The announcement we received in Trimester 2 2020 read:

“We know that the last few weeks have been difficult for you, due to the COVID-19 global pandemic and subsequent lockdown, and many of you are concerned about online assessment. We are therefore pleased to announce that we will be implementing a No Detriment Policy that will safeguard the contribution of your academic performance this academic year.

The situation we are in is unprecedented, but our principal objective is to minimise the impact on our students whilst maintaining academic standards and the integrity of the credit and awards you achieve.

We know you have all been affected in different ways and the circumstances you find yourselves in will vary from person to person. Our approach will hopefully give you comfort in knowing that under the No Detriment Policy, the marks you will achieve for your Trimester 2 and (where relevant) Trimester 3 modules will not be impacted adversely as a consequence of the current conditions caused by COVID-19.”

The COVID-19 global pandemic, tier 4 restrictions across the country (aka lockdown) and the unprecedented times still continue. Therefore, it is only fair that we should be permitted to protect our degrees we have worked hard to achieve.

Universities promote that they care for their student’s mental health, if this is true they would provide us with the no detriment policy. Not all students have access to stable internet connections to get the most out of their online learning. International students may be stuck in their countries, unable to return to their university city and make use of the university resources. Home students may not be permitted to return to their university cities, whilst not having access to suitable learning environments, like a desk. All these factors can limit a student’s potential, thus we are proposing the no detriment policy should be reinstated for Trimester 2.