Give us a truly fair and impartial student complaints system!

From what I understand you were suspected of cheating, an investigation took place, and you were awarded a degree. You then made a complaint which was investigated, and were awarded compensation by the OIAHE. It looks to me like the system worked as it should.

I have reported it to GMC. Guess what? Apparently, falsifying my medical record isn't serious enough for them to deal with. Apparently I am supposed to go back to my doctor, (who when I complained to him spent a whole hour humiliating me), and sort it out there. I have not had medical representation since 2010. And since that time, the stress of this situation which has been ongoing since September 2008 has been instrumental in causing my husband's heart attack in February this year. (Yes I have evidence of that too!!) Fortunately, the same doctor who I complained about actually got it right this time!

Sorry I don't understand: you don't have a doctor anymore? They cannot refuse to see or treat you. If they are then that warrants a further clause for your original report to the GMC to be referred back to them again as this has now compounded the case.

Or do you mean that you used to be on the NHS but now seek healthcare privately?

The doctor who you complained about: did he work for the NHS or privately? I'm not sure whether there might be different implications or other bodies to go through or for advice. Have you heard of PALS (the Patient Advice and Liaison Services)? (Or something like that. ) I've only come across them recently so would need to look into them somewhat first. Maybe they could help?

With respect, a student is not seeking "advice" at the point when he/she becomes involved with the OIAHE. By this time the student has been through the university's internal complaints system and are clearly dissatisfied with the supposed resolution. By this time, many months will have passed, and the student is therefore already far removed from the ability to get justice, and has been deeply affected detrimentally by the process. They are at their most vulnerable, having now had any direct communication with the University severed.

Julie

Student Union are collecting funds for jollies and purple hair dye. They do NOT involve themselves with student complaints. I have first hand experience of this!

Hilary

In my case, a lecturer claimed my work to be "flawless...quite technical...and of very high quality..." and then went on to say that, because of those qualities, he believed that I had purchased the work. Now, to stop this becoming a long drawn out discussion (and because it's true), I have to ask you to believe me when I say that the work was 100% my own. However, this libellous assessment of my supposed lack of ability went round the university like a house fire.

I was then forced to undergo a "kangeroo court" type situation which was presented to me as an opportunity for further assessment, not as a process in which I would be accused. I was therefore denied any representation at the proceedings, and astoundingly, was also denied any knowledge of the real reason I had been summoned to undertake this process. (I only discovered the truth in documentation that was obtained in SAR requests over a year later!) Also astoundingly, this process did not exist as a legitimate process for my course, for either assessment, or for dealing with cheating. With no rules to follow, they could entirely make up their own rules. And they did! And as a result, my work was marked down, from the "flawless" work it had been claimed to be when they believed it was written by someone else, to being only worth 64%, a level well below flawless, when they eventually admitted that it was MY work.

However, this man was never called upon to provide evidence of his allegation, and the university just made documents 'disappear' so that no sense could be made of anything. So, by the time the OIAHE got hold of this vindictive attack on me, it had already been turned into something totally different by the university. The OIAHE simply agreed with the university, and disregarded all the evidence I had supplied to them, and found my case "Not Justified".

Now I can already hear you saying, well then they dealt with it fairly. So, I have one question for you: If my case was not justified, why then did the OIAHE then "suggest" that the university pay me £1,000?

You should have demanded justifications right away and refused to take up on that opportunity.

What if you push them?

Sorry, I don't see how this relates to my post. I'm merely suggesting that, if a student has been the victim of disability discrimination at university, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (formally the Disability Rights Commission) are a good port of call. Even if the OIAHE have already been involved in the case.

They are not "far removed from getting justice". They may just be unable to get justice through the OIAHE.

I don't think that you have considered this fully. My thread was started to get support for legislation that needs changing because it doesn't do what it says on the tin! The OIAHE do NOT work!

And we've discussed this. This thread is here to discuss and debate current issues regarding student complaints systems (both internal complaints, as well as people such as the OIAHE) but not to "get support" for change. TSR is for discussion and not campaigning.

I saw someone who clearly didn't seem to be aware of the work that the Equality and Human Rights Commission do, and appeared to be struggling to find support. I therefore signposted him to the EHRC. There is nothing wrong with this, and this post appeared to be appreciated by the member himself. I thought it would be As mentioned, this thread is for discussion and not campaigning.

I made no comment on whether the OIAHE acted appropriate in his case (I can't comment on this) and made no comment on whether or not students should have a "single complaints system".

As far as formal internal complaints systems go, I did make use of my university's own complaints procedure after what I perceived to be disability discrimination (albeit indirect discrimination). It would be inappropriate to discuss it in detail but it's fair to say the response was mixed (the complaint was upheld on one point and would have been upheld on all grounds had I not fought so hard to return to the university). It took a long time for the complaint to reach a conclusion but this was due to staff illness rather than failures in the system. Improvements have since been made to the university's support for students with disabilities as a result of this, and other, complaints. Overall I'd say it did its job in my case.



Again, how does this relate to my posts?

Your last post is not actually making sense to me. You claim you went through your internal system, but then later say that "Overall I'd say it did its job in my case." This appears to imply that you went to the OIA. If you didn't then why have you implied that you did?

Also, I am puzzled as to why you, who claim you have had this fight yourself,
are so vehemently opposed to my action, and are desperate to detract from my original thread. I posted it so I do think that I am aware what is on topic and what isn't!

Your last post is not actually making sense to me. You claim you went through your internal system, but then later say that "Overall I'd say it did its job in my case." This appears to imply that you went to the OIA. If you didn't then why have you implied that you did?

Oh, and regarding the other person you mention. I am in personal direct contact with that student.

I pushed them! They were not interested. I wrote to the NUS, they were not interested either. I discussed it with them on Times Higher Education, they were clueless, operating only in the political realm, failing to understand completely that a certain subset of students were being failed by them. But even with understanding, they have no real power anyway. They act as a social entity, organising events, giving students a sense of camaraderie and belonging. They know how to fight nationally important events because they can call on big numbers of students and rile them up for a fight. But they cannot influence anything when it is the victimisation and exclusion of small numbers of students. (There was myself and one other student singled out on my course. I don't know who the other student was, nor whether that student was guilty of anything.)

It has been claimed by the moderator that this is a place to discuss, yet the only discussion taking place is over what is perceived to be my controversial contributions to this thread. There is no real discussion about the subject presented. That subject is the OIAHE

With regards to your points of which I bolded:

Point 1: I don't see how that can be because surely everything written (your evidence, argument and all documentation) that you make available to them as part of your complaint has to be looked at by them? Likewise they would have to look over any written correspondence from the Universities, else why write to them asking for a copy of all pertinent paperwork and procedures? Why would you invite 10 tons of paperwork to your office for the sheer fun of it?

Point 2: The Universities may claim that but if you have written evidence that proves otherwise and you can back up your claim by referring to the University's procedures, and relevant civil rights policies and Acts to your claim; then surely they cannot refute those things? Because they are supposed to act independently so if they don't decide in your favour in such an instance pertaining to the OIA, then the OIA itself can be drawn into disrepute by taking sides/being biased.

Point 3: This really concerns me. Even though the OIA clearly emphasizes that it is NOT a court of law- "the OIA acts as an alternative to a judicial review/legal case" so it won't be carried out in legal pomp/formalities; this should no way mean that the organisation and its acts are exempt from or above the laws of the land. Therefore if in your claim you do present evidence showing your rights and English Laws have been contravened, and procedures compromised, then it does not matter whether they have an opinion or not on what is legal and what is ethical or not: They shall still have to abide.

I don't think that you have considered this fully. My thread was started to get support for legislation that needs changing because it doesn't do what it says on the tin! The OIAHE do NOT work! They are ineffective, and cannot deal with the range of complaints that students have. For instance: