Discontinued at university, how does one proceed?

When Chris* was in the first semester of his second year at Makerere University doing a Bachelors of Law, he was informed that he had been discontinued.
Mugabe got two retakes in the first semester of his first year and three in the second.

Uncertain of the next step to take, he decided to inform his parents, who advised him to apply afresh as a new student in a private university. He says the process was inconveniencing and frustrating to his parents but he later accepted it.
“My parents asked me to apply for a different course that I was sure I could manage. Currently, I am happy that I am almost through with the new course without accumulating retakes,” he affirms.

But under what circumstances can a student be discontinued from a course?

According to Dr Dickson Kanakulya, a lecturer at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Makerere University, a student who has failed to obtain at least the pass mark (50 per cent) during the third assessment in the same course they had failed shall be discontinued from their studies.

He adds that a student who has overstayed in an academic programme for more than two years shall be discontinued.
Also, when a student accumulates three consecutive probations based on CGPA, they shall be discontinued.

Appealing is welcome
However, Dr Kanakulya says a student can apply for amnesty if they feel they have been wrongfully discontinued.
“A student can always redeem themselves by appealing. There is a tribunal that sits which might reverse the situation and probably give the student special consideration,” he explains.

Shadrack Nantamba, a lecturer at Kyambogo University, explains that if a student in such a scenario is to appeal, it is necessary that they act quickly.
“Appeals must be submitted within a time period and that can be as short as 10 working days for most government universities. It is usually given in the letter of discontinuation,” he says.
Nantamba adds that it is important that the student seeks advice from any one in a capable position.
“Universities offer help through the student unions. The quality of the advice is variable, but there is no harm in seeking guidance,” he notes.

However, Godfrey Mubinzii, the head of department for Economics at Uganda Martyrs University, Nkonzi, says every university has its own processes, guidelines and policies.

But, he says, it is better that universities get accustomed to counselling students that are faced with such issues such that they are able to accept the verdict and move on.
“Students in this situation need guidance and counselling especially before they are told about their fate, such that they are able to look for probable options with a more prepared mind,” he says.

No more options
According to Dr Kanakulya, by the time a university discontinues a student on grounds of performance, then the student has tried several times without getting the results with that very course. He adds that this calls for a student to address the issues that have been affecting their performance or to try out something else that they think they can do best.
“A lecturer cannot fail you for three consecutive times. If this happens, then it is important that you consider something else,” he advises.

To Nantamba, if a student is discontinued from a course it is important that they opt for a lighter one. He says some students fail to perform because they are doing courses they initially never liked to do or probably were forced to pursue by their parents.
“There is a case of a student who performed well in Economics at A-Level and her parent forced her to take up a business-related course, which she could not manage. After several retakes, the girl reapplied for a course in Languages and she is performing well,” he says. Nantamba says if a course turns out difficult to pursue, then it is better you find something that you can pass well.

Why it’s done
According to Dr Dickson Kanakulya, a lecturer at the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at Makerere University, a student who has failed to obtain at least the pass mark (50 per cent) during the third assessment in the same course they had failed, shall be discontinued from their studies. He adds that a student who has overstayed in an academic programme for more than two years shall be discontinued. Also, when a student accumulates three consecutive probations based on CGPA they shall be discontinued.