Lobby the university to prevent the abolition of student alumni email accounts

This petition calls for an all student vote, requiring SUSU to lobby the university to prevent them from abolishing student alumni accounts.

In July 2025 the university will close all alumni email accounts, including those belonging to PGRs. There has been no direct consultation with students, PGRs, alumni, nor the Doctoral College.

Up until now the University of Southampton’s policy to offer alumni lifelong access to their account has aligned with UCL, Cambridge, Goldsmiths, Imperial, Birmingham, and LSE. The alumni account offers a sign of affiliation with the university that many students use to apply for jobs after graduating. This loss will be detrimental to those alumni who rely on it for the future of their careers. Perhaps none more than the fresh PhDs who have spent years working on their thesis, representing the university at conferences, and enhancing the research culture of Southampton.

This petition is calling for a halt in the abolishment of alumni accounts so that a proper consultation with students can take place. While many graduates do not use their alumni account, it should be possible for students to 'opt in' to keeping their accounts.