I am a student at the University of Plymouth with a long-term health condition and I'm dyslexic.

Like so many other students with health conditions or dyslexia, I have faced numerous challenges in managing academic assignments which are part of my learning journey at the university. It has become more pressurised since the removal of the 10-day extension period by the previous Vice-Chancellor - Professor Dame Judith Petts.

Given the individual challenges that ALL students face, we firmly believe that the reinstatement of Plymouth University's 10-day extenuating circumstances process is crucial in ensuring a fair and inclusive learning environment for EVERYONE!

Students living with learning disabilities and long-term health conditions face significant barriers to education and the changes to the extenuating circumstances process are potentially discriminatory and inclusive.

In a student's final year of study, the impact of being unable to meet the current 5-day extension can mean the difference between graduating with their other classmates or at a later date. 

Moreover, considering such provisions of 10 days are still offered in other UK universities, without impacting graduation it stands to reason that Plymouth University should follow suit and uphold the same standards for inclusivity and support (Disability Rights UK, 2020).

This is not just about our experience. Research consistently shows that many neurodivergent students struggle to meet conventional assignment deadlines without necessary adaptations and support (National Union of Students, 2019). Therefore, flexibilities such as extended deadlines for dyslexia and a 10-day extenuating circumstances process are essential to ensure equity in academic outcomes.

We want fair policies for students with dyslexia. We ask the University of Plymouth to establish fair extension and grading policies suited to the needs of neurodivergent students. Other universities across the UK give students with dyslexia extended deadlines and the opportunity to be graded primarily on content.

We, the student body, and our allies urge Plymouth University to reinstate the 10-day extenuating circumstances process. We appeal to the university's administration's sense of fairness and equality in making this much-needed change. 

We ask for:

• The reinstatement of the 10-day Extension Policy for all students
• Extended deadline for dyslexic students to fall in line with other UK institutions.
• Dyslexic students are graded on content rather than structure, spelling and grammar
• Online declaration of dyslexia when submitting assignments to support grading

The reinstatement of the 10-day extension and fair marking criteria is not just crucial for us but for future generations of students with disabilities and long-term health conditions as well as the neurodivergent students who will come after us. 

Please lend your voice to our cause and support our effort to create a more accessible and supportive learning environment at Plymouth University. Sign the petition today.