All Student Vote (Autumn 2022)
Warwick SU to oppose removal of self-certifications
This motion asks to oppose any removal of the self-certification policy and lobby those university departments that have revoked them.
This Union Notes:
This section should include any facts, figures or statements that you believe are relevant to the topic of your policy. Remember in this section clear and effective referencing is important.
1. Self-certifications became available during the COVID-19 pandemic to mitigate against illness and disruption to teaching.
2. Self-certifications became an important part of allowing students, especially those with legitimate illnesses, disabilities and mental health concerns, to extend assignments without having to go through the stress of the manual extension process.
3.Academic work can cause stress and issues with wellbeing. Self-certifications helped relieve stress for students by allowing a 'safety net' for deadlines.
4. Recently, Warwick Law School notably revoked the right to self-certifications for students taking Law modules.
This Union Believes:
This section should include opinions or supporting statements for your policy.
1. That department removals of self-certifications disproportionately impact students with mental health issues and disabilities who may need additional considerations with regard to deadlines.
2. That department removals of self-certifications goes against the interests of students, causing additional stress and potentially impacting on grades.
3. That departments should not be able to reverse self-certification policies without consultation from students and prior notice to the removal.
This Union Resolves:
This section should be about how you want the SU to react, the outcome of this policy. Remember to mandate specific departments/sabbatical officers; this will make things easier for future accountability
1. That the Vice President for Education should lobby university departments who have revoked the self-certification policy, including Warwick Law School.
2. That all SU Officers should oppose the removal of self-certifications and recognise the impact that it would have on student wellbeing.
3. That the SU should be committed to the continuation of self-certifications, opposing departmental policies to remove these.