How do I go about taking legal action against my university for failing to provide the students on my course?

Question

with an acceptable level of teaching?

I came back to my second year to find that our class size doubled while the teaching hours are only a third of what they were in our first year.

Last year we were being taught by a Dr, now we are being taught by someone only a year out of her MA with only one year of teaching under her belt.

I could go on...

Our class size has doubled through direct entry and exchange students.

There is no coherence between the lectures and our assignment briefs. Guest lecturers are not made aware of what our modules are.

We have weeks with no lectures and we've been told we can't have any tutorials until after xmas!

Answer 1

If you sue, you would lose unless you know a lot more than you have indicated.

There must be a breach of contract. So, where's the contract. It's the school catalog. (Even though most schools have a disclaimer, the courts view it as a contract.) Most students barely read it; most administrators have it memorized. You are now on their turf and don't know the rules.

HOWEVER, the big stick (at least in the US) are the accreditation organizations (SACS, North Central, etc). They DO care about class sizes, instructor qualifications etc. and they can make some big waves. Losing accreditation is considered a breach of contract usually.

But, your best bet is to possibly mature a little and focus on learning (the main thing) and not on distractors (class size etc). Unless there is a very clear breach (and I'm willing to bet that there isn't), you should make sure the main thing is the main thing.

Answer 2

Yeah that pretty much sucks. I know firstly that you can't sue for class size. They will just call it a lecture hall and that's that. You can't sue for having an adjunct teacher because it's the schools right to higher anyone qualified.

What you can sue for is if the class size is inappropriate for the subject. For example:
A math class requires smaller settings (tops 30) and that's stretching it. That isn't a law it's just an example. So if the class is so big that you are no longer able to get a proper understanding or attention then you can sue for that. Mind you I doubt if you will win because most universities have a whole staff of lawyers just waiting on you to sue. They have heard it all. I would suggest you complain to who counts, the department head. You can usually schedule appointments with that person. However first mention it to the teacher. He has no control but at least you are starting in proper chain of command.

Sorry for this, I know how hard it can be.

Good LUCK!

Answer 3

The fact that you are being taught by someone with an MA should not matter if you are doing a first degree, the fact that she has only taught for a year is also irrelevant as long as her standard of teaching is good. Class size should also not be an issue. However, the issue of tutorials is. I suggest you speak to your NSU representative and ask them to speak to the Dean of Faculty.

Answer 4

Ye syou can - i'm doing it and i'm not the first. But before you take legal action go through the university complaints procedure - if they mis handle it like mine did this will be very heard but YOU know at the back of your mind that you are right.

You can fund this through Legal Aid (or whatever it is called now) if you have a good case and are on a low income or check your house contents insurance - they may pay.

1) write your official complaint to the dean

2) if that is not resolved call the law society and ask for an expert in education.

good luck.

Answer 5

Talk to the NUS about this one. How did your class double between the first and second year anyway? Maybe the lady with the MA has more relevant knowledge and experience than the Dr though, give her a chance.

Answer 6

Sorry but there is nothing you can do about it.. If you take a fine look at our total educational system, you will see that it has gone downhill tremendouisly in the past 20 or so years and although I am not saying it is a conspiracy, I am saying that it might be intended to be that way.. I am an educator and would NEVER teach in today's educational system in the U.S. I am horrified at the degradation of the system... I received my B.S. degree in four years and the M.S. in 2.. Now, I can get a B.S. degree ONLINE in a year or less. Quality of education? Worthless.. Today, the system is after money and getting it anyway they can without spending much

Answer 7

I thought the whole point of university was to teach yourself? We were told from day one "YOU are reading for a degree."

My friend is in Glasgow uni studying medicine and they don't even have lectures very often; it's got a fancy name(PBL or something) but basically you have a group and you all learn together. In dependant learning...I agree, sometimes it is unfair, but I have a lecturer who is absolutely terrible so I just miss his lectures and attempt it for myself. However, if the tutorials are the same shabby standard, I'd take it further...

Answer 8

It is common for teaching hours to dinminish from year to year in a course. That is because you are supposed to be able to do the work yourself in your own time. I have less now than I did last year and less then than I did in my first year.

I don't see that having a larger class would make any difference at University. School yes, university no.

And everyone has to have only one year of teaching at some point.

Answer 9

Woahh! Bad!

The NUS might be a fairly good start, especially if there are people there who feel the same way as you.

Local/National papers are a good way of getting the attention it sounds like you poor souls need...

It may also be worth enquiring as to why the teaching situation is so bad...

Answer 10

Talk to the national papers to see if they will support you in taking a civil action against the university