Help! asking Durham to avoid Gap Year/out of residence
I was informed by the Economics department that I am now on another year 'out of residence' because I apparently did not pass this exam (I do not have my results). I just received this information today and want to do everything in my power to combat this. It's a combination degree so I would even willingly modify or completely drop Economics from my degree stream if it means graduating this year (I would be entering final year).
Taking another year out would be devastating for many reasons, including financially (I have a scholarship), socially, and for my mental health. My mental health worsened over the gap year and I find that the regularity of university would help regulate my mental health. Additionally, this is my life on complete pause. I can't do another gap year, it was hell on earth.
I'm looking for any suggestions on how to handle this, and if anyone has had a similar experience and can tell me about it. Durham are quite strict but I need to fight it in way I've never fought before because I cannot afford this gap year at all.
I was informed by the Economics department that I am now on another year 'out of residence' because I apparently did not pass this exam (I do not have my results). I just received this information today and want to do everything in my power to combat this. It's a combination degree so I would even willingly modify or completely drop Economics from my degree stream if it means graduating this year (I would be entering final year).
Taking another year out would be devastating for many reasons, including financially (I have a scholarship), socially, and for my mental health. My mental health worsened over the gap year and I find that the regularity of university would help regulate my mental health. Additionally, this is my life on complete pause. I can't do another gap year, it was hell on earth.
I'm looking for any suggestions on how to handle this, and if anyone has had a similar experience and can tell me about it. Durham are quite strict but I need to fight it in way I've never fought before because I cannot afford this gap year at all.
sorry to hear this, im currently incoming 1st year and had nearly a month of issue with them all over 1 mark so can understand how strict they would be. I think you need to outline in detail your issue with taking another year out, when do you find out your exam results? if it was a near pass this could help make your case. I also think offering them other potential options such as dropping it from your degree would be helpful and maybe see if there is anyone within the uni staff who you get on well with that could help argue your case. Good luck, wishing you all the best for this as I can imagine its a tough audience with the uni
1.
How come you don't have your exam results? They should have been available on Banner under 'Statement of Marks' from 12 noon yesterday.
2.
There are basically three possible grounds for appealing: (1) the decision was not made in line with the university's procedures; (2) there were extenuating circumstances that, for a good reason, you could not have disclosed beforehand; or (3) the decision is not reasonable in the given circumstances. This is really hard to prove, but the best option is to ask your college for advice. Note that you seem to have already been given a concession by being allowed to resit next year (normally you would be required to leave the university in this situation).
3.
You could potentially drop economics, provided that you can find 120 credits' worth of modules that you meet the prerequisites for. You'll need to check the programme regulations for the course you want to switch to. There's no formal process for this; you just need to speak to your department.
1.
How come you don't have your exam results? They should have been available on Banner under 'Statement of Marks' from 12 noon yesterday.
2.
There are basically three possible grounds for appealing: (1) the decision was not made in line with the university's procedures; (2) there were extenuating circumstances that, for a good reason, you could not have disclosed beforehand; or (3) the decision is not reasonable in the given circumstances. This is really hard to prove, but the best option is to ask your college for advice. Note that you seem to have already been given a concession by being allowed to resit next year (normally you would be required to leave the university in this situation).
3.
You could potentially drop economics, provided that you can find 120 credits' worth of modules that you meet the prerequisites for. You'll need to check the programme regulations for the course you want to switch to. There's no formal process for this; you just need to speak to your department.
Hi!
1.
Never showed up on banner, still not there either -- had to ask L&T team. I almost passed the module but missed by 2%.
2.
I'll be appealing but it's hard to know where that may take me. I've had a lot of SACs, which is why I can resit once more, but it truly becomes difficult once it's my second year of leave and I'm so far removed from the university and the module. Feels impossible to have a good second year 'out of residence' so I'm begging my departments to please consider any other option. Thank you for the summary.
3.
Truthfully, I can only potentially switch to single or double honours in Philosophy and Politics as I am a PPE student... I wish I could take this exam alongside my last year -- I'm willing to work thrice as hard now that a lot of my personal circumstances have improved, but it seems so hard to convince the economics department as this exam is a prerequisite.
Hi, I hope you manage to sort out your issue with them! It's a good lesson to learn that they are very strict with their guidelines yes, particularly the economics department. I didn't get my results published, I had to ask for them, and I've initiated discussions, we'll see where it will take me. I was hoping there would be other people who also may have experienced something with econ and lived to tell the tale happily, hence posting here...
Thank you and good luck with your things too!
1.
Never showed up on banner, still not there either -- had to ask L&T team. I almost passed the module but missed by 2%.
2.
I'll be appealing but it's hard to know where that may take me. I've had a lot of SACs, which is why I can resit once more, but it truly becomes difficult once it's my second year of leave and I'm so far removed from the university and the module. Feels impossible to have a good second year 'out of residence' so I'm begging my departments to please consider any other option. Thank you for the summary.
3.
Truthfully, I can only potentially switch to single or double honours in Philosophy and Politics as I am a PPE student... I wish I could take this exam alongside my last year -- I'm willing to work thrice as hard now that a lot of my personal circumstances have improved, but it seems so hard to convince the economics department as this exam is a prerequisite.
Hi, if you were like me got dispute with university many years would know some staff don't follow rules or things might go wrong
You have to screenshot your system to tell them what goes wrong in your DUO
Read all of regulations carefully when you are preparing the appeal
Got external legal advice instead of relying on internal staff, they might cover each other
Collect all of evidence
Independent adjudivator office is next step if your appeal fails
You have to screenshot your system to tell them what goes wrong in your DUO
Read all of regulations carefully when you are preparing the appeal
Got external legal advice instead of relying on internal staff, they might cover each other
Collect all of evidence
Independent adjudivator office is next step if your appeal fails
Thank you for the advice Tammy; what sort of external legal advice do you mean? Such as advice from an education lawyer? I have prepared a lot for the appeal with a lot of evidence and writing without any support from the university itself. I did send it to the SU to look over before I submit it.
If DSU is happy to help, it would be 👍
My case was during pandemic and it was shortage of staff, the university was under very low maintenance
Hope your appeal could go through! I truly hope you won't go through same situation as me!
I didn't get any help from university as well and all of my peers avoided me as well.
My case was during pandemic and it was shortage of staff, the university was under very low maintenance
Hope your appeal could go through! I truly hope you won't go through same situation as me!
I didn't get any help from university as well and all of my peers avoided me as well.
I'm sorry you had to go through this ☹️ The one thing I've realised is that Durham is very rigid in its processes and its guidelines. I feel like I misjudged the university in the past when I thought they cared about their students' wellbeing, so I'm sad to hear that the university has been like this for years. Thank you again for the well wishes, I hope things are better for you too after your time with the uni!
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