:'( This might be better in Vent your Anger...

[Darth Fanboy]

But I've gone past angry.

I’m no longer as St. Andrews. I’ve been refused my permission to return.

I realise I should have let everyone know at the first sign of a possibility, but I couldn’t.

I’ve lost my plan for the future (such as it was), the place I’ve thought of as home for nearly three years and best bunch of munchkins and games hacks it has ever been my pleasure to game with, the group who showed me that metalheads make the best people and a bunch of people whose taste in viewing is as weird as my own.

More than that, I’ve lost my love and the best group of geeks, wierdos, meatalheads and surprisingly decent normal people it has ever been my pleasure to meet.

[Darth Fanboy]

I would like to appeal against the Termination of Studies and the removal of Permission to Proceed for Chemistry and Materials Chemistry which caused it on the grounds of two procedural irregularities. Firstly, Permission to Proceed was withdrawn after the relevant examination of May 16th had already been sat and without any notification other than the failure of the module and subsequent Termination of Studies. Secondly, when informed on May 19th that the course work already submitted (in this case laboratory reports) might not be sufficient and asked to provide further work I was not given the opportunity to hand this work in for consideration despite my best efforts.

I was sent an e-mail on May 19th by Professor Russell Morris indicating that the number of lab reports I had handed in at this point would likely not be sufficient to pass the module, and to get as many as possible to him by the Wednesday. I have a great deal of trouble going to ask for help, a problem which I have been fighting to overcome, and this resulted in me not being able to finish the required reports previously, having spent time panicking and trying to finish the work myself rather than getting help with the problems. However, I did manage to put together the work which could be handed in, and which could be much improved with the answering of a few questions. I was given the impression that, despite my previous difficulties, the situation was still salvageable at this point.

When I went around to see Professor Morris about this on the Wednesday his office was empty and the door was locked, preventing me from leaving anything on his desk for him. I contacted him later on that day by e-mail to ask when he would be available to answer my questions and hand in completed material. I was told that he would be away from the office until Friday, but would be in on Friday morning. However, I was encouraged to be told that even the one writeup would be enough to make a difference at this point.

When I went around to see Professor Morris on Friday morning, there was again nobody in his office and the door was again locked. I remained in the building for approximately three hours and checked the office several times, but he was still unavailable. As I was moving out of halls that day I was not able to send an e-mail before leaving.

Time spent moving back home and setting up the internet connection, combined with a throat infection and attendant splitting headache which lasted for a week, delayed further contact with Professor Morris. However, I did contact him submitting what work I had completed at that point which could be sent by e-mail and asking for help and advice on what to do next. One report (B3, which I later managed to expand upon and submitted as part of the supporting evidence for my first appeal) was sent at this point, whilst the other consisted in large part of print offs made during the lab, and could not be sent by e-mail.

I could not get in contact with Professor Morris at the allotted times, and had no reply to my subsequent e-mail to him to submit work and ask for assistance until after the Termination of Studies came into effect. I received a response on June 26th, explaining that he had been on holiday. Professor Morris sent me an e-mail saying that he would mark this and send it on to Dr. Aitken, and that it would be up to him whether this work would be taken into account.

When responding to the notice of Termination of Studies received on June 15th I included the two additional lab reports as supporting evidence of my term work. This, I feel, should have allowed me to continue.

I include a copy of the communications between Professor Morris and myself.

My desired conclusion for this would be the reinstatement of Permission to Proceed for Chemistry and Materials Chemistry, allowing me to either use the credits to proceed to third year or take the resit examination in September if necessary.


Academic Appeal against loss of PtP and Termination of Studies

Further to your letter of 24 July 2006, the University has closely reviewed your appeal and the evidence you presented.

The assessors have concluded that your appeal should not be upheld and the original decision to terminate your studies will therefore stand. The rationale for this decision is as follows:

1 There was no procedural irregularity on the part of the School of Chemistry in relation to the removal of the Permission to Proceed after the examination was taken. This in effect records a failure with no right to re-assessment which is a legitimate decision.

2 The School did fail to notify you specifically in relation to the loss of PtP in Chemistry and Materials Chemistry. You were, however, notified re your overall situation i.e. failure of the module and termination of your studies. The assessors concluded that the failure to notify you specifically of your loss of PtP was not grounds for the appeal to proceed to a hearing.

3 There was no procedural irregularity in relation to you “not being given the opportunity” to hand in work. Professor Morris provided you with several opportunities to submit late work and on the occasions when he was not in the office there was no reason why you could not have submitted your work via the School office.

4 It was not Professor Morris’s decision as to whether late work (which he had agreed to make) should be taken account of in reaching a final decision on the module result. In addition, no evidence has been provided indicating why it should have been considered. You submitted no validated exceptional circumstance to the School indicating why the late work was late and providing grounds for late consideration.

This now concludes the University’s internal processes. As your studies have been terminated at the end of your third year of studies you may be eligible for an exit award. Looking at your academic record, the 210 credits you have received may entitle you to receive a Certificate of Higher Education. If you wish this to be awarded to you, please request this in writing to me and I will make the necessary arrangements.

[Brother Munro]

Bastards. My offer of distractions in Aberdeen remain, and once I know my timetable I'll see about coming up to visit you

[Roulette]

Sorry hun.

[H]

All the uni care about is money, kick as many domestic students out and get as many overseas students in...im sorry you have been a victim of this, as a few others I know may soon be...the bastards!

[Brother Munro]

You think St. Andrews is bad, I have been here 1 day and already I have the nagging feeling that now I've* paid my money the Uni doesn't care anymore.

*Well, SAAS anyway.

[Roulette]

Of course St A's is bad, it kicked Alex out x.x

It's a very naughty University and I wish it was dog so I could whack it over the nose with a rolled up newspaper or something...

[Pippignomie]

It deserves more than being whacked over the nose with a rolled up newspaper....

I wish it was an icky spider so i wouldn't feel at all bad about standing on it and squishing it into a pulp....

Evil uni

[Roulette]

Yeah, but I knew you'd get the dog thing...

[Brother Munro]

I say we storm the cash office and the council for revenge

[scurvekano]

What? i leave the contry for, like, 5 minutes and Alex has been kicked out? What the fuck is up with that?

I propose dissection. For vengeance.

[Brother Munro]

Huzzah!