Failure to adapt academic decisions and support to student vulnerability
First to latest report 1 Feb 2019 — 10 Jul 2024
Reports that mention this concern
3
Times this concern has been raised
5
Stated actions linked to this concern
6
What this concern includes
Includes university processes in which academic performance, absence, late work or other study difficulties should trigger an individualised and vulnerability-sensitive response, including proportionate academic decisions, coordination with pastoral or welfare support, and direct engagement where the student's circumstances may impair their ability to comply with academic requirements.
What is not included
Excludes ordinary academic penalties or progression decisions where the student's vulnerability was appropriately considered and proportionate support was available.
Excludes generic student mental-health service access, staff training or pastoral-support deficiencies where no academic decision or academic-triggered support response is involved.
Excludes purely academic assessment, marking or curriculum-quality concerns unrelated to a student's vulnerability or welfare needs.
Excludes disciplinary or conduct decisions unrelated to academic performance, absence, late work or comparable study difficulties.
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Universities UK1
University of Reading1
University of Southampton1
University of Sussex1
University3
Education sector body1
Reports and published responses 3 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
Berkshire
Concerns raised3
Failure to maintain contact with vulnerable students during unresolved academic situations
Failure to identify students unfit to study and initiate enforced suspension
Failure to recognise continuing vulnerability and risk from known academic and mental health concerns
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
Universities UK
University of Reading
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
University of Reading
Provide every Master’s by Research student with two academic points of contact and monthly meetings throughout the programme.
University of Reading
Flag vulnerable students discussing withdrawal or suspension to relevant Student Support Centres and Student Wellbeing Services teams.
University of Reading
Assign SDATs responsibility for ensuring Master’s by Research student-support processes are completed.
University of Reading
Trigger the Fitness to Study Process when a vulnerable student takes no suspension action, enabling suspension in appropriate circumstances.
University of Reading
Circulate guidance instructing welfare officers on prescriptive escalation, clarifying welfare information, and promptly sharing high-risk concerns with SDATs.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Universities UK
The organisation lacks regulatory authority to mandate specific mental-health actions by member universities.
Outside remitThe respondent said that this matter was outside its role or authority.
Universities UK
Individual universities are responsible for their own governance, procedures and decisions on specific mental-health actions.
Redirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton
Concerns raised1
Insufficient effective proactive outreach to students with academic absence or performance issues
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Imposition of penalties for late academic work without adequate regard to student vulnerability
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
University of Sussex
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
University of Sussex
Review late-submission and penalty clauses in examination and assessment regulations, with specific consideration of potential changes.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.