Hi everyone,

This is an update on the progress that’s been made since I last emailed you, which you can find here

In my letter to you, I set out a practical 8-point plan for protecting our Cornwall Campus and supporting the student experience, in light of the announcement of academic redundancies.

Here’s an outline of the eight measures I proposed to senior University leaders to support you and our campus community:

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 last writing to you, I’ve been working constructively with University leaders to put some of these measures in place for you, ready for the start of term.

I’m pleased to share that, in the last two weeks, I’ve secured funding for both the Welcome Period and academic societies, in direct response to points 4 and 5 of the plan. 

£4,000 has now been made available by the University of Exeter in a Welcome Community Fund, a pot of money from which all societies, sports and clubs can apply for up to £250 to run additional activities throughout our Welcome Period. This is to help build community and belonging on our campus through this tumultuous period. Applications for this funding will shortly be open, with committee members receiving an email and application form from me soon. 

A further £1,000 has been secured from the University for academic societies throughout the year ahead. This has been done to help build academic community, in recognition of the need to maintain essential parts of your academic experience. 

Work will be on-going on the remaining parts of the plan to protect both our campus and your student experience as much as possible. I’ll make sure to keep you updated as this progresses. 

I hope you enjoy the remaining weeks of summer and I look forward to meeting you all over the year ahead.