Unwilling to accomodate
In 2015 I started studying Bsc Construction Project Management through the University of the Free State. In 2016, due to some personal hardships I struggled with insomnia and concentration. Luckily this only lead to my second set of assignments being a few weeks late, but I sent proof in the form of a letter from my psychiatrist. I completed my year and moved on to my final year in 2017.
In January 2017, my 9 year relationship ended, and my father got retrenched putting significant financial pressure on me. On the 4 May 2017 my roommate & friend commited suicide by shooting himself in the head in his room while we were in the house. Needless to say my insomnia flaired up again, even leading to a car accident at work due to exhausten.
I was then admittedly a few months late with my first round of assignments. I was honestly hoping to deal with it somehow and only contacted the faculty in September due to shame. I did sent through an accident report number and an affidavit with the detectives contact details. I accept it was a bad decision to wait so long and completely my fault. I was never entitled or rude in any of my correspondence, I merely begged for any relief. Someone from the University suggested I might be elligable for a discount considering.
The course coordinator said she would discuss it with my lectures and get back to me. After a month which brings us to mid October she finally said they would not be accepting the assignments. But I can appeal with the Dean's office, whom I had contacted before and only heard of the appeal process mid October with exams at the end of October. The course coordinator sent an e-mail to the lady handling my appeal stating "this is not the first time we have heard stories from this student" pressumably reffering to the previous year's insomnia, for which I had proof. This seems very unfair, missleading and frankly cruel to refer to it like this.
By this point I was begging for any relief in any sense from various departments and contacts at the University. Most did either not reply or took forever to reply while also answering around one question or not reading enough to understand the situation. I finished all my assignments, the second round aswell, since the University has a policy of 40% predicate to write exams. I appealed to write exams regardless of not having predicate in hopes my assignments would still be marked. The University rejected my appeal merely stating their reason in the letter by quoting the Universit's terms and conditions. I had no further recourse and accepted the decision.
I lost my bursary due to this, I had to pay my company back out of my own pocket. The University sent me a letter stating that I might not be elligable to register as I did not have atleast 30% for my subjects. I contacted the University to find out about the discount mentioned above, since I have to pay for this year's study out of pocket aswell. Despite the fact that the person clearly didn't read what the "circumstances" were I was reffering to she simply stated they received funds for the year and I appealed to write exams so I studied and therefor I am not elligable for the discount.
I have never felt so hopeless or less important as a client to any company. There was never any sense of compassion, understanding or willingness to help or offer relief in any way. 2018 registration ends this Friday the 9th so there is no recourse here and obviously I can't afford to study this year after everything. I just still can't believe the University has no problem taking a full years tuition considering all this and I have nothing to show for it.
I would seriously discourage anyone from studying at this University, especially if you have some family / personal difficulties, it is pretty certain you'll find no assitance or compassion here.