Students had pre-recorded lectures from dead teacher

UNIVERSITY students have complained of their distress at receiving pre-recorded lectures from an academic who had recently died.

First-year mathematics undergraduates at Bristol University watched a series of lectures by Dr Lynne Walling – without being informed that she had died suddenly some months earlier.

Several weeks into term the students found out. Ministers are concerned that universities are continuing to offer lectures digitally rather than in person, despite official guidance stating that there is no longer any need for this.

Many institutions continue to offer lectures online and have started to promote “blended” or “hybrid” learning.

One Bristol student said the majority of his lectures are still online videos.

“The lectures we are having this term and last term were pre-recorded last academic year,” he said. “This year they are recycling them. It is a joke because the Covid restrictions have stopped.”

During the autumn term, a maths module was taught by Dr Walling.

But undergraduates were not told that Dr Walling, who was director of Bristol University’s institute of pure mathematics, had died suddenly last May after being diagnosed with cancer.

“They didn’t really tell us for a while. Word spread, then they sent an email about halfway through the term,” he explained. “It feels quite disrespectful to be using her content in this way.”

Nick Varney, of the University College Union, which represents academics, said: “This shows why universities need to be incredibly careful about how recorded lectures are used.”

Bristol University said: “Dr Lynne Walling was an outstanding teacher loved by her students. This unique course was created by her.

“She very much wanted these materials to continue to be used and we are pleased to be able to honour her legacy in doing so.”