University of Sheffield introduces ‘safety net’ policy for students taking assessments during coronavirus pandemic

The University’s Vice-President for Education, Professor Wyn Morgan, made the announcement in an email to students on Tuesday, March 31, to help “alleviate some of the worries” they had about taking assessments when faced with the unprecedented challenges brought about by the coronavirus outbreak.

It comes after nearly 7,000 students signed a petition calling on the University and Sheffield Students’ Union to introduce the policy.

The University of Sheffield joins other institutions, such as the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Exeter, which have already taken this step so that students’ grades will not be negatively impacted by any exams or assignments taken during the Covid-19 outbreak providing a pass grade is achieved.

A University spokesperson said: “Given the exceptional circumstances in which exams and assessments are taking place, we have taken the decision to implement a safety net policy, which will recognise the value of marks you have already achieved up to March 2020 for assessed work.

“This means that no student who passes the year will receive an average mark or overall degree class lower than their current overall mark or degree class. Any summative assessment completed for the remainder of this academic year can only have a positive impact on your overall mark or degree class.

“Working through the processes required to put this safety net in place across the wide range of our degree programmes is going to be a complex task. There may also be some circumstances where we cannot apply this no detriment approach to programmes which are subject to professional regulations.

“Please bear with us as we work through the specific details.”

In a statement, the Students Union officers, said the petition was an “incredible piece of collective action” for the student community.

They said: “Together we made the university recognise the value of our student voice.

“Our Education Officer has been working with the university to ensure this is implemented in the best way to benefit you going into the future.

“Your Students’ Union will continue to defend your education and support you through this time. This is a real win for our student community and shows the incredible things we can do when we come together and fight for the issues that are important to us.”

Students will not be required to take assessments on campus and all formal invigilated exams will be replaced by online forms of assessment.

The university said it will sharing more specific arrangements shortly, and urged students who have any questions to contact their academic department.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to The Star website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor