The easy and clear answer to the question “Will I be penalized if I can’t study at the moment?” is “no”.
I’m writing to Goldsmiths Sociology students as the Senior Tutor in the Department.
Everybody’s first priority is clear. People should look after themselves and they should look after anybody they need to look after. That’s everybody’s priority. This might include in the coming weeks helping out the wider community in hospitals or in food banks or in any other way in which our students can make themselves useful.
The second priority is that students should take the opportunity of isolation to study, if they can. We encourage students to read, to write, to learn. And we’re here to supervise, to help, to guide, to provide resources, to teach and to talk.
Some people will be able to make a virtue out of necessity and to study even better than usual. Others will be able to get by and pass their assessments. We are encouraging both of these.
But we will be very flexible with “Extenuating Circumstances” too. Please let me reassure you that you’re going to be fine even if you can’t study at the moment.
If you’re looking after sick people, children, parents – anybody who needs looking after – then you should do that and not worry about your assessments at the moment. Of course this is true too if you’re sick yourself. And this is also true if you are having difficulties with stress, anxiety and mental health.
1. look after yourself and others – you won’t be penalised – but you will have to do the work eventually.
2. We encourage students to study and to get their assessments done now if they can.
David Hirsh
Senior Tutor