Studio Access

• Reps across the College were keen to discuss arrangements for accessing studio and workshop spaces. Students were curious about progress of proposals to alter out-of-term access, and also raised concern about the usage of some existing spaces between cohorts. Arts SU’s CCW Officer reassured students that the Student Union are in the process of conducting research into how best to propose addressing this problem.

Facilities

• Students shared a variety of concerns regarding scarcity of course-related facilities.
• Design School Reps based at Chelsea highlighted the scarcity of photography booths, as well as spray painting booths or other appropriate ventilated places to spray paint models, explaining that students are resorting to using windowsills in the corridor.
• The Design School Dean proposed investigating a sharing scheme for in-course booths and reassured that the college are aware of spray painting booth issues. A permanent solution might take longer due to regulations on the ventilation needed as well as being environmentally friendly etc. but short-term solutions are being considered.

Community Building

• Reps and Deans across the Schools led conversations on how best to build and nurture community across CCW, in terms of both use of space and event planning.

Collaboration:

• Minna Ellis, CSM College Officer, was keen to hear student feedback on collaboration to inform her work on a committee devoted to the topic.
• Reps commented that they felt collaborative units were too disconnected from their practice.
• The timing of the units was also discussed, with reps feeling that the timing in year 2 interfered with their momentum towards year 3. Reps advocated for the unit to take place in year 1.
• Group sizes were discussed, with reps largely feeling that the group sizes (10 – 12 students) had been too large.
• Reps wanted more guidance on how to work together and organise their roles. One noted that it felt like they were dropped into the project and left to their own devices. Overall, reps shared that they wanted to work together with other students, but they wanted more support on how to do so.

Workshops/Technical Resources:

• Multiple reps expressed frustration about workshops being closed due to induction sessions. As in previous SDFs and other student forums, there were calls for longer opening hours, hours on Wednesday afternoons, and weekend hours.
• Reps reported limited access to specific workshops, including: knitwear, publication, film processing, and ceramics.
• Reps called for better communication about the opening hours so that students could use their time more effectively.
• Reps highlighted that when they were in workshops, their experience with technicians had been positive.

Concerns about spaces:

• Reps in Fine Art shared discontent with their studio space, noting its small size and lack of sink as the reasons many students felt uncomfortable or unable to work there.
• Reps shared that they would like to access the Platform Theatre. It was their impression that the space was being used for lectures. They noted that as a performance student, they felt they should have access to the space specifically designed for performance.

Access to Workshops and Inductions

• A theme that emerged across the LCC SDFs, one that we have seen in previous forums, was student concerns around access to workshops and technical induction sessions.
• Course reps variously expressed that they found it challenging to secure a place on the onsite induction sessions at the start of the year, and the continuing struggle to do so was considered to have significant impact on their practice further into Term 1.

Digital Systems and Software

• Course Reps across the College reported problems with some of the digital systems used through various aspects of their study and access to facilities. These included MyBlog, Moodle, and paying for access to the Adobe suite.

Academic Content

• Some granular course-specific academic feedback was shared across the forums on the topic of content, lecture and material setting across a range of disciplines.
• Media School Course Reps from several courses discussed their thoughts on the course content they had covered so far. Some Course Reps shared that students were not attending lectures because they felt the material was not relevant or inspiring. The Reps variously advocated for some things they felt could address this, including:
  • More assignments that deep dive into a topic or more follow-up material.
  • Media students would like to be challenged by talking about current, real-world examples.
  • More opportunities to struggle with material.
  • More specifics and constraints on assignments, to help generate ideas and creativity.
• The Dean was keen to hear the students’ concerns be expressed and heard properly and suggested that a follow-up meeting be organised to discuss this topic together and hear more, of which students were very appreciative.

Eastbank Building

• In each SDF, reps covered a variety of feedback on the Eastbank building, including issues with: temperature control, lifts, and wifi.
• Reps also brought up concerns around classes being held in communal areas within the building, and aside from library, lack of available quiet spaces to do their work with peers.
• Reps did bring positive feedback about the new building as well and were excited for the sense of community that all being in one building could bring.

Decolonising the Curriculum and Attainment Gap

• Katwamba Mutale, the LCF College Officer, raised awareness of his campaign priorities on decolonising the curriculum and the attainment gap.
• Reps shared their overall awareness of these topics, and provided examples of instances where they were addressed in their courses.