MEETING WITH JANE RAPELY (CSM Head Of College) 20/02/09

.On points 1, 2, 3: (1. A reinstatement of the budgets and a return to the tutorial hours as they were for the academic year 2006-2007, when the current Stage 3 students on the BA first enrolled on their course. 2. A reinstatement of the budget for teaching and materials that was cut on the FdA course.
3. A reinstatement of the budget for materials in the different workshops.)
With regard to the appropriate deployment of budgets; Sources include: government, research activity, tuition fees, holiday courses, trust. 80-85% of which comes from tuition fees. Unfortunately Byam Shaw’s income doesn’t match its expenditure, is being cross-subsidised. Giving you more tutorials would involve taking money away from other students.

What has happened?
- Costs escalated last year, partly due to the unpredictability of oil, gas, electricity prices. Tutors income has actually gone up (nationally negotiated salary increase) though this has been apparently under the shadow of the credit crunch / money munch.
- Teaching hours at Byam Shaw in relation to other sites across the University are higher and over the years, for the fairness of all UAL students, we have tried to level the hours on all courses on all sites.

What is being done?
- We have to redeploy cost against income in response to the nations current financial climate.
- The new rector is trying to bring the deadlines, for the grant of money from government sources, forward.
- “If we had the money we wouldn’t have cut it in the first place”
-“I can only apologise on behalf of the university and its staff for the lack of this communication of these changes” says Jane Rapley
-In the course handbook, tutorial hours “contact time” consists of group tutorials and seminars as well.

In conclusion; the answer in no.

Points 4 & 5:
(4. For all workshops to be open from Monday to Friday for a minimum of 6 hours per day.
5. For studio opening times in 2 Elthorne Road to be brought in line with those of the BA Studios which are open from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.)
They are both issues that can to an extent be dealt with by Alister and meetings will shortly be held to decide their outcomes.

Point 6:
(6. A return to the more economical, direct employment of the students by the Byam Shaw School of Art and a cessation of the outsourcing of school staff in regards of maintenance and cleaning duties.)
Jane empathises, she doesn’t have authority on the mater, it is a matter of Estates, which are currently under review due to a lack of operational inefficiency. Estates are controlled not at the individual collages but centrally at the university, Jane agrees, for efficiency. “I doubt that it will come back to individual college management, due to expense.” The person to talk to is Russle Cherrington, “local man responsible for cites at CSM”

Point 7:
(7. Adequate communication with the student body regarding matters like the allocation of funding and any proposed changes to it.)
Jane agrees and has apologised for the lack of communication so far. The use of Blackboard as a tool for communication is difficult and Jane has expressed her frustration at her and other staffs lack of privileges with regard to use of blackboard. Kit has discussed with us the creation of a new computerised resources to be built in the near future; meetings about this issue are to commence shortly.

Point 8:
(8. That students be represented by an elected officer for the Byam Shaw site in any forthcoming meetings about the future of their course and be given the right to veto any major changes to the way their course is run, ie. the merging of the BA Fine Art course with the other BA Fine Art course offered at CSM.)
“You can’t preserve the past and you can’t veto the future. Evolution is necessary for improvement. We will involve students in meetings after we have gathered a bit of shape to our intentions after our meetings. This merging of the BA Fine Art course with the other BA Fine Art course at CSM WILL happen, the question is are you prepared to except the change or do you want us to wait until you have finished your degree?


Point 9:
(9. According monetary compensation of all the already lost hours of tutorials in proportion to the tuition fees with regard to the number of tutorial hours specified in the course handbook given to each of the students when we originally joined the course.)
“NO, not one of our principles” “More hours don’t mean a better quality of education” “we feel that the quality of the education is adequate, and according to the course handbook the tutors deliver.” Though the quality will change year by year / tutor by tutor.

What The Group Said In Response

General Meeting Minutes.

General Consensus was called about delaying the meeting with Mr A
Meeting was pushed back to 16.00. This was good news

Agenda.
1. Minutes from last minutes led out – Thank you Jess
2. Press - Put forward by Oli, Well done!
3. Working Groups - In need of organisation
4. Mass Email - Look out those at CSM
5. SU Reps
6. Continuation
7. Weekend - Art ARt ART…(and maybe some aerobics!)


Minutes
- First point brought to attention was the merging of Byam Shaw BA Fine Art with CSM BA fine art courses at Kings Cross, the Byam Shaw building is remaining however Kit mentioned that Byam Shaw was being referred to as “CSM archway” in meetings. The reason for merging the fine art courses was to lift weight off CSM at Kings Cross; this would implicate that the size of the course at Byam Shaw could increase. This raised a concern in the potential increase of students at Byam Shaw. We have heard many different contradicting statements, Kit added however that Jane spoke at the college academic committee meeting of a 15% reduction in student intake.
- In regard to the issues surrounding the budget it was decided that we must go higher up the ‘slices’ as it was felt it was beyond Jane’s control.
- A meeting with Nigel Carrington (rector) hasn’t been scheduled but there is a possibility of meeting with either him or deputy rector William Bridge.
- Communication across the board had already been brought to the attention of staff at CSM and the idea of a new interweb called Portal is in its pulmonary stages. Kit stated that it is being set up and relies on student input. A notice board will be put up within Byam Shaw shortly and students are urged to contribute ideas towards this.
- It was made known to us that the loss of associate lecturers was due to standardising across CSM.

Press

- The positive and negative effects of the press where discussed and the concern of being cut off from CSM was mentioned. Kit mentioned that with the plans CSM have for Byam Shaw and their involvement already, it was highly unlikely they would separate. The general consensus was that these implications needed to be researched.
- Using the press could be a very positive thing, engaging other people to get involved, including a call to other universities, guest lecturers, and workshops.
- Being aware of how we could be used by the press.
- The proposition of sending a group of people to represent Byam Shaw at other universities, promoting what we are doing through our reasons including the love we have for Byam Shaw!!
- The idea of getting the Arts Group within the SU and having a statement in Representing Art specialist institution magazines was discussed and the consensus was to write up a draft Press Release.

Working Groups

- It was decided that there needed to be a new group born for publicity at other universities and a research group.

Mass Email

- In two weeks time a mass email will go out headlining the Byam Shaw’s’ Occupation. Kit will talk to SU to try to push date this forward immediately for release this week.

SU Reps

- A Byam Shaw student representative was voted on. We can proudly state that Laura and Tarek are our new spokespeople!! Way!!

Continuation over the weekend will go on as per norm!

a post from Zelda

Three days of the Byam Shaw occupation: Seventysix hours and eleven minutes

A buzz of voices, ideas and movement is tingeling in through the halls of Byam Shaw. Something is different then the usual encounter of this Art School. One finds groups of students, gathered at reception. They sit on the floor quite causually, working on projects asthough they were sat in their studio space.

Images please...

If you have images of the Byam Shaw occupation you would like to share, please upload them to the new Facebook group for images and discussions:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=53001878957

Some photos and quotations might then appear in this blog...

Thank you,

The Occupation

Today's blackboard (20th February 2009)...

Minutes from meeting w/ A. Warman (Principal) and R. Imeson (Dean of Students) – 15:04, 19th February 2009

- Dean of students (R.Imeson = RI) here to listen, relay information between students and administration.

- RI – Jane Rapley (senior resource manager - JR) has suggested meeting for group of 5 representatives on Tuesday morning (24/02/09) at Southampton Row. Alister Warman (AW) and course directors to be present.

- RI advises representatives to take this opportunity.

- There is a new rector as of recently who is concerned with the adequate funding of courses – undertaking thorough analysis of funding.

Acknowledgement of certain issues r.e. course management – these are issues which UAL as a whole is dealing with, not just Byam Shaw.

Laura suggests that ‘validation reports’ are counterproductive in the adequate allocation of funding.

RI understands – asks for key points of concern from reps =

1) Budget
2) Student voice

These issues are intertwined, and letters written by students to administration have been met with unsatisfactory contextual waffle.

There has been an inadequate verbal transmission of tutorial cuts and material shortages.

Today’s technology (i.e. Blackboard) renders this situation even less acceptable – such information should be transmitted online, as well as in the form of written bulletins in common spaces in colleges.

AW – suggests student forum as regular occurrence over the course of the academic year as a means of resolving issues.

Nicole speaks of represenative officer at CSM Student Union, although the Student Forum such as it is there does not seem to be taken seriously, i.e. issues are raised and then ‘ignored’.

COURSE HANDBOOK – drastic changes to courses have been made without warning or consultation.
Reference to caveat in handbook by which UAL reserves right to make minor alterations to course structures.
The alterations we are experiencing are not small – specific reference to tutorial time.

AW suggests saving money by freezing the appointment of a PA, and also will look into issues raised i.e. workshops, tutorials etc
- concern amongst representatives regarding why he should have to take such a course of action. Where is the money?

Specific workshop issues

- digital: was Mon-Fri, 10-5 – not on Friday any more, problematic given volume of demand, requirement of technological assistance, esp. around assessments.
- Print – closures due to technicians doubling as tutors on courses: two technicians are run off feet, students wait to point of total distraction and abandonment of work – why be there?

Budget – yearly plan, money passed to college heads by UAL, then distributed to courses.

Money into UAL ‘TOP SLICE’ (!) = IT, Estates, HR, Computing…

Regarding 3 year courses – why is there no 3 year financial plan

HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council of England) decided on budgets on yearly basis.

*Possibility of UAL trimming budgets of ‘TOP SLICE’ (!), funding redirected into “bottom” slice of student body?

Money going into focus groups and validation reports…
- Why this wasteful, unproductive practice? Student body is premium, available and willing ‘focus’ group, whilst also freely at the disposal of the university. This is evidenced by the current Occupation of Byam Shaw.

RI – acknowledgement that this validation reports are an archaic way of treating the issue. They are, however, the normal and accepted channels for such analyses.

Students are ‘unit of resource’ – funding is generated here…

RI – acknowledgement of issue of how the University hears the voice of the students.
Problem that UAL is a multi-sited, federal institution concerned with retaining the individual identities of institutions. This is hard, esp. in London and creates resource implications.

HE in UK – small institutions tend to go under

Representatives ask for advice on the next step in terms of progress and Occupation.
- RI says decisions will be determined by the course of this Occupation

AW will open discussions next week into how to ‘tweak’ situations – the budget is gone, although he will investigate ‘extra money’

AW will speak to Lynn next week, as well as course directors…

Agrees to Q+A session tomorrow (20/02/09) at 15:30 to hear and respond to concerns of whole group.

Concern r.e. studio times for FdA, (PG and MA), and Foundation – health and safety implications.

EMPLOYMENT OF STUDENTS –

Achievable? Students used to be more readily and easily employed in positions (cleaning etc) in college – general acknowledgement that this is good system, financially (student wage = £5.80/hr), as well as in terms of community, art work and time spent in college.

Students used to be only cleaners, the positions are now outsourced to agencies at higher rates.

RI – this is news… he is pushing generally for greater levels of student employment within UAL = lower level administration, seasonal jobs etc.

To be achieved by summer?

LOVE FOR BYAM SHAW

Unanimous agreement that Byam Shaw deserves love! Desirable place, sense of community. We as student body recognise this privilege but…
- Why drop us to level of less satisfactory courses at Southampton Row?

Provisional meeting arranged with AW tomorrow afternoon at 2pm – TBC with body of Occupiers.
AW to speak w/ course directors and arrange consultation at some stage next week TBC.

Minutes of this meeting to be initially forwarded to r.imeson@arts.ac.uk, a.warman@arts.ac.uk. RI to forward them to Jane Rapley.

Media – solidarity? We want to be in contact with other Occupations nationwide- there is strength to this movement to pressure government to reform education policy. The media will strengthen this movement?

RI – in his view, postpone media decision until after meeting with Jane Rapley –

“Read CONTROL sensibly” – what?

End of Meeting.

Important Meeting Tomorrow Morning

After long negotiations, Jane Rapley has agreed to attend a meeting at Byam Shaw at 10.30am on Friday.

Please show your support through your presense.

We will be holding an open meeting at 9am with Kit Friend.

Notes on a Meeting with Rob Ineson and Alister Warman by Kenneth Collings

Rob Ineson, Dean of Students, joined us at the meeting with Alister to gather student feedback and to relay messages to the rector tomorrow or within the next few days. He informed us that Jane Rapley, in charge of recourses, agreed to meet 5 of us Tuesday morning at Southampton row. (Later in the evening arrangements were made to forward the meeting to tomorow at 10.30.)

This issue of inadequate funding on the courses supplied by the university is not just a local issue, it has occurred across the uni; wimbledon etc. and is ‘recognised’ by the bursar. The new bursar, we were told, has held his position for only a year. As if this is adequate reason to give him a chance to get used to how things are done. This is the 3rd years’s last year, give them a chance to finalise their education to a standard that was promised to them because they’re never going to have another chance to redo their degree / year.

When asked why it supposedly costs more when there are less tutorial hours, the reply was; “Crudely put, we were spending money that we didn’t have” – Alister
Despite £60 000 per annum being raised, for bursaries and scholarships, (in addition to government support and what we pay) we need to raise more. – A.W.

Reiterating the agenda that tutorial hours are to be congruent with what was promised in course handbook, we were met with the reply from Rob that CSM policy supposedly is to grant one 20minute tutorial per term, per student. As student surveys have shown; student satisfaction at Byam is far higher than at CSM, and our usual abundance of tutorials is surely one of the reasons for this.

Workshop opening times seem to be on a see saw with hours of tutorials, one compensating for the other. (less tutorials, more workshop hours.) Alister has agreed to talk to Lynn and Trevor at the beginning of next week with respect to extending hours of tutorials.

A suggestion to improve the transparency of communication in relevant decision making processes; meetings, forums deciding necessary delegation of funds was “unlikely to happen” but Rob Ineson eagerly noted down improvements of communicating through blackboard, and informing us of intentions of changes and not just telling us in a lame letter after it’s been done. Proposition of a student rep of Byam Shaw, from Byam Shaw fell on eager ears, so it seemed, though Rob said that he wasn’t in a position to make these changes.

Further:

Alister meeting Friday at 14.00, Following the meeting there will be a Q&A forum with the rest of Byam’s student body.

Afternoon Australian Energy Aerobics

The students had a lunchtime aerobics session in the courtyard to energize tired bodies for another day of negotiations, talks and art making...

Our Story So Far...

It's the same each time with progress. First they ignore you, then they say you're mad, then dangerous, then there's a pause and then you can't find anyone who disagrees with you.

-Tony Benn

The screen printing factory upstairs had been hard at work to provide us with our beautiful garb.

Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community...is forced to confront the issue. It seeks so to dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored.

-Martin Luther King, Jr

Just before settling down to discuss our agenda.

Rob Owen, of the NUS national executive came to talk to us about education in relation to political policy and Richard Braude, a member of climate change discussed protest in relation to philosophical thought.


. . . followed by sushi courtesy of Yoichi and Sakura :o)

Another meeting was held where our proposals were discussed again.

Bedtime . . .
. . . and back to work.

The imposition of management culture on the academic environment has had a debilitating effect on art education, and has caused a complete split between the managers and the managed.

-Art Monthly, May 2008

Hope This Fits The Bill! By Laura Lenander

The imposition of management culture on the academic environment has had a debilitating effect on art education and has caused a complete split between the managers and the managed. Education cannot be easily quantified, but managers only value what can be quantified and thus measured. If an 'output' is not measurable then, it is literally of no account.

Something is systematically wrong with the way that the education of fine artists is managed. In order to get validation small art schools are no longer able to survive on their own and forced into surrendering their autonomy by merging with other institutions, in this case it has resulted in Byam Shaw School of Art joining Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design, part of University of the Arts London. Of which there are many benefits, such as use of the library and the ability to mix with a wider range of disciplines throughout the university. Also services such as student support are much improved. However, with these benefits has also come many disadvantages to the great detriment of the education available at the Byam Shaw.

In the annual report for 2007, UALs expenditure is listed as £161.5 million, yet the payments in 'teaching departments' is at little more than £70.6 million. The money spent on administering the whole bureaucratic nightmare which is University of the Arts London comes directly out of the fees which the students are paying. This money would be far better SPENT ON TEACHING. Effectively, less than half of the fees each student is paying is spent in 'teaching departments'. In the past two years the money allocated to tutorials for the BA Fine Art course at Byam Shaw has been reduced by 276 hours. This has left the part-time staff (who's employment is VERY causalised) finding they have lost a large chunk of income days before the start of the academic year. Tutors are frightened to speak up for fear of reprisal. Here, at Byam Shaw students are taking action, speaking out to fight for the rights which they pay for. It is not a matter of resourcing; it is a matter of priorities. The management culture the university is caught up in has lead to the prioritisation of the administrative over the academic.

Any attempt to query the situation has been met with a rather lame attempt at corporate sophistry.

So what for the future of Byam Shaw? Part of the validation process that is happening throughout University of the Arts London has given Central Saint Martins the opportunity to begin to merge the two BA Fine Art courses. One of the plans on the table currently is the loose the name Byam Shaw BA Fine art and make this course one of the pathways available on the BA Fine Art Central Saint Martins – thus not only loosing its name, but also its individuality. Will it remain as Byam Shaw? I am sure it will be chipped away at bit by bit as the University brings it into line with its 'rationalisation scheme', totally disregarding the idea that each of the schools within the University are individual places which NEED individual budgets to account for this.

What Happened yesterday. 18/02/09

Basically we took over the main building of Byam Shaw School of Art. We want all the students of the college to BE INVOLVED. There were consensus based meetings last night to decide what action is going to be taken and this process will continue throughout the occupation. The agenda will be clearly set out on the Blackboard in reception and also here on the blog.

The meeting last night was in my opinion a massive success, input came from all across the years and courses of Byam Shaw BUT MORE INPUT IS ALWAYS WELCOME. The meeting was minuted as follows...

Minutes from Meeting – as of 21:37, on the 18th February 2009.


Agenda

1) Media
2) Documentation
3) Food
4) Maintenance / safety / civilisation
5) CSM Union
6) Publicity
6.5) Events / Lectures / Workshops etc
6.7) ART
7) Alister <3 consensus =" wait"> www.byamshawpeoplesuniversity.blogspot.com
- All should document events personally, but the following have agreed to take more specific responsibility for documentation = Jon, Holly, Maya, Chris, Zelda, Rowan, Jess.

3) Food

- During the day this domain is ruled over by our lord, lady and cosmic bubble **ESMERALDA** - who is enthusiastic, generally.
- During the night-time the resource is at our disposal to cook. Consensus reached that it should not be a free-for-all and that someone should take responsibility for the area to ensure tidiness, cleanliness etc.
- Consensus reached that although individuals may wish to fend for themselves mass-catering can and will feed all. The majority of food to be salvaged from the premature oblivion to which it is consigned by wasteful food providers i.e. Tesco and M&S, yet in order to cover other expenses a kitty is to be established. Bowl passes round, all contibute.
- Those committed to specific responsibilities are as follows – Christina and Richard to salvage and skip. Cooks – Sophie, Hannah, Nicole, Richard, Sarah, Lewis, Kate, Oli, Oliver Cronk and Christina.
- Food times to be published on blackboard which is to appear in reception.

4) Maintenance etc

- Everyone be civilised, tidy up! Esp. in mornings with regard to bedding etc, and food waste.

5) CSM Union

- Kit Friend (campaigns communications officer) arrives = strong support of action! APPLAUSE! Acknowledgement of necessity, validity, context and purpose of action.
- Success in recent undertaking as communications officer – willing to assist as possible, inc. facilitation of strong contacts with CSM, LCC etc
- Help with Arts London News – article? Help with large emails via CSM email.
- Agrees to chair open debate r.e. education, student rights etc – timing TBC, contact when.
- Tarek/Laura to act as representatives on student board?

6) Publicity

- Specific outreach groups to other institutions?
- Participate in education protest at SOAS on 25th February (Wednesday next)
- Facebook – occupiers to set ‘status bar’ to blog address –
- Open evenings? Interested non-affiliated visitors to be allowed in after 6pm – reasonable caution – somebody to man reception and make sure no ill will enters. Sign-in book?
- T-Shirts – 90 gone! More needed – to be orchestrated organically.

6.5) Events / Lectures etc

- Lots of exciting events ranging from workshops to classes to dances to lectures etc.
- Information to be posted on blackboard which will appear in reception. Check it! Come!
- Becky, Ash, Oli, Christina, Oliver Cronk and Kit to organise, although anyone with an idea or contact should put it forward.
6.7) ART

- Yes! Please.

7) Alaster

- Concern expressed. No intention to irritate, aggravate or offend, nor to problematize his position.
- Is he cross? Is he secretly glad? Is he staying the night? Is he a dad?
- He is to be invited to everything, fed, watered etc
- (Same goes for Shane and Jose at reception by night.)

8) Odd Jobs

- Banners? Tied-up – someone has dealt with it.
- Generally fix things, collectively ensure success and efficiency of action.
- Etc
- We should wrap up the meeting…

9) ‘Bricks’ = Working Groups

- As listed in sections above – streamline operations.

10) Rota

- Consensus reached that it is not strictly necessary
- List of phone numbers, emails and hours of availability of all involved to be drawn up. Will be available on the blackboard at reception. Copy to Kit F for contact.

11) Daytime Presence

- Presence needed in reception area – everyone take responsibility for this, see a hole, fill it.
- Banner and blackboard to appear in reception area
- Bedding etc to be neatly stored out of the way
- Presence to be non-disruptive and in no way hinder the operations of BS.

…and finally…

12) Meeting

- To be held at 13:30 tomorrow, the 19th February 2009.


IF YOU HAVE OPINION ON ANY OF THIS OR THE MISSION STATEMENT PLEASE ATTEND THE MEETING IN THE LECTURE THEATRE TODAY (19/02/09) AT 13:30 AS STATED ON THE BLACKBOARD.

There are certain gestures that are involved in consensus meetings that may not be familiar to you. There are designed to achieve the highest level of democracy and decorum.

The most important gestures are for agreement and disagreement:


Agreement is a silent shaking on the hands in a enthusiastic manner, it looks as follows:

The expression for disagree is similar but make an effort to frown enthusiastically (Caution this action can be abused and unproductive so use it wisely). It goes as follows:

If you want to make a point about the issue under discussion, the form a P using your hands as follows:

If you have a direct response to the point just made (and feel it really can't wait) the sign to make is:

Finally, when a vote is in process and you are indifferent for any reason this sign can be made:

If this sign is made by any member of a group during the vote, there will be a chance for you objection or indifference to be put to the group. Please be aware that this process is complicated and communication can break down, it is up to you as a participant to highlight a breakdown in proceedings.

Finally if you have any questions or anything to add please post below :)

Today's Programme of Events

Our Demands

Byam Shaw School of Art
2 Elthorne Road,
Archway,
London,
N19 4AG,
United Kingdom
19th February 2009


Dear Mr Nigel Carington, Ms Jane Rapley, Mr Alister Warman and all the tutors and staff at the Byam Shaw School of Art and Central St Martins College of Art and Design,

Re: Byam Shaw School of Art

We are writing to inform you that as of 16:00 on Wednesday, 18th February, we have been in occupation of the main building at the Byam Shaw School of Art, 2 Elthorne Road. We presented the Principal Mr Alister Warman with a list of demands regarding the service provided within the establishment.
Although we are in discussions with Mr Warman, he appears to be addressing the afore mentioned issues to the best of his abilities it has become evident that many of the issues we wish to discuss are not in his power to change. We therefore feel that the only way forward is to start negotiations with the Rector and Head of College.
Over the past few months we have tried to reason with the University about the ill-advised investments and expenditures of our money that we didn’t agree to, along with all the changes brought about unannounced and in a immoral fashion and were met with unconvincing excuses and empty promises.
In response to the letter that was sent to us on Dec 3rd referring us to the “Strategy for Student Learning” by way of an explanation for the funding cuts we experienced, we find this completely insufficient and inconducive to Byam Shaw’s unique identity as a hub for creative practice. We find it hard to imagine how 276 hours less tutorial time per year on the BA Fine Art course is a sensible or fair strategy for improving the education Byam Shaw provides.
We find it hard to believe that an institution such as this one does not have a 3-year financial plan that spans over the period of its longer courses. At enrolment we were all given a course handbook specifying a number of “taught contact” hours for each of the units of the course but we are no longer being delivered the service we paid for.
Regardless of the financial situation and other such circumstances whatever they may be, it is our understanding that in such instances, it is required by the College to deliver the service we were sold when we first enrolled on the course, even if that means going into further debt, or offer us appropriate compensation.
We have tried to work this out with formal letters, petitions and meetings but it was all in vain and you have left us with no other choice than to occupy the School until you have given us legally binding, written confirmation of the following points:

1. A reinstatement of the budgets and a return to the tutorial hours as they were for the academic year 2006-2007, when the current Stage 3 students on the BA first enrolled on their course.
2. A reinstatement of the budget for teaching and materials that was cut on the FdA course.
3. A reinstatement of the budget for materials in the different workshops.
4. For all workshops to be open from Monday to Friday for a minimum of 6 hours per day.
5. For studio opening times in 2 Elthorne Road to be brought in line with those of the BA Studios which are open from 7am to 8pm, Monday to Friday.
6. A return to the more economical, direct employment of the students by the Byam Shaw School of Art and a cessation of the outsourcing of school staff in regards of maintenance and cleaning duties.
7. Adequate communication with the student body regarding matters like the allocation of funding and any proposed changes to it.
8. That students be represented by an elected officer for the Byam Shaw site in any forthcoming meetings about the future of their course and be given the right to veto any major changes to the way their course is run, ie. the merging of the BA Fine Art course with the other BA Fine Art course offered at CSM.
9. According monetary compensation of all the already lost hours of tutorials in proportion to the tuition fees with regard to the number of tutorial hours specified in the course handbook given to each of the students when we originally joined the course.

We await your response,
The students of the Byam Shaw School of Art at Central St Martins.