Exeter University planned to entice students back to halls by hosting enough events to 'justify' their return

A university planned to entice students back to halls by hosting enough events to “justify” their return, documents reveal.

Exeter University said they wanted to organise enough activities to give grounds for students to live on campus, according to a memo sent to staff.

Linda Peka, Exeter University’s chief college operations officer and deputy registrar, wrote to staff in August about arrangements for the new academic year.

The email set out a number of timetable principles, including: “We will aim to provide a sufficient number of synchronous ('live') activities to help structure students' learning, and sufficient on-campus activities to justify student residence on or near campus".

Other principles included the need for "one metre plus" physical distancing and the potential need to run the same class multiple times to small groups of students if there are too many to fit in a room at one.

“All the universities have a lot to lose if students don’t turn up,” an Exeter University source said.

“They have been building a lot of accommodation blocks in recent years, it is a big part of the revenue stream.

“But I don’t think we should be doing things just to ‘justify’ students being on campus. We should make decisions based on their education and their safety.”

Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and Colleges Union, said it was “irresponsible” of universities to “sell a lie” to students about coming back to campus.

Over 26,000 students have tested positive for Covid since the start of term, according to an analysis by the union, with thousands more forced to self- isolate in halls as lectures move online.

Exeter University said it is “completely wrong” to suggest that they have put revenue above student welfare.

“We have invested millions of pounds in transforming education programmes and put in place sector leading welfare and wellbeing services so that students can access outstanding teaching alongside the support they need,” a spokesman said.

“Students consistently tell us they want to be at university with as much on campus learning as possible and that is what we are doing.”

Georgina Halford-Hall, chief executive of WhistleblowersUK, said that her organisation has been contacted by “large numbers” of university staff from across the country.

“Many of them are raising concerns about what they believe to be unanswered questions or unsafe conditions but they are afraid of retaliation,” she said.

“It’s important that within the academic environment people feel not only empowered to speak out but that it is safe to speak out and that they will be listened to.”

Dozens of academics have backed a petition calling for a “minimum university premium” as they say students are being treated like convicts and kept in “inhumane” conditions in halls while they self-isolate

Over 60 lecturers and professors along with thousands of parents, have signed a petition calling on universities to give students partial fee refund if they cannot guarantee the restoration of in-person teaching, extra-curricular and social activities as well as better pastoral care for isolating students.

Molly Kingsley, co-founder of the parent campaign group Us For Them which organised the petition, said many more academics offered their support in private but were too worried to publicly back the petition for fear of repercussions from their employers.

Universities UK, which represents vice-Chancellors, said they understand this is a difficult time for students, adding that they will follow the latest official public health guidance.

“Universities are doing their utmost to protect students, staff and local communities, while striving to deliver an engaging learning experience to ensure that students can continue with their education,” they said.

“Face-to-face teaching and social activities will continue to be offered where it’s possible to do so in a safe and physically-distanced way.”

A spokesman said staff are making “huge efforts” to take care of self-isolating students’ physical and emotional wellbeing as well as food deliveries, laundry and financial support.