An article written by your VP Education, Charlotte, regarding the current procedure surrounding Mitigating Circumstances and a push for change.

The University defines mitigating circumstances as unexpected and unavoidable situations that can seriously affect a student's academic performance. It's up to students to request consideration for these circumstances, so it's crucial to understand what they are and how to ask for help.

For your claim to be accepted, you need to show that these circumstances meet certain criteria:

1. Significant Impact: The situation must have had a big effect on your studies.

2. Unexpected: You didn't see it coming; it wasn't something you could have planned for.

3. Unpreventable: There was nothing reasonable you could have done to stop it from happening.

4. Relevant: It directly affected the time you're asking for help with.

5. Supported by Evidence: You'll need to provide proof, like documents or reports.

We've heard different opinions from students about this process. That's why, together with the academic registry, we're looking into how students have experienced mitigating circumstances.

We've created a form for students to share their thoughts, and in February, we're holding a focus group to discuss the information and student experiences. This way, we ensure that student feedback guides both the University and the Students’ Union. 

Within the focus group we hope to be as representative as possible, with 5 school Presidents, 5 Liberation Reps and 5 students who have filled out the form about mitigating circumstances.

In the focus group, we’ll be discussing individual experiences surrounding mitigating circumstances as well as overarching themes, the students will also have the opportunity to ask questions towards academic registry and advice.

To fill in the form click here

Big Idea

I also want the University to support Self Certification when it comes to mitigating circumstances. 

A self-certification mitigating circumstance typically refers to a situation where a student faces an unforeseen challenge or difficulty that significantly affects their ability to meet deadlines. These circumstances are usually temporary in nature, and could include illness, family emergencies, or unexpected personal issues (because we’re all human at the end of the day).

The self-certification part means that the student can claim mitigating circumstances without providing specific evidence or documentation, relying on their own honesty and integrity (and let's face it, going through mitigating circumstances is more work than the assignments itself). However, universities usually have guidelines regarding the types of circumstances that qualify and may limit the number of times a student can self-certify within a given semester or academic year.

This policy change recognises that students might face unexpected challenges that affect their studies but may not always have formal evidence to back up their situation. It allows students to request deadline extensions or rescheduled exams, based on their self-declaration of the mitigating circumstance.

But we need you to let us know what you think by voting on it. 

To support the Big Idea on Self Certification click here