Lecturer drags University of Nottingham for giving out ‘invented marks that devalue degrees’
‘If I were a student, I’d be in an uproar’
A University of Nottingham lecturer has claimed the university will be giving students “phoney marks” if the uni’s current plans to tackle the marking boycott goes ahead.
This comes after the university announced it would be awarding student degree classifications based on derived, or “part-for-whole”, marks based on previous academic performance rather than ever marking students’ final assessments.
When contacted by The Tab Nottingham, Dr Christopher Phelps, a lecturer in the Department of American and Canadian Studies and a member of the Nottingham UCU, said that by doing so the university is essentially “inventing marks” rendering the degrees given out as “worthless”.
On April 20th, the University and College Union (UCU) began a nationwide marking and assessment boycott.
The boycott, which has the potential to last until September under the current mandate, has led to concerns amongst final year students regarding whether their assessments will be marked this summer.
The university has said that final year students will still graduate this year, despite the impacts of the marking boycott, by being awarded a degree classification based on derived marks.
Students who wish to wait for their work to be marked face the risk of not being able to register for the following year of study whilst final year students will walk the graduation stage without knowing their classification and will not receive a certificate.
This method has led to criticism from Dr Phelps who said “the bind [students have been placed in] of choosing this phoney mark or facing a year off of study is unconscionable”. He also accused the university of having “bad priorities” and a “serious mismanagement” problem.
Most Read
In full, Dr Christopher Phelps told The Tab Nottingham: “Invented marks: that’s what we really ought to be calling these ‘derived’ marks the university is coming up with.
“They’re not based on trained lecturers who are expert in their fields evaluating the actual work students have submitted, or indeed by anyone looking at the work submitted at all for the current term, rather by a formula based on performance in past semesters.
“Since they are invented, they are worthless, and they devalue the degree students are seeking. Some accrediting bodies have already said they won’t accept them.
A University of Nottingham spokesperson told The Tab Nottingham: “It is important to stress that the majority of our students will be unaffected by the UCU marking and assessment boycott. However, we understand that students will be concerned by this action and apologise for any anxiety this causes.
“Maintaining the integrity of our degree awards and supporting every student to achieve the outcome they have worked so hard for are our absolute priorities. The university has published contingency regulations which outline the steps that we would take to mitigate the impact of the boycott on individual students, should it become necessary.
“These regulations have been developed following intense scrutiny by academic staff and thorough consideration by relevant university committees, which also included student representatives, and have been approved by the Senate of the University.
“By using evidence of students’ academic performance over several years of study, we can make appropriate decisions, and any award made under the contingency regulations will be subject to the same high academic standards as awards made at any other time.
“The university will keep students informed throughout this period and has published detailed FAQs to help understand how the regulations may apply if they are used. Schools will advise students if they are affected by the marking and assessment boycott and make arrangements to support them.”
Related articles recommended by this author:
• Nottingham students made to choose between getting their work marked or leaving university
• Nottingham students who want work marked will not receive certificates at summer graduation
• Nottingham grad wrote dissertation on Bruce Springsteen and then gave it to him at his gig
Latest
Manchester student collapsed three times on overcrowded Northern train
She says the experience has left her afraid to commute by rail
Back and better than ever: Meet the boys boxing in Fight Night Durham
Who is fighting who, who described their opponent as a ‘pencil’, and who is headlining? Your guide to the lads putting it all on the line
Cambridge college master brands Ukraine relief fund a ‘mistake’
The college have been accused of ‘double standards’ in their lack of support for Palestinian students
Britain’s Got Talent to I’m A Celebrity: Dean McCullough’s huge transformation over the years
He had a hair transplant before going into the jungle
Wait, are the I’m A Celeb campmates are allowed to smoke and vape?!
The jungle has very strict rules
From ‘bully’ to bawler: Rebekah Vardy’s time on I’m A Celeb was something
Rebekah Vardy has not held back in her critiques
Ouch! These are officially the I’m A Celeb cast members who got paid the least for the jungle
Honestly, it’s not worth it
Where is Mazher Mahmood now? The disgraced ‘Fake Sheikh’ who set up Tulisa’s drug sting
Mahmood went to prison for 15 months in 2016
Cardiff Met student who battled years of addiction named as breakthrough artist
The fellowship supports emerging artists and provides them with a £10,000 grant
All the Russell Group unis which might get rid of your lecturers to save money
Half the Russell Group unis are trying to cut jobs in 2024
Manchester student collapsed three times on overcrowded Northern train
She says the experience has left her afraid to commute by rail
Back and better than ever: Meet the boys boxing in Fight Night Durham
Who is fighting who, who described their opponent as a ‘pencil’, and who is headlining? Your guide to the lads putting it all on the line
Cambridge college master brands Ukraine relief fund a ‘mistake’
The college have been accused of ‘double standards’ in their lack of support for Palestinian students
Britain’s Got Talent to I’m A Celebrity: Dean McCullough’s huge transformation over the years
He had a hair transplant before going into the jungle
Wait, are the I’m A Celeb campmates are allowed to smoke and vape?!
The jungle has very strict rules
From ‘bully’ to bawler: Rebekah Vardy’s time on I’m A Celeb was something
Rebekah Vardy has not held back in her critiques
Ouch! These are officially the I’m A Celeb cast members who got paid the least for the jungle
Honestly, it’s not worth it
Where is Mazher Mahmood now? The disgraced ‘Fake Sheikh’ who set up Tulisa’s drug sting
Mahmood went to prison for 15 months in 2016
Cardiff Met student who battled years of addiction named as breakthrough artist
The fellowship supports emerging artists and provides them with a £10,000 grant
All the Russell Group unis which might get rid of your lecturers to save money
Half the Russell Group unis are trying to cut jobs in 2024