Student organisations concerned because in some places, classes and exams are not cancelled

Because of icy roads and railway problems, many universities are switching to online teaching. But some institutions are allowing their classes and exams to go ahead as normal. Student organisations ISO and LSVb are worried.

Chair Sarah Evink of the Interstedelijk Studentenoverleg (ISO) fears accidents if students still go out onto the streets, she says. “Today I heard from many students that, despite the weather and the work-from-home advice from Rijkswaterstaat, they are still expected to attend class or have to come in for their exam.”

The Landelijke Studentenvakbond (LSVb) is receiving similar signals. “A number of institutions say they will only cancel exams when there is code red weather”, says chair Maaike Krom. At the moment, there is an orange code in force, according to the KNMI, because of a ‘high chance of dangerous weather, with major impact and possible damage, injury or disruption’.

No trains or buses

But the weather hazards themselves aren’t the only issue; it’s also about the consequences that make it difficult to get to campus. The rail network is, as in recent days, almost completely at a standstill. Many local transport operators are also struggling to run their buses or trams, route planner 9292ov reports.

Krom: “How are you supposed to get to the location with this mass cancellation of trains? Many students live far away. When they see the message that their exam is still going ahead, they don’t know what to do.”

A number of universities of applied sciences only cancel exams when there is a code red. Windesheim, HAN University of Applied Sciences and the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences say this in messages to their students.

TU Delft and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam told their students on Wednesday that classes and exams would continue. If necessary, an alternative solution can be sought in consultation.

‘Arrange your own transport’

Radboud University asked students this morning to come up with a solution themselves. “If you live further away from Nijmegen and have a class, a test or an appointment on campus, we advise you to arrange alternative transport.”

This call rubbed ISO the wrong way, Evink says. “Bizarre. How many students actually have a car available? This really sticks in my throat.”

Radboud University additionally wrote that a ‘suitable solution’ will be sought for students who can’t attend, ‘in line with the education and examination regulations’. But as a student you still have no real idea what that means, Evink says. “Will you get an extra exam opportunity or not? That’s still unclear. Because of that lack of clarity, students might decide to go to the exam anyway to avoid study delay, with all the risks that entails.”

Leniency

The LSVb sees that some degree programmes are telling students who can’t attend to contact their examination board for an extra exam opportunity. “I just hope that examination boards will be lenient”, says Krom. “We need to stand up for the safety of students and staff.”