Student Update: Assessments, extensions and award classification for 2021/22

Please be aware that this information was shared with students by email and correct at the time of sending. For the latest Covid-19 guidance, please visit our coronavirus webpages: www.wlv.ac.uk/coronavirus. If you are a student who has a query or needs support, please log a helpcall with ASK@WLV in e:Vision (www.wlv.ac.uk/evision).

I hope you are all well and enjoying the summer break. Whilst it's good news that student life can get back towards 'normal', with on-campus teaching and activities from September, we know that students will continue to need support and may be anxious about the impact of the pandemic on their studies.

This update outlines the measures we are taking in the coming year with regard to your assessment, completion of your award and any extenuating circumstances that may arise.

Late submission of assessments

Aside from approved extensions, including self-certified and evidence-based extension requests, our normal penalties for late submission of assessments will resume this September.

This includes:

• 10% reduction in mark for assessments submitted up to 48 hours after the deadline
• 20% reduction for assessments submitted 3-7 days late.

However, no assessment will be reduced from a pass to fail through this process – all reductions will stop at the pass mark.

Short term sickness absence

To support students that have faced challenges during the pandemic, the University has temporarily been taking a trust-based approach to requests for extenuating circumstances for assignments. As we transition back to our normal regulations, we have now approved new rules which embed this trust-based approach, within specific limits, on a more permanent basis.

We have introduced a new process for student self-certification of short term illnesses up to seven days duration. Students can self-certify their own sickness absence for up to seven days a maximum of three times a year to cover any times when it might be difficult to obtain medical evidence of short term illness. Through this self-certification process, students will be able to get an extension of up to seven days on their assessment without penalty.

For longer-term absences, evidence will need to be submitted in accordance with our normal regulations.

Long term absence, extenuating circumstances and fit to sit

The University's fit to sit and extenuating circumstances policy aims to ensure that students only submit assessments when they are fit to do so and that no student is disadvantaged by circumstances beyond their control.

When you submit an assignment or sit an examination, you declare that you are fit to do so. However, if you have an illness or personal difficulty that you think will affect your performance in one or more modules, or you are unable to attend a formal examination, you should make a claim for extenuating circumstances through e:Vision before or on the assessment date.

If your claim is accepted, you will generally be offered the opportunity to take the assessment, as if for the first time (with no grade penalty), within the current year.

You can contact your Faculty Student Services via the e:Vision helpdesk for more information.

Maximum registration periods

The University sets maximum registration periods (the maximum amount of time a student can be registered on a course) for all its programmes, which are set out in the academic regulations. Considering the pandemic's impact on students over the past 18 months, we have approved a one-year extension to the maximum registration periods for all students studying in the previous two academic years across all awards.

For example, an undergraduate student usually has a maximum of two years to complete Level 4 of their studies. This has now temporarily been extended to three years to compensate for the disruption.

Please note there may be funding implications for extending your studies over a longer period, and you should seek advice from student services or the SU Advice and Representation Centre.

We remain committed to supporting all of our students in helping them to complete their course on time, but we want to ensure that those who have faced significant barriers are supported over the longer term.

Awards calculation

All students who were studying at Levels 5, 6 or 7 in March 2020 following the first lockdown will have their awards classified, whenever they graduate, in accordance with the temporary algorithm which was approved during the pandemic to ensure that no student would be disadvantaged by our sudden transition to online teaching and assessment at that time.

Support for students

Studying during this time may challenge you in unexpected ways, especially when you're balancing your studies with work and home commitments. If you feel stressed or anxious, you can find the support you need at the University.
Your Faculty Student Services should be the first point of call to access support and advice, and the easiest way to contact them is by the e:Vision helpdesk.   

All students can access online mental health and wellbeing support 24/7 through Togetherall – an online community monitored by trained professionals. If you feel that you need advice or extra help, please check our self-help resources webpage or complete the mental health and wellbeing support registration form.     

Find out more about the student support services available to you here: www.wlv.ac.uk/support.

Thank you to all students who have navigated their way through the many challenges we have encountered due to the pandemic, and we are looking forward to welcoming you back to campus in September.

Enjoy the summer break and stay safe.

Professor Julia Clarke
Deputy Vice-Chancellor