to the form is in the regulations. You will need to include any evidence to back up your case.

The complaint will then be investigated formally within the school or service. You may be invited to answer any questions and to consider possible resolutions. You will receive a formal written response.

WITHIN 30 WORKING

DAYS

WITHIN 2 MONTHS

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Stage Three: COMPLAINT TO THE REGISTRAR & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICERIf you are not happy with the response received at stage 2 then you have 10 working days to complete a stage 3 form and send it to the Registrar & Chief Operating Officer explaining why you still remain dissatisfied and what outcomes you are seeking.

The Registrar will appoint a member of University staff to investigate your complaint and you may be called to further meetings.

This member of staff will have had no previous involvement with your complaint and will not work at your school.

You will then receive a formal written response.

NB. No new complaints, or new elements of an existing complaint can be introduced at stage 3.

What if the University cannot resolve my concerns?Should a student feel that his/her complaint has not been satisfactorily resolved through internal procedures, there is an external mechanism for review of the University’s actions; this is through the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA).

Information about the OIA’s procedures may be found from: www.oiahe.org.uk/ or in the OIA’s leaflet, An Introduction to the Student Complaints Scheme available from the Students’ Union Advice and Information Centre and from the Student Services Centre. More information is also contained within the complaints procedure. Students must be in receipt of a ‘completion of procedures’ letter from The University before proceeding to this stage.

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How can I make a good complaint?Some people are better at complaining than others and staff at SUAIC can give you advice and guidance but cannot tell you what to write. Here are some tips:

• Stick to the point Focus your complaint by making

bullet points or numbering the points you want to cover.

• Get your facts straight Ensure you have checked your

rights and responsibilities before pursuing a complaint. Any misunderstandings are usually cleared up at the Preliminary stage, however make sure you know your rights and responsibilities and link these to your complaint.

• Remove the emotion You need to stand back from

your complaint and focus on the facts. There is nothing wrong with adding a paragraph at the end to state the emotional impact the problem has had on you, but try to

keep the body of the complaint as simple and factual as possible.

Example‘My tutor just doesn’t like me, he showed this by not bothering to turn up to any of the meetings that we had arranged. He has got it in for me’.

Could this be better phrased? - ‘I had arranged 3 meetings with my personal tutor (emails attached to confirm), yet he was not at his office at any of the times arranged. This meant that I was unable to receive the guidance I needed when writing my dissertation’.

• Make a chronology Putting events in to date order can

often be very helpful in producing a strong case for a complaint. In this way you can help to tie in any evidence you have and demonstrate the effects upon you. It will also make it easier for the person investigating your complaint to fully understand what has gone wrong.

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• Evidence You will need to provide as much

evidence as possible to support your complaint. This can sometimes be difficult, and if you do not have evidence then explain why. The University needs to be satisfied that your complaint is genuine and your case will be weakened without sufficient evidence.

What are you hoping for?You need to have clear and realistic ideas about what you hope to achieve from your complaint and make this clear from the beginning. There are a whole range of solutions available to resolve a complaint. If your complaint is complex then try to link your desired outcome with each specific part of the complaint. The formal stage 2 and 3 form is designed to make this easier for you.

Do not expect the University to know what to do to solve the problem – let them know what you’re hoping for and be open to a compromise if your requirements are unfeasible.

ExampleA year 1 Student has complained about incomprehensible lectures due to building works nearby. They would like the lectures to be repeated in year 2. The complaint is upheld, but the year 2 timetable does not allow for these workshops to be included. Instead the school offer lecture notes on Blackboard and increased contact time with personal tutors to allow students to ask questions on the material.

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What is an appeal?An appeal is lodged by a student who would like a review of a decision made by a Board of Examiners, Academic Integrity Panel, Fitness to Practice Panel or School Board that relates to their studies, or of a decision by Senate to terminate their programme of study. This might relate to grades for an entire semester, an entire year and occasionally your entire degree classification – but usually relates only to particular assignments, exams or placements which were directly affected.

Under what circumstances can I appeal?The regulations state 3 grounds under which you can appeal. Broadly speaking if you think your performance has been affected by personal problems such as family

or health issues or by issues with your faculty or department then you may have grounds for appeal. This can include problems with an examination or on a placement.

If you think that you have grounds for an appeal then we strongly advise you to seek advice from the Students’ Union Advice and Information Centre.

Is there anything I cannot appeal against?Academic Judgement - The important point to highlight is that you ‘cannot question academic judgement’. What this means is that even if you think your work is worth a higher mark than you received, you cannot question the views of the examiners. However certain you are that your work is worth a 2:1, if you get a 2:2 then that is what you have to accept.

APPEALS

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The examiners are academics of great experience and knowledge and to question their judgement is cheeky to say the least!

However, if you can identify that something might have occurred that may have affected the examiners judgement then this may be considered. Seek further advice from SUAIC.

Borderline Grades – It is pretty frustrating when a student receives a borderline grade. Imagine really pushing for a first class degree and achieving 69.5% overall. All Schools have regulations governing border line grades and some may allow you the chance to have an oral examination to demonstrate your knowledge and ability. If you are concerned then ask for a breakdown of your grades just in case there has been a small error in the calculations. Meet with your tutor so that they can explain how they reached your final grade.

If there have been circumstances outside of your control that have not been previously taken into account and you can evidence the affect of these in your marks, seek advice from SUAIC. Supervision - The grounds for appealing due to poor supervision were removed from the appeal regulations in 07/08. The Complaints procedure should be used for this purpose. If you enrolled at the University before 07/08 then you do have the option to use previous regulations. You should first discuss this with an adviser at SUAIC.

What do I stand to gain from an appeal?There can be various outcomes to appeals, but in principle, every student can expect to feel that their case has been listened to and fairly judged.

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Some students do not have their appeal upheld, yet they gain a better understanding of why the decision was reached in the first place.

The official outcomes are listed below. The panel may decide to:

• Uphold the student’s case and agree to implement the outcome they are seeking.

• Uphold the student’s case and offer an alternative outcome.

• Not uphold the student’s case.

Prevention is better than cureThe appeals process is designed for those students whose performance has been adversely affected by a variety of factors. Most appeal cases will be weakened if you did not take steps to report the problems at the time. Schools will recognise that there are some circumstances which are so exceptional that a student would not be able to report it sooner, but in general you must try and address the problem at the time.

Don’t convince yourself that you should be able to cope – ask for help.

Special ConsiderationsAll schools will have a process in place which will allow you to let them know that you are/have been experiencing problems affecting your study – before your grades are agreed by the relevant Board. This is usually called a Special Considerations form but is sometimes referred to as a ‘Mitigating Circumstances’ form. This is your opportunity to tell your school that something might be affecting your studies straight away. They may then be able to take this into account or provide other necessary support. If you’re having problems and you do not tell your school at the time they will want to know why. If you are unable to give a reasonable explanation for why you couldn’t/didn’t want to tell them then this will weaken your case.

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The RegulationsProcess of AppealingThe appeals regulations are clear to experienced SUAIC staff, but can seem quite daunting to students, especially if you are anxious and upset about the whole process. The full regulations can be found at:www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionIV/student-appeals.html

The Regulations made easyStaff at SUAIC are here to guide you through the regulations. Below is a brief summary of the process.

Stage One: PRELIMINARY DISCUSSIONSThe first thing you need to do is try to resolve the matter informally.

This means that you should arrange a meeting with your tutor or other appropriate person in your school, such as the Course Leader.

This meeting is ‘informal’ in the sense that there is no structure, but it is advisable if some notes are taken by your tutor and that you are clear about what was discussed/agreed. We recommend that you make an appointment with a SUAIC adviser before this meeting so that we can help you be clear about what you want to achieve from the meeting.

Occasionally straight forward issues, supported with appropriate evidence, can be resolved at the Preliminary stage.

However if your tutor feels that the case is more complex they may suggest that you ask for a formal appeal panel to be set up to review your case. Preliminary discussions should help to give you an idea of the strengths and weaknesses of your case. At this point you should be able to make a decision whether to proceed to the formal stage.

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Stage Two (step 1): APPEAL REQUEST FORM

In order to arrange a formal appeal you need to complete an Appeals Request Form which can be found in the appeals regulations or from SUAIC. This form should be completed and returned to the School Manager. The form should include details of any preliminary discussions you have had. Guidance for completing the form can be found later in this booklet and you can also make an appointment

with a SUAIC adviser to check over your form.

Stage Two (step 2): THE FORMAL APPEALOnce you have submitted the request form you should receive a reply from your school within 20 working days to let you know the date of the appeal. This might all start to feel a bit ‘official’ at this stage, but try not to be too daunted by the process. Appeals Panels are not designed to scare you or put you on the spot, they are about looking at your particular circumstances and working out whether things could have been done differently.

The Panel will invite you in to the meeting room, which will be in a private and confidential environment. A representative from your school will be asked to explain to the Panel why you have been awarded a particular grade, or how a decision was reached. You will then be asked to explain why you would like to appeal.

PLEASE NOTE –

You have 20 working days from the date that you received official notification of the decision that you wish to appeal against – eg.

termination of course, exam results, decision of a Fitness to Practice

Panel. If a student wishes to appeal against the results of supplementary

examinations, the form should normally be returned within 5

working days of the publication of results.

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The Panel will ask a series of questionsin order to understand the circum-stances and clarify any points that are unclear. Somebody will be on hand to take minutes of the meeting.

You will then be asked to leave the room at the same time as the representative from the school. The Panel will have a discussion and may call you back in for any further questions. Again – they are not there to grill you or make you feel like you are in a court room drama, they just need to establish the facts.

The Panel will inform you of their decision, in writing, within 5 working days.

Stage Three – SENATE APPEAL COMMITTEEAlmost all appeals are resolved at the Formal level. However, there are occasionally situations where a student does not agree with the Panel’s decision and they have found new evidence, (not available at the

time of the appeal) which they would like to present. You may also feel that there has been a significant failure in the conduct of the Appeals Panel or that they didn’t follow the process properly. If you are at this stage then we strongly advise you to contact SUAIC for advice and representation as early as possible.

What if the University cannot resolve my concerns?Should a student feel that his/her appeal has not been satisfactorily resolved through internal procedures, there is an external mechanism for review of the University’s actions; this is through the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA). Information about the OIA’s procedures may be found from: www.oiahe.org.uk/ or in the OIA’s leaflet, An Introduction to the Student Complaints Scheme available from the Students’ Union Advice and Information Centre and from the Student Services Centre.

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More information is also contained within the appeals regulations.

Students must be in receipt of a ‘Completion of Procedures’ letter from The University before proceeding to this stage.

HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR SUBMITTING AND PARTICIPATING IN APPEALS:

What makes a good appeal?We are often asked to give examples of what makes a strong or weak case for appeal. Each case should be judged on individual merit but you might wish to consider the following examples before you begin writing your statement.

“I am sure that my final show/dissertation was worth at least a 2:1 and I only got a 2:2.”

However much you might want to, you cannot question academic judgement. The appeals process is not about proving that your work is worth more – it is about demonstrating that

you might have achieved a higher grade had you not been significantly affected by a particular problem.

“I ran into financial difficulties and had to take a part-time job, this affected my studies.”

Whilst it is clear that financial difficulties can be extremely distressing, in general they cannot be considered as instrumental in affecting academic performance. However, if you can demonstrate that there was a significant crisis – e.g. your house was repossessed during the exam period then this would be considered as grounds to lodge an appeal.

“I did badly because of poor tuition/supervision”

This would not normally be accepted as grounds for an appeal and we would recommend that you raise this matter through the University Complaints Procedure. However, if it is evident that you did receive some poor tuition, but met all of the required learning outcomes, then

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a possible outcome may be that the examination board are asked to reconsider your submission.

This might be in the form of extended support to resubmit.

“I submitted a Special Considerations form but they don’t seem to have taken any notice of it.”

If you submitted a Special Considerations form then you would normally be told whether your circumstances will be taken into account by the examination board. If you are not sure whether they have been considered then you should contact your school to find out why the request was rejected.

If the Special Considerations Panel felt that your circumstances did not affect your performance then it is unlikely that you would have strong grounds for appeal. However always seek advice from SUAIC as you may have further evidence to support your case.

How to Prepare for your AppealPreliminary discussionsCome along to SUAIC or speak to us by telephone or email so that we can help you clarify what has happened to you and what you want to achieve from the appeals process.

Writing your statementAlthough you are not required to provide a statement until you request a formal appeal, it is often a good idea to begin working on it immediately. If you are clear on your grounds for appeal and have organised sufficient evidence then it is possible that the matter can be resolved at the Preliminary stage.

The statement will help you to remember everything that you wish to say and to keep your thoughts focussed.

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• Stick to the point Focus your statement by using

bullet points which relate to the grounds under which you are appealing.

• Make a chronology It is often very useful to write your

statement in date order so that you can directly relate any particular incidents to pieces of work that were affected. Often the timing of certain events can be crucial so ensure that you highlight any significant dates.

• Get a breakdown of your results It can be useful to demonstrate

a particular period of time when your grades suffered as a result of a particular circumstance. You might also want to focus on the time when your study was not being affected and demonstrate the difference in your attainment.

• Personal or course issues? Students can appeal on more than

one of the grounds and if you are doing so then please separate course issues and personal issues. Be clear on which issues have affected you. Leave out problems which do not relate to your grounds for appeal.

If you make criticism about your department or about a particular member of staff then you will not suffer any recriminations. However you must always back up such criticisms with evidence. Criticisms of the quality of teaching received will need to be raised separately as complaints (see details at the back of this booklet).

• What are you hoping for? You need to be clear about what

you hope to achieve by lodging the appeal. SUAIC staff can help you to be realistic about the possible outcomes of appeals. For example it is unlikely that a student who has

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achieved a 3rd class degree will be upgraded to a 2:1. If the appeal was upheld then it would be more likely that the student could expect to be given the chance to repeat a particular period of study.

• Evidence You need to provide as much

evidence to support your case as possible. This will help to verify what has gone wrong and may also clarify the dates and times of problems affecting you. You should also keep all email exchanges made between yourself and the school. If you do not have evidence or cannot access it then explain the reasons for this in your statement.

• Double check Poor grammar and spelling

mistakes don’t make a good impression.

• Make sure all your dates and facts are correct.

ConclusionSouthampton University Students’ Union’s (SUSU’s) prime role is to act as the recognised channel of communication between students and the University through which it actively promotes and represents the general interests of students. SUSU enjoys a positive working relationship with the University and is consulted at all times when the University is updating its student policies and procedures; students can therefore be assured that SUSU ensures that processes are fair and effective for all students.

In order to ensure students benefit from the best representation and advice possible, all students are strongly advised to seek advice and guidance from the experienced team at SUAIC.

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Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre www.susu.org/suaic

Students’ Union Advice and Information Centre (SUAIC)Students’ Union Building 40Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJTel: 023 8059 2085Email: [email protected]/suaic

The Complaints Regulations and helpful guidance notes can be found via SUSSED: Go To: Student Resources Online gResources g Rules & Regulations gComplaints & Appeals.Please use this alongside the actual regulations at: www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionIV/student-complaints.html

The Appeals Regulations can also be found via SUSSED at: Go To: Student Resources Online gResources g Rules &Regulations gComplaints & Appeals.

Please use this alongside the actual regulations at: www.calendar.soton.ac.uk/sectionIV/student-appeals.html

All University Rules and Regulations - including the Student Entitlement Declaration and the Student Guidance DocumentAre at: www.soton.ac.uk/quality/strategies/sed.html

Your Course Representative – see: http://coursereps.susu.org for more information.

Guidance on Study Skills and Academic Integrity:www.academic-skills.soton.ac.uk

Your Course Handbook, Blackboard and your personal tutor are all good places to start.

USEFUL RESOURCES AND CONTACTS:

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Education Support39 University RoadHighfield Campuswww.southampton.ac.uk/edusupport/

Disability E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 02380 597241

MentoringStudent Services CentreEmail: [email protected]: 023 8059 7241

Mediation Servicewww.southampton.ac.uk/hr/support/mediation/index.html

Career DestinationsStudent Services CentreBuilding 37Tel: 023 8059 3501www.southampton.ac.uk/careers

University of SouthamptonCounselling Service28 University RoadTel: 023 8059 3719E-mail: [email protected]/edusupport/counselling/index.html

Nightline – Confidential Listening Service, run by students for students. 8pm to 8am (term-time)Tel: 02380 595236Internal 25236www.susu.org/nightline

Harassment contacts can be found at:www.southampton.ac.uk/hr/support/harassment/index.html

Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre www.susu.org/suaic

OTHER CONTACTS:

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Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre www.susu.org/suaic

OTHER PUBLICATIONS IN THIS SERIES

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Students’ Union Advice & Information Centre www.susu.org/suaic

HOUSING INFORMATION BOOKLET ALSO AVAILABLE

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Southampton UniversityStudents’ Unionwww.susu.org

Students’ UnionAdvice & Information Centre

www.susu.org/suaic

Please note that at time of publication every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this booklet. The Students’ Union Advice and Information Centre and Southampton University Students’ Union cannot accept responsibility for errors, omissions, or subsequent changes in legal requirements. The Information and figures quoted in this publication were believed to be accurate at the time of going to print, but may be subject to change. August 2010

Alternative Formats of this leaflet are available on request.