Sussex University: Progress reports were 'inadequate'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AT SUSSEX University, students told the auditors that 'formal assessment of undergraduates and taught postgraduates was infrequent, and that this was a source of concern'.
Students who had been abroad for a year, say on language placements, said they did not know the results of their second year work until the end of the fourth year.
Many students following arts courses and social studies said that 'informal feedback from course and personal tutors was inadequate compensation for ignorance of actual achievements'. Science students, however, were regularly told about their progress.
Across the university, students complained about 'the not-infrequent disparity' between what personal tutors told them about their progress and their subsequent degree classification.
The university told the auditors that a new assessment and feedback procedure had now been begun, which gave students immediate information about how they were doing.
The auditors said there was a need for teachers to be trained in new methods to be able to cope with larger class sizes, yet some probationary teachers were not aware that the university had organised training events targeted specially at them.
Sussex said assessment needs had been ironed out. Each student would know by the end of each year how they were progressing. He said there was always a risk of a gap between the advice given by a personal tutor and a subsequent degree classification.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments