The family of Ethan Brown, a 23-year-old student who died by suicide, has settled a civil court action against the University of Glasgow. Brown was mistakenly told in September 2024 that he had not been awarded a grade for a crucial course, making him ineligible to graduate with an honors degree.
His loved ones state that he took his own life on December 13, 2024, the same day he was scheduled to graduate. His mother, Tracy Scott, found him dead in his bedroom that morning. Ms. Scott later received her son's degree posthumously and has advocated for a fatal accident inquiry.
In a statement released Tuesday through their solicitor, Aamer Anwar, the family confirmed the settlement but vowed to continue campaigning for a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Brown's death. The statement highlighted that an internal investigation only confirmed the incorrect grading after the family challenged the university's handling of his academic results. Brown should have been awarded a 2:1 honors degree, a mistake that was missed by university staff, two internal examination boards, and an external examination board.
The family expressed devastation that the error passed through multiple assessment and examination levels undetected. They also stated that despite Brown disclosing concerns about his mental health, the university did not provide adequate support that might have saved his life.
The sum of the settlement has not been disclosed. The family intends to meet with Holyrood Education Secretary Mairi McAllan to continue their pursuit of truth and accountability. They are calling for a transparent investigation into the university's academic processes, decision-making, and student welfare procedures, warning that further tragedies may occur without such a probe.
An investigation following Brown's death uncovered a series of administrative errors. University Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield acknowledged at a subsequent graduation ceremony that Mr. Brown "should have been here to collect the honors degree that he earned."
A University of Glasgow spokesperson offered profound apologies for Ethan's tragic death and the distress caused to his family. The university stated that it self-referred to the Scottish Funding Council following an internal investigation into assessment regulations. A subsequent targeted peer review by the quality assurance agency resulted in recommendations that the university has accepted and is implementing.