As cases start to rise in student populations remember:
They were promised “COVID secure” & safe campuses.
They were promised an “authentic” university experience.
They were promised F2F teaching & socialising.
So they move across the country, between countries, pay thousands of pounds with expectations that can’t be safely meet.
And as soon as they arrive they find out they have a couple hours of contact with staff per week and F2F social events are often being cancelled.
They start to miss their 1hr of F2F bc they have to isolate.
They find out they might not be able to go home at Christmas and instead have to spend it in cramped halls with people they met a couple months ago, and for some this will the first time they’ve lived away from home.
This week our amazing staff are on campus helping students settle in & feel welcome in these uncertain times. Throughout the year we signpost students to support when needed, & represent their academic interests & wellbeing to the University. #LoveSUs@hertssu@UniofHerts@nusuk
Student loneliness is a national issue - 4/10 students feel lonely on a daily or weekly basis. Disabled and LGBT students are more likely to feel lonely. SUs help provide community and a sense of belonging. #LoveSUs@hertssu@UniofHerts@nusuk
Students that report a feeling of belonging at uni are more likely to report feeling confident in completing their degree.
Students that are satisfied w/ their SU are more confident about their degree. They are also more likely to be confident about their career. #LoveSUs
I'm so glad that students have received the U-Turn they deserve, after such a stressful and upsetting time for many. I am, however, concerned at how Universities will manage this in practice. #ALevelsResults
For example, if a Uni genuinely cannot give places to everyone who now will have the required grades (because of accommodation, number of teaching staff, need to social distance etc) will this be a breach of contract? Grounds for denied students to take legal action?
Or do Unis have clauses to protect them from this? Can they force deferrals?
Will Unis go over "capacity" w/out increasing staff numbers or pay, and further worsen the current workload crisis and number of insecure staff?
Will there be enough support services for students?
I’ve been going back and forth in my head for months about whether to address this publicly or not, and if so when. But after receiving so much unexpected kindness & support over the last few weeks I want to do so now.
Around March this year I had to make the decision to withdraw my legal case against my former university for discrimination, a case which I took after reporting sexual misconduct from my former supervisor during my time at university.
The case went on for nearly 2 years. But come the new year I was unemployed, with no income & no financial cushion, but not entitled to legal aid. I couldn’t financially continue the case, & was left in debt as a result.
I’ve been trying to make the perfect toad in the hole for months now. Today I decided that tonight was the night. I even measured out each ingredient into individual cups so they were perfect.
And then accidentally poured my wine glass into the batter rather than milk.
Still going to cook it though, obviously. Who would waste a perfectly good glass of wine?
Stay tuned for updates.
On first inspection (before tasting, with the offending glass of wine for reference): arguably a bit on the burnt side, but the fork I stuck in it came out clean so at least it’s not a pool of wine inside...