Prior to the unprecedented disruptions caused by COVID-19, SOAS university was open to students without the obstruction of a picket line for a total of 6 days across 4 weeks due to the UCU strikes. There were 3 days between the end of the strikes and news of the first case of COVID-19 recorded at SOAS on 12th March. News of the case not only evoked feelings of fear and apprehension for all students attending the school, but students and staff who fell into the ‘vulnerable’ categories could not attend university without risking their health. This means that students have had full access to the University and its resources for a total of 9 days since 17th February. Since the school officially closed on 19th March, students have not been able to use school spaces to study or access the school library and other essential learning facilities. Whilst efforts were made to move teaching to ‘remote’ delivery, this only serves students with their own computer, a sufficient study space, a reliable WiFi connection, the ability to read solely from their computers or access to a printer where this is not the case, and -- most importantly -- those who are not (yet or otherwise) physically ill or suffering from mental health implications due to the pandemic. Notwithstanding loss, caring for the ill or personal physical illness, the anxiety-inducing environment cultivated by COVID-19 may incapacitate students. The overwhelming amount of information and concern alone permits very little brain-space for focused study. Compounding this, financial concerns, or returning home prematurely in light of the closing of international borders, constitutes an extraordinarily stressful period with major upheavals and disruptions to students’ lives.

 

Everyone is directly affected by the pandemic; the effects of which cannot be measured per individual. Whilst measures have been taken to diminish the impacts of COVID-19, final year students with coursework-only modules are unable to apply for mitigating circumstances if they fail to complete their assignments by 18th May. Whilst each student has a different work load in terms of coursework and revision for exams, the measures already taken do not protect this type of student. Therefore, in addition to the existing implementations at SOAS, an inclusive system ensuring standardised assessment across the entire student body must be introduced; one which considers all types of assessments and the varying scenarios for each individual student. We are asking SOAS to employ a ‘safety net’ policy similar to those of the University of Edinburgh, University of Liverpool, University of Exeter and University of Northumbria, to ensure fairer results for UG and PG students:

 

• ·         At 9.40AM 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:

 

"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."

"If [students] achieve higher marks in assessments submitted and examinations undertaken after Sunday 15th March then [they] will be able to raise your mark for the year."

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."

 

• ·         As of 26/03, Southampton University have introduced the same policy; the Vice President wrote:

 

"Like a number of other universities, we have agreed to adopt a 'no detriment' policy, which means as long as you submit for all your required assessments this semester, we guarantee that your academic year average will be no lower than your average achieved by 22/03/2020."

"For Masters students, this applies to the taught element of your degree programme. If you do well in assessments submitted after 22 March, your academic year average could go up."

• ·         On 30/03, Northumbria have introduced a similar policy; the Deputy Vice Chancellor wrote:

 

For continuing full-time students (i.e. non-final year students), if you have achieved an average mark of 40% or above by 15 March 2020 from the completion of your semester 1 modules, then you will be able to progress to the next stage of your programme.

If you are a full-time final-year student aiming to graduate this summer, you will be considered for the award of an honours degree if you have an overall average mark of 40% (50% for Integrated Masters) on the modules you have fully completed (this will be normally at least 2 modules / 40 credits) from semester 1 and by 15th March and also from your dissertation or major project.

We strongly advise all of you at all levels to try to complete any remaining assessments in line with the reasonable adjustments to assessment arrangements that Academic Staff have made and posted on Blackboard Module sites. We will operate a ‘no detriment’ policy in our consideration of your performance at all levels of study. This means that your overall year average may improve, but will not reduce, when we take into account any outstanding module assessment that you submit and pass.

 

In consideration of these unprecedented and extraordinary times – together with measures which have already been taken at SOAS – this type of mitigation system contributes to more equal results for UG and PG students. In addition to measures already taken at SOAS, these policies allow all students to achieve a grade which reflects their capabilities under ordinary circumstances, whilst maintaining the provision of an incentive to complete their summer assessments.