CLAIMS that a former student at UWTSD has received £750 payoff because of the overtly sexual nature of a course’s subject matter have been dismissed by the University.
Former student, Angie Marynicz, from Pencader near Carmarthen, complained the way her creative writing course was being taught was ‘very worrying’ because of the focus on sex.
Mrs Marynicz made a series of claims regarding both the subject matter and teaching methods on a Creative Writing BA course being taught by Dr Paul Wright at the University’s Lampeter campus.
In particular, Mrs Marynicz found the way Dr Wright spoke about the sexual undercurrent of the narrative in Hamlet most distressing.
While national newspapers have played up the more scintillating allegations made against the University, The Herald has confirmed that Mrs Marynicz received NO compensation in relation to complaints made about the content of the course.
Instead, the University was fined £750 by an independent adjudicator for not allowing the student to skip lectures the content of which she found offensive or problematic.
In fact, The Herald understands that it was Dr Wright’s alleged failure to communicate adequately with Mrs Marynicz in relation to her complaints and his refusal to excuse her from attending his lectures that led to one part of her complaint being upheld against the University.
The Adjudicator’s report states the University:’should have considered whether it was reasonable to require Mrs Marynicz to attend the Critical and Cultural lectures in view of the content and delivery of the module which Mrs Marynicz had difficulties with.’
A UWTSD spokesman said: “The University wishes to stress that the Office of the Independent Adjudicator (OIA) for Higher Education found the student’s complaint “not justified” in all of its main points, including those relating to course content and delivery.
“The complaint was deemed partly justified solely in relation to attendance for particular lectures and, in accordance with the recommendation of the OIA, a sum of £750 was paid to the student and accepted as ‘full and final settlement’ of the complaint.
“The OIA noted that the Academic School, Student Services, Learning Support, the Mental Health team and the Academic Office endeavoured to support the student and this included providing help in submitting the complaint and the request for suspension from the course.
“The University believes unreservedly that it has acted in good faith towards the student and has conducted a thorough investigation in accordance with its complaints procedure”.
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