Facing problems that are hurting your studies? Struggling to complete your assignment on time? Here's how we can help you.
Published Date 18/09/2024
It can be stressful for problems to occur when you’ve got a lot on your plate, but these things happen. Perhaps you’ve fallen ill, or your laptop suddenly broke. Our MGA advocates see hundreds of students with similar issues, and the sooner you reach out for help, the better the outcome will usually be for you! Timing is everything. Below are three stories about students who were in very similar situations, with vastly different outcomes.
#1: Andrew
Andrew fell sick the same week his assignment was due, so he decided to rest at home. He was unable to work on his project, and submitted it after the deadline without contacting anyone to explain his situation.
Due to late penalties, he lost 20% of his mark and failed the assignment. He became very stressed and depressed after this, and even stopped going to classes or seeing his friends. When the time came to sit his exam, he was unable to get out of bed, and he automatically failed.
He now has to repeat the unit and repay the fees. He feels awful about his result, but has accepted the outcome. He decided he would just try harder next semester.
#2: Charlie
Charlie got very sick the same week their assignment was due, so they tried to make an appointment with a doctor. Unfortunately, the only appointment they could find was for the following week, so they gave up. Worried about their assignment, they emailed the chief examiner, who approved a two-day extension. Charlie wasn’t sure if they could finish the assignment on time, but tried their best. They submitted the assignment one day late and failed after the late penalty was applied.
As a result, Charlie began feeling depressed and disengaged, and stopped going to class. After exam results were released, Charlie got a final result of 46, but was offered a supplementary assessment. They decided to contact Monash Counselling and Student Academic Success, and started using strategies with managing their mood and their time. Eventually, Charlie passed their supplementary assessment and ended up with a pass grade.
#3: Kavya
Kavya became ill the same week her assignment was due. Although she immediately made an appointment with a doctor, they were unable to see her for another week. She realised that she might not finish her work in time, so she emailed her chief examiner and was granted a two-day extension.
Even with an extension, Kavya still wasn’t confident that she would be well enough to complete the assignment. So, she reached out to the MGA for help. Her advocate advised her on seeking special consideration, as well as the deadline for doing so. She made sure to apply for special consideration on time, and later submitted her doctor’s certificate once she’d attended her appointment. She was approved for a five-day extension and was able to submit in time, passing the unit.
However, Kavya suffered from a depressive episode later in the semester and missed her final exam for a different unit. She immediately contacted the MGA again for advice. Her advocate guided her through the process of applying for a withdrawn grade and a refund of fees. She was successful in both, the fail grade was changed on her transcript, and she received a refund of over $5,000 in fees for the failed unit.
Sometimes, reaching out for help makes all the difference. If you act quickly, you may find help and options that make the consequences less harsh. Don’t hesitate to contact the teaching team, University support services, or the MGA advocacy team when you’re not sure what to do. We are here to help you through!
Do you have more questions?
Our advocates are here to guide you through all of the options above. If you are unsure about anything else to do with academic integrity or special consideration, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at mga-advocacy@monash.edu.