The University is again proposing simple extensions be reduced to two days in the latest fight over the contentious policy that allows students to get an automatic five day extension on most assignments.
The policy change would be implemented from Semester 1 2025, and students who need more than two days will need to go through the more arduous special consideration system, providing documentation proving illness or misadventure.
The change is hidden in a larger proposal to the Academic Standards and Policy Committee (ASPC) by Professor Adam Bridgeman, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Educational Innovation), that includes the extension of feedback tasks and changes to the University generative AI policy.
The University announced back in June that five day extensions would be reviewed, calling the policy a “trial change.” Simple extensions were two days before Semester 2, 2022.
A University spokesperson told Honi that the changes were proposed “to give our educators more time to provide meaningful and actionable feedback to students between assignments.”
“Many of our academics have told us the current length of simple extensions is delaying the provision of feedback, which is problematic for student learning,” the spokesperson said.
Students are outraged at the proposal, telling Honi Soit five days were essential to balance overlapping assessment timetables and other commitments.
One student said that it was common for “three different assignments [to be] due in the same three day period,” and another said that the alternative was difficult, “I am too anxious to apply for disability adjustments.”
Outgoing SRC President Harrison Brennan (Grassroots) told Honi that “it’s outrageous, given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, where students are having to work more than study in order to afford rent, bills and food, that USyd is still hell-bent on reducing simple extensions.”
Students living out of home and in student accommodation told Honi that five days was crucial to balance their increasing work hours. One said flexibility was crucial “to be able to make rent” and another said they would space out assignments “so I can afford student accommodation.”
SRC Education Officer Grace Street (Grassroots) told Honi that the SRC would fight the changes.“We are planning a solid, coordinated effort across our SRC executive and collectives to mobilise all students to express their dissent, and to organise student representatives on the Academic Board.”
The University’s last proposal to reduce simple extensions was voted down when it reached the Academic Board after a massive campaign led by the SRC and SUPRA which collected over 1400 testimonials from students.
Unlike last year, the two day proposal is not being taken to the Board, a change Street argues is evidence the University is trying to force through the changes without student consultation.
“We will not let them quietly pass it through the Academic Standards and Policy Committee without consultation of students or a vote in the Academic Board, and it is absurd that management thinks they can do so,” she said.
The spokesperson maintained that “if the decision is made to proceed with any changes, we will, as always, consult with our students before implementing any change that affects them.”
“If changes are agreed,” the spokesperson continued, “students will still be able to access simple extensions without submitting any evidence and regardless of the length or weighting of the assessment.”
Incoming SRC President Angus Fisher, who campaigned on maintaining five day simple extensions, also committed to fighting the proposal. “It is unfair to take these important tools away and disproportionately affects working students,” he told Honi.
“Further, as a tutor, simple extensions have been at worst a minor inconvenience when marking,’ he said, ‘the argument that it is anything more is false.’
The same proposal to the ASPC also makes changes to the special considerations process, raising the evidence threshold students have to hit and decreasing the time students can apply in certain circumstances.
SRC Disability Officer Khanh Tran argued the changes would disproportionately hurt “students struggling with mental health conditions and disabled students.”
“These attempts by the University to restrict an already strict special considerations and late discontinue not to count as fail set of rules are incredibly disappointing and not communicated to students. The evidentiary threshold is already high and require strong proof of adverse circumstances,” they said
Brennan told Honi the SRC Casework team was already being burdened with students struggling with the late discontinuation process and this would only get worse.
“It appears this university wants to force unnecessary hardship and adversity upon students, rather than keeping and improving the measures that have brought students the most relief during these hellish times,” he said.
Responding to concerns the spokesperson argued the context has changed. “During the pandemic, we needed to accept online and international medical certificates. With all our students now back on campus, online and international medical certificates are no longer required,” they said.
The overwhelming sentiment from students is that simple extensions being there was a comfort when unexpected events came up. One student said they “just let students breathe.” “If the University cares about student well being and mental health,” another said, “act like it.”
The ASPC is meeting on October 8 to vote on the changes.
Note: This article was updated on October 8th to reflect a University response.