What would you like the Union to do?
The union should campaign for more understanding guidelines from the university and their extenuating circumstances procedure. The system currently requires students to complete a demanding form within a week of the serious incident, along with a medical opinion within this time. Considering the instances when this form should be filled out can include travel (especially for international students) and the fact that it can take weeks to see a GP, I believe that this time constraint, along with the form taking up to 2 hours to complete, is incredibly damaging for the mental and physical health of those students that have been affected by difficult circumstances.
Why would you like to do this?
It has recently been brought to my attention that this process is clunky, outdated and damaging. Students that have recently been involved in severely trying circumstances should not have a further burden placed upon them by their university.
How will this affect students?
This will allow students that are experiencing trying times some peace of mind that their (often very expensive) studies will not be penalised due to personal or physical difficulties. I also hope that students will feel more confident to approach the process if they feel they need it, rather than juggling both their work and personal circumstances.