Another two weeks have just shot by – but they also felt very long as well; something I’m sure you’re all experiencing as well.

Too long didn’t read

• Agreed with University that attendance should not be treated as normal this year
• Prepared for Accommodation WiFi tender process (Colchester and Southend)
• Finalised updates for referendum progress
• Clarified with University about late submission policy
• Attended groups and committees
• Worked out where we’re taking Big Plan going forward
• Student Parents and Carers focus group

Overview

It’s been a strange couple of weeks with my calendar not being as full as usual and also being incredibly busy at the same time. There’s no big headline grabbing news in this update, but I think it’s still important you know what I’ve been up to in the last couple of weeks.

I had my meeting with the PVC(E) about LEAP and attendance and although we didn’t come out of the meeting with the exact outcome I wanted (attendance monitoring to include asynchronous engagement), we did agree that students should know attendance is not being treated normally this year and that it is better to be offered support and not need it than needing support and not being offered it.

Our Best Practice Guide meeting got delayed and so is happening next week, and so don’t have much of an update on that just yet! However, I have had a meeting looking at PGR specific issues and work on that is going in a positive direction.

Policies

As February Parliament has been pushed back, I’ve been given some extra time to rewrite our SU Strike policy – I am hoping to have it ready to present to Parliament in a couple of weeks’ time, but it’s looking tight. Fingers crossed! I am also continuing to work on amending the No Confidence procedure.

Big Plan

On WiFi Big Plan we’ve had meetings preparing us for the tender process for accommodation WiFi. We’re feeling really positive going into this process and we hope we can provide a useful update soon!

On COVID Learning, myself and Alex have discussed where we’re going to be taking the project next and will be starting to look at next year and what that will look like for students.

Referendum

Contrary to my last update – the referendum updates only went out today – it can be read here. There were complications with the approval of the letter sent to landlords, but they have now been rectified. Included in that update is our template letter that you can send to your MP – we think the more people who send it to their MP, the better, and the larger impact it will have! I do apologise that this has taken so long to come out.

Extensions

I’m happy to be able to report that we’ve reached an understanding with the University where they have asked departments to communicate to students that there is no 7-day deadline that cannot be removed as a barrier and that if students who are struggling could reach out, the department can provide extensions and support! We’ve had conversations with a number of students who have already experienced this and we’re hoping all departments are having these conversations with you.

Committees/Groups

This fortnight I attended just BBESG (Bounce Back Education Steering Group) and AQSC (Academic Quality and Standards Committee) – a very quiet committee fortnight! I also attended one of our Student Parents and Carers Focus Group where I heard some really useful feedback about what further support, they need, especially in the current circumstances.

Regular Meetings

I continued to have my regular meetings where I have raised student concerns to the University and continue to represent your educational interests. I am also really pleased to be able to report that our weekly meetings with the PVC(E) have been resumed and that we will now be meeting more regularly. Also had my regular meetings with the Sabbs and other SU staff.

Other

SU Reps Instagram has continued to grow – if you haven’t already followed it, check it out here. There’s information on there that you won’t get anywhere else!

If you’ve any questions, always feel free to email me – VPEducation@essex.ac.uk

Next two weeks

• Accommodation WiFi tender presentations and process
• Working on rewriting our Strike policy
• Education Committee
• Continue reviewing No Confidence procedures
• Regular catch ups
• BBESG
• Audit and Risk Committee
• And much more!