More than 100 Auckland University of Technology (AUT) students have filed a complaint about a paper they claim has “unfair exam processes” and alleging some of the university’s staff members have “mocked” their distress.
The students first lodged the complaint with AUT on April 9, signed by 131 students studying the paper Pharmacology for Professional Practice 701.
The several students who spoke to the Herald did so anonymously because they feared their exam marks could be affected if they were named.
The paper is a compulsory part of several qualifications, including bachelors of science, advanced science and health science, with specialities such as nursing, midwifery, oral health, podiatry, physiotherapy and paramedicine.
The students challenged the course’s delivery, assessment and guidance in the complaint, which the AUT Student Association (AUTSA) delivered to the university.
“All of these students feel they were unfairly tested on things not prevalent [sic] to their degrees, and unfairly marked on answers given,” the complaint, seen by the Herald, says.
“Students have lost confidence that lecturers can provide clear guidance in the subject assessments ...
“This has led to an environment of excessive stress and is placing some students’ degree success at risk. In addition, some student scholarships and postgraduation opportunities are under threat and, in some cases, lost.”
The submission asked the university to conduct an independent review of the paper, and meanwhile suspend exams.
“It should also be noted that some students are sufficiently distressed that they wish to withdraw from the course and receive a fee refund,” the complaint notes.
One student told the Herald their failure of the paper has had an impact on their career, graduation and mental health.
Auckland University of Technology says it has addressed pharmacology students' concerns, but the students say the response has been insufficient.
“I lost a scholarship I had, resulting in delayed career progress ... and delayed graduation.”
The students claimed “most” failed the exam, and were now waiting to find out if they had passed the paper overall.
Students say they were told medication names would be in the exams, but they weren’t and exams included scenario questions with unnamed medicines.
The student said in their opinion they felt treated like guinea pigs “with a poorly designed assessment, poorly delivered”.
A spokesperson for AUT said all students were invited to a meeting on May 15 to share their concerns and about 120 students attended that meeting.
The spokesperson said the course had now been completed “following remedial work to address issues raised by the students”.
They said all students were offered a second chance at the first assessment, “with the better result counting towards their final grade”.
The spokesperson said about 25% of students enrolled in the course had also been given an extension to help them “manage health and wellbeing concerns” and deadlines, and additional tutorial and revision sessions were organised.
“AUT works hard to be student centred, and we have apologised to students that their experience was not what they — or we — expected” the spokesperson said.
Students told the Herald they disagreed with AUT’s statement it had addressed the concerns of students.
One student said their concerns were not taken seriously by AUT and a group of the students were now receiving legal advice.
“We are sufficiently unhappy with their response that students have now engaged legal counsel in anticipation of having to appeal grade outcomes and request refunds.”
Another student said in their opinion, lecturers had been unhelpful and condescending when students tried to seek help: “It feels like students have been strung along under the false pretence that AUT was providing a resolution in good faith.”
Jaime Lyth is a multimedia journalist for the New Zealand Herald, focusing on crime and breaking news. Lyth began working under the NZ Herald masthead in 2021 as a reporter for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei.
- NZ Herald
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