Against Arthur Lewis Building

The petition

Prof. David Farrell

Room 2.005 Arthur Lewis Building
Bridgeford Street,
The University of Manchester
Manchester M13 9RN



Dear Professor Farrell,

I wish to express my dismay at the recent set of policy and operative changes introduced this academic year 2007-2008 in relation to undergraduate access to the administrative and teaching staff in the School of Social Sciences.

The course outlines and reading packs have not been produced in time for the beginning of the semester and are now only available at restricted times, which conflicts with teaching times. The lack of open office hours and the associated booking system for tutor and lecturer access has resulted in long queues and confusion in the Arthur Lewis building. Furthermore, the lack of an undergraduate common room in the Arthur Lewis Building has further restricted our ability to interact and exchange ideas.

This is more than just inconvenience; it is merely the most immediately apparent manifestation of a policy that contradicts the pedagogical imperative of the university. In addition to the limited contact hours, tutorial sessions have been substantially reduced and the tutors are not permitted to provide feedback on assessed assignments.

This seems to conflict with Alan Gilbert's stated mission to make Manchester one of the leading universities in the world by 2015. The School of Social Sciences is blessed by a having an outstanding academic staff and the impetus given to producing world-class postgraduate research is admirable. However Humbolt's maxim that the heart of any serious educational program is fostering the ability to “inquire and create� is seriously undermined we are isolated from our teachers.

The University of Manchester is not merely a research institute and constant supply of inspired undergraduates is both academically and financially crucial for any institute of higher education. I pay for my education. I should not be expected to pay for financial mismanagement at the expense of that education.

I call upon you to end the isolation of the academic staff and immediately reinstate open office hours, rectify the reduction of course tutorials and enable the tutors and lecturers to discuss course-work with their students.


Yours Sincerely,


________________________

Sign the petition

Fields marked  *  are required.

* Name:
* Email:
Comments:
	Display my name as anonymous on the signatures list
	Yes, I want iPetitions to contact me on similar campaigns or petitions.

 

The views expressed in this petition are solely those of the petition's sponsor and do not in any way reflect the views of iPetitions. iPetitions is solely a provider of technical services to the petition sponsor and cannot be held liable for any damages or injury or other harm arising from this petition. In the event no adequate sponsor is named, iPetitions will consider the individual account holder with which the petition was created as the lawful sponsor.