They’ve sem-messed up this one

The University’s plans to adopt a semester-based system have taken a giant leap forward.

By the start of the 2015 academic year, the University aims to have moved from the current three block terms set-up to a year split into two blocks: semesters. These would be focused around 12-week teaching blocks, with assessment either straight after each block, or following breaks for Christmas and Easter.

YUSU say they are discussing proposals for a number of reasons, including how the late finish relative to other universities hampers students’ summer employment prospects.

The unequal length of teaching periods means a difference between student workloads in different terms and different programmes and the difficulty in maintaining student engagement after Easter for the four week teaching period. Weeks 8-10 activities in Summer Term are poorly attended and not provided in all departments.

What happens ultimately depends on the results of the consultation period students currently, and perhaps unknowingly, find themselves in.

YUSU has run focus groups with students, conducted surveys on key issues and carried out an impact analysis to highlight potential issues. All information will soon be drawn together to provide official student response to semesterisation. And supporters of the move say the changes would make it easier for students wishing to visit York from abroad, as semesters are used internationally.

They are also used by some other UK institutions, with a variety of interpretations, including the Scottish universities and a number of members of the Russell Group. They would argue that one of the problems with the current model is that we finish very late compared to other institutions, creating a number of problems, especially for students looking for summer work or internships.

The proposed changes are simple; the extended Christmas vacation allows more time for marking and by reducing Easter to a long weekend, it won’t impact on teaching. A big summer break would ensure students have the time and opportunities to increase their employability.

However, there have been heavy objections to the plans, with no break between teaching and exams a particular concern amongst students. The year would start much earlier and may interfere with conferencing.

Other problems highlighted by current students include how the Easter break could potentially be just a bank-holiday weekend in the middle of the second semester. 12 weeks is a long time to be taught with no break or assessment, and may not suit everyone.

Anmoli Sodha, chair of Derwent College, told of her anger with the university: “I find it frustrating that the issue of semesteration seems to have progressed very far without prior open consultation with students, whose lives it will directly affect. More pressingly, it is shocking that this year’s freshers have not been made aware of the concept, which if it were to pass the Senate soon, could affect their final years.

“They deserved more information about such a drastic change to their university life and teaching experience upon application and certainly upon acceptance of a place at this University, so they could make an informed decision. Personally, I would not have chosen this University if it ran on the current proposed semesterised timetable, and think that it is the students’ right to be included in this major change.”

Kallum Taylor, YUSU President, told Vision: “I’m yet to be convinced about a move to semesterisation, although I’m definitely open-minded. Following the assembly we held, focus groups and the more sporadic views and feedback we’ve had from students, there appears to be a catalogue of concerns/problems with such a huge change.

“I’d encourage more students to keep getting in touch with us about their views – whether or not they as individuals will be here, about whether we should we change systems. We will always have international students, religious students who want certain holidays respected, and masses of students who depend on student finance loans; will we be able to shape loans around 2 terms? The questions and concerns need answering sufficiently before we take this step, otherwise it will be a huge overhaul just for the sake of huge overhaul.”

Academic Officer Graeme Osborne welcomes students’ thoughts and opinions, and advises anyone with concerns or thoughts to email him or to visit in the Student Centre. A full look at the University’s proposals can be found online at: www.yusu.org.