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Improvements are on the way for Open University students studying Griffith University units following a response to a formal complaint made by a group of students.
The matters raised in the complaint to the School of Humanities included reports of vague unit contents, lack of communication and assessment problems.
Jock Macleod, Associate Professor and Head of the School of Humanities at Griffith University, responded to the complaints promising audits and changes to several units.
The complaints were collated early this year via the community forum on the Open University website following many students voicing their disapproval of some units offered by Griffith through Open University.
A formal letter of complaint was sent to Griffith University in April of this year by an Open University student on behalf of the class-action group.
Many students believed that they were paying in excess of $700 per unit and receiving a sub-standard learning experience.
An in-depth response to the matters raised in the complaint letter was posted to the community forum in early May.
According to the emailed response by Jock Macleod, Griffith University took the complaint seriously and carried out an audit of the units mentioned.
Mr. Macleod said all communications units are to be revised with unit content, materials and assessment details updated and any emails or queries via discussion board to be addressed promptly.
“In my meetings with the relevant teaching staff, I have made it absolutely clear that student queries, whether on the discussion board or via email, are to be responded to promptly, courteously and seriously,” he said.
Members of the class-action group, while pleased with the response from Mr. Macleod, will wait to see if any changes are implemented.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better response really. Proof, of course, will be in the pudding,” said Sascha, a representative of the class-action group.
Ends
Sources:
Open University Discussion Forum, https://www.open.edu.au/wps/myportal/oua/home/myarea/forums
