Saying farewell to the Academic Affairs Officer role:
There is a lot I’d love to write about, like my love for the Academic Reps… the close relationships I’ve made with the University… but to keep it short and sweet, I’d like to reflect on the priorities I set out at the very beginning of my role.
From last minute essay writing to ADHD burnout – being a student can be particularly challenging if you are Neurodivergent. But this does not need to be the case! Universities are becoming increasing aware of the Neurodivergent experience, particularly when it comes to learning, teaching and assessment. Thanks to the student voice, accessibility and reasonable adjustments have become common buzzwords in university meetings. Because of this, so many positive changes have been made to the benefit of Neurodivergent students this year:
- A successful Neurodiversity brunch with four student speakers - Xavier Powley, Ezra Bates, Riven Searson and Charlotte Fleetwood. You can check out the recordings on the new Neurodiversity webpage.
- A big thank you to John Harrington; Head of Accessibility, Helen Cooper; SU Wellbeing Officer and Xavier Powley; SU Disability Officer for all your help and support in ensuring the Neurodivergent voice is being heard on campus.
- Come Sept 2025 the University will adopt a ‘Fit to Sit’ policy. This effectively removes any need for medical proof for free resit opportunities – particularly good for those who cannot get a NHS diagnosis (four year waiting list)! The University is currently outlining details of the policy, so look out for information from the University.
Generative AI has also been a hot topic at the University this year. As a third year student, I used Gen AI as an editing tool in my English degree. Explaining ideas in the written form can be a difficult process for someone with ADHD… so Gen AI really helped me out! So I entered my term as Academic Affairs as a strong AI advocate. Here are some of the highlights:
- Joined the Uni’s AI working group. Took a trip down to London for the annual “future of AI in education” conference (BETT). I also spoke on a QAA panel, broadcasted on a national level – that was cool. I’m also able to say that I am “published”(!) by making my way into an online collection about AI literacy.
- Universities across the UK are looking to embed Gen AI in learning, teaching and assessments. I see this as an opportunity for a complete review, to switch it up… to embed reasonable adjustments and for the student voice to be at the heart of all decision making!
Imagine being able to generate an entire movie on Netflix using personalised prompts. Or being able to create a podcast, using your voice, without even having to record. Scary – yet exciting – stuff.
Thank you to everyone at the SU for all your support during my term as Academic Affairs. This has been the single best opportunity I’ve had. How lucky am I to be able to come to work each day and have such a good time because of the wonderful people around me.