14 February 2024
By email
: [FYI request #25419 email]
Tēnā koe AA
I refer to your information request dated 17 January 2024 made under the Official Information Act
1982 (the Act). You have requested the 2023 mark and grade distributions for the following papers
offered by the University of Otago:
• ANAT241, ANAT242, ANAT243, ANAT331, ANAT332, ANAT333, ANAT334, ANAT335
• GENE221, GENE222, GENE223, GENE312, GENE313, GENE314, GENE315
• BIOC352
Subject to the following comments, please see attached the information you have requested. Please
note that there are two pages in the attached document (one for each year).
• the data is correct as at 9 February 2024.
• we note that the grade and mark distributions for the 2023 ANAT242, ANAT243, ANAT332,
ANAT335, GENE222, GENE223 and GENE314 papers have not been finalised yet as the final
grades for some students have not been confirmed. On that basis, we decline this part of your
request pursuant to section 18(g) of the Act, as the information requested is not held by the
University as at today’s date. However, as requested, we have provided the 2022 mark and
grade distributions for these papers.
• on occasions where fewer than five students have failed a paper (i.e. received a grade of Fail
D, Fail E, Failed Compulsory Assessment or Failed Terms), we have determined that it is
necessary to withhold the marks and specific grades for these students to protect their privacy
and wellbeing. We consider that withholding this information is necessary to protect against
the identity of these students being determined or inferred, and their personal information
(i.e. their marks) could be disclosed. We therefore withhold this information pursuant to
section 9(2)(a) of the Act.
• in the attached grade and mark distributions, we note that students who withdrew from the
papers or received an Aegrotat Pass (not a grade or mark) are excluded from the data.
I trust that this information will be helpful.
In the above cases, we consider that good reasons exist for withholding information, and this is not
outweighed by other considerations which would make it desirable, in the public interest, to make the
information available. If you are not satisfied with our response to your information request, section
28(3) of the Act provides you with the right to ask an Ombudsman to investigate and review this
response. However, we would welcome the opportunity to discuss any concerns with you first.
Ngā mihi
Kelsey Kennard
Official Information and Compliance Coordinator
Office of the Registrar