Students’ Union Statement – 5th November 2009 RE: Changes at London College of Communication Over this summer London College of Communication began to implement its new strategic plan, which included the closing of selected courses, staff redundancies and adapting course structures. We are broadly supportive of what this new direction will mean in the long run for the student experience at LCC as it seeks to address some of the fundamental problems within the College. But at this point in time, implementation and the lack of communication has caused significant anger and frustration amongst some students studying at LCC. The Students’ Union has a responsibility to support its members on issues that affect them as students at UAL. We will enable students by developing skills and supporting opportunities to shape and improve the College and the University. We will continue to be supportive of the University where appropriate and critical when it is clear that the needs of students are not being put first. For a number of years LCC has had significant structural issues, and arguably not taken opportunities to adapt to the modern challenges. Crucially, it has not seen the changes needed to make LCC an environment where true student engagement is embedded and respected across the College. This is our opportunity to make LCC the sort of College we all want but to achieve this everyone needs too properly engage, through appropriate and sometimes established routes to ensure we can all achieve our shared aim, improving the student experience at LCC. Consultation Just after the process began, the Students’ Union was involved in an advisory role regarding the communication and consultation, or rather the lack of it. We were initially assured that all students would be informed of the changes prior to their arrival back to college. It quickly transpired, this did not happen and it was evident that communication and information was simply not good enough. The scale of the changes being made were to effect students throughout the College, which simply wasn’t considered by the college over the summer. From school office changes, to course director redundancies, every issue, no matter how big or small, it is affecting every student studying at LCC. We believe that all students should have been informed of these changes and that students should have been actively involved in the shape and direction of the new LCC. This has been an opportunity missed, but action can and must be taken to give students back some ownership of LCC. Online communication to date has not been good enough. It is still not clear which courses are affected, which makes it feel like the College is trying to hide its plans, not helped by the dates and times of events being bedded deep into the website. It needs to be upfront, honest, and clear. It should be on the portal, there should be a blackboard section for every student to view, and the Students’ Union needs to be actively involved in the collection and dissemination of information.
Even the positive stories about improving LCC which we are assured exist are not being told to students, and this needs to change, it is again, an opportunity missed. Staff Redundancies & relationship with UCU We have been and will continue to be in regular communication with Staff Trade Union representatives. They are actively discussing issues with Senior Management within the University. We hope that all parties involved deliver on the commitments that have been negotiated and agreed in previous years concerning staff redundancies and employment issues. As the Students’ Union, it is not our role to comment on any actual process in place, particularly as that has been agreed between the staff unions& the University. We do however; insist that those agreements are adhered to. It is important that the University, UCU and other staff unions have a productive, effective working relationship. Broader Issues Since the initial development of the new plans for LCC, discontent and frustration has grown throughout the College. This is not surprising as it forms part of a wider and long running discussion that the experience of students at LCC is below satisfactory. We all need to urgently think about the kind of College we want to see in the future – adequate space to deliver our courses, well motivated staff, enough seats at lunch, and an environment where students feel supported, respected and listened to. This is the College we want to create. Change is needed at LCC. Proposals to go forward Wider and more obvious publication of the opportunities to discuss issues. Improved publication of consultation/discussion events, such as Transition Forum Adapted publication of the LCC broadsheet that was put together over the summer Increased, upfront, communication on arts.ac.uk specifically about the proposals Online log (perhaps through blackboard) that tracks the issues that students have raised, with relevant responses Sustained opportunities for students to feel ownership of their course Concerted effort by all staff at LCC to respect and engage the student voice in everything that shapes courses and learning environment Students want an education that is fulfilling, inspirational and value for money; terms that too few students would use to describe LCC today. Students need to be given the opportunity to directly see improvement across the University and the University should ensure projects which will deliver outcomes in three to five years need to have an impact today. We are all committed to improving LCC; that is why change within the College is so important, but it needs to be done so that students are meaningfully involved.
Helen Gimber, Students’ Union President & James Burden, Activities & Volunteering Officer