Critical Examination of Wellbeing, Safety, and Access in University Settings

 
Wellbeing, safety and access
from a critical perspective
 
Petra Boynton
 
What do we know?
 
High levels of dissatisfaction among students and staff
Reported increase in mental distress
Cuts to external support services and charities, plus increased demand for them
‘Academic mental health’ has become a hot topic
Research on this subject variable in quality and impact
Solutions ignored in spite of a legacy of work around inequalities, access and harms
Much of the research and practice is depoliticised, ignores diverse experiences and
needs, and does not hold institutions accountable
 
 
What’s going on inside universities?
 
Industrial action (all sectors)
Publish or perish
Metrification
Competition and glorifying overwork
Precarity
Funding cuts/deficits - “I have to pay to
work”
Bureaucracy
“Suffering is a badge of honour”
PGRs adversely affected
Low wages
Pensions and pay
Bullying and sexual harassment
Inadequate training, supervision,
instruction and equipment
“I don’t know what I’m doing”
Visa/access
Hidden curriculum
 
 
Rapid transitions on/offline teaching and
learning
Extractive practices
Student and staff histories, needs and
changing circumstances
Relocation
Loneliness and isolation
Emphasis on research but patchy or poor
research tuition and dissertations impacted
Access, safety and wellbeing (including
studying sensitive topics and secondary
data)
Silo working
Research waste
Violence on campus, within the university
system, enacted by academia
Drop outs, leavers-by-choice, redundancy
Legal changes and challenges
 
The Unrecovery Star - Recovery in the Bin (2017)
 
Students and staff who are vulnerable
 
Low income
Estranged
Working class
From an ethnic minority
Disabled
Have learning difficulties
Physically or mentally ill
Parents or carers
Care leaver
Self-funding
Refugee or asylum seeker
 
Part time
LGBTQ+
On placement or doing fieldwork
International
Older/mature
Working or studying remotely
Women
Indigenous
First-gen
Bereaved
Trauma and/or SEMH
 
Nothing will change if it is the
universities, research councils,
and other educational
institutions that are 
causing or
worsening
 our difficulties.
 
How to stay in
control (even) when
you don’t feel like it
 
K
eep records/receipts
Correspond via email
Gather witnesses
Use mentors/third-party
support
Know and cite regulations
Create a support network
Sign up to a Hub
Report issues!
Coaching/counselling
 
 
Ways to
comfort
yourself
 
 
 
Rest periods and holidays
Hobbies (e.g. sport, crafting,
cooking)
Bathing, hair washing, or brushing
Venting and righteous anger
Catching up with friends and family
Being in nature
Gentle exercise
Try anxiety busting techniques
Film or TV (favourite shows)
Relaxation and meditation
Reading or listening to stories
Pick your own treats
Care for yourself as you would your
phone!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Alternatives to ‘resilience’
Persistence
Fortitude
Resistance
Rebellion
Defiance
Stubbornness
Obstinacy
Tenacity
Bravery
Humour
“No ought without support”
 
 
 
 
 
 
“She thinks she can read, but she can’t”
 
“Fidget bottom”
 
“I see absolutely nothing in her”
 
“Chatterbox
 
“Thick”
 
“Lazy”
 
“Could try harder”
 
“Defiant”
 
“Certainly I did not single her out among our students as a high flyer”
 
“Incompetent”
 
“Careless”
 
“Dolly day dream”
 
“Moody”
 
“Flighty”
 
“Challenging”
 
“Show off”
 
“Distracting”
 
Thanks for
listening!
 
 
 
info@drpetra.co.uk
 
 
 
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High levels of dissatisfaction and mental distress among students and staff, compounded by cuts to support services and a lack of effective solutions. Universities facing challenges like rapid transitions, extractive practices, loneliness, violence, and precarious conditions affecting vulnerable groups. The need for a critical perspective on addressing inequalities, enhancing safety, and promoting wellbeing within academic institutions.


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  1. Wellbeing, safety and access from a critical perspective Petra Boynton

  2. What do we know? High levels of dissatisfaction among students and staff Reported increase in mental distress Cuts to external support services and charities, plus increased demand for them Academic mental health has become a hot topic Research on this subject variable in quality and impact Solutions ignored in spite of a legacy of work around inequalities, access and harms Much of the research and practice is depoliticised, ignores diverse experiences and needs, and does not hold institutions accountable

  3. Whats going on inside universities? Rapid transitions on/offline teaching and learning Extractive practices Student and staff histories, needs and changing circumstances Relocation Loneliness and isolation Emphasis on research but patchy or poor research tuition and dissertations impacted Access, safety and wellbeing (including studying sensitive topics and secondary data) Silo working Research waste Violence on campus, within the university system, enacted by academia Drop outs, leavers-by-choice, redundancy Legal changes and challenges Industrial action (all sectors) Publish or perish Metrification Competition and glorifying overwork Precarity Funding cuts/deficits - I have to pay to work Bureaucracy Suffering is a badge of honour PGRs adversely affected Low wages Pensions and pay Bullying and sexual harassment Inadequate training, supervision, instruction and equipment I don t know what I m doing Visa/access Hidden curriculum

  4. The Unrecovery Star - Recovery in the Bin (2017)

  5. Students and staff who are vulnerable Part time LGBTQ+ On placement or doing fieldwork International Older/mature Working or studying remotely Women Indigenous First-gen Bereaved Trauma and/or SEMH Low income Estranged Working class From an ethnic minority Disabled Have learning difficulties Physically or mentally ill Parents or carers Care leaver Self-funding Refugee or asylum seeker

  6. Nothing will change if it is the universities, research councils, and other educational institutions that are causing or worsening our difficulties.

  7. How to stay in control (even) when you don t feel like it Keep records/receipts Correspond via email Gather witnesses Use mentors/third-party support Know and cite regulations Create a support network Sign up to a Hub Report issues! Coaching/counselling

  8. Ways to comfort yourself

  9. Rest periods and holidays Hobbies (e.g. sport, crafting, cooking) Bathing, hair washing, or brushing Venting and righteous anger Catching up with friends and family Being in nature Gentle exercise Try anxiety busting techniques Film or TV (favourite shows) Relaxation and meditation Reading or listening to stories Pick your own treats Care for yourself as you would your phone!

  10. Alternatives to resilience Persistence Fortitude Resistance Rebellion Defiance Stubbornness Obstinacy Tenacity Bravery Humour No ought without support

  11. I see absolutely nothing in her She thinks she can read, but she can t Show off Chatterbox Thick Fidget bottom Incompetent Could try harder Defiant Careless Lazy Moody Challenging Dolly day dream Distracting Flighty Certainly I did not single her out among our students as a high flyer

  12. Thanks for listening! info@drpetra.co.uk

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