With the uprising stress of COVID-19, having to survive in isolation for an unpredictable amount of time and coping with 6 weeks of strike action (which resulted in 6 weeks absence of education) we believe that relying on passing  coursework and exams to progress into second year is unjustifiable. 

There is a monumental amount of stress and pressure placed on the students at Sheffield Hallam University and with the precariousness of the COVID-19 situation, it has resulted in students feeling anxious without a lack of closure for their future. Furthermore, students in vulnerable positions have not been taken into account, such as those who rely on access to University library resources and internet connection to complete their work.

Many University institutions across the nation have followed in similar steps to help support their vulnerable and struggling first years students and we, as students of Sheffield Hallam, hope that our chosen institution of study follow in the same route of good leadership. Other institutions have followed a similar course of action to support their students, such as Nottingham University, Leeds University, University of Leicester, University of Liverpool, UCL and many more. We are requesting that the same is done for first year students of Sheffield Hallam University.

We believe that asking students to 'continue as normal' during these unprecedented times is completely immoral and objects the morals that Sheffield Hallam represents itself for.

To compare, the government cancelled GCSE and A-Level exams and did not burden students with the fear of not being able to progress into higher education. However, nothing has been affirmed by the government to provide support for students at University. This is NOT an acceptable time for students of any background to be focusing on assignment deadlines and revision for exams.

The students of Sheffield Hallam are requesting that first year students are automatically advanced into their second year study.