University’s frontline student services are facing reduction

» THE University of Gloucestershire is proposing to cut frontline student support services.

The university started ‘a programme of rebalancing’ last year which could result in more than 100 redundancies.

And the latest proposals would see the Helpzone pastoral care service dramatically reduced.

The University said it is “protecting services that directly support student mental health and wellbeing’, and will ‘sustain existing Student Helpzone services, albeit with reduced levels of staffing.”

In an email sent to students, which has been seen by the Echo, the Helpzone said they expect losses to the equivalent of 2.75 full-time roles

The Helpzone appealed to students to contact them, director of student services Stewart Dove, course representatives, the Students’ Union and members of staff to outline how they think this will affect them.

A spokesman for the University of Gloucestershire said: “As previously reported, the university has commenced a programme of rebalancing to ensure we remain successful and sustainable into the future.

“We are proposing to make a number of targeted reductions in staffing, including a reduction in staffing for our Helpzones.

“The proposals are currently out for consultation with staff.”

He continued: “We are protecting those services that directly support student mental health and wellbeing, including our counselling service, and will seek to sustain so far as possible the existing Student Helpzone service and opening hours across all sites, albeit with reduced levels of staffing.”

A spokesperson for public services union UNISON said: “Unison is aware of proposals to cut a number of frontline services. We continue to oppose these cuts, and urge management to consider alternatives that protect jobs and preserve the university’s reputation for delivering a high quality service to students.”