The Student Ambassador’s newsletter Q2 2022

The Student Ambassador’s quarterly newsletter keeps you updated on how the Student Ambassador and many others are working to improve students’ legal rights and develop dialogue and understanding between students and the University.

The 2021 annual report

On 15 June, the University Board finalised the review of the Student Ambassador’s annual report for 2021 (In Danish only).

In the recommendation to the meeting (In Danish only), the Rector noted that UCPH, in its follow-up to the report, will particularly focus on recommendations 2, 3 and 4:

  • Teach and guide all students about how to avoid plagiarism and self-plagiarism by using their own digital notes and digital notes shared with other students 
  • Improve the training of employees at some faculties and in some units in Education & Students in processing applications and complaints from students with functional impairments
  • Add a link to the existing guide on how to apply for exemption from rules under ‘Exams’ on each degree programme’s study information page.

In the months up to the board meeting, the annual report was also reviewed by Administrative Management (AL) at a joint meeting between the Academic Board on Education Strategy (KUUR) and the Study Administration Coordination Committee (SAK) as well as by Senior Management (LT).

Counselling needs in Q2

In Q2, the Student Ambassador received 140 enquiries.

90 of the 140 enquiries were within the following three categories:

  • Exemption
  • Legal complaint
  • Exam appeals

The enquiries about exemption were from students who wanted guidance on how to write an exemption application. Just as in previous quarters, many of these enquiries were from students with functional impairments who had to apply for adjustments in relation to classes, exams or their syllabus. However, in connection with the exam period, many also applied for exemption, for example, for additional exam attempts due to illness, delayed registration for and withdrawal from exams etc.

The legal complaint enquiries came from students who wanted to know more about their complaint options or needed guidance on how to write a legal complaint on the basis of a rejection, usually to an exemption application.

Enquiries about exam appeals were from students who wanted to submit an examination appeal. The vast majority of enquiries were from students who disagreed with the grading they received. 

Adjustment of ministerial orders

As you may already know from other channels, the edited versions of the University Programme Order, the Examination Order and the grading scale order took effect on 1 September 2022.

From the student ambassador’s point of view, we particularly notice the following three adjustments:

  • In the University Programme Order, the section concerning the University’s ability to grant exemptions from their own rules in cases of exceptional circumstances has been moved up as one of three basic requirements for the curricula (section 45(3)).

  • In the Examination Order, the following four concepts have been added:
    • Continuous exams
    • Exams
    • Final exams
    • Part-examination.

See the definitions of the concepts in section 3 of the Danish Examination Order (In Danish only).

UCPH course to write clearer decisions and emails to students

Would you like new inspiration for how to communicate even more clearly with students regarding decisions or via email? Are you often unsure about how you can express yourself in the clearest way? Have you experienced a dialogue with a student come to a deadlock? Or do you just want to become even better at avoiding misunderstandings when you communicate in writing?

Then this full-day course is for you!

Register for the free course here.

We first offered this course last autumn. See how participants have rated the course:

We offer this course because student enquiries since the establishment of the Student Ambassador in 2013 have proved that, for example, reasons for rejection can sometimes be communicated more clearly. This applies to the processing of student applications, complaints and disciplinary cases alike. Read more about our insights into communication regarding decisions at UCPH in the Student Ambassador's annual reports from 2013 to 2021.