Challenge to proposed humanities cuts at the University of Gloucestershire

Proposals to cut the number of humanities courses at the University of Gloucestershire have been challenged by staff and students.

   The university said that the courses have struggled to recruit enough students for “several years”.

   However, there are fears that the financial cutbacks could lead to the humanities department on its Cheltenham-base being permanently closed.

   Dr Angela France, course leader in creative writing, said that staff were “all working to capacity and above”, and these cuts would result in larger class sizes.

   She said: “In a way it’s a war of attrition because if you cut staff when the department is working to capacity then you’ve either got to cut modules or increase group sizes for discussions and work shops so that will affect the student experience.

   “It will then affect recruitment and as our reputation drops because of the changes we have to make, so it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

   Sam McIntyre, a student of Religion, Philosophy and Ethics last year, posted a petition online to protect humanities at the university. She is also one of the students who has written to the university’s vice-chancellor Stephen Marston.

   She said: “With discussions taking place about possible cuts and redundancies being made within the humanities department at Glos, it’s important our voices are heard in support of the people who make our university experiences what they are.

Courses in humanities have faced particular challenges in student recruitment for several years

– University of Gloucestershire spokesperson

   “We believe that financial cuts to our department will have detrimental effects not only on Francis Close Hall, but a whole generation of academics and students alike.

   “Our futures are rooted in the areas covered within humanities subjects are, now more than ever, vital to be invested in. Many humanities students develop essential analytical, forward-thinking attitudes and skill sets that are the key to future change in so many areas of our society.

   “None of that is possible without the resources and outstanding lecturers among our department, who consistently go above and beyond for each of us, with a genuine passion for their subjects and the discussions involved in them.

   “As our lecturers support us through the long and tough years of university, so too do they deserve our support.”

   In the letter to the vice-chancellor, students said that they were “appalled and concerned” about the prospect of redundancies “in a department already pillaged by financial cuts”.

   A university spokesperson said: “At the University of Gloucestershire, in common with universities across the higher education sector, we keep under continuous review the portfolio of courses we offer. This ensures that our courses remain viable and high quality, and that we adjust our portfolio in line with changes over time in what students want to study.

   “We do this for all subjects in all our schools.  It informs our decisions about new courses that we should introduce, and about existing courses that are no longer viable.  Whilst we value highly the contribution of the humanities and all the subjects we offer, this process of ongoing review is an unavoidable part of good management of the university given the competitive environment in which universities now operate.

   “Courses in humanities have faced particular challenges in student recruitment for several years.  So we are consulting with the staff in humanities about where best we can now make savings to bring financial viability back into balance for 2020/21 while maintaining the range of courses we offer.

   “In the autumn we will be undertaking a fuller review to assess our options in seeking to establish the longer-term place of the humanities within our thriving portfolio of high-quality, high-demand subjects. 

   “This fuller review is part of our ongoing process of portfolio management.  We will ensure the needs of current and future students are considered fully as part of this review and in taking decisions about the way forward.  The university will take all possible steps to avoid disruption to humanities students as these consultations proceed.”