Happy new year all!
I hope you all had a pleasant and happy winter break given the circumstances and that you are all safe and well. It’s been a ram-packed two weeks and I want to give you a rundown on what I’ve been doing to support your academic interests.
Happy new year all!
I hope you all had a pleasant and happy winter break given the circumstances and that you are all safe and well. It’s been a ram-packed two weeks and I want to give you a rundown on what I’ve been doing to support your academic interests.
Too long didn’t read
- Good Referendum progress
- Letter to Government
- Meeting with University about where fees go
- Template being created still
- Some positive movements and noises on extensions
- Invited to accommodation WiFi contract tender
- @essexsureps Instagram doing well
- Meetings, Groups, Committee attendance
Overview
So – the big item is all about extensions – something I have been working on with Molly and the rest of the SU to get for all students. I’ve had meetings with many University staff ranging from senior management like the PVCE all the way to Departments like the School of Law. We’ve also been working hard on the referendum on tuition fees, SU Homes complaints and responding to student concerns – notably a letter that was sent to us by a number of students – that you can read here.
There’s been other things but that’s the headlines!
Policies
No new policies passed, but I’ve been looking into how we can effectively action our Student Parent policy, especially around extenuating circumstances and had conversations with the engagement department about how we can bring this policy into action.
Big Plan
Both myself and Adrian have been invited to the tender process for the accommodation WiFi and the reviews that will take place – and this will give us a great opportunity to share student voice on WiFi – so if you have any comments about WiFi you want to tell us please email me!
I also had a meeting with the library about online content – we’re now up to 87% - I will continue to push for the magic 100% which is both frustrating and disappointing to not have reached.
COVID Learning has no updates.
Referendum
We have written our letter to government – and it will be published soon – it has been co-signed by a large number of other Students’ Unions and we hope it can make the government reconsider a number of items that we believe will support students.
We also have had a meeting with the University’s Director of Finance where we asked questions about spending and income, as well as setting some tasks. I’m pleased to be able to report we should be able to be seeing the breakdown of fee spend relatively soon as a result of this meeting.
We are still working on the template of a letter that you can send to your MPs both at Essex and at home. This will be released in due course.
Molly and I have given a full update to students – and this can be found here.
Extensions
I have been contacted several times in the last few weeks, especially since the second lockdown was announced, to ask what I could do about getting an extension for students.
We will be putting out further communications out about what we are doing in the next week – but we are working on this and have been since before it was brought to my attention.
Getting students’ fair treatment is my absolute priority right now – we will be aiming to get clarity from departments – like we were able to with Law (big thank you to them) – about what counts as a grounds for extenuating circumstances and late submissions, with examples from them.
We are also aiming to get you uncapped reassessment and extending the late submission deadline to 2 weeks.
As I said, a further update is coming – please keep your eyes peeled for it.
Committee/groups
Thankfully not too many in these two weeks! I’ve had Bounce Back Education Steering Group with Senior University staff as well as the Students' Unions Audit and Risk Committee which I chair.
Regular Meetings
I restarted my regular meetings with the PVCE, ITS, weekly catch ups with the Sabb team and other SU staff.
Other
The @EssexSUReps Instagram has now got over 30 followers and regularly shares content about student feedback and the power it has in creating change. Check out the account and follow to keep up to date with the changes that happen as a result of student voice.
I also supported our Education Manager in providing Chair training, especially for our Union Chair and Student Parliament Chairs.
Next two weeks
- Big Plan next steps
- Instagram Live
- Discussing GTAs going forward
- Published Student Information Working Group
- Trustee Board
- Meeting with DDE (Science and Health)
- Faculty of Humanities catch up
- Research Committee
- Senate
- Student Parliament
- Emergency Student Parliament
- Bounce Back Education Steering Group
- Welcoming full SU Education Team back
So, thank you for reading - stay safe and healthy - and I will update again in two weeks!
Mark