- Written by Leah Mahon
- Published on 18th June 2021
Goldsmiths, University of London is the first higher education institution recognise racial trauma as impacting students’ work. Picture: Tolga AKMEN / AFP.- GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY of London is to allow students to claim cases of racial trauma as reasons for affecting their studies and applying for deadline extensions.
- The university is first in the UK to recognise the mental health effects of racism on academic progress.
- Following a campaign by the university’s student union, it was reached that racial trauma would be included in the categories of “serious life events” that require a student extra time for submitting coursework or assessments.
- Larissa Kennedy, president of the National Union of Students, applauded the move: “For far too long, black and brown students have had to relive their trauma in front of decision-makers, who often have little to no understanding of racial trauma themselves.
- “This win by Goldsmith students’ union is a win for all campaigns to decolonise education. It is one cornerstone of the end of universities’ complicity in racial violence, as it sets a precedent for institutions across the country.
