Dear students
As we reach the conclusion of the third week of industrial action by the University and College Union (UCU), I wanted to write to you all again.
Talks to find a solution to the dispute continue between Universities UK (UUK) and the University and College Union mediated by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).
While I would hope that the industrial action could be suspended during these talks, so that students are not disrupted further, I am disappointed that it is to continue next week.
However, also next week, I will have meetings with our University’s Council as well as our UCU Branch President to discuss the current situation. I will set out a contribution to the potential way forward.
I am happy to add my voice to those universities willing to make a small increase in our financial contributions to the pension scheme to allow the necessary time for UUK and UCU to agree how to end the dispute.
While the industrial action continues, my first consideration has been, and will always be, to minimise any disruption to our student community. The University will continue to remain open, with the majority of teaching and learning activity proceeding as usual.
Your Schools are working to minimise any disruption to your learning by rescheduling sessions where possible, providing resources through Moodle, extending deadlines where helpful and ensuring that assessments reflect the learning which has taken place.
Please keep in contact with your Schools for specific information, and the University will continue to update our Student FAQs.
Please accept my apology for any disruption that you are experiencing, I genuinely hope that UUK and UCU can reach an agreement as soon as possible to end this dispute.
Professor Shearer West
Vice-Chancellor
Posted on Friday 9th March 2018