Tier 3 will remain in place for 3 weeks until 28 October, though there will be a revision on 23 October.
For the 2020/21 academic year, the University has established a system categorised by tiers 1-4 that describe learning restrictions. On 7 October, Vice-Chancellor Chris Day sent an email to students announcing that measures were being escalated to Tier 3.
This tier means that teaching will have an online focus instead of the Tier 2 strategy of blended learning. However, clinical and medical courses and the like will continue with presential classes.
We understand that the decision to move tiers may confuse students, but we want this transition to be communicated as clearly as possible.
A list of courses exempt from the new restrictions will be published by 11 October on this FAQs page, Sabbatical Officers have confirmed. Their statement also emphasised that “students can contact their academic school to ask how Tier 3 impacts their course if they are unsure.”
The Sabbatical team continued: “We understand that the decision to move tiers may confuse students, but we want this transition to be communicated as clearly as possible.”
In the statement, the Officers expanded on 8 issues they will be ‘fighting for’:
The statement closes by addressing tuition fees. The Sabbatical team point out that, even though they are trying to come up with solutions, the issue ultimately falls under governmental authority.
The Sabbatical team asked the University to make IT resources accessible to all students by lobbing for more IT funding.
However, Education Officer, Sian Dickie has contacted Chi Onwurah MP in the hopes of bringing “a wider discussion on this at the highest University levels.” Furthermore, the team reassures that they have put in a request for information on the University's spending of fees during the Coronavirus pandemic.
The statement can be read in full here.
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