In 2020 the industrial strike involving members of the UCU (University and College Union meaning lecturers and university staff), lasted 24 days (strikes also occurred in 2019 and notably 2018). 

In those 24 days a lot of students experienced disruptions ranging from cancelled lectures, field trips, seminars, workshops and tutor/supervision meetings, to a lack of support when it came to assessments and/or exams.

The strike ended on the 13th of March 2020, however contact hours did not resume due to the covid-19 virus or 'coronavirus'. Starting from the 16th of March 2020 contact hours were phased out and replaced by online material, expected to last until mid-April. As of today, (18/03/2020) this replacement has been far from adequate in terms of content, and method of conveying said content. In addition, the Cardiff University libraries were closed with 3 hours warning on Tuesday the 17th of March 2020, causing further disruption to assessments as well as reading around module content.

These disruptions (both the strike as well as the university removing contact hours due to the virus) have greatly impacted the students University experience, content received, and ability to obtain a meaningful degree. This also includes a change in several assessment methods, primarily from exams to essays, impacting students who chose modules based on their assessment method. 

According to Cardiff University, the spring semester of 2020 runs from Monday 27 January 2020 till Friday 12 June 2020. That is 147 days, of which 24 days were lost to the strike and around 35 days are estimated to be lost due to the Covid-19 Coronavirus. This does not include the potential knock-on effect experienced in certain degree paths, such as long term assessments or industry years. Essentially half a semester has been removed/altered significantly in a short amount of time.

As a consequence, we would like extensions for assessments to be considered, and student support systems to continue running throughout the lock-down of contact hours, with a focus on mental health support systems. 

We, the student body, also feel that more information on the consequences of the strike as well as the covid-19 epidemic should be given to us in a timely fashion.

Lastly the students of Cardiff university therefore demand financial compensation or reduction in tuition fees for this time, even though we by all means support the University staff in their demands, and understand that Covid-19 is beyond the Universities control, as the experience received does not equal what we, the student body paid for in tuition fees. 

To support these measures, please sign this petition (and include your student number where possible).