Problematic Medical Certificates  [11.06.19]

It's been a good year since the incident. However, the effects of a massive number of students aborting their exams in a Hohenheim business management exam and 148 contested medical certificates are still being felt. Almost 100 students could also face criminal consequences. According to the public prosecutor's office, these students are also being accused in connection with the investigations against the physician. Since the occurrence, the University of Hohenheim has been pushing ahead with reforms in the area of examinations.

The incident occurred on May 23, 2018. 75 out of 244 participants of a business administration exam broke off the exam that had already begun and justified this with a spontaneous illness. On the same day, some of those who discontinued the examination submitted a request to withdraw from the examination including a medical certificate. Most of the certificates had been issued by the same doctor.

The sheer number of certificates, the limited timeframe and the similar diagnosis raised doubts at the University as to whether the medical examinations were actually carried out thoroughly. The university therefore wrote to the students in the same week asking them to submit a statement and, if necessary, a more detailed medical certificate that met the legal requirements.

Due to doubts about the certificates from the doctor concerned, the University also decided to review 105 other certificates received between 23 and 25 May 2018 (= end of the examination period). These were certificates with which students had already reported themselves ill in the run-up to various examinations.

In 83 cases, the university did not accept the subsequent statements and certificates, and the examination was considered "failed". 7 students were in their third and last possible examination attempt.

Investigations are ongoing

For the University itself, this would have been a sufficiently thorough investigation of the case. "Our sole concern is to ensure fair examination conditions," emphasized University President Stephan Dabbert. "We were of the opinion that a warning shot would be enough, so we deliberately decided not to press charges."

In fact, however, the incident made a lot of waves. According to an article in the Stuttgarter Zeitung, numerous media throughout Germany took up the unusual story. The great public interest in the incident also prompted the Stuttgart public prosecutor's office to open inquiries against the physician in July 2018.

The public prosecutor's office has now announced in response to a request from the university that nearly 100 students are now being accused. The charge: use of incorrect medical certificates. Theoretically, they could face a fine or imprisonment for up to one year.

"The public prosecutor's office has explained to us that at the moment it is above all a question of being able to complete the investigations against the physician," reports University spokeswoman Dorothea Elsner. "This requires statements from the students concerned. From a purely technical point of view, the public prosecutor's office has to charge the students. Whether the students will actually end up with criminal consequences, and if so, which ones, is completely open at the moment."

University wants to reform exams

The University of Hohenheim has taken the incident as an opportunity to push ahead with planned reforms concerning examinations.

"As the first concrete measure, we want to abolish the compulsory registration for exams," stated Prof. Dr. Korinna Huber, Vice President for Academic Affairs. "The Senate Teaching Commission has prepared the necessary amendments to the examination regulations and will finalize a draft resolution for the Senate next week."

Under the current rules, although it is possible to register for the exams at any time, the examination date can only be postponed once without giving reasons. Anyone who fails or is ill is automatically registered for the next possible date for re-taking the exam. In the future, students will be able to decide for themselves when to repeat the exam.

"In addition, we have also initiated reforms in the area of examinations," reported Huber. "The subject of examinations is a central aspect in our new internal quality management system for ensuring and further developing quality in teaching. In the individual degree programs, we are discussing whether and where it makes sense to reduce the number of examinations. This could be done, for example, by merging modules or by alternative forms of assessment."

The type and method of examination should also be further developed so that less memory-learned knowledge is required. Instead, the tests should be based on applying knowledge.

"But there is no single solution, and the reforms cannot be implemented overnight in the same way in all areas. After all, this also involves conceptual and organizational changes that we are carefully preparing," emphasized Huber. " Many participants are therefore involved in this process - including representatives of the students, of course."

"It is important to us that this new concept takes into account the latest developments in didactics. For this reason, teachers receive continuous support on teaching and examination topics from the University Didactics Office and the Staff Office for Further Development in Teaching," said Huber, "including workshops on the topic of how to achieve the best possible link between the teaching structure and the corresponding examination.”

Content: Leonhardmair; Translation: Neudorfer