University of La Laguna Students Protest Proposed Elimination of July Exam Session
Students at the University of La Laguna are protesting a proposed reform that would eliminate the July exam session, sparking a governance crisis over academic rights and assessment policies.
The University of La Laguna (ULL) is currently facing a governance crisis that has exposed a deep divide between the university’s leadership and its students. On Friday, over a hundred students gathered outside the Rectorate to protest a proposal to eliminate the July exam session—a change currently being debated as part of a broader reform of the university’s statutes.
The conflict began within the Statute Reform Commission, where some faculty members proposed cutting one of the two extraordinary exam periods. While the university argues this change would encourage continuous assessment, students view it as a direct attack on their academic rights. Many students point out that in several degree programs, continuous assessment is either non-existent or inadequate, leaving them reliant on final exams to pass their courses.
Rector Francisco García met with student representatives but stated that his team lacks the authority to intervene, as the decision rests solely with the university Senate. Tensions are high because the Senate requires an absolute majority of 126 votes to pass the new statutes. Because faculty members hold more voting power than students, the student body fears the measure will be approved despite their unified opposition.
This issue has brought together various student groups, including the Student Council and 23 center delegations, in a rare show of unity. Students warn that removing the July exam session will lead to higher failure rates, overcrowded classrooms, and put the ULL at a disadvantage compared to other public universities in Spain.
While the Rectorate has suggested that this tension should spark a broader conversation about how students are assessed, the students remain unconvinced, viewing the move as a punitive and cost-cutting measure. As the Senate prepares for a final vote, the university community remains on edge, awaiting a decision that could fundamentally change how students are evaluated.