A recent OIA request revealed that 75% of compassionate consideration applications were approved in 2020.
The University of Auckland received over 2,500 applications for compassionate consideration across summer school, Semester One and Semester Two last year. 1,889 of these were received in Semester Two.
1,444 COVID-related fee exemptions were granted in Semester Two of 2020, after the University announced that the usual $30 application fee would be waived for applications related to COVID-19.
It is unclear how the application and approval figures can be compared to past years, however notably three-quarters of applications for compassionate consideration last year were received in Semester Two.
Over 3000 applications for aegrotat consideration were also made in 2020, with 78% of these being approved. Again, the vast majority of applications were made in Semester Two.
In order to be considered for aegrotat or compassionate consideration, you need to meet a number of criteria as detailed on the University of Auckland website. Last year, a number of students expressed online that they felt their applications were rejected despite experiencing circumstances that may have greatly affected their performance.
For both end-of-semester examinations and in-semester tests, students’ “preparation and/or performance” must be “seriously impaired” to be considered. Circumstances “must be temporary (i.e. 2 weeks prior to exam date), unforeseen, exceptional and beyond your control”. Students must also provide evidence to support their claims.
