[Postgrad] SUPA ‘No detriment’ policy

[Audrey McKinnon]

Hi Everyone,

I very much hope you are all doing well in this very difficult time.

A few of you approached me, as one of your PGR and SUPA reps, with concerns about how the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic was affecting their SUPA course assessments, some of which people were finding difficult to complete with circumstances such as simultaneous childcare, or a lack of a desk/working space at home. I have been in contact with SUPA and following some discussions between Alan Miller (SUPA CEO) and the SUPA Executive Committee, SUPA has adopted a ‘No detriment’ policy, mirroring Strathclyde’s policy and that of the other SUPA members. SUPA has now made the following statement on My.SUPA:

15 APRIL 2020 UPDATE: Course Requirements

If you think you may struggle to meet the 60 hours of training required in the first two years as required by SUPA because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we will of course be flexible on this. Please engage with your supervisor(s) to discuss the best way forward for completing these required hours and any additional hours you may wish to complete (SUPA is fully supportive of students continuing CPD beyond the required hours) throughout the rest of your doctorate.
If you require a course to be passed for more time sensitive reasons (e.g. progression, PG Cert, Chartership etc), we understand that this may be more concerning but please be aware that SUPA itself does not set course assessment requirements, rather each course is provided by a SUPA university and follows the rules of that university. All SUPA universities have introduced, or are in the process of introducing, ‘No detriment’ policies. Each of our courses will therefore follow the no detriment policies set out by the university which hosts the course, and you should expect to hear from your lecturers about any changes to the assessment.
I hope this settles the minds of those who contacted me. If anyone is having other troubles or concerns specifically related to the Department of Physics please don’t hesitate to get in contact with me, or one of the other PGR reps for the department:


Alana Horne (Plasmas) : alana.horne at strath.ac.uk<mailto:alana.horne at strath.ac.uk>

Lewis Hill (Optics) : lewis.hill at strath.ac.uk<mailto:lewis.hill at strath.ac.uk>

Matat Jablon (Nanoscience) : matat.jablon at strath.ac.uk<mailto:matat.jablon at strath.ac.uk>

Sean Bommer (IoP) : sean.bommer.2014 at uni.strath.ac.uk<mailto:sean.bommer.2014 at uni.strath.ac.uk>

Or, if your issue is one of a more university-wide nature then please post on the recently set up Messaging Board for doctoral researchers:  http://pub49.bravenet.com/forum/4154070148/<https://eur02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fpub49.bravenet.com%2Fforum%2F4154070148%2F&data=02%7C01%7Caudrey.mckinnon%40strath.ac.uk%7C38ce55ca7e6144668f5608d7e1b1b1d9%7C631e0763153347eba5cd0457bee5944e%7C0%7C0%7C637226025620782877&sdata=bG2RsyffsSCNwdvQKKgQxkOUmFFoT%2BvRNt9M8LP99%2BA%3D&reserved=0>

The Doctoral Researchers Group is working closely with the senior management of the university, specifically Prof. Eleanor Shaw – Director of the Doctoral School, Professor of Entrepreneurship and Associate Principal, and we attend the meetings of the Strathclyde Doctoral School Management Board (SDSMB), the Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee (RKEC) and the Research Development Sub-Committe (RDSC), along with having a membership to the university’s newly set up Operations and Business Continuity Team (OBCT). This makes the DRG well placed to voice your concerns and make sure you are heard.

A list of regularly updated frequently asked questions, and answers given by the university, can be found at: https://www.strath.ac.uk/coronavirus/students/

I would also like to draw your attention to a new area on MyPlace that the Doctoral School and DRG have been working to set up: https://classes.myplace.strath.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=24920

Best wishes,

Lewis Hill
PGR and SUPA rep, and Chair of the Doctoral Researchers’ Group
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