Dear Exeter students,

I’m Toby, the new President Exeter on the Cornwall Campus for 26/27. This first update is to share what’s been going on, and what I’ve been doing, regarding the proposal for academic redundancies by the University of Exeter.

I know we have a remarkably close-knit community on our Campus between students and academics, that these proposed job cuts threaten. As a recently graduated HASS student, I share the deep personal sadness, concern and anger about what these cuts might mean for our academics who we value for both their expertise and their personal support.

Since starting my role in July, I’ve met with and heard from several students who have expressed their anger and anxiety at what the university is proposing. I’ve been constantly relaying this to University leaders and have been reiterating the need for greater clarity and transparency for students in how this proposal had come about and what it would mean for you.

I’ve contacted and met with representatives from the trade union representing academic staff on our campus. I’ve further met with senior university leaders to better understand the financial situation of the university, how this decision had been reached and what support would be put in place for students in Cornwall.

Alongside these meetings, I was determined to put forward to the university a practical plan for how we can protect the Cornwall Campus and maintain fundamental elements of the student experience here.

I recently submitted a detailed report to the University that called for the following eight measures to support you and our student community to be implemented by the university:

1. An alternative plan to compulsory academic redundancies on the Cornwall Campus
2. Maintain the small-group, personal and supportive teaching modelestablishedin Cornwall
3. Ensuring a continued breadth of module and study choice on our Campus
4. Develop a strong academic-student community and connection across the Campus beyond departments
5. Provide material support to protect the student experience during the Welcome period
6. Guarantee the provision of extra-curricular and employability activities outside of core course content based in Cornwall
7. A public commitment to the long-term viability and value of the Cornwall Campus, created in partnership with the Students’ Union and other key stakeholders.
8. Continuing to act on student feedback

Since submitting this report, work has been happening at pace to translate them into practical, deliverable actions and I’ll be doing further updates like this as this plan progresses.

I know I can best serve as President, and represent your views, by engaging constructively with the University’s leadership and working directly with official trade union representatives. By doing so, I can directly shape policies and actions that protect your student experience and our Cornwall Campus, as I promised to do in the election.  

If, however, you want to go further as students in expressing your democratic rights, you should feel free and able to do so. To that end, if you want to take action in support of your lecturers, here’s where you can find your rights to enable you to participate fully

If you have particular concerns or a specific set of personal circumstances, I would also encourage you to make that known to the University through appropriate channels, such as the student questions email. As always, wellbeing support and advice is available to all of you through the SU and the University.

I’ll have more updates as the year goes on and you can get in touch with me through this email: toby.hawkins@thesu.org.uk 

I hope you enjoy the rest of the summer and please reach out to the services I’ve outlined if you need any support.