Open University cuts online courses short and denies refunds
STUDENTS completing online courses with The Open University have had final assessments cancelled or postponed, even if they were contact-free.
For one student studying creative writing, the final assignment – which was always intended to be completed at home – was worth 40 per cent of her grade. The task was to write the first chapters of a book.
The student, who wished to remain anonymous, was offered the option to end the course with a grade calculated on previous shorter assignments, or to submit her final piece in a year’s time.
The student said that in order to complete her final assignment she would have had an ongoing discussion with her tutor and received feedback.
“It’s not practical for me to defer completing the last assignment for a year, so I will be ending my relationship with The Open University without getting everything that I believed I would when I decided to pay [£3,000] for the course,” she said.
The Open University said its decision had been made to ease the burden for students, and that final results would be calculated by assessments already undertaken.
“We have removed the final assignment on some modules, specifically those where we were able to assess the student’s level of understanding the academic content and learning outcomes based on the other assignments in that module,” a spokesman said.
He added that the “vast majority” of final assignments had only been postponed to September.
The student said: “I did the course for my own development, not a certificate, and I paid to do every stage of the course. I would like to be compensated for the part that is now missing.”
Dr Liz Marr, pro vice-chancellor of the university, said: “Most students who have contacted us have reported feeling relieved and supported by the decisions that we have taken. These actions are in line with the sector.”
The Open University did not provide the choice to opt in or out of final assignments, and said it would not refund the students in question.