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Wonkhe SUs · The 2026 webinar box set

Why work on uni policies matters

How to make a massive difference by reviewing, changing or lobbying on the rules of the game.

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We follow Sam through a week in which every crisis is governed by a policy, and make the case that policy is where students' entitlements actually live – and where wins outlast a year in office. We map the six families of rules, dig into deadlines, mitigating circumstances, marking, AI and integrity, and the trust-versus-standards tension, and set out a playbook for finding, benchmarking and rewriting the rules. Please note: this session refers to a student who died by suicide. If you are affected, support is available any time from Samaritans (call 116 123, free).

What we cover

  • A week in the life – why every crisis in a student's week is governed by a policy, whether they know it or not.
  • Policy as a source of rights – custom and goodwill aren't rights; if it isn't written down, it can't be relied on.
  • Where the rules live – every policy owned by a committee, most with student seats and a review date.
  • The deadline rules – grace windows, cliff-edge penalties, self-cert allowances and whether students can find any of it.
  • When life happens – mitigating circumstances, evidence burdens, and the "fit to sit" trap.
  • Marking and integrity – anonymous marking in principle versus practice, and AI policies students experience as non-functional.
  • Trust versus standards – the classic tension, and why designing for the few who might game it punishes the many.
  • The remedy menu – knowing what students can actually get, and why passing isn't grounds to refuse a request.
  • How wins are made – York's self-certification reversal, and building comms, training and check-back into the ask.
  • Your playbook – read the policy before the meeting, benchmark it against OIA and QAA guidance, and aim for wins that survive handover.

Things to read

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