Uni student counts cost of IT glitch
A Bath student says he dropped two full grade boundaries after he was failed for a unit when a document of his work wouldn’t open on university computers. Liam Creighton, 22, is in his final year of graphic communications at Bath Spa University. He submitted a 112-page document in one of his modules but “due to a technicality with my PDF sketchbook not being able to open on their marking system”, he scored no marks for it. The university said students receive reminders to check that their submissions have uploaded correctly. Mr Creighton said: “Instead of them contacting me to tell me that the PDF wouldn’t open, they failed me. I tried to resolve this situation with my course leaders and they refuse to take any responsibility for the matter.” The student has been living in Bath for four years, having originally enrolled with the university on a fine art course. He also works as a freelance designer and recently created a logo for Aerospace Logistics Ltd. The university course and the mark he achieves on it is especially important because it is more than just a profession for him: Mr Creighton, from Devon, said his hobbies and interests are mainly design and craft-related. He said: “I take extreme pride in my work. And this situation is very crushing in terms of confidence. “I had the same problem last year with my PDF file not opening on the submission computer with a tutor ... and she resolved this situation instantly with me, and I received the mark I deserved for my work. “I was on target for a 2:1 and after this technicality I’m on target for just a pass. “No one who has any power has given me any backing, I tried to speak to my course leader and he shut me down immediately, so I decided to speak to head of field, he again shut me down immediately. “But everyone I have spoken to about this matter thinks this situation is disgustingly unfair. I’m extremely upset because I’m paying for this service and they are acting as if it’s not a big deal.” A university spokeswoman said: “It would not be appropriate to discuss individual student cases publicly, however, the project in question is one of five required for one of three modules in the final year of our popular BA (Hons) Graphic Communications course. “Students are reminded to check that any work submitted for formal assessment has uploaded correctly, and all students on the module have received feedback on the projects submitted to date in accordance with our published policy and process. “The university has not received any formal complaint on this matter from this student, but would be happy to consider it if we do.”