Constantly decreasing University Progress bar

[bubbles]

I don't know whether this is a bug or not, but when I send my sims to University, their progress bar quickly decreases whenever they are not in class or studying. It even happens when they are asleep. As a result, my sims are never able to enjoy themselves or socialise and must study 24/7. Has anyone else come across this problem and have they found a fix/cause yet?

Thanks in advance!

[Vinyl]

Is it decreasing more than usual?  As far as I know there's always a steady drop in the bar when not studying, in class, using the study objects, or raising the related skills. 

It's a lot easier to have an active social life with only one course per term rather than three courses.  Also the term grade seems to be based on the final exam, so my party sims have been able to skate through the first week of a double term, completely fail all three mid terms, then buckle down to earn an A in the second week.