Save The Graduate School

There is no other QUIET facility available on campus for postgraduates on taught masters, as we do not have access to the postgrad room in the library. The rest of the library only has the reading room as a quiet zone, and this room is not even alway quiet. Some of us are writing theses and need the quiet study space!

This building is the symbol of postgraduate school. I feel like the whole university is closing

Come on!!! How come?! The Graduate School must be the apple of the eyes of any UNI!!!

We need the facility

The graduate school is essential for students who want to work in a quiet environment.

The Graduate School is an important part of PG studies as it provides a place that allows for silent working as well as giving opportunities for PG students to work together. Many of us live far away from campus and the school is a focal point for us travelling in to university.

As both an employee and a mature PG student at the University, I feel that the closure of the Graduate School would be a mistake and consultation should be undertaken before any decision is made.

The University should think seriously about who is planning its future. Academic space is being taken over by sections and departments that should support the academic environment, ( it seems the other way around in Hull uni !!!!)

Removing this space would be a grave mistake that would negatively affect all MA students. Ultimately it would be the University that would suffer the consequences.

The spaces that are allocated for graduate students in any university is always an indication of the esteem in which a university holds those doing a further degree. As such, the decision to close a building that has been so recently refurbished and which functions as the main 24 hour workspace for PG students, speaks volumes. Indeed, the decision to do so without consultation, and with so little notice speaks even louder. I have been at the University of Hull for nearly 6 years, and I have never been so disappointed. My concern is not just for this closure, but for the changes to the treatment of graduate students as a whole. Yes times a financially difficult, but cutting off your nose to spite your face has never been a good policy. As a source of income graduate students will statistically earn more, and are subsequently more likely contributors as alumni. The government is about to introduce student loans funding for graduate courses, so the potential for earning value also increases. Finally, it is graduate research, and ultimately the progress made by graduate alumni that makes or breaks the name of University. As such the closure and restriction of facilities for those students can only be to the detriment of the university as a whole. I hope the University reconsiders its position, and its treatment of graduate students in general.

A decision like this should not be taken without consulting the affected students.

I respect the university's concerns about cost control and sustainable development. But closing GS without efficient consultation with students is outrageous! Although the commercialisation is an unavoidable step for the university to go through, the essence of university is still an educational institution rather than a bureaucratic company!

we like the working place in GS. Although there are some other places as well, it's our favourite. Is it necessary to close it?!

it seems that this petition email have only sent to law school students？

I'm a former PhD student at the university, and feel that the provision of adequate silent study spaces is vital. It is not about access to computers, or group study areas. It is about space in which to think, write and perform research alone. Those are the elements that should be at the heart of any university education, and it seems like the University of Hull is marginalising them by reducing study space.

People were definitely weirdly territorial in the PhD room, but it is also the quietest place for study. This is especially required by students in underfunded departments, as we are not assigned our own offices. With only one quiet designated alternative for grad students in the library, there will not be enough spaces for all PhD students to work comfortably.

Closing the grad school is a great loss as there are no way near enough actually silent study spaces on campus as it is. We need more, not less. The list of alternative work spaces mentioned in the email sent to us is inaccurate. As a screen studies PhD rep. I can for example assure you there are not 14 working computers in Larkin 119 (more like two hardly working ones). Moreover, many of these spaces are far from silent. The university seems to cut back on actual silent spaces more and more lately - the library is full of social study and conversation areas, and only has one small post-graduate area (also with conversation area by the way). It has previously also (without consulting students) removed the individual study rooms in the library. To be taken seriously as a university that offers post-grad courses, it needs good work spaces for post-grad students. Any good university I have visited so far has at the very least a library that provides silent study throughout and individual study rooms. Most even provide office space within the department. If the university wants to be taken seriously and attract more research, it needs more of these kind of work spaces, not more admin.

Whilst studying for my Masters degree I found the postgraduate centre to be essential for quiet study. It's a terrible shame that the university is looking to remove an essential study area to accommodate yet more admin.

There is insufficient space in the library for silent study. Masters students also cannot access the areas set aside for PhD students, which are insufficient. The GS is a valuable resource and valuable for the student experience. I am very concerned by plans to close the space

For almost 2 years now I have been working in the GS. it's really sad to hear that.