Emergency Measures are needed at Goldsmiths

We’re proposing Goldsmiths SMT to consider measures to protect students’ rights and their positive student experience in the wake of potential impacts of industrial action and implementation of the Transformation Programme.

What are we proposing? 

1. Protection for Black British Literature, Black British History and other unique programmes. 

2. A dedicated extra support team, and associated channel, to handle the substantial increased volume of appeals 

3. Implement a separate complaints channel regarding the disruptions caused by the Transformation Process

4. Reinstate the support provided to International students with a view to lobby the Home Office to accept this as exceptional for this academic year. 

5. Provide full transparency with students, current and future. This should include clear information on the website for incoming students to see that there will be changes to their courses, and a list of modules/programmes removed.

6. Urgently take steps to reupload the Student protection plan which has been missing from the website since June 13th awaiting approval from OfS. 

7. Seek clarification on how students with lecturers who took the enhanced redundancy package, will receive their grades in a way that is fair to remaining staff. 

8. Create a framework to ensure that Academic Integrity is upheld in all circumstances.

Why are we proposing these measures?

The College is adopting a risk-based approach to implementing the Transformation Programme, including the following concerns:

• Recruitment of new students and retention of current ones.

• Potential for negative publicity.

• Increased workload on students and reduced engagement in the educational process.

• Maintaining high NSS scores.

• Disproportionate impact on the most disadvantaged students.

• Student experience and decreased quality of education.

• Financial concerns

The mentioned risks can potentially affect all students’ experiences, with a disproportionate impact on the most disadvantaged students. 

Additionally, there are implications for diversity and inclusion, as unique and culturally inclusive programs may be eliminated, and minoritized groups may be disproportionately impacted due to the Transformation Programme.

Whilst until now attention had rightly been devoted to staff at risk of redundancy, Students cannot be an afterthought. We ask that Goldsmiths commit resources to resolve current issues and prepare for the changes expected in the next academic year.

What happens now?

The Sabbatical Officer team have reached out to the Office for Students to notify of potential Breach of Conditions at Goldsmiths and we have received notification these concerns are being reviewed.

Following the resolution of the dispute between GUCU & Goldsmiths University we would call on Senior Management to engage in discussions with the Students Union on how to resolve student issues. 

We will continue to keep students updated on progress.