SUBMISSION OF MITIGATION

 

 

During your time as a student, things may not go as smoothly as you would like. If you fall ill during exams, experience personal problems at a time when you course work load is heavy, or for any reason find that you are unable to study effectively, LET SOMEONE KNOW.

 

 

If you're feeling isolated or homesick or are experiencing personal problems, it may help to talk. The University provides a professional, confidential counselling service within its Student Services Centre in Edinburgh Building, City Campus.

The University also provides specialised provision for financial counselling, health advice, assistance for overseas students and students with special needs.

 

The Students' Union offers independent, professional advice on a range of welfare issues, such as immigration matters, accommodation problems, financial worries, legal hassles etc. The welfare team is located in the Advice Centre on the Ground Floor, Edinburgh Building on the City Campus.

 

Extenuating or mitigating circumstances

If you have a valid reason that affects your performance at any time, the University is prepared to take it into account.

However, it is up to you to inform the University of your difficulties. Don't brush things under the carpet and hope for the best -it is a lot easier (and a lot less stressful) to tackle problems as soon as they occur. If possible, discuss your situation with the relevant lecturing staff, especially if you are going to miss a deadline.

 

 

You should tell your programme leader, module leader or personal tutor what is happening, as soon as you know you are having problems. It is also necessary to provide some from of evidence to confirm that your problems are genuine. This isn't because the University doesn't trust you - they are just concerned that all students are treated fairly and equally.

 

 

Problems may include illness, bereavement, emotional circumstances, financial problems, or accommodation issues.

 

 

Mitigation forms

 

The way to formally notify the University that you are experiencing problems that affect your ability to study is very simple. You need to obtain a copy of a Mitigation Form complete it and submit it to your School Office prior to a Mitigation Panel sitting.

The forms are available from your School office, The Gateway and the Students' Union Academic Affairs Department. Additionally, you can print a mitigation form from our 'Forms' Page .

 

 

Preparing to submit mitigation

 

Usually mitigating or extenuating circumstances are only considered if submitted in the proper form at the correct time, so make sure you find out well in advance of any exams or deadlines which maybe affected exactly what the procedure is. The Academic Affairs Department in the Students' Union can help you to complete the form and prepare the required information and evidence.

It is sensible to attach as much information possible - a letter of explanation often helps the academic staff to understand the difficulties that are affecting your study. Your letter should give a brief outline of the problem/s, along with an explanation of how they are affecting your studies, and details of what period of time has been or is likely to be affected. Your statement should be accompanied be any relevant documentation which provides evidence of the problems, e.g. a note from your doctor or a letter from your counsellor. It is important that the documents you provide cover the relevant dates, otherwise it may not be considered. It can also be useful to keep a note of any conversations you have with any tutors, or emails you have sent concerning your problems, and refer to these when you make a formal request for your circumstances to be taken into account.

 

Treatment of sensitive or private information

 

If you don't want all the details of your circumstances discussed at the Mitigation Panel because you find them highly personal or sensitive, it can be arranged for mitigation to be submitted directly to the Chair of the Panel.

A brief general description of what's happened is then given to the members of staff sitting on the Mitigation Panel and the more in-depth information withheld and stored confidentially.

 

 

The University understands that problems can sometimes be of a highly personal nature, and confidentiality is respected as far as possible.

 

Handing in the form

 

When you submit your form to the School Office, a receipt will be signed and returned to you by the administrator who receives it.

The receipt should be kept in a safe place along with a copy of the form and all the documentation that you have attached.

 

What happens next?

 

Each School has a Mitigation Panel that meets periodically before the Module and Programme Assessment Boards sit, usually following assessment periods.

 

A list of students whose mitigation has been accepted is supplied to the individual Assessment Boards. If a Board finds that a student has not passed an assessment, the list is consulted to check if mitigation has been accepted before applying an appropriate assessment decision.

 

If mitigation has been accepted the following decisions may be applied, for example:

• The student may be given another chance to take failed assignments/exams without a grade penalty (“deferral”)
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• Have an official record made to note that the student's performance could have been adversely affected, even in passed assignments/exams
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• In certain circumstances the assessment mark may be brought to a pass mark

Points to remember!!

• Provide evidence (e.g. doctors note) to support your request
• Try to submit the mitigation form and evidence BEFORE the deadline for the piece of work or examination and on time for the Mitigation Panel to consider
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If you cannot avoid submitting your request until after the Assessment Board has made its decision you will have to follow the *Review of Assessment Decisions

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• procedure rather than submitting mitigation late.

 

Need advice and support?

 

The Academic Affairs Department offers students advice on academic problems. If we can't help you we'll try to find someone who can.

• All enquiries are dealt with in the strictest confidence.
• Drop in and see us whenever you like, we are located on the Ground Floor, Edinburgh Building, City Campus.
  Open - Monday to Friday 9am-4pm
  Closed - Weekends and Bank Holidays

Alternatively you can contact us by phone on:
0044 (0)191 5153030

 

 

We will be happy to phone you back so you don't have to worry about the cost of the call.

Email:

diane rooney, Academic Advisor
joanne cocklin, Academic Advisor