Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, students, amongst others have been hit especially hard. During the initial lockdown at the start of the year, students graduating in 2020 were given a ‘No Detriment’ policy, meaning that they could not score lower in their final year than their pre-Covid second year.
The 2020/21 academic year has been progressing using the “Blended Learning” approach which involves a mix of on-campus and online delivery mechanisms for teaching. This approach is clearly different to what students are used to, and there are concerns from a number of students that there are too many negatively impacting variables, such as work and family commitments, self-isolation periods and simply students not having adequate resources to study effectively at their accommodation (term or home time).
Many students have raised issues with the online delivery of lectures, ranging from poor sound quality, subtitles not forming coherent sentences and dysfunctional delivery of content causing stress and confusion amongst students, at a time when managing our mental health has been extremely difficult.
We believe that the 2019/20 No Detriment policy should be extended for 2020/21, or recreated in a similar form for students who are graduating in 2021, ensuring that no student can perform worse than they did in their pre-Covid graded assessments.
The beauty of a No Detriment policy is that students who are finding studying under the current Covid-19 guidelines difficult, whether that is through increased anxiety or mental health issues to struggling to complete work efficiently in the space of their own homes, will be protected. Students who are coping with the current guidelines won’t need to rely on the No Detriment policy. Everyone is protected in this scenario with no party being more disadvantaged than the other.
Further, we propose that students should be included in any and all discussions regarding this policy and, once it has been confirmed, a clear and concise summary of the policy needs to be announced.
Comments
SAMUEL TATE wrote, 16-12-2020 - 16:41
Brilliant James, great to see this here
GABRIELLA HOLT wrote, 16-12-2020 - 17:06
YES well written, thanks for taking the time.
SAMUEL TATE wrote, 16-12-2020 - 18:46
Having done so well with my studies in my 1st and 2nd year, with regular teaching - this year i have struggled so much. So many of my friends who were getting A's in 2nd year are failing assignments this year. It is so much harder with lockdown than we thought it would be.
KIAN STEVENS wrote, 16-12-2020 - 21:32
I'm sorry, but there's no way on this earth that the teaching quality is the same as it would be if we were still on campus. If it was, I wouldn't be doing my coronavirus medicine research only once a fortnight—this is a huge blow to a project of this type. If it was, I wouldn't be stuck at home all day every day reading through textbooks and making notes, with virtually no contact with lecturers, something I've never done at university until now. It's as though the university has taken the easy way out and hasn't looked at this from the perspective of all the students who are paying £9250 for the year, for what? It's rotten to the core and this needs revoking, because many students will be affected by this.
DOMINIC GILL wrote, 17-12-2020 - 07:32
We really need this, if anything this year has been much more difficult than the last!
ABIGAIL WALKER wrote, 17-12-2020 - 18:23
I completely agree with the above comments. The teachers have tried very hard with what they have but it absolutely is not the same. I can discuss more further if needed.
ALICE LATHAM wrote, 17-12-2020 - 18:31
If you spread this far and wide, put it in all your channels on any pages related to your course, put it on society pages, share it on twitter, facebook, insta ANY platform available it'll get more upvotes. A lot of final year students I know have struggled this year, the pandemic is still relevant now, like it was in March, provisions were made for last year's students so why not this year's?
Melanie Reed wrote, 01-01-2021 - 21:37
100:% agree!
BETHANY MITCHELL wrote, 04-01-2021 - 10:42
I back this 100%. I am currently studying for an MSc at Huddersfield. After graduating in 2020 from NTU (where the no detriment policy was in place), I agree that the policy is even more relevant for this academic year. Thank you so much for taking the time to post this
VICTORIA PICKLES wrote, 05-01-2021 - 12:53
Under the current unclear government guidelines, this just adds to the already enormous stress we students are under. I appreciate that u I have tried their best this year but with a full year of this teaching style, compared to the few months last academic year, I feel we should be provided with the same safety net
NATALIE STUART wrote, 05-01-2021 - 17:28
Definitely required :)
KHALISAH SMITH wrote, 05-01-2021 - 18:00
100% Agreed
IFRAH ZAMAN wrote, 05-01-2021 - 18:02
It's not fair if it isnt in place our grades will be affected greatly
JOSHUA BRENNAN wrote, 06-01-2021 - 14:57
Completely back this, it needs to be implemented
OLIVIA CLARK wrote, 06-01-2021 - 17:11
This needs bringing back. Online teaching just doesn't compare to in person learning and using university facilities was a huge help to my work especially because I'm a music tech student.
LUCY HARPER wrote, 07-01-2021 - 10:24
This was important in December when it was first posted, and has become even more important in light of this latest lockdown. Thanks for putting our case across so well - I sincerely hope the university takes this as seriously as we deserve them to. I've shared the link around, and am yet to hear from any students who don't think we need this support.
BRONTE LEES wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:19
This is soo important for us and it needs to include 2nd years too!
JACOB LIVINGSTONE wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:21
This needs to be introduced for second years too
MUSKAAN AMINI wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:29
This needs to be introduced for second years also as we have also struggled very much and a lot of us need the best grades for placement and for our third year!
REBECCA KIRKMAN wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:31
I'm so glad the SU are backing this. Ideally it should be extended to current 2nd years also as this year counts towards our final grade and we too are struggling with online teaching.
JADE GODSON wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:33
Think it is fair to introduce for second year students aswell as we are all in the same situation
JADE GODSON wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:33
Think it is fair to introduce for second year students aswell as we are all in the same situation
BECKY GRIGGS wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:34
Needs extending to second years!!
SOPHIE MURPHY wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:35
100% agree final year students need this as lecturers are doing their best but teaching standards are not the same as they was before! This should be extended to 2nd year students too as this year counts towards final grades
CHELSEA WEYMOUTH wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:39
100% agree. This should be extended for second years as our grades contribute towards our overall grade and influence our placements. The staff are doing their best for which we are thankful, but a lot of people are struggling
LADISLAV BALOG wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:41
100% agree. The quality of teaching is not the same as last year. 2nd-year students need this too.
ANASTASIA MIRITS wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:43
Include 2nd years too!!
VICTORIA PICKLES wrote, 07-01-2021 - 12:47
Speaking as a 3rd year, I think it is important to also remember the current 2nd years as well! They have had their whole university experience interrupted because of Covid, so this should be reflected in their grading
CALLUM HAND wrote, 07-01-2021 - 13:28
The academic year 2020-2021 has been equally as bad, if not worse than the previous academic year and following the introduction of campus closures, to expect that the same level of teaching and assessments is being given to previous years is absurd. Myself and my fellow classmates are all Music Production students who many require University facilities in order to complete the work. Due to the recent Government guidelines strictly stating to stay at home, these facilities can not be accessed, furthermore resulting in the inability to produce assignments to the same quality as we should. The extra learning fund which you can apply for in times of struggle does not benefit this issue as resources we require are areas such as recording studios etc. Myself and other members of my course also either do not have a Macintosh computer which is required for much of the course, or have an outdated system at home which is unable to run programs, software or are unable to open files provided by lecturers. To even suggest that the education service provided this year so far has been the same as previous years is ludicrous and with the introduction of the new Government measures expected to last to around the end of the final term time in March, a Safety Net ought to be implemented to give peace of mind to the students of Huddersfield to relieve a level of stress this may have endured onto people.
REBECCA BAUM wrote, 07-01-2021 - 13:32
Include 2nd years too pls!
CHARLES HORRIDGE wrote, 07-01-2021 - 15:12
How people can dislike this baffles me. This NEEDS to be implemented.
OLIVER LANG wrote, 07-01-2021 - 15:55
Would be amazing if 2nd years were included as well.
MATTHEW COWSILL wrote, 07-01-2021 - 16:18
This would be fantastic if second year uni students were included too. This year has definitely been more difficult than the last and for this to extend further than graduate students would be a lifesaver!
THOMAS WILKINSON wrote, 07-01-2021 - 16:25
The term of 2020/2021 has been so lonely and I know my mental health has certainly taken a hit because of it. I even live with a housemate but not being able to meet up with my course mates to bounce ideas off of each other has really sucked this year, I really thrived on that throughout second year. I know it could be done through teams but it really isn't the same as in person interaction. Added to this, I can't get support from my lecturers as easily and because my course is technical, that was really useful in the past. And being able to go into university to do practicals made it so that I at least had a pressure to get the work done due to that whole environment. Plus only being able to see my housemate has really sucked as I've completely lost that social side of university that helps keep me sane.
A suggestion I have for the safety net is to make it so that students can't achieve lower than their second year grades and for those that went on assessed placements (such as myself), take those grades into account as well. I'm not sure how you'd make it fair for those in their first and second year to be honest. Maybe for 2nd years, have a system that takes the highest grades they got have more weighting than lower ones?
I'm luckier than other students in that I feel the support and level of content on my course has been pretty good so far, but this hasn't made it any less hard to deal with the work and get things done.
On top of this having to watch asynchronous lectures, go to the main lectures and practicals and doing the work in my own time has been exhausting. Especially when you're already demotivated with everything going on and the state the world is in.
JAMES ELLIFF wrote, 07-01-2021 - 17:28
If this safety net policy is put in place, I’m hoping students across all years are protected in the same way that they were last year regardless of being on placement or not.
This academic year has been all over the place with two lockdowns, a failed tier system and students having to undertake self isolation periods (sometimes multiple). The quality of content delivery is not the same and we need something that protects us all
LEANNE MONTEITH wrote, 07-01-2021 - 17:55
I hope this safety net can extend to second years also, anything we do this year counts towards our final grade so we should recieve the same as we would if we were in our final year of the degree. Were all finding it equally as hard and have the same stresses
BROGAN CARTER wrote, 07-01-2021 - 17:58
This safety net really is a NEED not a want. Follow other universities and do the right thing by your students!! Studying in a pandemic is hard enough the mental health issues, lack of resources, lack of help, stress of being in a pandemic, stress of money etc. The list is endless. The safety net sill provide reassurance for students that will help them to finish their degree!
MAGDALENA DZIEKAN wrote, 07-01-2021 - 18:59
Totally agree. After being away on my placement coming back find it difficult enough. As much as teachers putting an effort into it it’s not the same. You can’t compare this the quality from the previous. years. The safety net is needed to ensure we finish our degrees and get the grades we deserve.
ANOUSKA KINDER-HINE wrote, 07-01-2021 - 19:54
The no detriment policy is vital to healthcare students succeeding this year, but all healthcare students not just third years. Second year nursing students are expected to produce the same amount and quality of work on placement, many of us continuing to support ourselves and families, many of us with young children we are expected to home school whilst focusing on our studies. Many of us working 37-48 hours a week for free on placement and having jobs to support ourselves.
Second year students should be given the same lee way as third years we’re working equally as hard and making the same sacrifices they are so treat us accordingly and help us become the nurses you told us you would when we joined your university.
TRINITY-LEIGH GRAY wrote, 07-01-2021 - 20:05
As a second year science student, this year counts towards our final degree grade, and we have been hugely affected with lack of quality deliver, lecturers ignoring our emails, suggestions and problems, and practical's being cancelled. The safety net should also be extended to second years too!
ALICE WRIGHT wrote, 08-01-2021 - 14:23
I agree with the need to implement this policy. Having graduated from my undergrad in 2020 at huddersfield the no detriment policy really helped to settle my mind and gave me the reassurance I needed so I hope other undergrads get that this year. I would also like to push for masters students to be included in this somehow - many of my classmates and I are struggling with the workload of masters, and being key workers, struggling to battle through everything including mental health barriers. some reassurance that the uni understands expecting the same level of work as usual just isn't fair. thank you
LUCY HARPER wrote, 11-01-2021 - 18:59
Following the Vice-chancellor's email this evening saying that it isn't practical to implement the same safety net as last year, it's worth noting that other universities have already come up with alternative solutions to help their students this year. As far as I understand, this includes calculating final grades based on the top 60 credits which means the results are still based on this year's work, but lessens the pressure overall (e.g. for practical modules which are harder this year than usual). I'm not suggesting this is a perfect solution, but surely it's worth the senior management taking a cue from other universities rather than saying 'no' to last year's policy and then wasting time drawing something else up from scratch.
PHILIP MEEHAN wrote, 12-01-2021 - 10:20
I hope this can be extended to second year students if reinstated. I and many others are struggling with the workload after how the pandemic has affected our lives.
MATHEW BALL wrote, 13-01-2021 - 12:15
In the context of final year, i dont think it is fair for the university to implment the policy for last years final year's, when they had two terms of on campus teaching and then not implement it for this year's final years (of which i am one) who have had essentaily no on campus teaching. It is injustice to this years final years, esepically when there is such a intrinsic value difference between face to face and online, the university needs to stop denying this reality. The teachers are doing thier best yes, however the intrinsic value difference wont go away no matter how hard they work, that is the reality.
JACQUELINE PLUMBLEY wrote, 15-01-2021 - 10:16
This needs to apply to 2nd years as well, if not it will affect our end grade when we graduate.
Comments
Brilliant James, great to see this here
YES well written, thanks for taking the time.
Having done so well with my studies in my 1st and 2nd year, with regular teaching - this year i have struggled so much. So many of my friends who were getting A's in 2nd year are failing assignments this year. It is so much harder with lockdown than we thought it would be.
I'm sorry, but there's no way on this earth that the teaching quality is the same as it would be if we were still on campus. If it was, I wouldn't be doing my coronavirus medicine research only once a fortnight—this is a huge blow to a project of this type. If it was, I wouldn't be stuck at home all day every day reading through textbooks and making notes, with virtually no contact with lecturers, something I've never done at university until now. It's as though the university has taken the easy way out and hasn't looked at this from the perspective of all the students who are paying £9250 for the year, for what? It's rotten to the core and this needs revoking, because many students will be affected by this.
We really need this, if anything this year has been much more difficult than the last!
I completely agree with the above comments. The teachers have tried very hard with what they have but it absolutely is not the same. I can discuss more further if needed.
If you spread this far and wide, put it in all your channels on any pages related to your course, put it on society pages, share it on twitter, facebook, insta ANY platform available it'll get more upvotes. A lot of final year students I know have struggled this year, the pandemic is still relevant now, like it was in March, provisions were made for last year's students so why not this year's?
100:% agree!
I back this 100%. I am currently studying for an MSc at Huddersfield. After graduating in 2020 from NTU (where the no detriment policy was in place), I agree that the policy is even more relevant for this academic year. Thank you so much for taking the time to post this
Under the current unclear government guidelines, this just adds to the already enormous stress we students are under. I appreciate that u I have tried their best this year but with a full year of this teaching style, compared to the few months last academic year, I feel we should be provided with the same safety net
Definitely required :)
100% Agreed
It's not fair if it isnt in place our grades will be affected greatly
Completely back this, it needs to be implemented
This needs bringing back. Online teaching just doesn't compare to in person learning and using university facilities was a huge help to my work especially because I'm a music tech student.
This was important in December when it was first posted, and has become even more important in light of this latest lockdown. Thanks for putting our case across so well - I sincerely hope the university takes this as seriously as we deserve them to. I've shared the link around, and am yet to hear from any students who don't think we need this support.
This is soo important for us and it needs to include 2nd years too!
This needs to be introduced for second years too
This needs to be introduced for second years also as we have also struggled very much and a lot of us need the best grades for placement and for our third year!
I'm so glad the SU are backing this. Ideally it should be extended to current 2nd years also as this year counts towards our final grade and we too are struggling with online teaching.
Think it is fair to introduce for second year students aswell as we are all in the same situation
Think it is fair to introduce for second year students aswell as we are all in the same situation
Needs extending to second years!!
100% agree final year students need this as lecturers are doing their best but teaching standards are not the same as they was before! This should be extended to 2nd year students too as this year counts towards final grades
100% agree. This should be extended for second years as our grades contribute towards our overall grade and influence our placements. The staff are doing their best for which we are thankful, but a lot of people are struggling
100% agree. The quality of teaching is not the same as last year. 2nd-year students need this too.
Include 2nd years too!!
Speaking as a 3rd year, I think it is important to also remember the current 2nd years as well! They have had their whole university experience interrupted because of Covid, so this should be reflected in their grading
The academic year 2020-2021 has been equally as bad, if not worse than the previous academic year and following the introduction of campus closures, to expect that the same level of teaching and assessments is being given to previous years is absurd. Myself and my fellow classmates are all Music Production students who many require University facilities in order to complete the work. Due to the recent Government guidelines strictly stating to stay at home, these facilities can not be accessed, furthermore resulting in the inability to produce assignments to the same quality as we should. The extra learning fund which you can apply for in times of struggle does not benefit this issue as resources we require are areas such as recording studios etc. Myself and other members of my course also either do not have a Macintosh computer which is required for much of the course, or have an outdated system at home which is unable to run programs, software or are unable to open files provided by lecturers. To even suggest that the education service provided this year so far has been the same as previous years is ludicrous and with the introduction of the new Government measures expected to last to around the end of the final term time in March, a Safety Net ought to be implemented to give peace of mind to the students of Huddersfield to relieve a level of stress this may have endured onto people.
Include 2nd years too pls!
How people can dislike this baffles me. This NEEDS to be implemented.
Would be amazing if 2nd years were included as well.
This would be fantastic if second year uni students were included too. This year has definitely been more difficult than the last and for this to extend further than graduate students would be a lifesaver!
The term of 2020/2021 has been so lonely and I know my mental health has certainly taken a hit because of it. I even live with a housemate but not being able to meet up with my course mates to bounce ideas off of each other has really sucked this year, I really thrived on that throughout second year. I know it could be done through teams but it really isn't the same as in person interaction. Added to this, I can't get support from my lecturers as easily and because my course is technical, that was really useful in the past. And being able to go into university to do practicals made it so that I at least had a pressure to get the work done due to that whole environment. Plus only being able to see my housemate has really sucked as I've completely lost that social side of university that helps keep me sane. A suggestion I have for the safety net is to make it so that students can't achieve lower than their second year grades and for those that went on assessed placements (such as myself), take those grades into account as well. I'm not sure how you'd make it fair for those in their first and second year to be honest. Maybe for 2nd years, have a system that takes the highest grades they got have more weighting than lower ones? I'm luckier than other students in that I feel the support and level of content on my course has been pretty good so far, but this hasn't made it any less hard to deal with the work and get things done. On top of this having to watch asynchronous lectures, go to the main lectures and practicals and doing the work in my own time has been exhausting. Especially when you're already demotivated with everything going on and the state the world is in.
If this safety net policy is put in place, I’m hoping students across all years are protected in the same way that they were last year regardless of being on placement or not. This academic year has been all over the place with two lockdowns, a failed tier system and students having to undertake self isolation periods (sometimes multiple). The quality of content delivery is not the same and we need something that protects us all
I hope this safety net can extend to second years also, anything we do this year counts towards our final grade so we should recieve the same as we would if we were in our final year of the degree. Were all finding it equally as hard and have the same stresses
This safety net really is a NEED not a want. Follow other universities and do the right thing by your students!! Studying in a pandemic is hard enough the mental health issues, lack of resources, lack of help, stress of being in a pandemic, stress of money etc. The list is endless. The safety net sill provide reassurance for students that will help them to finish their degree!
Totally agree. After being away on my placement coming back find it difficult enough. As much as teachers putting an effort into it it’s not the same. You can’t compare this the quality from the previous. years. The safety net is needed to ensure we finish our degrees and get the grades we deserve.
The no detriment policy is vital to healthcare students succeeding this year, but all healthcare students not just third years. Second year nursing students are expected to produce the same amount and quality of work on placement, many of us continuing to support ourselves and families, many of us with young children we are expected to home school whilst focusing on our studies. Many of us working 37-48 hours a week for free on placement and having jobs to support ourselves. Second year students should be given the same lee way as third years we’re working equally as hard and making the same sacrifices they are so treat us accordingly and help us become the nurses you told us you would when we joined your university.
As a second year science student, this year counts towards our final degree grade, and we have been hugely affected with lack of quality deliver, lecturers ignoring our emails, suggestions and problems, and practical's being cancelled. The safety net should also be extended to second years too!
I agree with the need to implement this policy. Having graduated from my undergrad in 2020 at huddersfield the no detriment policy really helped to settle my mind and gave me the reassurance I needed so I hope other undergrads get that this year. I would also like to push for masters students to be included in this somehow - many of my classmates and I are struggling with the workload of masters, and being key workers, struggling to battle through everything including mental health barriers. some reassurance that the uni understands expecting the same level of work as usual just isn't fair. thank you
Following the Vice-chancellor's email this evening saying that it isn't practical to implement the same safety net as last year, it's worth noting that other universities have already come up with alternative solutions to help their students this year. As far as I understand, this includes calculating final grades based on the top 60 credits which means the results are still based on this year's work, but lessens the pressure overall (e.g. for practical modules which are harder this year than usual). I'm not suggesting this is a perfect solution, but surely it's worth the senior management taking a cue from other universities rather than saying 'no' to last year's policy and then wasting time drawing something else up from scratch.
I hope this can be extended to second year students if reinstated. I and many others are struggling with the workload after how the pandemic has affected our lives.
In the context of final year, i dont think it is fair for the university to implment the policy for last years final year's, when they had two terms of on campus teaching and then not implement it for this year's final years (of which i am one) who have had essentaily no on campus teaching. It is injustice to this years final years, esepically when there is such a intrinsic value difference between face to face and online, the university needs to stop denying this reality. The teachers are doing thier best yes, however the intrinsic value difference wont go away no matter how hard they work, that is the reality.
This needs to apply to 2nd years as well, if not it will affect our end grade when we graduate.