Dear, Leeds Beckett University

I am writing to ask for a re-introduction of the safety net offered to the graduating class of 2020, as well as extensions and/or mitigated workload for the class of 2021.

We are all aware of the worsening conditions of the pandemic and the imminent lockdown. A safety net would help to support your students as many of us our struggling with online learning and the lack of support we have been given. Students have received little guidance from both the university and the government itself whilst continuing to expect the same level of academic work to be produced. Alongside this many of us are struggling financially and mentally. Mental health within students has plummeted to an all-time low as we feel the pressure from the university and the government to produce a standard of work that is unachievable given the circumstances forced upon us. A recent NUS survey found that more than 50% of students have reported a decline in their mental health since the pandemic began.

We thoroughly appreciate the efforts of teaching staff as they have quickly adapted to new methods of delivering learning, we work hard to engage with online learning and adjust to these new measures but today we are reaching out to you as we find ourselves struggling more than we have ever before. We write to you with an aim to begin to reverse the difficulties that we as students have suffered because of the coronavirus pandemic. We believe that we should be marked on 3 or 4 out of the 6 modules from last year due to the ever changing circumstances that we had to adapt to that had a substantial impact on many students work. Universities have not taken the steps to level the playing field for students who come from more diverse backgrounds and to protect those students against unfair underperformance. Many students are caregivers and parents which means that their children are now off of school, meaning they are required to juggle childcare from home, teaching their own children and completing a full degree themselves. Many students are also having to pay for high water and electricity bills in houses they aren't even occupying due to this pandemic. Third year students are also expected to not be working during their degree due to the importance of this final year and finding a job in the current circumstances is near on impossible. Therefore the  hardship fund would help to support these students financially as the struggle to fund their everyday life due to high bills and the lack of money they make due to expectations and limitations from the government and Covid-19. 

We therefore strongly urge a reintroduction of the safety net that was given to the class of 2020, for the current class of 2021. As a safety net has the potential to protect every student against the unpredictably of the effects of Covid-19. Currently the universities mitigation process is focused to cover short term mitigating circumstances however, as we know Covid-19 is not going away anytime soon so we believe these circumstances should be extended to those affected by Covid-19 mentally, physically and financially. A safety net would therefore ensure that we would be obtaining a fair result for our degree.

We look forward to hearing from you soon to hear how you are going to support us for the upcoming exams and deadlines, as well as for the rest of the year.

Yours Sincerely,

            The Students of Leeds Beckett University