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University of Reading

New student welfare projects funded through strike monies

Tuesday, 22 May 2018

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The University Executive Board has identified two further student welfare projects to fund following last term’s strike action:

  1. Refurbishment of the study space areas in the Palmer and Edith Morley Buildings - These spaces are already popular space with many students who use the areas for private and group study. Given how critical a good student environment is to learning and wellbeing, we will improve these facilities by providing new furniture, including study pods, tables and chairs. 

     

  2. Contribution to the RUSU accessible minibus - To allow students with disabilities to engage more easily in RUSU activities, clubs and societies, we will help RUSU to purchase a fully accessible adapted minibus.

The above decisions were taken based on suggestions made by RUSU and they follow an agreement by RUSU and the University to put the withheld salaries into a new dedicated fund for the welfare of students and staff. This also follows the University Executive Board’s earlier decision that there will be free gown hire for all graduands in 2018. This recognises that students expecting to graduate this year will not benefit directly from other investments that the University is making from the strike-related fund to improve the welfare of students.

These projects are in addition to money already used or committed to mitigating the impact of the strike action, including funds for additional support for RUSU’s Advice Team which is independently supporting students affected by strike action. We expect the final costs of these mitigation measures to be confirmed in the coming months and, if further funds remain, this funding will go towards further student and staff welfare projects.

Ideas/suggestions on staff welfare

As previously announced, the Staff Forum has been granted funding of up to £15,000 per project to support projects to improve staff welfare across the University. Thank you to everyone who submitted their ideas and suggestions before the deadline of Friday 18 May.

The University Executive Board expects to make decisions regarding the final use of the funding by early June.