Should students sue universities over poor degrees?

A student who graduated at a British university with a GPA equivalent of around 3.2, lost his bid at the High Court to raise his final grade.

Nigerian born Tony Wogu received a 2:2 computer science degree under the UK grading scheme, and argued in court for compensation and that his final grade would be raised, under allegations of discrimination, poor staffing and obsolete equipment.

Defending himself in court, he claimed that his low degree would cause him to struggle to get him a decent job. However, the court ruled that the court had no place to rule over academic decisions, stating that academics would be adequately equipped to judge whereas lawyers and the courts are not

This in itself bolsters academic integrity and autonomy from the legal system in certain situations.

This is not the first time a student has sued a university, however. In 2008, a student at Brooklyn College in New York sued the university for committing her to a psychiatric unit after alleging unlawful surveillance in her private residence, which turned out to be true.

It does raise questions whether the student-university relationship is viewed in an educational sitting, or if students are customers to colleges and universities paying to receive academic recognition.

But it does serve as a warning that amid university budget cuts worldwide, that institutions need to maintain technological standards to enable students to get the very best out of their tuition fees.

Should students sue universities over poor degrees? Can academic integrity be measured? Does your institution use outdated equipment that is not up to standard? Leave a comment.