Zak Coleman talks to Graham Virgo

How much teaching will be online this term? What role should the University adopt in the climate change emergency? What is the University doing to stand up to racism? These, and many more, were questions put to the Senior Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof Graham Virgo, during a conversation with the President of the Cambridge Students’ Union, Zak Coleman.

Beneath a portrait of King James I, Prof Virgo also discusses proposals for a reading week and condemns some of the treatment of the Vice-Chancellor in the national press.

00:00:27 - Introductions

00:01:17 - COVID related plans for Michelmas Term. What is the university doing to make sure that students have a safe experience as we go back to a more typical learning environment?

00:04:45 - Online lectures. From an accessibility standpoint, are recorded lectures here to stay?

00:07:45 - Postgraduate application fee. What is the University doing to improve postgraduate access? Are they dropping the fee?

00:12:20 - Student mental health. Is there a possibility of a week-five reading week? What is the university doing about student workload?

00:16:20 - The climate emergency. Divestment and the University’s research links to fossil fuel companies.

00:19:30 - Zero tolerance and racism at the institution. What is the University doing to make sure that it is an anti-racist institution?

00:22:20 - Anti racism training for pastoral staff at the University?

00:23:55 - USS, pensions and the potential for strike and action.

00:27:15 – The Report & Support platform and the wider response from the media.