Thousands back call for uni exam help
THOUSANDS of people are calling on the University of Glasgow to reintroduce measures to help students impac ted by the Cov id- 19 pandemic.
An online petition which asks for a ‘ no detriment’ policy, used between March and September, to be reinstated has been signed by around 3000 people.
It would mean any passing grade in upcoming assessments can only positively impact a student’s overall grade. Students have faced “significant disruption” to their studies during the pandemic, including remote learning and limited access to campus facilities.
The university has confirmed the “adverse conditions” will be considered and a spokesman said the approach to assessment in 2021 will be revealed soon.
Addressed to Anton Muscatelli, the university’s principal and vice- chancellor, the petition, started by Luisa Barclay, states the situation regarding the pandemic has “changed very little since March”.
“Students have faced significant disruption to their studies over the past nine months and many of us are struggling in these difficult times,” it adds.
“Access to vital academic resources, such as the library, has been limited at best over the past two semesters, and will likely remain limited over the next semester.
“Many students face completing their dissertations and sitting their final exams in locations with limited access to technology and limited academic support.”
The petition also states many students are struggling from problems “ranging from mental health issues to financial stress”.
The “no detriment” policy used last year recognised the disruption caused by Covid- 19. Assessments which were not taken or those “where performance is out of line with previous performance” did not reduce a student’s grade point average. In some cases, assessments were required to be taken again at a later date.
A University of Glasgow spokesman said: “The university has worked hard to deliver a highquality student experience throughout the pandemic, within government safety restrictions; however we do appreciate the many challenges that students have faced during this period.
“We will be taking these adverse conditions into account in our approach to assessment this year, and we will confirm soon how this will be applied.”