Hot desking for Maths PhDs postponed after student backlash against planning
The Math department has postponed its move to introduce hot desking in Huxley offices, which was due 26 October, after student feedback.
Hot desking (unassigned desks organised in an ad hoc, reservation basis) has been a topic of discussion for the Maths PhD students for the past academic year, an idea that aims to use available space most effectively. First-year PhD students and some second year Centre for Doctoral Training students are already using hot desks in 6M09.
Faculty explains that offices have low occupancy, and alternative arrangements must be considered before providing more space.
Students were initially told on 15 October that they had to clear all desks by 23 October, leaving a week to organise, move and store belongings that some have gathered for more than three years.
“Our personal desks have been at the heart of our experience at Imperial. Despite their pitfalls, we have built part of our academic careers there, and personalising those spaces has allowed many of us to build healthy routines, improve our mental health, and establish connections with fellow office colleagues”, explains one of the students.
The proposal raised alarms in students, worried about commuting with heavy laptops, books, and equipment given a lack of overnight storage.
Following the backlash, the Department emailed students on 19 October as they decided to not proceed with the immediate introduction of hot desking: “we will concentrate on preparing the research neighbourhoods thoroughly, in order to ensure that the necessary equipment and storage arrangements are fully in place before introducing shared desking progressively”.
The Department is working on providing permanent locker storage space before any hot desking arrangement is introduced.
In a letter addressed to Felix, students raise other issues they have informed the Department about that solutions are only partially provided to, if any. Such problems include high temperatures in offices during heatwaves reaching 35 degrees inside, regularly non-functioning bathrooms, and slow internet speed.
No revised timeline for office rearrangements have been announced, with the Department confirming they will communicate any changes in advance.
