Concerns university courses could be closed in Cornwall as admissions are paused
Bosses say it was due to a low number of people applying
Concerns have been raised about the future of some university courses in Cornwall after admissions were paused for some degrees.
Staff at the University of Exeter campus in Penryn along with students and local politicians say they are concerned about the move by the university.
The university is reviewing the English Literature course at the campus and there have been claims that it could be closed entirely.
A source contacted the Local Democracy Reporting Service and said that there were plans to close the course and that this could mean there would no longer be any literature degrees on offer in Cornwall.
They also said that this could have an impact on other courses in the Humanities department at Penryn with some staff working across several areas.
It comes after the university announced that it would not be taking any new maths students in Penryn and other courses are also said to be closed to new admissions.
However the university said in a statement that it had only paused recruitment for 2021/22 due to a low number of people applying to the English undergraduate course at Penryn.
“We are committed to humanities teaching and research in Penryn, but in recent years fewer applicants have chosen to join our English undergraduate programmes. If this were to continue it would make it harder for us to offer the full range of modules students would expect to take as part of their degree. We are concerned this could have a detrimental impact on student experience and learning and will be introducing a pause in the recruitment onto our English undergraduate programmes at Penryn for 2021/22 entry.
“We will be using this time to review the course, working with staff and students to consider different models for English and Literary studies at Penryn, and supporting students affected. All students already studying English undergraduate programmes in Penryn, and those who are joining us for the first time this September as first years, will be continuing their courses on the campus as planned, right through to the end of their degree programmes. There are a small number of applicants who had deferred entry to start the course in 2021/22, and we will be working with them so they are supported to make alternative choices regarding their programme of study.
“We know this situation is difficult for staff and students, and the recent step to pause recruitment onto the course for next year was not taken lightly. We are very proud of the world-leading undergraduate and postgraduate degrees run at our Penryn campus, the high-quality teaching and our role in the local community. Our priority now is to work with our staff and our students to hear their ideas for the future, and we are also liaising with colleagues in the Students Union to help take forward those discussions collaboratively.”
University of Exeter spokesperson
The students union at Penryn welcomed the fact that the decision to pause recruitment would not impact students already on the course.
“The Students’ Union are reassured by the steps that the university are taking to ensure this pause on recruitment for the English course at Penryn will not negatively impact current students and that this has now been communicated to students.
“We are pleased that the university have committed to embedding students in the forthcoming review of the English offering on our campus and that there are no plans to pause recruitment for undergraduate history in Cornwall. The Presidents and Humanities Subject Chairs have been in contact with senior figures within the College of Humanities to ensure we are best placed to represent students and guarantee that current students, and those starting in September, receive the best university experience possible.”
Amelia Banton, president student experience of the Falmouth & Exeter Students’ Union