YUSU to lobby University over altering term dates
YUSU has submitted a paper on students’ behalf to the University calling for the current term dates to be altered.
Although starting later in the year allows the University to make more money renting out campus facilities to conferences and events, there are serious welfare concerns for students.
We are one of the few universities that begin the year in October and carry on into July.
A discussion at the Student Services Committee has raised issues such as difficulties arranging sports team training schedules and flights being more expensive for students because of the closeness to Christmas. Last autumn numerous exchange students fell into financial difficulty because their loans arrived after term began.
Students will be forced to move into their houses for next year during term time due to the late ending of the summer term.
However, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Jane Grenville insists that renting out different parts of campus is beneficial to students because it helps keep costs down.
A meeting has been arranged between the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Students, the Registrar and other senior administrators to discuss the issues surrounding the subject.
Academic and Welfare Officer Charlie Leyland hopes that this will lead to York being synchronised with other universities although Grenville does not expect any immediate action.
The meeting will be aimed at discussing where the balance between student usage of campus and leasing it out for profits to external groups should lie.
Grenville points out that most universities that start in September operate on a two-semester system and think it unlikely that York will adopt a similar policy but states that she is unsure how this issue will be resolved.
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