January/February 2024 post-examination student communication

Unisa marks the conclusion of the January/February 2024 examination period. Unisa continues to enhance its assessment systems to improve the assessment experience for its students. We continue to be proud, as students continue to acclimatise themselves to the digitised online assessment environment. 

Below is an outline of the pertinent information that brings to conclusion the January/February 2024 examination period:

1. Results codes on students’ academic records

We have noted that students may require additional explanations on the results codes reflecting on their academic records. The table below reflects the description of the results codes and the required actions:

2. January/February 2024 examinations

The January/February 2024 examination period catered for year modules with the original scheduling of the January/February 2024 examination period and students writing their second examination opportunity (see section 3 below). Students who were unsuccessful in their second examination opportunities are advised to re-register for their modules. Unisa does not grant third examination opportunities to students to rewrite their examinations.

3. Undergraduate students are granted two examination opportunities

Unisa grants an undergraduate student writing a module’s examination in the first examination opportunity, an automatic additional opportunity to rewrite their examination if their final outcome was an “absent” or “failed”.

Paragraph 6.6 of the Assessment Policy refers:

A student registered for an undergraduate module is entitled to use two consecutive opportunities per module to take the examination. Except if College rules provide otherwise, a student may write the examination during either the first or the second examination opportunity.

A student who takes an examination for the first time during the second examination opportunity and fails is not entitled to an additional examination opportunity. Where a special FI concession was granted to an individual student for a specific module, the student will not be granted a supplementary examination after failing the FI assessment.

For the above reasons, the aegrotat system does not apply to undergraduate students. In accordance with policy, Unisa does not grant third examination opportunities to students to rewrite their missed examinations. In such cases, students are required to re-register for the module. Students who are granted a second examination opportunity do not need to re-register for the module.

Please note: Modules with portfolio (evidence-based) assessment, continuous assessment, practical assessment or experiential assessment and those modules that require research reports do not have a second examination opportunity.

4. Submissions made by students through the contingency link for module codes for which they have not registered

We have observed that certain students have submitted their examinations through the contingency link for module codes for which they are not registered. These students normally utilise other module codes after the lapse of the submission time of their registered module examination. Please be aware that such submissions are automatically rejected by the system. Resultantly, students who have made such submissions via wrong module codes will receive an “absent from examination” result outcome. The rules regarding second or supplementary examination opportunities (refer to section 1) will be applicable in such cases.

5. Students who submitted their examination answer scripts on the Invigilator App and not the official examination platforms and synchronisation processes

As indicated above, students were instructed to submit their examination answer scripts via the official myExams platform. In cases where students experienced challenges with the myExams platform, they were advised to submit their answer scripts using the contingency links by submitting via their registered module codes. We have noted that some students did not submit their answer scripts via these platforms, but rather via the Invigilator App. The university has resolved to accommodate these students by processing their marks through alternative processes.

6. Students who submitted incorrect scripts on the official platform and correct scripts on an alternative platform

Unisa prioritises scripts for marking received via its official platforms. Unisa relies on an automated synchronisation system that elects scripts to be marked in accordance with its prioritisation rules. The university only marks one submission received from a student. Accordingly, Unisa awards 0% to incorrect submissions made via the official platform regardless of correct submissions made on alternative platforms. Due to the automation process, the correct script on an alternative platform is not identified for marking. We urge students to take care and ensure correct submissions are made in all instances.

7. Aegrotat applications

Undergraduate students may not apply for an aegrotat. Undergraduate students are entitled to use two consecutive opportunities per module to take their examinations (see section 3). The second examination opportunity caters for missed or failed examinations in the first examination opportunity. Undergraduate students who apply for an aegrotat will automatically receive a system error.

Aegrotat applications are only permitted for postgraduate students who missed their first examination opportunity to write their online examinations. Postgraduate students who were adversely affected by loadshedding and/or network challenges during their examinations or who experienced the death of loved ones or illness during the examinations are requested to apply online for an aegrotat within 10 days of their scheduled examination sitting. Aegrotat applications are not considered after the release of marks. Aegrotat applications will not be processed for postgraduate students who missed their second examination opportunity. Students are advised to visit the Aegrotat and Special Exams (unisa.ac.za) web page for the application process. The institution no longer processes aegrotat applications submitted via e-mail.

In accordance with policy, Unisa does not grant third aegrotat opportunities to students to write their missed examinations. In such cases, students are required to re-register for the module.

Please note: Modules with portfolio (evidence-based) assessment, continuous assessment, practical assessment or experiential assessment and those modules which require research reports are not granted an aegrotat opportunity.

Students are advised to send all examination-related enquiries to exams@unisa.ac.za

8. Proctoring tools

8.1 Non-use of the proctoring (invigilation) tools

Unisa utilises three proctoring tools for its examinations. Students were forewarned that non-use of the proctoring tools would result in their marks being withheld. Such students would have received an “Absent-supplementary”, “Deferred - proctoring non-compliance”, “Exam script rejected” or “Cancelled - proctoring non-compliance” outcome as their final result. A student who did not use any of the required proctoring tools when writing a module's exam in the first examination opportunity, will be granted another examination opportunity in the next module examination. A student who did not use the prescribed proctoring tools when writing a module's exam in the second examination opportunity, will have to re-register for the relevant module. Further transgressions in this regard will result in formal disciplinary proceedings. A student who feels aggrieved by their outcome after non-use of the proctoring tool may appeal the university’s decision by completing the non-compliance with proctoring tools appeal form.  Their marks will be released should they be successful. Students have until 31 March 2024 to submit their appeal on the Microsoft form.

The CSET and CTA students are requested to refer to their college communication regarding its application of non-use decisions (rules).

8.2 Students who exited the Invigilator App for a period of more than 10 minutes

The Unisa's online examination rules stipulate that students who spend a cumulative total of more than 10 minutes outside the Invigilator app (by exiting or minimising the Invigilator App) ("out of app”) will be deemed to have transgressed Unisa's examination rules and their marks will be withheld. Students were forewarned that they must switch off their mobile data after activating the Invigilator QR code for invigilation. In cases where students didn’t switch off their mobile data, their background applications may have resulted in the Invigilator App flagging them to be out of App. It is also important to note that the university does not consider the student's inability to submit an answer script on the Invigilator App in making its determination of whether the student was out of app. In such cases, students were informed that the Invigilator App provides students 10 minutes to submit their scripts on the Invigilator App after the duration of the examination has lapsed. Once the 10 minutes lapsed, the Invigilator App presented itself as non-responsive or “hanging”. The university continues to emphasise that students must familiarise themselves with the examination rules and complete mock examinations prior to sitting for their examinations.

A student who was out of app in the first examination opportunity for more than 10 minutes will have their marks withheld and are eligible to rewrite during their next module examination sitting. A student who was out of app in the second examination opportunity will have their marks withheld and will have to re-register for the module(s). Students aggrieved by the university's decision may appeal using the  non-compliance with proctoring tools appeal form.

8.3 Turnitin

Selected modules elected the usage of Turnitin in securing academic integrity. The online examination rules stipulate that students failing to provide typed responses for modules who elected to use the Turnitin software will have their submission discarded. These submissions will be awarded a 0%. Students may appeal the outcome of the result by using the non-compliance with proctoring tools appeal form.

9. Academic misconduct

We continue to maintain our zero-tolerance stance against cheating and plagiarism during online examinations. Students who have been identified through the proctoring tools or other evidence to have transgressed the examination rules have been referred to the Student Disciplinary Office.

Often students who have been identified of suspicious misconduct raise concerns about the length of time it takes to finalise their disciplinary cases. Disciplinary proceedings take a long time to finalise due to the comprehensive process of gathering evidence, and adherence to strict protocols in accordance with the disciplinary policy and legal provisions, which enable well-informed decisions about the appropriate penalties for students who have been found guilty of misconduct. Such penalties for misconduct have ranged from students being awarded a 0% final mark, to three-to-five-year suspensions and expulsions from the university. Unisa has a 98% conviction rate for students identified for disciplinary proceedings and continues to urge students not to engage in academically dishonest behaviours.

The consequences of academic misconduct are quite severe, as students are not only suspended from continuing their studies at Unisa but also at other South African universities. We urge students to refrain from dishonest academic behaviours during their assessments. Those students who receive communication from the Disciplinary Office should await further communication from the Disciplinary Office on the type of sanction they have received. Enquiries relating to disciplinary processes may be sent to Examscriptdisciplinary@unisa.ac.za

10. Corrupted and password protected scripts

Students who submitted irrecoverable corrupted scripts will be granted an additional opportunity to write in the next module examination. This concession will only apply to students writing in their first-time examination opportunity (see section 3 above). No further opportunities are granted to students after their second opportunity. Such students are requested to re-register for the applicable module(s).

Students who submitted password-protected scripts were contacted during the marking period to provide the relevant passwords. Students with unresolved password-protected scripts are requested to re-register for the applicable module(s).

Students may send their e-mails to exams@unisa.ac.za for queries regarding irrecoverable corrupted scripts and password protected scripts.

11. FI concessions

Students are reminded that the final-year concession (“FI-concessions”) only applies to students who have less than 24 credits outstanding to complete their qualification. Students must have also written the previous examination and failed the examination in the one/two outstanding module(s) during the last examination session. Furthermore, students should have attained at least a 30% examination mark for the outstanding modules for an undergraduate module and a 40% examination mark for a postgraduate module. The FI concessions are granted as second examination opportunities. Students who have exhausted two examination opportunities (via supplementary or aegrotat) will not be identified for an FI concession and are required to re-register for their outstanding modules. We anticipate finalisation of the FI concession process by 15 April 2024.

12. January/February 2024 mark release

The university has commenced the staggered release of the January/February 2024 examination results. We anticipate that most marks will be released by 10 March 2023. All mark release enquiries should be addressed to exams@unisa.ac.za Module lecturers will not be able to assist in final mark-related queries. Please address all assessment-related enquiries to exams@unisa.ac.za for a quicker response.

Students may apply to purchase a copy of their examination scripts or to have their scripts remarked by 31 March 2024. The online remark application form is available on myUnisa. Log into myUnisa and navigate to the Examination Results tool in the administrative section. Applications for remarks can also be sent to remark@unisa.ac.za Students may purchase their scripts by sending an e-mail to purchasescript@unisa.ac.za  Your student number must appear in the subject heading. Please note that the remarking or the purchasing of a script is not possible where the script is flagged for a disciplinary offence or proctoring tool non-compliance infringements (see section 7).
           

Unisa only attends to enquiries received from students’ myLife e-mail addresses. Communication received from personal e-mail addresses will not be responded to in line with the requirements of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013.

We congratulate those who have completed their qualifications in this examination season and wish our returning students a prosperous 2024 academic year.

Kind regards
University Registrar