The University of Plymouth currently has an extenuating
circumstances procedure which requires students to provide medical notes from
GPs to substantiate periods of illness and the likely effect . Only when
such evidence is deemed valid by faculty Screening Committees are we able to
accept work submitted late, allow a student a further first attempt at a missed
examination or test, or permit such evidence to mitigate for poor performance
and allow resubmission or resit as a first attempt.
Our Vice-Chancellor has received a letter from the Devon
Local Medical Committee highlighting the concerns of GPs who were being asked
to provide medical notes for students because they did not feel this was an
appropriate use of their time, was not really their role, and I guess clogged
up surgeries with students requiring notes related to relatively minor
conditions. I should point out we do already stress in the procedures
that minor colds, etc. would not be accepted as valid reasons for missing an
assessment or for poor performance.
I would be most grateful to hear from any other institution
who has had a similar approach. Has such an approach forced any institution
to radically re-evaluate their procedures to, for example, accept
self-certification or perhaps to do away with extenuating circumstances
altogether and require students to submit/sit an assessment when ready to do
so.
Any comments would be most gratefully received – we are
obviously interested to know whether this is a local/national trend by GPs.
Many thanks.
Jan Chapman
Assistant University
Secretary
Secretariat - Governance Unit
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth
Devon
UK PL4 8AA
Second Floor South, Mayflower
House
Tel: +44 (0) 1752
232139
Fax: +44 (0) 1752 238628