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Final supporters
The University has recently cancelled 5 level 4 modules in English, including: Old English, American Modernist Poetry, Contemporary Drama and Performance, History of the Book & Shakespearean Stars: the Corpus on Screen, reducing our ability to specialise.
Now, Semester 2 only has 3 options (excluding a dissertation), 2 of which are twin-track film modules, leaving those who want to study English with only one level 4 module to choose from, with no theatre modules running this year, reducing choices not only for the current third years, but also the second and first years when they choose their modules in the future.
As a result, students have been forced to opt for modules they have little interest in, risking overcrowding in tutorial groups with a mixture of students: those who are passionate about their specialism, and those who are indifferent to the course.
To support the reinstatement of recently cancelled modules, and open up student's choice to specialise the topics they want to pursue, please sign our petition and help the English, Film and Creative Writing community to lobby the university.
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19 Comments
yet another example of the shocking lack of foresight on the part of university management. Waste money handing out free ipads left right and center in an effort to 'advertise' the university on the one hand, yet cancel modules on the other. Obviously the powers that be have no concept of intellectual rigour and the values of education.
I'm supporting this cause! I may only be in first year, but as you said, this could affect future students, and I don't want my options to be limited. One of the joys of English is that it presents diverse topics and areas to specialize in, and I think it would be sad to see people denied of that opportunity.
Reducing the number of modules available is restricting the creativity in your students, plus, cutting the theatre-related modules entirely is to damage the potential for emerging playwrights from the university
Every degree module I'm aware of is lectured in classrooms, rather than the halls and each module only has one tutor as it stands, so students are used to having a strong rapport with their tutors. The brilliance of the courses that were on offer, was the student's ability to specialise. It's what has drawn the majority of students to the University, the passion to learn a very particular specialism. Various criticisms as to "shy" pupils and those who just "don't do the reading", have been suggested as a counter-argument to our attempt to get modules running again, but it seems inconceivable that a university would direct and tailor their courses around apathetic students, rather than the vast majority, who come to university to study and earn the best degree that they can.
It's true that these modules have had only a few students signing up to them, but our year was incredibly small due to the institution taking on far less students than the year before (the Scottish gov. was fined for the university taking on too many). With that in mind, from the very beginning of our academic career's with this university, it was likely that many of these specialist modules were going to not have the 'minimum students required'. Students weren't informed until after our module choices event, in the middle of exam season, that our modules were suddenly being cancelled and so many students believe that an exception should be made to re-open modules and give us more choice due to the unprecedented size of our year.
Lack of choice on course
Reinstate modules! Our year is small enough! We are suffering and it's not fair!!
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
The University has recently cancelled 5 level 4 modules in English, including: Old English, American Modernist Poetry, Contemporary Drama and Performance, History of the Book & Shakespearean Stars: the Corpus on Screen, reducing our ability to specialise.
Now, Semester 2 only has 3 options (excluding a dissertation), 2 of which are twin-track film modules, leaving those who want to study English with only one level 4 module to choose from, with no theatre modules running this year, reducing choices not only for the current third years, but also the second and first years when they choose their modules in the future.
As a result, students have been forced to opt for modules they have little interest in, risking overcrowding in tutorial groups with a mixture of students: those who are passionate about their specialism, and those who are indifferent to the course.
To support the reinstatement of recently cancelled modules, and open up student's choice to specialise the topics they want to pursue, please sign our petition and help the English, Film and Creative Writing community to lobby the university.
19 Comments
Thoroughly enjoyed the 'History of the Book' course! One of only a few History modules to offer field trips. Plus, Martine and Jodi are excellent educators with a wide range of knowledge in a subject that is uncommon amongst universities. A true loss!
yet another example of the shocking lack of foresight on the part of university management. Waste money handing out free ipads left right and center in an effort to 'advertise' the university on the one hand, yet cancel modules on the other. Obviously the powers that be have no concept of intellectual rigour and the values of education.
I'm supporting this cause! I may only be in first year, but as you said, this could affect future students, and I don't want my options to be limited. One of the joys of English is that it presents diverse topics and areas to specialize in, and I think it would be sad to see people denied of that opportunity.
Reducing the number of modules available is restricting the creativity in your students, plus, cutting the theatre-related modules entirely is to damage the potential for emerging playwrights from the university
Every degree module I'm aware of is lectured in classrooms, rather than the halls and each module only has one tutor as it stands, so students are used to having a strong rapport with their tutors. The brilliance of the courses that were on offer, was the student's ability to specialise. It's what has drawn the majority of students to the University, the passion to learn a very particular specialism. Various criticisms as to "shy" pupils and those who just "don't do the reading", have been suggested as a counter-argument to our attempt to get modules running again, but it seems inconceivable that a university would direct and tailor their courses around apathetic students, rather than the vast majority, who come to university to study and earn the best degree that they can.
It's true that these modules have had only a few students signing up to them, but our year was incredibly small due to the institution taking on far less students than the year before (the Scottish gov. was fined for the university taking on too many). With that in mind, from the very beginning of our academic career's with this university, it was likely that many of these specialist modules were going to not have the 'minimum students required'. Students weren't informed until after our module choices event, in the middle of exam season, that our modules were suddenly being cancelled and so many students believe that an exception should be made to re-open modules and give us more choice due to the unprecedented size of our year.
Lack of choice on course
Reinstate modules! Our year is small enough! We are suffering and it's not fair!!
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Thoroughly enjoyed the 'History of the Book' course! One of only a few History modules to offer field trips. Plus, Martine and Jodi are excellent educators with a wide range of knowledge in a subject that is uncommon amongst universities. A true loss!