Read your submissions

Your feedback

Better options on the chancellors menu - choosy (potentially autistic) eaters such as myself don't really know what to do.

Our response

Thank you for this feedback. The Kitchen Table is a new concept and has been designed to offer more choice and flexibility, including for students who prefer simpler foods or individual components rather than a complete plated meal. We have hosts available to explain the offer and extensive signage in the restaurant, but we recognise that it may take time for students to become familiar with how the new concept works. There are also alternative hot food options available from Chancellors Kitchen. Menus are available in advance, and we would be very happy to provide these directly to anyone who would find it helpful to know what is available before visiting. We are also hoping to make menus available through our social media channels soon, making it easier for students to check the options in advance. We would be very happy to meet with you, or other students with similar experiences, to understand what would make the offer easier to navigate and ensure we are communicating the choices available as clearly as possible.

Your feedback

Can the ground floor accommodation bedroom windows have a privacy tint/film so that people can have open blinds with out the concerns of on lookers peering into their room.

Our response

Thank you for your comment. Window film is applied on an ad hoc basis dependant on student need. If you feel your window would benefit from film, please raise a Topdesk request and the team will be in contact to review further with you.

Your feedback

I would like to provide feedback regarding Keele’s increasing dependence on smartphones and social media for communication and attendance. 

I feel that the university is becoming too reliant on digital platforms which creates barriers for students who choose not to use smartphones. For example, students are required to use the Keele app to sign in before classes, meaning that those without a smartphone are marked absent, even though alternative methods such as paper attendance registers could be used. 

I have also missed information about events and opportunities because they are often advertised primarily through social media, which assumes students regularly use these platforms. I think that important information such as timetables, event details, and university communications should also have accessible non digital alternatives such as posters, printed information or email.

Additionally, the recent Keele app update providing directions to buildings is another example where essential information is becoming dependent on smartphones usage. This creates difficulties for students who do not own a smartphone.

I personally found this challenging during my first year of university, and it negatively affected my experience here at Keele. Not all students own or choose to use smartphones, and I would appreciate Keele considering this by ensuring that university life remains accessible to everyone without requiring constant smartphone use.

Our response

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I’m sorry to hear you found this challenging during your first year.

Keele is increasingly using digital channels because they allow us to communicate information quickly, consistently and at scale, while giving students access to information and services wherever they are. The Keele app is an important part of this approach, but it is not intended to be our only communication channel. We also use email, the website/current student web pages, social media and physical communications such as posters for relevant events and activities.

For attendance, the app provides a quick and efficient way of recording attendance. We will, however, share your concerns about accessibility with the relevant team.

Thank you again for taking the time to raise your concerns.

Your feedback

Hello, I’m not sure how practical this would be, but I wanted to suggest the idea of having a dedicated rest space on campus with sleeping pods or rest pods. This room could be designed for short periods of sleep or quiet rest, with a calm environment, dim lighting, and minimal noise.

It could be especially beneficial for commuting students or those living off campus who have long gaps between lectures. It may also be useful during exam periods, when students are studying late in the library and could benefit from a short rest before early morning lectures or exams.

Our response

Thank you for your suggestion. We are currently working with the Accommodation Team to review the feasibility of short term lets in the Halls and will also feed the suggestion into wider working groups on student spaces.

Your feedback

Please can you turn the temperature down in the library.

Our response

Thank you for your feedback. We are not able to action a request such as this retrospectively. Can I ask that if you have any similar temperature concerns in the future, that you log them via TopDesk, so that they can be actioned in a timely manor.

Your feedback

Reintroduce free packed lunches and tea/coffee/hot chocolate for students, especially during exam season.

Our response

Thanks for your suggestion, we appreciate the idea of expanding support  during exam season. This is something we can take into consideration when planning future student support provision.

We already provide free tea and coffee in the library, along with fruit supplied by the library. During the most recent exam period, students also benefited from 50% off hot drinks at Picoloco and extended opening hours at Keele in Town.

Your feedback

Can GGE subjects be more mindful of other modules classes and clashes which may occur due to field trips.

We’ve had a weeks notice for one of our classes moving and it’s difficult to plan as they move the classes onto days which we simply cannot attend due to prior arrangements e.g. work schedules.

Our response

We are sorry to hear about the late changes to your fieldtrip and the impact this has had. The Geography field trip was originally scheduled during the third week of the Easter break. However, due to a change in semester dates this week was subsequently scheduled as a teaching week, which caused clashes and the need to amend timetables. Moving forward the Geography trip will remain scheduled to take place in a teaching week, which will work better for students and staff, and allow appropriate planning of other modules to work around this in advance. 

Your feedback

Good morning, hope you are well.

Question 1: Why and how can this happen at Keele University -  Finance exam this week, most people cheating no reputation only praise for passing the exam. Not the first time.

Question 2: What happens when the exam dates can change multiple times? Causing upset and chaos in the students mind.

Question 3: Where does it end, when you as student has an email to say they have passed, the next day you have failed?

Conclusion: If this happened in the outside world, you would be questioned and marched out of the office in a disgrace. Please answer these questions they are not hard to answer.

Our response

Thank you for contacting us to raise these concerns. The School would be keen to discuss the issues you have raised with you in detail. We would be grateful if you could contact Dr Xihui Chen (x.chen@keele.ac.uk) to arrange to discuss further. 

Your feedback

The parking situation is not good at all. Every student pays £105 a year to park. This is before we receive any finance, and my parents are not willing to pay so that comes out of my pocket for at least a month. There is never any parking spaces. I see multiple of the same cars driving around. Today I was driving around for 20 minutes trying to find a space. The only time you can get them occasionally is when other people leave after their lectures, which is on the hour anyway which makes me late for my lectures because then I have to park up and get to the lecture. The pot holes are also terrible at the minute it’s a 20 road and they are still bad. I just want to know where is that £105 from every single student going.

Our response

Thank you for your feedback. We recognise that car parking can become busy at certain times and on particular days of the week. However, there is always capacity available in the Overflow Car Park A3 located near the Vet and Business Schools.

The campus roads were affected by the recent poor weather, and we are currently in the process of costing and scheduling significant resurfacing works to take place over the summer months.

Your feedback

I think that KBS should offer more projects with real companies like other Business Schools are doing, such as consultancy projects for example, so that we can acquire professional experiences and put it on our CV. 

Our response

Thank you for your feedback. Keele Business School is committed to providing opportunities for students to gain professional experience. As an example of this, students can choose to study option MAN-30147 (Professional Placement or Project) at level 6 for a 75-hour placement with a company. However, students cannot undertake this module if they have completed MAN-20179 (Professional Placement.

Your feedback

It would be great if you could continually re fill the hand anti bac dispensers in the library and across campus. So many times I go to try and use one and they are always empty.

Also the library toilets are continually out of toilet paper and or blocked- perhaps they could be replenished more frequently?

Our response

Thank you for your queries. Regarding the anti-bacterial dispensers, we are currently in the process of removing these from entrance points. This reflects updated guidance, as the level of risk associated with Covid-19 has now reduced. Government advice continues to emphasise the importance of good hand hygiene in preventing the spread of germs, particularly through thorough handwashing for at least 20 seconds. The use of anti-bacterial hand sanitiser is now considered a matter of personal choice.

In relation to toilet paper replenishment in the Library, we do carry out regular checks of facilities. However, as these are among the busiest toilets on campus, there are occasions when supplies run out between checks. I will raise this with the Cleaning Services team and ask that checks are increased, particularly with exams approaching.

If you notice any facilities requiring attention, please feel free to report this by emailing services.cleaning@keele.ac.uk.

Your feedback

It would be great if you could continually re fill the hand anti bac dispensers in the library and across campus. So many times I go to try and use one and they are always empty.

Also the library toilets are continually out of toilet paper and or blocked- perhaps they could be replenished more frequently?

Our response

Thank you for your queries. In terms of the anti bac dispensers, we are actually in the process of removing these from all entrance points since the original risk from the Covid-19 pandemic has now reduced. Government guidance still informs us that a great hand washing routine and maintenance of good hand hygiene is crucial in fighting germs, however, the advice is that this can be achieved by hand washing for 20 seconds, with the need for specific anti bacterial solutions now being a personal choice. In your second point around the toilet paper replenishment in the Library, we do undertake regular checks of the facilities, however, these are the busiest toilets on site and can often catch us out. I will speak with the Cleaning Services team and ask them to increase toilet checks, especially with exams fast approaching. You can also let us know if facilities require attention by emailing the services.cleaning@keele.ac.uk address.

Your feedback

I am writing to formally raise a concern regarding the significant lack of gluten-free food options available across Keele campus, specifically within the Co-op store, university cafés, and Students’ Union outlets.

As a student who requires gluten-free food, I have found it consistently difficult to access safe, balanced, and affordable meal options on campus. While there may occasionally be isolated gluten-free products available, the overall selection is extremely limited, inconsistent, and nutritionally inadequate for students who rely on these facilities as their primary food source.

Across campus outlets, gluten-free choices are often restricted to:

• A single pre-packaged sandwich (when available)
• Plain salads without substantial protein options
• Snacks such as crisps or fruit
• Occasional gluten-free sweet treats

There is a noticeable absence of:

• Proper gluten-free hot meals
• Gluten-free pasta or grain-based dishes
• Clearly available gluten-free breakfast options
• Affordable gluten-free meal deals
• Variety comparable to standard menu items

For students living on campus without access to full cooking facilities, this creates both a practical and financial burden. Gluten-free alternatives purchased externally are often significantly more expensive, and travelling off campus for safe food options is not always feasible due to time constraints and academic commitments.

Gluten intolerance and coeliac disease are medical conditions, not lifestyle preferences. For many students, consuming gluten can lead to serious health consequences including gastrointestinal inflammation, malabsorption, fatigue, and long-term complications. The current lack of provision risks excluding students with dietary medical needs from fully participating in campus life.

Our response

Thank you for raising this. We understand how important it is for students with dietary requirements, including gluten-free diets, to feel confident about the food options available on campus.

University Catering offers a wide range of gluten-free meals, many of which are available on request from The Kitchen Table. If you check the menu, you’ll see that a number of items are already gluten-free. We don’t always list every gluten-free option on menus because we prefer to speak directly with customers so we can talk through suitable alternatives and ensure the food meets their specific needs safely.

We always encourage customers to speak to a member of staff, who will be happy to help and will do their best to accommodate individual dietary requirements. We also regularly order a variety of gluten-free wrapped products for our cafés and outlets, although availability can sometimes depend on supplier stock and deliveries.

If you would like to discuss your dietary needs in more detail, you are very welcome to contact Jonathan Chambers, Head of Catering at Keele, at j.chambers@keele.ac.uk, who would be happy to arrange a conversation.

Your feedback

Semester 2 starts tomorrow and still the timetables are incomplete even for the first week. Why does this happen every year, this is not fair on students or teaching staff. 

Our response

We understand how frustrating it can be when timetables change, especially when students are trying to plan work, caring responsibilities, travel, and other commitments. We want to explain why changes sometimes happen after publication, and what we are doing to improve this experience. Each year, schools are asked to submit their teaching and timetabling data by the end of April. Based on this information, we aim to publish: Semester 1 timetables in early September and Semester 2 timetables in mid‑December.

However, once timetables are published, a significant number of changes are often requested. These can arise for several reasons, including: changes to staffing availability, adjustments following student feedback or survey outcomes, refinements to teaching delivery or group structures, unforeseen operational or academic requirements. While many of these changes are made to improve the student learning experience, they can unfortunately result in timetables being updated after publication.

At present, one of our timetabling systems requires students to be added manually and individually to teaching sessions. Where specific groupings are required (for example, seminars or laboratory groups), this process can take considerable time. When changes occur at volume, this can lead to delays before updates are visible to students.

In addition, optional module choice plays a significant role. Ahead of the 2025/26 academic year, fewer than 60% of students had selected their optional modules by August. As a result, timetables had to be published in early September without full module selections in place, meaning that some student timetables were necessarily incomplete and required updating later once choices were confirmed.

Because of the volume and complexity of post‑publication changes, it can regrettably take longer than we would like to action all requests. We appreciate that this can create uncertainty, and we are sorry for the inconvenience this causes.

Improvements planned for future years:
We are actively working to address many of these issues. From 2026/27, we plan to: introduce a dedicated student module choice window in April/May, so optional modules are selected much earlier. We also plan to replace the current timetabling systems with a new system that automatically allocates students to teaching groups. This will allow timetable changes to appear within 24 hours, rather than days, and will significantly reduce delays caused by manual processing.

Improving the stability, clarity, and reliability of timetables is a priority for us. We appreciate students continuing to share their experiences, as this feedback directly informs the changes we are making.

Your feedback

Please make graduation more personal and more organised!! The lack of ‘stage’ meant we couldn’t even see who was talking let alone our lecturers etc up front. Also family were left in the cold rather than marquee whilst waiting then following it was chaos, people trying to find family, freezing, walking through mud and colliding with the next session. Disabled parking is too far from chancellors considering it’s uphill to chancellors from SU then downhill to chapel.

Our response

Thank you for you feedback on the graduation event. Your feedback will help improve the event for future graduates. We will share your feedback with the graduation team who will be able to consider these for the Summer graduation event. Thanks again for your feedback.

Your feedback

In my opinion, the university relies too heavily on technology and social media platforms for communication. I often miss important information because updates are posted primarily on social media such as Instagram. For example, I was unaware that the library was closing earlier due to weather conditions because I do not use Instagram which resulted in me travelling to campus unnecessarily.

I believe that email should be used as a primary communication method as it is a more inclusive way of ensuring that all students receive important updates.

I also have concerns regarding the use of smartphones as the primary method for checking in to classes. Not all students own or can consistently access a smartphone, and I personally experience difficulties checking in at times. I believe that a paper based attendance option should be available in each class to ensure accessibility for all students.

Our response

Thank you for this feedback.

We recognise that relying on social media alone for urgent updates, such as early closures due to weather, can mean some students miss important information. While we did use email to communicate with students each morning during the recent period of bad weather, we’ll review our approach to ensure updates about unexpected building closures reach students more effectively in the future.

Your feedback about checking into classes has also been shared with the relevant teams so that alternative or backup options, including non-digital methods, can be considered to ensure attendance processes are inclusive.