Repeat year refused

MrsManda

sal-ad_daze wrote: »

I have no idea!
We were just so concerned with ds that I just spoke to his tutor and tried to explain that he just wasn't fit enough to be in Uni (I was close to breaking down myself during the call I was so anxious), we had no correspondence at all until we got the letter saying that he needed to get in touch if he wanted to continue (or words to that effect) this is what he did and they arranged the meeting that we had about 10 days ago.
He hasn't submitted any work or assessments or taken any exams.

We're not a family that has had dealings with Universities so don't understand all this terminoligy, I'm hoping a phone call on Monday will clarify things it's just getting this letter this morning and not able to talk to anyone just leaves me (and ds) worried, upset and confused.

*hugs* I'm the first to go to uni in my family as well and have a lot of trouble with my health whilst at university so I'll try to explain what I mean.
When did you call his tutor? What did his tutor say?
I presume your son has been ill most of the academic year, has he managed to go to any of his lectures/hand in any work?
Was your phone call to his tutor the first time his tutor had been told that your son was struggling or has she been kept informed by your son?

As already suggested your son needs to talk to the student advisors at the SU but I'd also suggest he called the office which sent him the letter and ask what further evidence they require and whether he needs to go through an appeals process or can just submit further information. Your son needs to do this himself as if he is not capable of it then it is likely the university will uphold the opinion that he is not ready to go back.

It's probably also worth him contacting his tutor and asking why she thinks he's not ready and whether she would recommend him taking a year off and returning in 2011/12. His tutor is an important ally as she will be the one who knows him best from the university staff and so her opinion will count for a lot.

sal-ad_daze

MrsManda wrote: »

*hugs* I'm the first to go to uni in my family as well and have a lot of trouble with my health whilst at university so I'll try to explain what I mean.
When did you call his tutor? What did his tutor say?
I presume your son has been ill most of the academic year, has he managed to go to any of his lectures/hand in any work?
Was your phone call to his tutor the first time his tutor had been told that your son was struggling or has she been kept informed by your son?

As already suggested your son needs to talk to the student advisors at the SU but I'd also suggest he called the office which sent him the letter and ask what further evidence they require and whether he needs to go through an appeals process or can just submit further information. Your son needs to do this himself as if he is not capable of it then it is likely the university will uphold the opinion that he is not ready to go back.

It's probably also worth him contacting his tutor and asking why she thinks he's not ready and whether she would recommend him taking a year off and returning in 2011/12. His tutor is an important ally as she will be the one who knows him best from the university staff and so her opinion will count for a lot.

It's all a bit of a blur to be honest!
I know he's spoken to her a couple of times and spoken to one of his lecturers. He's also had an appointment with the Uni Counsellor that she knew about. I didn't know how much he'd missed as he wasn't living at home. I stepped in after Christmas when I realised how ill he really was. I've spoken to her twice.
She thinks he needs to come and live at home but he's not so sure, his dad is very set in his ways, very regimented and doesn't like disruption so having a student in the house isn't ideal(!) ds can have his friends over more often and play his music etc. in his flat (he shares) so it's balancing the 'social support' against the financial and family support and working out what is best. I don't think she liked it when he didn't immediately agree to do this, I told her we would discuss it long and hard, and in some ways I agreed with her.
She actually got him mixed up with another student in the meeting and had to clarify that this was his first shot at a degree.
He will indeed make the calls himself, it's just that he's away for the weekend seeing a mate who's not coming home for the hols so he's not here to discuss it with.
Things were looking up for him and this will really knock him back if he can't go back.

MrsManda

Could he do his course at a university closer to home? That way he could still live away from home and have his friends but also have family support?
It sounds like his tutor may support him either moving to a closer university or taking a year out to ensure he's really sorted then coming back to start again. Its really tough but his health is important and although it's horrible taking a year out as you feel like you're quitting, it can often be better than forcing yourself back when you're not ready and having to drop out in the middle of the year again.

kinkyjinks

Hi I understand the panic you must be feeling so first of all...take deep breaths, based on my own circumstances I'm pretty sure all is not lost. I have to point out though that I'm not sure about other universities protocols but I'm guessing they must be kind of similar.

In my first year at uni I was going through a difficult time with family problems and after Christmas I went less and less. I did tell my personal tutor that I was having problems and needed to take time out. I had no doctors note at the time, I just filled in one of those self document things. I couldn't face going back after that, I got a few emails from the level secretary asking me about my absences and I got a similar letter from uni asking me if I was continuing. I have to be honest and say I ignored all the emails and even the letter asking me if I planned to continue

When I eventually faced up to what I was about to throw away (in the August) I made an appointment to see my levels secretary who agreed to backdate a Leave of Absence (LOA) form if I was able to provide medical evidence that I had been ill during that time. I also had to have the LOA approved by my personal tutor, who I spoke to, explaining the circumstances and why I honestly believed I was worthy of another chance (if he has handed in any coursework or done any exams and passed them he could always use those marks and say look what I was able to achieve when I was at a low ebb) I then had to fill out a Change of Circumstances form, which had to be approved by my level sec, personal tutor and head of dept.

If they are saying that your son will remain registered for the current academic year that tells me that he hasn't filled in a LOA form. This is the first thing that I would address. His uni will have a website that probably has a link to something called Student Services (at least it was at my uni, it might be called something else at others) and on that page there will be a link to FAQ and hopefully a reference somewhere to guidance on a LOA.

I'm pretty sure that most unis don't count resitting either the first year or any first year exams towards the final degree level given, it's kind of an introductory year. I also agree with MrsManda on taking a full, stress-free year out, if uni would agree to it. School/college to uni is a huge transition. His personal tutor is there to help him and offer her best advice on individual students circumstances.

On the plus side...if he gets accepted back and he has had to fight for his place that little bit harder than the other students in his new year, he will appreciate his chance even more and work that bit harder to show them all that they made the right choice For the record, I was a mature student, 3 kids, eldest at the time was 15, youngest 11 :eek:

I hope what I've written makes some kind of sense but it's late, I'm tired but I didn't want to read and run.

BLT_2

Lets be serious here. The lad in question signed up for a valuable university place, he has occupied it for a year, done no work, submitted no assignments and undertaken no exams. He has been under stress and anxiety related depression - all of which would have actually been much worse if he had actually tried to meet his deadlines.

With that sort of history, if I were the university, I would have said No as well

sal-ad_daze

BLT wrote: »

Lets be serious here. The lad in question signed up for a valuable university place, he has occupied it for a year, done no work, submitted no assignments and undertaken no exams. He has been under stress and anxiety related depression - all of which would have actually been much worse if he had actually tried to meet his deadlines.

With that sort of history, if I were the university, I would have said No as well

Thanks for that really helpful reply!
My son fought to gain his place at uni and valued it, he didn't plan to not be there!
I know he didn't do things 'according to the book' and I just wanted some help and clarification.

MrsManda

sal-ad_daze wrote: »

Thanks for that really helpful reply!
My son fought to gain his place at uni and valued it, he didn't plan to not be there!
I know he didn't do things 'according to the book' and I just wanted some help and clarification.

BLT wasn't exactly tactful but he, along with kinkyjinks does make some valid points. Whereas physical illness is often easy to say yes, I'm better (though by all means not always), mental illness is a lot more complex. You say your son turned a corner at Easter yet it's taken until June for anything to be done about his education so the university has a right to be worried not only about the cost of keeping his place open but also on the health of your son.

As KinkyJinks said, his personal tutor is there to offer the best advice she can under individual circumstances. Your son's problems are not uncommon to students and she is likely to have a wealth of experience with students who have encountered difficulties like your son and thus she is well worth listening to, especially as I'm sure the faculty will listen to her as well.

sal-ad_daze

I understand what you are saying MrsManda, and I take your point but this decision hasn't been taken easily and we've had a long and frank discussion with the doctor. We just feel that he now needs this. Hmm, reading that phrase back I can see how it could be misconstrued, I'll try to explain what I mean; he has been fighting for a long time just to gain his place at Uni and has (and still is) fighting his illness and we feel that he is ready to have something good back in his life. We are all aware that he will have to work and work harder than everyone else and he says he is prepared for that, this means so much to him I believe him. The Uni is local but he wanted to experience 'student live' which is why he left home.
If they want him to wait another year then so be it, I just can't work out what the letter means. If they fail the year, he can't go back can he?

MrsManda

sal-ad_daze wrote: »

I understand what you are saying MrsManda, and I take your point but this decision hasn't been taken easily and we've had a long and frank discussion with the doctor. We just feel that he now needs this. Hmm, reading that phrase back I can see how it could be misconstrued, I'll try to explain what I mean; he has been fighting for a long time just to gain his place at Uni and has (and still is) fighting his illness and we feel that he is ready to have something good back in his life. We are all aware that he will have to work and work harder than everyone else and he says he is prepared for that, this means so much to him I believe him. The Uni is local but he wanted to experience 'student live' which is why he left home.
If they want him to wait another year then so be it, I just can't work out what the letter means. If they fail the year, he can't go back can he?

I know what you mean, really I do understand. Don't particularly want to go into major details on here as it's not relevant (though if you want to talk you're welcome to pm me) but university isn't something which can be used just to give him something good back into his life. Its a tough slog for everyone and even without illness many people crack under the pressure. It's a matter of perspective, but the situation needs to be looked at from an objective viewpoint (very difficult to do I know).
Say your son goes back to university in September and he is still not on top of his illness. He's likely to put himself under more pressure than he was this year as he'll feel it's his last chance to be 'normal'. This may lead to his illness getting worse and also the possibility that he'll try to hide it more as he won't want it suggesting that he takes time out which again will make the problems worse.

Whereas if he takes a gap year, he can get on top of his illness and be prepared to tackle the degree head on. If he takes this option it is important that he doesn't feel that he's failed, rather that he's doing what many students do and is taking a gap year. Get him to sign up for temp agencies (when he's up to it), do voluntary work and generally take the chance to improve his CV. He could even do a introductory OU course to keep his hand in the studying.

As for if he is down as failing this year, it doesn't mean he cannot go back. You're allowed another go and with his illness it is likely his grades won't be capped in the first year (plus the first year rarely counts much towards the final degree anyway, you just have to pass).

sal-ad_daze

Oh thank you for that!
You've hit the nail on the head really, and made things so much clearer. I think part of the problem is that because we have no experience of this system we didn't know where to look for the alternative view - in school you know who you can go to, this is all so new. I will show him this thread and then when he rings tomorrow he will have a clearer idea of his options.
Thanks again.