KEY POINTS

• Waivers for extra year students who are struggling academically in OAU.
•  Compassionate support is the proposal, after a suicide attempt.
• Graduation support can be provided to students with a small amount of courses outstanding.

In Ile-Ife, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has disclosed a possible waiving policy to assist those with extra-year academic stresses.

Following a recent suicide attempt of a 200 level student, the need for supportive academic policies are becoming urgent.

In an internal memo dated November 1, 2024, obtained by PUNCH Metro, the university’s Senate Division met to discuss the case of the student and recommend compassionate measures.

Student struggles addressed at meeting

According to the memo, which was signed by Deputy Registrar, M.S. Oluwajoba, the affected student had earlier on changed her course of study from Pharmacy to Biology Education, and allegedly attempted suicide on October 16.

This incident provoked the the Dean of the Faculty to advise the higher powers, who then passed along to the Committee of Deans the task of studying measures of support to carers.

There is a call for staff and advisers to foster a more supportive academic environment.

The university, which had already been proactive in addressing mental health on campus, said the memo highlighted the importance of compassionate efforts to help students who are having academic problems.

Waiver consideration for graduation

Also in an Oct. 17, 2024 memo, an earlier memo, recommended that students with no more than one or two remaining course need to be considered for graduation even if their remaining credits will not change their class of degree.

This is to prevent suicide attempts, primarily from final year students repeating courses,’ OAU’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, confirmed.

Olanrewaju explained: “We want to mitigate suicide risks people facing academic stress may be at, especially when they are close to graduating, but still a few credits behind.”

Moreover, an unnamed senior official mentioned that although these decisions are unofficial, they take into account the compassionate attitude which the university expressed to meet student needs.