Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, we as students have constantly felt that our situation is untenable. Coping with the stresses of University work during a pandemic has not been easy and we feel that the support offered to us by the University has not been proportionate to this struggle. In respect of this, we believe we should receive extended assessment deadlines and, importantly, a safety net similar to that in Summer 2020.

Moreover, mental health support has been insufficient. It is vital to protect student mental health and well-being at this unprecedented time. The number of students suffering with mental health issues is on the rise at a staggering rate, which is exacerbated by the drastic increase in workload and the uncertainty surrounding online learning. Furthermore, working on assessments over the festive period without the ability to contact staff for advice and being told specifically not to contact tutors over the holidays does not reflect the struggles we have faced. Many of us spend at least eight hours a day staring at a computer screen with limited social interactions. Whilst this is not the fault of the University, the wellbeing advice on offer does little to abet these issues.

In light of this, we wish for the University to:

• Provide a safety net for all assessments
• Extend assessment deadlines, accounting for festivities and the new national lockdown
• Do more to support student mental health and wellbeing

Co-written by Rebecca Bailey, Sophie Pantalleresco and Owain Winstanley.