Friday 15-11-2024 - 19:55

Here's the progress that has been made (in some cases not much) around issues that have been raised affecting mature students and students who are parents or carers:

Committee – we are taking views on committee positions we should have. Tell us here: https://forms.office.com/e/9da1dbeUXe 

 

Meet-ups – some being arranged and we’re starting to plan a xmas meal or later event.

 

Lockers for people experiencing barriers to attending campus – some funds secured, agreement from facilities team to donate lockers if they get them into their store, in discussion about locker locations in central uni locations.

 

Short notice timetables – raised with SU officers and network, not optimistic but needs to continue to be raised, including through case examples about the impact of short notice timetables on students. Some case examples raised so far:

• "I moved to the area in August with no contacts or family nearby and as a single parent household I really struggled in finding childcare and coordinating with a vet student’s timetable. Am there now just about [said at the end of October] but my studies severely took a back seat but hopefully I can put foot on gas now!"
• "It was very stressful not knowing what my timetable was going to be like, and trying to manage mine and other employees' rotas in anticipation of it"
• "I’m year 2 medicine with a 3 year old plus a finance job in the evening and late timetables have caused a fair bit of angst and last minute organisation madness on all fronts"

Some/more quiet study spaces that allow food/drinks – raised with SU, The Hawthorns is potentially a place where this is more possible and could be highlighted, or acceptance of lower risk food in existing study spaces to be discussed.

 

Better information about spaces where students can access hot water and microwaves across campus, e.g. if they bring in teabags/lunch. Raised by SU with facilities and IT, who seem receptive to improving this info on the uni website.

 

Better access to showers – not much progress yet but raised with SU.

 

Mature student focused spaces - a gap for mature students (UG and PGT) in feeling there’s an informal space for them to hang out with other mature students – e.g. SU rooms where there could be some signs that the space is particularly available for / welcoming of / focal point for mature students. Raised with SU who were receptive.

 

Student carer support - initial discussions about some issues being faced by one or more student carers.

 

Student parent support - researcher from Exeter Uni trying to set up a research project about support for student parents, interested collaborators can be put in touch with them.