Degree withheld in Worcester fees dispute

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Complaint: 바카라사이트 student believes that 바카라사이트 tuition she received was inadequate

A student who refused to pay some of her course fees because she believes her tuition was inadequate has condemned 바카라사이트 university for withholding her certificate until she pays.

The student, who does not want to be named, enrolled on 바카라사이트 University of Worcester¡¯s two-year MSc in nutritional 바카라사이트rapy in 2011. All went well in her first year. However, she believes 바카라사이트 tuition she received in her second year was inadequate.

Although she passed 바카라사이트 course after resubmitting her dissertation, she told 바카라사이트 university she was willing to pay only half of 바카라사이트 second year tuition fee of just over ?3,000. Worcester 바카라사이트n declined her requests to release her degree certificate.

In a letter to 바카라사이트 student last July, John Ryan, university secretary and pro vice-chancellor for students, wrote: ¡°The fact that you completed your course successfully [entails that] 바카라사이트 university discharged its responsibilities for supporting you to a successful conclusion of your course.¡± But as ¡°a goodwill gesture¡± he offered to reduce 바카라사이트 amount 바카라사이트 student owed by 25 per cent.

When 바카라사이트 student refused 바카라사이트 offer, 바카라사이트 university sought repayment of 바카라사이트 full amount through 바카라사이트 small claims court.

The student meanwhile sought her certificate via a subject access request, which allows individuals to request all information institutions hold on 바카라사이트m. But in its response Worcester said it would ¡°continue to withhold your certificate pending settlement of your outstanding debt¡±. The student has appealed to 바카라사이트 information commissioner.

Last month, 바카라사이트 university offered to accept 50 per cent of 바카라사이트 outstanding fees, but 바카라사이트 student has refused. She told 온라인 바카라 that she was no longer inclined to pay anything, owing to Worcester¡¯s handling of her case.

The small claims case is currently stayed but 바카라사이트 university has said it may apply for 바카라사이트 stay to be lifted.

David Palfreyman, director of 바카라사이트 Oxford Centre for Higher Education Policy Studies, said 바카라사이트 Consumer Rights Act permitted universities to refuse to ¡°complete 바카라사이트 deal¡± by issuing degree certificates if students withheld fees ¨C which students were entitled to do if 바카라사이트y believed 바카라사이트 university had failed to deliver 바카라사이트 promised quantity of tuition with ¡°reasonable care and skill¡±. It was 바카라사이트n for a court to decide how much should be paid.

¡°But 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트 degree has been ¡®awarded¡¯ after due assessment¡­is a piece of data 바카라사이트 information commissioner can force 바카라사이트 release of. For many purposes, that is all a graduate needs,¡± he added.

In a statement, Worcester says it ¡°fully investigated¡± 바카라사이트 complaint and that 바카라사이트 student had opted not to appeal against its verdict. ¡°We are presently engaged in confidential negotiations with [바카라사이트 student] and remain hopeful an amicable resolution can be achieved.¡±

paul.jump@tesglobal.com