All I'm asking...is for a little respect...(if you didn't sing that, ask yourself why not?)

Curiously, a rather comedic poem provided the inspiration for this post, because it made me think about breakups and other emotionally traumatic (or perhaps dramatic) moments which frequently occur at University and how they can affect academic performance.

In my institutional work and discussion with other teaching colleagues, one topic that comes up repeatedly is the issue of extenuating circumstances or extensions, specifically when and why they are granted and over the years, I have seen definitions of what is regarded as a suitable circumstance, change dramatically. For my own part I do not generally advocate the use of extensions, even when a student might have them automatically allocated on account of having some diagnosed or recognised difficulty which allows them some special consideration when it comes to their academic work.

My own recommendation is that, if you have an extension or find yourself asking for one, see it as a safety net, but try as much as possible to stick to the deadline (or as close to it) and I adovcate this for two reasons, the first being that is simply good practice to get into the habit of meeting deadlines, (not just for University but for work outside. A lot of students talk about workplace skills, well, meeting deadlines is one of them!)

The second reason is perhaps more cheeky and I may indeed be wrong or deluded about it in respect of others members of teaching staff, but I can certainly say it applies to myself and my work. To my mind, keeping to deadlines (or as close as possible to them) both shows respect and is a way of getting it (and respect can be a useful tool).

Anecdote time. During my time at study I was faced with a bereavement, not directly related to me, but still affecting my family and I felt that I might need to excuse myself from classes to support them. I raised the issue with my tutor as a possibility and was told that there would be no problem with me taking a break as, upto this point, I had submitted my work on time, had attended classes as prescribed and contributed to the course in excess of expectations. In short, my academic record as it stood, had garnered the necessary confidence in me and my abilities to not cause undue concern over my request.

This confidence and respect for ability is not something which I can say has been enjoyed by every single student and now, in my professional positions I have seen the difficulty students get into when the patience of staff (myself included) and indeed a whole institution have been tested beyond limit. Frequently late submissions and requests for extensions, poor attendance or enagement, all of this does not go unnoticed and can damage your academic standing. You are walking a tightrope at University and all of this makes that rope thinner and thinner and more and more tense. (However staying touch with those around you, tutors, academic support, colleagues, even other people on your course, can minimise the damage.)

What really does irreparable harm is when communication between students and staff breaks down, or simply does not happen and course adjustments, extensions and understanding of circumstances become expected without anything in return. It is important to understand that adjustments to studying are not automatic rights which give you a free pass to approach University as you wish, they are a privilege and here perhaps I am venturing in on the question of what exactly it is that you are paying for when you go to University, which is not something I want to go into in this article. Suffice it to say that respect is a two way street and everything that you do, the respect you show for what is asked of you, builds your own credit of respect with staff and your institution which you can then call upon when you need it and it is important that you consider when and where to cash this credit in and for what reason. There will be a lot of moments in your University life which might throw you off balance, might completely rob you of the ability to think clearly or focus, but what seems majorly traumatic to you is not necessarily going to be that to someone else and perspectives will differ. My concluding advice then is to talk to someone, a tutor, friend, support worker, family member, partner, anyone (me, don't forget me!), who might be able to help you comprehend your position before jumping straight onto the safety net of an official request for a change to your course. Remember, a safety net will catch you when you fall, but not every trip or stumble, has to be a fall.

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