Tuesday 19-11-2024 - 14:43

Students are angry. Students are worried. Students disagree with the proposal to move their programmes, and their student experience, from Lampeter to Carmarthen. 

As a Students’ Union, we are proud to champion the voice of our members, and to work in partnership with the University - but we are independent from them. 

Lampeter students, our members, have spoken loud and clear - they are telling us that they don’t wish to move to Carmarthen. 

We want to publish the details below as there’s a lot of information on the matter and the University does not have centralised webpage on either the website or intranet currently. We want to ensure the message is clear for students and to remind the University of what they have promised students. We are giving the University a further week to respond to the questions we’ve asked in our previous statement. 

The University has committed to the following...

1. Accommodation: any student in University accommodation on Lampeter Campus will be provided an en-suite room on Carmarthen Campus at the same price they were paying in Lampeter from September 2025 until the end of their degree programme 
2. Disability: that the accessibility of the campus will be further considered. As a Students’ Union we have already been enquiring about current lifts and mobility functions on campus. We want the University to be open and transparent with students about how accessible the Carmarthen campus is 
3. Working Group & 1:1 and Group Meetings: The University’s Chief Operating Officer, and Dean of Institute of Education & Humanities, have both committed that there will be a working group with on-going engagement with students. We – your Students’ Union - expects to be invited to this working group and looks forward to receiving the dates of these meetings soon 
4. Block Teaching: The Dean of Institute of Education & Humanities confirmed that the Block Teaching system will remain in place if programmes are moved to Carmarthen 

Students are feeling that...

1. The University has already made the decision - and that this isn’t a conversation 
2. Carmarthen Campus is not as accessible as Lampeter Campus 
3. They don’t have enough financial information from the University as to why this option has been presented 
4. They don’t have clarity on what the University considers to be ‘viable’ in terms of numbers of students on campus 
5. The communication method of this proposal was not suitable 
6. Lampeter is a community; it is an intangible and indescribable 

Students have said it best... 

We asked current students to share their thoughts with us – and here's their feedback - we’ve kept them anonymous and shortened for conciseness but not to take away their meaning or impact. 

• “...I have felt the repercussions affecting the Humanities course as one of our two lecturers has taken voluntary redundancy...UWTSD is one of only two accredited universities providing this exact Level 7 pathway - it is important to bear that in mind. It is crucial to learn from the university what 'is committed to Humanities programmes' actually means.” 
• “It is truly disappointing to hear that the Humanities may be moved... many come to Lampeter for the peace and  quiet of the campus, in particular those with sensory issues, those with issues with change... And how are they going to move certain Lampeter facilities such as the Labs, the Library?” 
• “...My course (creative writing) believe that it is an extremely bad idea, and it is causing us a lot of stress. We specifically chose to come to Lampeter campus after vetting many other universities around the UK. Moving campus feels like it is invalidating our choice (and the money we have spent on coming here).” 
• “Many of us have a neurodiversity in one form or the other, and chose specifically to come to Lampeter as it is small and quiet...moving will add unneeded stress to our already stressful university lives.” 
• “Moving the campus (and the library) will obviously impact negatively on local people...I chose Lampeter because it was closest to my (then) home (I'm a mature student with young kids) so travelling long distances was going to be difficult.” 
• “Lampeter campus is chosen by many purely because it is small, with a good support system...My daughter wants to do the Foundation year next year - presumably this will not be available. She cannot face the larger campus of Carmarthen or Aberystwyth. University will no longer be accessible for her.” 
• “I am an international student...I could have stayed in my home country, but I chose to move to Lampeter because it was Lampeter; it was the perfect choice...A nother important reason for my choosing was because I would have the opportunity to be on a campus whose only focus is the Humanities, An area of study that we all know is often overlooked. As someone who grew up in a country where the Humanities are not given their true value, to find a University that offered such an experience was amazing...Having the opportunity to access the archives and even volunteer there...” 
• “This email essentially reads that all courses, students, and staff at Lampeter campus will be moved to Carmarthen with as little as a year’s notice. This is awful, and indescribably aggravating to myself and other students. I came to this university because of the location, I had much higher ranked universities I did not go to because I wanted to be in this small-town university with a low cost of living and a local atmosphere. If I had been told my third year of study would have been disrupted, I would not have come here in the first place. Most people at this university have already had their education significantly disrupted by Covid, this is another kick in the teeth.” 
• “I wanted to express my disagreement with the recent announcement made by the university to move the Humanities to Carmarthen Campus. I am a second year student of the Humanities and would very much like to stay on the campus where I have conducted the majority of my study so far...I think that the recent announcement to move the Humanities to Carmarthen is a mistake, as it dismisses the rich history of Lampeter and the importance it holds to the Welsh culture...Another aspect to think about is the Roderick Bowen library. The library is a brilliant source of Humanities related information that cannot be replaced or replicated. If the University were to move the Humanities to Carmarthen, they would have to move the library with it, otherwise students would be at a loss while writing their crucial assignments, especially in regard to their dissertations.” 

Comments from Rhobyn Grant, Lampeter Campus President...

To my fellow Lampeter students, I want to begin by saying how incredibly proud I am of you all.

Your bravery, resilience, and determination in standing up for what you believe in is nothing short of inspiring. You have made your voices heard, and your deep care for the Lampeter we know and love shines through in every action you’ve taken. 

Like many of you, I am disheartened by the University’s plans to move our students and programs from this historic and unique campus. Lampeter is not just a place - it is a community for all, a sanctuary for many, and a gateway to success for any and everyone seeking to pursue academic achievements. The thought of this being disrupted is difficult to accept, and I stand with you in fighting for its future. 

Your passion for this campus, its spirit, and the one-of-a-kind experience it offers are at the heart of everything we do as a Students’ Union. Let me assure you, we will not let this fight go unanswered. Together, we will hold the university accountable, not just for its promises but for the impact its decisions have on your lives, your education, and your futures. 

This is about more than buildings or logistics; it is about people, values, and the legacy of Lampeter as a place where students can truly thrive.  

I urge you to stay strong, stay united and stay involved. Attend the meetings and protests, sign the petitions, write to University leadership, and share your stories about what this campus means to you. Every action counts!  

Don’t lose heart. We must be brave as we continue to fight for the campus and community we all believe in. 

In solidarity and with unwavering pride, 

Rhobyn Grant, Lampeter Campus President