----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter Hill" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, June 25, 2004 11:25 AM
Subject: Re: HELP - Exam Problem
> Hi
>
> It's interesting that this focuses on an 'Exam Problem' - rather than an
> ability one. Surely what counts is the student's potential to cope with
> the demands of the next level of her course. One way forward would be
> to allow the student proceed to level two on a provisional basis
> allowing her to sit the exams at a later stage. If her past coursework,
> etc, suggests that she will sruggle to cope, then she should be
> discouraged from progressing on that basis.
>
> I'm sure that medicine is 'demanding'. However, so are lots of other
> courses, and it is all too easy for lecturers and administrators to use
> that as an 'excuse' for failing to make adjustments that really are
> 'reasonable' - as opposed to being 'convenient' for the institution.
>
> Regards
>
> Peter Hill
>
> Emma Kelly wrote:
> > Dear All
> >
> > Help! I am faced with a difficult one. I have been contacted by a first
> > year medicine student and their parent regarding exams. The student, who
> > has a medical condition, was unable to do their exams in May/June as
> > they had just been discharged from hospital and were recovering. I spoke
> > to the student on a number of occasions, helped them to catch up work
> > they had missed and re-assured them they would be able to take these
> > exams in August as a first sitting. At this stage everyone was happy
> > with this.
> >
> > Yesterday, the student got a standard letter from the Faculty which goes
> > out to all students who did not sit the May/June exams, explaining the
> > August exam procedure and informing them that to proceed into level two
> > medicine they need to pass all of their exams. This is because medicine
> > is too demanding for students to carry modules over and students are
> > required to achieve a certain level before proceeding from level to
> > another.
> >
> > The student/parent are extremely angry about this - they feel that the
> > student is being discriminated against as they are not being given the
> > same opportunity as their peers (who have two sitting to get the exams)
> > and that the University is being unreasonable. They feel that such a
> > letter should not have been sent and that it is unfair to only allow the
> > student one chance, so to speak, to get these exams. I have tried to
> > explain to the parent the reasons for a procedure like this, however
> > they want to challenge it and are prepared to take every measure to do
so.
> >
> > I am not sure what to do here and what is "reasonable". The student is
> > being given a opportunity to do the exams again, which she was unable to
> > do because of her disability in May/June - this is reasonable. However,
> > should she be given a second chance after the August sitting if she
> > fails one - all very hypothetical. The Faculty wish to ensure that all
> > students are treated equally and she were to be given a second chance,
> > so would all other students who were doing these exams as a first
> > sitting. The other issue is time - the exams are in mid/late Aug and
> > term beings on 27th September, is it physically possible to set another
> > paper and for her to sit it?
> >
> > Any comments/suggestions would be gratefully appreciated. The student
> > and parent are coming in later this afternoon and I could really do with
> > some help on this please. NB: No SENDA in Northern Ireland!
> >
> > Best Wishes
> >
> > Emma
> > ------------------------------------------
> > Emma Kelly
> > Disability Projects Officer
> > Disability Services
> > Lanyon North
> > Queen's University Belfast
> > BT7 1NN
> > 028 9097 3225
> > [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> > www.qub.ac.uk/disability <http://www.qub.ac.uk/disability>
>
> --
> Peter Hill
> Dyslexia Consultancy and Resources
> 01905 391547
> [log in to unmask]
> www.study-pro.com
>
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