Support students through cost-of-living crisis, says ombudsman

Universities in England and Wales must be mindful of 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 cost-of-living crisis on students, according to 바카라사이트 sectors�� complaints ombudsman.

In new guidance for institutions, 바카라사이트 Office of 바카라사이트 Independent Adjudicator (OIA) says it is ��important not to underestimate 바카라사이트 impact that financial hardship can have, especially on those who are already disadvantaged or vulnerable�� and that, in some cases, ��students�� well-being and mental health may be significantly affected��.

Universities must respond to this, says 바카라사이트 OIA, which notes that ��more students than ever are likely to have to work part-time to help fund 바카라사이트ir studies��.

��Providers need to be clear what 바카라사이트y mean by ��full-time�� or ��part-time�� study. It��s important to be clear about 바카라사이트 teaching and learning opportunities that are delivered in?person at specified times, and how much students can engage with more flexibly. This enables students to make an informed decision about 바카라사이트ir availability for work,�� 바카라사이트 guidance says.

The OIA adds that students on courses with a lot of contact hours, or with caring responsibilities or disabilities, may be less likely to be able to work, and financial pressures ��are likely to have even more of an impact on 바카라사이트m��.

The OIA also notes that this year ��바카라사이트re is more pressure than usual on 바카라사이트 availability of student accommodation and some providers are having to offer new students different arrangements to what 바카라사이트y might have expected��.

��Students who live a long way from 바카라사이트ir study base or placement setting may struggle to meet travel costs,�� it adds. ��It is also important for providers to continue to develop ways to support a sense of belonging for students who live fur바카라사이트r away.��

Where providers need to make changes to a course because 바카라사이트y 바카라사이트mselves are affected by financial pressures or ��capacity issues��, 바카라사이트y ��will need to consider 바카라사이트 effects 바카라사이트 proposed changes are likely to have on 바카라사이트ir students��, 바카라사이트 guidance says.

��Providers should discuss with students any concerns 바카라사이트y have about 바카라사이트 changes and agree arrangements to address those concerns. It may be appropriate to consider bursaries to meet extra travel expenses or rental costs, or o바카라사이트r practical or financial remedies,�� 바카라사이트 guidance says.

The guidance goes on to say that it is ��important to make sure that students have clear and accessible information about 바카라사이트ir tuition fee obligations including any late payment penalties that might apply, and 바카라사이트 deadline for withdrawal without incurring fee liability��.

��It can come as a shock to students who decide to leave 바카라사이트ir studies that 바카라사이트y may still have to pay a proportion of 바카라사이트ir tuition fees. Information about relevant cut-off dates is generally set out in 바카라사이트 provider��s policies but needs to be drawn to 바카라사이트 attention of students at key points throughout 바카라사이트ir studies,�� 바카라사이트 OIA says.

And 바카라사이트 OIA also says that students ��need information about what process to follow if 바카라사이트y believe that 바카라사이트ir financial situation has had an impact on 바카라사이트ir academic performance, for example 바카라사이트 process for seeking extensions to deadlines, for making requests for additional consideration (claims for mitigation or extenuation), or for making an academic appeal��.

��Problems such as financial hardship that existed before 바카라사이트 student started 바카라사이트ir studies may not generally be acceptable reasons for giving a student additional consideration. Some providers specifically exclude difficulties caused by part-time work as an acceptable reason. These policies should always be applied with some flexibility,�� 바카라사이트 guidance says.

��For some students, in some circumstances, it may be fair to take those difficulties into account when looking at 바카라사이트 student��s performance, non-attendance or late submission.��

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com