Extenuating circumstances

Reasons for extension must be aligned with the University policy on extenuating and mitigating circumstances: sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/forms/circsnotes

Occasionally learners may have acute medical or personal problems that will affect their performance in completing assignments.

Before the assignments begin you may feel that your circumstances are so severe that you are unfit to complete the coursework. In this case you can request to defer the assignment and if this is agreed you will be deemed not assessed (NA) for the current assignment. This will mean that you need to complete the module again in the next year. The time limit for achieving all the components of the programme is three years.

In order for examiners to take into account medical or personal factors, an extenuating circumstances form must have been submitted to the School at the appropriate time.

Note also that these guidelines are designed for short-term problems affecting assignments, not for long- term problems. It is the policy of the assessors in the Management School to take into account factors that may have affected your ability to demonstrate the knowledge, understanding and skills that you had gained during the taught part of the module. Assessors do not compensate for you not reaching your potential due to extenuating circumstances occurring during the teaching period. If you feel that you need more time to catch up with your work you can request the deferment of your coursework. In summary:

• Deadline for submitting extenuating circumstances forms is the Wednesday immediately following the original assignment submission date.

• Note that grades are rarely adjusted because of medical or personal problems.

• If you have personal or medical circumstances that may affect your coursework, you should apply for an extension to the submission date. We do not normally take extenuating circumstances that could affect coursework into account when considering what classification of award to recommend.

• If you have personal or medical circumstances that may have affected your performance in coursework or the portfolio, you must have submitted an extenuating circumstances form by the relevant deadline.

• If you wish to bring forward evidence of extenuating circumstances after the deadline you must use the Academic Appeals Procedures.

If, as a result of extensions, you have not completed all the assessments for the programme, there will be a delay in receiving your award.

Reporting problems - Extenuating circumstances

Medical

If you miss a teaching session, or are unable to complete an assignment because of illness you should ensure that the Management School is informed as soon as possible. The normal way of doing this is through the extenuating circumstances form that can be obtained from the Programme Administrator.

Personal

If your ability to study has been affected by personal matters, then you should report them by contacting the support team and completing an extenuating circumstances form.

Short term absence

You may be absent for some of a module with a minor illness or other problem. In this case you must inform the Programme Administrator (Matthew Collins) whose classes you are going to miss in advance. Communication by email is in most cases the best way of communicating.

Due to the short duration of each module, it is important that you attend all of the module teaching.

Long term absence

Sometimes it may be necessary to be away for extended periods, for either personal or medical reasons. In such a case it may be necessary to take leave of absence and return to your studies in another year. You should discuss long term leave of absence with the Programme Director.

Consequence of unexplained absence

Attendance is governed in the University’s Regulations, and by the Progress of Students Regulation. Relevant parts are as follows:

Every programme candidate is required (a) to attend punctually and regularly lectures and classes, and (b) to complete all written assignments or other coursework. A candidate who fails to comply with this regulation may be failed in the assessment for the relevant units.

Most learners satisfy the requirements of this regulation without a problem. The regulation makes it clear it is not enough to just pass the assignments. Attending classes is regarded as an essential part of taking the module, since there is more in the learning associated with a module than can be assessed in an assignment. If you do not attend classes regularly you may not be awarded the credits for the module: you may be deemed not competed (NC) on the module. Not being awarded the credits or being deemed NC can have serious consequences; you will have to take the module again, and normally this will be the following year.

The progress of students regulations have various consequences: one of these is that if you repeatedly do not attend classes or do not submit coursework, you can be excluded from the University.

We are keen to provide an opportunity for staff and learners to discuss matters – academic and non-academic- relating to any aspect of the programme. However, we are aware as part- time learners you have busy working lives.

Should you wish to raise any matters of general concern you can do so through the student staff committee. That does not prevent you from speaking directly with the Programme Director, module leader, or any other member of staff.

Extension to submission dates for coursework

The Management School’s policy on extensions for coursework is as follows:

• Valid reasons for extensions include:

  • • Medical problems arising from disability or specific learning difficulties.

    • DDSS support extension.

    • Extreme personal and family problems (death of family or friend, caring for family with health problems, financial problems).

    • Force majeure (major events outside your control such as fire in your home, floods, significant unannounced transport disruption). - Long term medical problem, doctor recommends extension.

    • Hospitalised for 7 days with evidence.

    • Visa problems.

    • Depression and anxiety.

• Reasons not accepted for extensions include:

  • • Work pressures.

    • Pressure of other assignments.

    • Computer problems.

    • Didn’t click confirm on TurnitIn submission.

    • Cat died.

    • Lost memory stick.

    • Personal problems with no evidence.

    • Medical problems with no evidence.

There might be unavoidable or unplanned work activities that may affected a deadline. In such situations, discuss a solution with your line manager.

Reasons for extension must be aligned with the University policy on extenuating and mitigating circumstances: sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/forms/circsnotes

An application for late submission should be made in writing. An application for late submission should be accompanied by medical evidence or other documentation where appropriate on an Extenuating Circumstances Form. If the reason is very private you may wish to indicate ‘Personal, as discussed with tutor’, and the details will be kept confidential.

Your application for late submission should be made to the Executive Education Support Inbox (Executiveeducation@sheffield.ac.uk).

Note you are expected to use your skills to ensure that you meet all deadlines.

Appeals

The University has clear policies on the grounds for appeal and the procedures that should be adopted. Full details can be found on the SSID website at:

sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/procedures