Listening to students on extensions

At times we appreciate events can arise which mean you can struggle to submit your assignment on time.In April 2019 we looked at a variety of feedback that had been received from various groups in the University expressing concern about the policy and practice of the extension process.

Following a review of the feedback, the OU has been looking at extensions policy and practice to see if the information available was still fit for purpose and how it could be better communicated to everyone. We consulted on how the guidelines could be improved to help everyone understand better the process behind requesting an extension.

The people we talked to included representatives of tutors and students. Their input has enabled us to put together refreshed guidance to aid fairness and consistency, with the ultimate aim of supporting student success.

The key questions looked at were:

• Can I get an extension for assessments?

• How do I ask for an extension to a Tutor Marked Assignment (TMA)?

• How much extra time will I get?

• When will I receive my marked assignment back?

• What is the guidance for the final TMA?

A new page was released on the Student Help Centre in November, where answers to questions about requesting an extension can be found. We also commissioned a flow chart diagram to illustrate the extensions process. In the first three months since the launch, the site has over 9,000 ‘hits’ and over 3,000 downloads of the flowchart.

If you haven’t yet visited the page, it can be found here. We have been monitoring the feedback left on the site, which we are pleased to note has been very positive.

Remember if you are struggling to submit your assignment on time speak with tutor as soon as possible and before the cut-off date.