Present: Daniel Van Cleak, Steph Wearne, Lucy Murley, Barbara Laws, Danielle Noble-Devenney

Present: Daniel van Cleak, Steph Wearne, Lucy Murley, Barbara Laws, Danielle Noble-Devenney, Lewis Crosby, Ekanayaka Abeyratne, Catherine Flitter, Shannon Kowalsi

Apologies:

Minutes

Name Update Matters from the Last This is the first meeting of the new academic year meeting Daniel began introductions, group went around the table to introduce themselves.

Daniel talked about the basics of Academic forum covering what the forum is for Welcome and where it fits into the democracy of the Students Union. Daniel asked if AOB is to be added to agenda

Daniel explained about co-option and which positions are remaining; School of School Rep Psychology, School of Humanities & Performing Arts, School of Nursing & Co-option midwifery, Graduate School of Management and School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences.

Daniel asked if anyone was interested in the position for Psychology. Shannon showed interest. Shannon explained why she wanted the role. Barbara explained she would have gone for the position if there was no one else but feels Shannon is a better candidate. Shannon left for vote, all vote in favour of Shannon as School Rep for Psychology. Barbara made Deputy School Rep.

Daniel asked if anyone is interested in the position for Humanities & Performing Arts. Interest from Danielle, Catherine & written interest from Oliver Moore who was unable to attend. Danielle explained why she wanted the role. Catherine explained why she wanted the role. Daniel read out Oliver’s reasons for wanting the role. All candidates left the room for vote. Danielle received 4 votes, Catherine received 3 votes and Oliver received 0 votes. Danielle was voted School rep Catherine made Deputy School Rep.

Daniel asked if anyone is interested in the position for Nursing & Midwifery. Interest from Lucy. Lucy explained why she wanted the role. she left for the vote, all vote in favour of Lucy as School Rep for Nursing & Midwifery.

Daniel asked if anyone is interested in the position for Graduate School of Management. Interest from Ekanayaka. He explained why he wanted the role. Ekanayaka left for the vote, all vote in favour of Ekanayaka as School Rep for Graduate School of Management.

Daniel asked if anyone is interested in the position for Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences. No interest in this role.

Daniel explained about the role of secretary and asked if anyone was interested Electing a in the role. Barbara volunteered for the role, no objections from group. Vice Chair and forum Daniel explained about the role of Deputy of Academic Forum and asked if Secretary anyone was interested in the role. Catherine volunteered for the role, no objections from the group.

Fit To Sit Daniel explained about Fit to Sit policy, gave the universities definition and how he believes that certain mental health conditions do not fit well into this policy. Daniel opens up the idea of challenging the policy and gave examples of previous regulations. Steph helped explain, talking about academic appeals. Talk around being in the right frame of mind and fit to sit policy not taking this into consideration. Steph explained that Kings College are an example who aren’t happy with their policy too. Daniel uses his personal experience of his dyspraxia as an example of not knowing of a condition before exam so being unable to ask for what he needed. Compared this to student who may not know they have any medical condition/ mental health condition and how their performance will be effected but the Fit to Sit policy states that if you sit and exam/submit a piece of work without making it known that you need extra help then you are saying you are ‘Fit to Sit’. Even if you are unaware that you are not. Discussion around what can be done. Shannon explains it shouldn’t be general and instead done case because each students circumstances are different. It should be assumed students are ‘Fit to Sit’ just because they haven’t said otherwise. Daniel explains that if it was more lenient then the system could be taken advantage of. Group agree it should be brought to the universities attention. Talk around having to pay for doctors notes and how the group feel this is unfair. Group discussion around time limit on when you can claim after the exam. Barbara makes the point that it can take quite some time to get a diagnosis of mental health and therefore would make having a time limit exclude these people again. Shannon talk about case by case again for this, where some diagnosis & symptoms vary according to the condition. Steph finds university policy that states that students have 10 days after to claim they were not in a fit state to sit. Steph also found a new policy of self-certification and explained to the group, this is for people who do not have time for their issue to be verified. Steph signposted students to Academic Regulations page on the Plymouth University website for more information. Daniel Concluded with forum opinion on brining it forward, it was agreed to be followed up. Steph suggested Daniel to set up a meeting with Kate Ellis.

Teaching Daniel introduces the idea and Steph elaborated. Steph explained TEF, QAA, how Excellence it is being scrapped and changed over to the office for students with no student framework panel. Steph talked about the framework and rating system (bronze, silver, gold) and talked about the raising of fees depending on a universities rating. She explained the data sets of which this framework is going to be based on (NSS & DLHE). Group shared opinions on how they felt they were not fair data sets to use. If universities wanted their rating to be reconsidered it would be difficult because the rating is taken from the last 3 years of data.

Steph talked about if universities did not enter into TEF they are not going to be allowed to accept international students. Group shocked with this and discussion opened up about how Plymouth university has a large number of international students.

Steph continued to explain that academics do not like it and realistically Plymouth University are going to be rate bronze. Steph explained the reasoning behind this framework is to give students more informed choices and want to encourage the less engaged.

Discussion opened, group feel that it was a government decision and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. Concern over international students and the governments definition of international students especially since Brexit.

Steph explained about £9000 fees and where they go and how TEF will be able to change the tuition fees with inflation.

Discussion around feedback and how NSS is done at a stressful time of year and can be skewed. Not a true show of how they have felt throughout their time at university.

Discussion on course closures and how this is decided. Less employable courses e.g. History, art – Low paid & not prestigious = not good? Higher paid jobs, with higher employability = Good course?

Steph explained partner colleges process for applying for degree level courses – Discussion over not being able to withstand the workload. Worry over the fact that these colleges would be ranked Bronze so the same as Plymouth University. Not a true representation of institutions quality.

Steph talked about NUS Demo – outlined the topics the march was for. Catherine showed interest in sending students from people & planet society. Steph is going to follow this up.

Group talk about how TEF is being kept quiet and that students should know more about it. SW wants Plymouth University to send out information informing students about the upcoming changes before they roll out.

Group talk about voting & students being less likely to vote so it feels like the government’s attitude is ‘it doesn’t matter what we do to them’ questions around politicising the SU. SW pointed out that the SU promotes voting. CF suggested having a polling station in the university. DvC Explained students need to me more educated about voting and politics. BL explains low awareness of things such as Plymouth University subsiding disability allowance since the government cut it but worry over how sustainable it is.

CF suggested sending out a PDF to school reps about TEF so they have some material to be able to explain it to other students and spread the word. EA suggested a survey on the student opinion of TEF. SK suggested a petition & SW mentioned about writing to the local MP.

Lewis reports everything is running well, feeding back well. Current School Rep Daniel reports Fit to Sit has been brought up and he is working with Sue Kinsey. Updates Students have been coming directly to him rather than to course reps. Daniel has a book swap idea in the works.

Steph suggest another training session once other deputy reps are in post for the remaining reps who have just been elected or couldn’t attend. AOB Lucy asks how to notify students of them being school rep. Facebook, email was suggested as well as Student Voice Publicising

Next Meeting TBC