Everyone has been affected by COIVD-19 so Falmouth University had to change to online teaching from Monday the 23rd of March, teaching is being carried out through Mircosoft Teams and for some courses, deadlines have not been changed. Online teaching has not got the same standards as studio teaching. You cannot teach an arts degree online.

Now all university buildings have closed, students can not access library books or workshops/facilities that some students need in order to complete their course. The pandemic has negatively impacted students' mental health and wellbeing. Some are at a disadvantage through not having access to the internet and art supplies as well as many will be hindered by coronavirus directly affecting them or their loved ones. Falmouth has not done enough to support its students, with some courses being told their assessments will be carried out the same despite the disadvantages of online support. 

So cohering to government advice, how does Falmouth expect us to still produce the same quality of work in a shortened time and without any of the equipment/ proper teaching that is needed? WE ARE CREATIVES. We didn't choose an arts university to spend our days at a computer. We attend an ARTS UNIVERSITY to make, create, share, build, draw -  among a few things!

'We are asking Falmouth University to introduce a mitigation system similar to the one introduced by the University of Exeter in order to bring fairer results for 2nd/3rd year undergraduates and postgraduate students. At 9.40 AM on 25/03/2020, the University of Exeter announced that student assessment would be mitigated through a "safety net" policy. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor wrote that:

"So long as [students] would qualify to progress/graduate based on [their] marks obtained this year ... then [the university] will ensure that [students'] final academic year average is the same as, or higher than, the average [they] have attained up to Sunday 15th March."

In summary, "as long as you qualify to pass the year, completing the summer assessments can only help not hinder you because we will not let the extraordinary circumstances in which you are completing these assessments leave you with a mark below your current overall mark." ' (Adam Jones Bristol Uni petition)

We are asking Falmouth University to consider the unexpected circumstances brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic. Using the Safety Net system will help to make sure that students get a fair result that reflects their work during these unprecedented circumstances.