Graduate But No Certificates Yet!!!

melancholly

I think you've had a lot more patience with them that I would have had! If/when you do have to write an official complaint, it may be worth listing all the dates/people you'd spoken to who haven't bothered replying. If the certificates do turn up, in your position I'd be tempted to write a letter complaining of the situation anyway. Good luck!

Lady_K

Yes thats the intention, according to her my daughter is the only one that hasnt recieved them and we are the only people complaining. I don't know why shes saying that as we know there are others. Not sure if they are complaining still at this particular time, I know they did earlier but anyway shes probably trying to make it seem like its a smaller problem than it really is, not admitting to thier own faults

turnitaround_3

I feel for you I really do, universities are now so bogged down in politics and clap trap that nothing works properly;

From 1998 years;

Point1: The UMS (University Modular System) are credits and one of those 'modules' CompSci students have to pass is Statistics. We had some medical fuddy from the local hospital doing these courses who was invariably late, mixed up Stats terminology with Medical terminology, and wasn't Computer Science orientated. Most of scraped through with 40%. You used to sit there worrying about your student finances and wondered, "Is this really where my £400 is going?" £400 = module.

Point2: I used to keep diaries for my coursework, this one being discrete mathematics. A small hard backed notepad filled from front to back with workings out, ideas etc. etc. I lent mine to a 3rd year student who was tidying up their modules to pass. They practically copied it word for word. They got 67%, I got early 40s.

Point3: Invariably lecturers know sod all about machine code computer programming. Arguing with them about XOR and XAND doesn't do much for your grades, they take it personally. The few lecturers left with whom were argumentative and inspired us were so worn down and over stretched they were almost out of breath in the corridor. Most of the pride and true academic research and achievement has been knocked out of universities bit by bit. The people they employ now are little and small minded.


So after that rant there's some agreement for you. You're entirely right, you're all right in your assessment of colleges/universities. In employment you interview these graduates with 1/1's who when you try to integrate them into the business environment they fall flat on their faces, both socially and experience wise.

A degree does not count as much as it used to these days. Some of the top most achieving dynamic people/directors I've worked for over the years don't have any qualifications at all. Would they be able to gain qualifications? Likely not, as they'd have told the colleges to bog off when asked to jump through hoops for show.

I understand your frustration, it will get sorted in the end. ((((((hugs))))) And it is totally totally unfair to those students that show pride and inspiration and love for what they do. It's wrong.

And yep, I got a 2/2. Arguing and battling on until only the raw truth is left is a past-time. Ever wondered why half of these fancy corporate websites don't work properly ;-) As for what I do with computers, embedded development, ...you know what ABS is in your car don't you... :A

Lady_K

After much pressure on the college my daughter has now recieved some certificates but she actually took the exams in April 2005 so you can see how long we have been trying.

Anyway I am not completely sure if some of these are correct or if things are missing...

She has recieved the HND papers from edexcel which consist of 3 sheets. The first sheet says BTEC Higher National Diploma is awarded to xxx xxx who completed an approved programne at xxx college and the date. It says this document consists of more than one page then carries on the next 2 pages headed Notification of Performance. This is all broken down into units, values, and grade levels. Its great to have all the details which is the way it should be. They seem fine

The thing is though are those papers actually classed as a certificate? For this kind of work Therapists usually have them in frames in treatment rooms or wherever so customers can see they are qualified. She can't really put 3 frames up with all that detail on can she which makes me think should'nt she have got a separate certificate from the college itself regarding this HND award? Or am I completely wrong? Should she ask for a certificate from the college for this?

Another thing is, the Aromatherapy certificate it is a little concerning. It has no date and has no examination body on it. Shouldnt certificates have a date an examination board on?

It just consists of the college sign and name and under it, it says: This is to certify that having met the entry requirements for the professional practise of aromatherapy xxx xxx has been admitted to full membership of the 'certain professional association of Aromatherapy'(didn't want to put which one) then its signed by the principle and has the sign of the aromatherapy professional body at the bottom... My daughter rang this body and they said no she was not a member. They said the course she followed was one of thier approved courses and she met all the criteria for membership but she had to pay, fair enough. But the college has put on the cert that she is a full member already which is very misleading.

The Reflexology certificate is dated and has an examination board board on but that one does not mention the professional associaton that is related to the course at all or membership.

Lastly she has no breakdown of qualifications for the Aromatherapy or Reflexology for the written exams and pracatical exams she doesn't know what percentage she got for either. She was marked for the coursework for these in with the HND but the written and practical exams were examined seperately. She has asked for these before but they haven't sent them. Shouldn't she know what percentages she got for them?

Sorry its so long

melancholly

well it's about time they sent you something, but they don't sound right.... to be sure it sounds like ringing up all the awarding bodies and checking if you have the right thing on the certificates.
and they should be able to give you a breakdown for all the courses....

you just have all my sympathy - this sounds like a nightmare, i can't see how they can function when they're clearly so inefficient at this....

Lady_K

Thanx, we don't know the awarding body for the Aromatherapy though and god knows it's going to be hell to try and get the info from the College. They will probably say she's got everything now. I think there should be a date on the certificate and the examination board.

The reflex one says International Examination Board so I hope thats ok theres nothing else about them anywhere just that name but looking it up on google they seem to be connected to reflexology exams although I can't find any actual address or contact.

The edexcel papers are detailed but to me what shes got is not a certificate so I think that the college should really be making one for this. They probably thought they would try and just send these and we would think no different and accept them on thier own