Mitigating Circumstances

PRESENTS: HOW TO CLAIM MITIGATING CIRCUMSTANCES

MITIGATING

CIRCUMSTANCES “I’M GOING TO MISS A DEADLINE OR AN EXAM. WHAT CAN I DO?”

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#1 ABOUT

MITIGATION You might have circumstances in your personal life that have a knock-on effect on your studies. Perhaps you’re worried that this will cause you to miss an exam or deadline, or stop you from performing to your full potential.

The Mitigating Circumstances Process is a way for you to let the Exam Board know what has happened. By going through this process, you may gain another attempt at the assignment or exam at a later date.

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BSU SUPPORT & ADVICE Brighton SU’s Advice team can support you by checking your application and making suggestions that may help you to reach a positive outcome, but you are responsible for gathering any necessary evidence and submitting your application for mitigation.

If your case is complicated, the Advice team may ask to meet with you.

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#2 OWN IT! Complete the University’s Mitigating Circumstances Form available online bit.ly/UoBProblemswithyourCourse. Include all of your personal information such as your name, student number, and details about your course and which modules you want to claim mitigation for. This information is vital to your application, you shouldn’t leave it out.

You must list all the modules and assessments that you are mitigating, together with the deadline of each assessment or exam, the module code and the type of claim (i.e. unrepresentative performance, late submission, non-submission or attendance).

Be sure to include all the modules affected by the circumstances. If you don’t include it, it won’t be mitigated. If in doubt, put it in.

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IMPORTANT! Your claim will not cover the whole academic year or every assessment point. If you claim in semester 1, but your problems continue in semester 2, you must submit another claim with evidence to cover the next assessment period.

Resits during the summer vacation (August/September) are not covered by previous claims for mitigation, so a new claim is needed if you are affected during this time.

You can find the Mitigating Circumstances Form online at bit.ly/UoBProblemswithyourCourse

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#3 EXPLAIN IT DESCRIBING YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES The form requires you to write a statement which concisely explains what circumstances you are having or have recently had (e.g. serious illness, death of a close family member, psychological problem).

HOW THESE THINGS HAVE AFFECTED YOUR ABILITY TO COMPLETE YOUR ASSESSMENT Explain the impact these circumstances have had on you, e.g. that you were unable to study/concentrate/attend because you were ill.

Give a brief outline of what’s happened and give dates if possible so there is a clear timeline of the events.

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#4 EVIDENCE IT

All mitigation claims must have evidence to support the claims you are making and must match the dates of your assessment or exams.

The Mitigating Circumstances Panel will look to see if the evidence you are presenting is relevant to the timing of your assessments. You have to clearly show how your mitigating circumstances would have affected you leading up to or at the time of the assessment.

For example, for an exam on January 5th, you might say; “I have a GP letter confirming I was signed off between 1st & 7th January”, or if you have lost a close family member, you might say: “My assignment was due on 14th January, I have a death certificate confirming I lost a close family member on 1st January.”

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#5 CHECK IT! Approach BSU Support to have your mitigation checked over. We will either give you suggestions to strengthen your case or make arrangements to talk to you if your case is a complicated one. We’ll normally do this within 2 working days.

#6 SUBMIT IT! You are responsible for submitting your mitigation claim. Your form should be completed in full and emailed to your School Administration Office with scans of any supporting evidence, as soon as possible and before the deadline set by your School.

Not sure of your School’s deadline?

Check by contacting your School Office.

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#7 MISSED THE DEADLINE?

Any claims received after the deadline will not be processed. If you’ve missed the deadline you should seek advice from a member of BSU Advice team as you may be able to use the University’s Appeals Process.

#8 WHAT

HAPPENS NEXT? Shortly after sending your form to your School Office, you’ll receive an email confirming receipt.

Your form and the evidence you submitted will then be considered by your School’s own Mitigating Circumstance Committee (MCC).

Your School will contact you again to confirm the outcome. Where your claim is upheld, the decision will be forwarded to the Exam Board (EB) which considers your marks. At the end of the assessment period the EB will consider your progression or final degree result taking into account the outcome of the MCC. By going through this process, you may gain another attempt at the assignment or exam at a later date.

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#9 THE

OUTCOME You should expect a decision from your School no more than 10 working days after the Committee has met and considered all the claims. You should ask your School Office when the Committee meeting took place. If you’ve not heard anything, you should ask your School Office for more information.

If your claim for mitigation is successful it does not mean your marks will change (except where a penalty for late submission is removed). It may mean you gain another attempt at the assignment or exam at a later date.

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IMPORTANT! All correspondence to and from the University regarding your application will be sent to your student email account. Your form and any supporting evidence will remain confidential and only made known to relevant members of staff. If you have any concerns you should speak to your School Office in the first instance.

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COME TO ONE OF OUR ADVICE DROP-IN SESSIONS MOULSECOOMB - M20 COCKCROFT Tuesday 11am - 1pm Wednesday 2pm - 4pm GRAND PARADE - SU OFFICE Thursday 2pm – 4pm FALMER - RINGMER HOUSE Friday 2pm – 4pm *term time only

Alternatively, you can call, email or leave us a message using the details below.

01273 64 2876 BSUSUPPORT@BRIGHTON.AC.UK BRIGHTONSU.COM/SUPPORT

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