Thank you everyone for your support! I have been in contact with Kathy Armour (Pro-Vice-chancellor of Education) and this is her reply:

Dear Gracie

As you might imagine, we are taking every step possible to ensure that no student is disadvantaged by the current situation. As noted in my email last week, the aim is to reduce pressure wherever we can which is why we have taken the decision to require limited online assessments in the summer exam period and only where students have not met specific programme learning outcomes because, for example, they have amassed few credits from the final year. Again, as noted in that email, this is a complex process because even where students are on the same programme, they will have taken different options with different assessments that may/may not be completed already.

I promised that we would be circulating further details of the plan we are putting in place as soon as we are all fully happy with it, the Guild Education Officer has had the opportunity to comment and input, and we are confident it guarantees the integrity of your degree for the future. It is a complex plan, and we have to get it right. In particular, for the graduating cohort, we are looking at each student case individually to ensure they are in the best category for them as they move forward. This is taking a little bit of time given the size of our student population.

All universities have slightly different regulations, but the plan we are putting in place will more than match the notion of ‘no detriment’. It will also have the added advantage of requiring far fewer assessments in the exam period because we recognise (how could we not!) that this is a situation that is far from ideal for either studying or taking an assessment.

So – do please reassure your fellow students. A petition is not required and I will be contacting all students again by the end of this week (as promised in my last email). The idea that we would do anything that would disadvantage our students in this crisis is, frankly, a bit puzzling.

Everyone is under immense pressure at the moment – and that includes staff – but we will get there and I am confident you will be happy with the outcome.

I do hope all is well with you and yours at this difficult time.

Best Wishes

Kathy Armour