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Further to the redundancies and course closures at the University of Hertfordshire (Letters, THES, January 5; "Kroto protests cutbacks", THES, January 26), the situation regarding chemistry after March 31 is dire.

To date, no provision has been made for continuing the contracted education of our 200 or so first, second and final-year students.

Thus lecture, practical and other assessment programmes will be incomplete, students will not necessarily be in a position to answer their exam questions, there will be no assessment, marking or grading and there will be empty mark-grids for non-quorate exam boards. Educational chaos, as well as litigation by former students and staff, will commence.

Is this the "duty of care, quality and provision" spoken of by senior management at the University of Hertfordshire?

If so, students beware. Today chemistry, social sciences and civil engineering. Tomorrow who next?

Peter L. Pye
Department of chemistry
University of Hertfordshire