Contact your Sabbatical Officer team
Following the Government announcement yesterday which stated that students who were currently not on campus would not be returning before the 17th May, we recognise that there are still number of students who are still unable make use of their term-time accommodation. This is causing additional financial and mental health pressures on students in what has been a continued difficult time for them.
The University offered a 50% discount on its University-managed accommodation for a determined period of time from 8th January to 8th March. As your elected officer team, we recognise that more support needs to be provided for students who are still unable to access their term-time accommodation due to Government guidelines. We have raised your concerns in a number of high-level University meetings with senior staff and as a team we will continue to ensure that your voices are heard.
On Thursday, 1st of April, your VP Education attended the University’s COVID-19 recovery group on behalf of the Students’ Union. In this meeting, a formal request that the University give a rent rebate to all students who were prevented from returning to their University-managed halls should be kept under review. They responded by saying that they would take the paper to the University Executive Group (UEG); however, they are waiting for the government to release more guidance for Universities before making any decisions. Your VP Education questioned why they were waiting for the Government guidance when we were asking for an extension to the rent rebates between March 8th and the end of the Easter Holidays. The University responded, saying that they understood this but were waiting to get a complete picture of what will happen before they make any decisions.
For students staying with private accommodation, Your VP Wellbeing and Diversity has put together some advice on how to rent during a pandemic, which includes tips and template letters for students to use for their landlords.
Your elected officers have also written a joint letter with Plymouth Marjon Students’ Union urging private accommodation providers, to provide some form of financial relief for students renting their properties.
Rest assured, your elected officer team will continue to raise your concerns and ensure your voices are heard.
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