Thank you to everyone who sent in their questions in a couple of months ago. The changing situation has changed how we were hoping to answer these questions. If you have follow up questions, please ask them below and I will do my best to answer these – if there are many, we will look into answering more questions on Instagram. Without further ado; these were the most frequently asked questions (and themes of questions):

Quality of blended learning

Since the University announced that Blended Learning was going to be the teaching method, many teams within the University have been working on how to make this as effective a teaching method as possible. This includes the technology side; preparing classrooms for online delivery, as well as ensuring that academics feel prepared to teach online (as well as continuing to teach in person).

The University has assured that the quality will be high, however we recently requested extra information on blended learning and for access to pilots as we have some concerns over the readiness of certain elements of the technology as well as how prepared lecturers are. If, when term starts, you feel as though you’re not getting the quality you were promised, there are issues, or something isn’t right with blended learning, please let us know.

Variation in quality between lecturers

The University have informed us that training has been available and that many academics have taken part in the training to prepare them for teaching in this new environment. The University believe that this training will ensure there is a common standard across the University.

Training has also been provided of how to use the technology effectively that academics will use to deliver any online materials to ensure that all academics feel confident using the online tools.

Again, if you feel that the quality isn’t high enough, please let us at the Students’ Union know as soon as possible!

Will everything be online?

As recently as Wednesday I asked this very question to the Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education). She responded that she still expects that the vast majority of students will have some face to face classes in the Autumn term – and that she was aware of one course where no face to face teaching would happen and that students in this course had been made aware of this fact.

Loss of optional modules

There were, quite rightly, concerns from students that there would be a loss of optional modules. This is the case and was decided at the start of COVID to ensure there would be enough teaching spaces for core modules where there was reducing physical teaching capacity across the University.

Will we be able to get onto campus?

Simply put, yes. You should be able to come onto campus. There are a range of safety measures in place such as wearing face masks when in buildings, a one-way system around campus, hand washing stations, and more. Due to the phased return of students, you may not be invited to in-person classes but this does not mean you cannot come to campus.

Feedback and marking being slower and less detailed

The University has told us it doesn’t expect their feedback or marking to be any slow or, crucially, any less detailed. They are maintaining their current policy about feedback speed, however, we know how important feedback is. If you don’t feel as you’re getting constructive feedback or it hasn’t come back in in time – please contact us.

Is the library reopening?

At all 3 campuses, the library plans to reopen by the start of term. Colchester is hoping to be open on the ground floor from 5^th October with study spaces available in the Library Reading Room and Postgraduate study room through an online booking system. In addition, the click and collect service will be turning into a same-day service (although is only for books not available online).

The library in Southend is already open for browsing and there is a click and collect service running there. In Loughton, the library is hoping to open at the start of term with limits on how many students can use the space at once.

Will resources be online?

It’s more important than ever that your learning resources are available online. The library are currently working with departments to ensure that your essential reads on your reading lists are available online. If there is a book that is on your essential reading list that isn’t available online, please report this to the library.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education) confirmed in our Q&A with her that 100% of essential reading list books would be available online.

What will next year look like?

It will look different based on your department, your course, and the modules you have selected. I’ve been told that the vast majority of students will have some face to face elements available to them in the first term. Beyond that; we need to wait and see whether the situation allows for a further return to in-person teaching.

What I can tell you is that this year will look very different as the situation the world finds itself in is very different. To ensure that you get the best possible education you can, we’ve launched the live feedback form where you can tell us as and when issues come up – these will then be taken to the University who will then react – we want to make sure changes that need to be made are made as quickly as possible – ensuring students don’t have to wait for the next cohort to see those changes.

Are exam arrangements in place?

The University is expecting that where exams are the chosen assessment method, these are taking place in person. However, should it prove necessary to move exams online, the University is prepared to do this. Some departments have changed their approach to assessments and so assessments may not look the same as in previous years.

The University broadly expects to not repeat the take home exam experience from last year.

Update to GTAs

We believe that GTAs are a vital part of the community at Essex. The last Sabbatical Officer team believed this, and so do we. That’s why we took the GTA issue to our first presentation and meeting with the University. From that we managed to get further meetings with senior University management to ensure that communication with GTAs, PGRs, and students who benefit from the fantastic support GTAs give is improved. I met with the GTA campaign as well as with reps from it.

We had meetings with the Director of People and Culture, the Dean of PGRE, and other University officials, with myself, our PGR Officer, and a rep from the GTA campaign. The University made it clear to us that they would be hiring on an “as-need basis”. So far, around £850k has been released to departments for teaching support (this includes GTAs).

We will continue to lobby the University to provide adequate opportunities to our PGRs and to employ GTAs in the largest possible capacity while clearly communicating on plans to hire GTAs to students.

Timetabling

The timetable is due for release to students on the 24^th September. This will be available online, on the specific University timetable site. If you want to see how to find your classroom, go to our Instagram and watch our story on finding your class – a version for getting online to your zoom class is coming soon!

Thank you for reading; if you have any questions – put them in the comments below or email me – vpeducation@essex.ac.uk

If we have lots of questions, we’ll do an Instagram Q&A!