UCU 2023

The Universities and College Union (UCU) has notified the University that it is calling on its members to take industrial action in support of its two disputes over the USS pension scheme and the 2022/23 pay award.

The University and College Union (UCU) will be on strike for five consecutive days from Monday 25 to Friday 29 September.

UCU is also calling on its members to take continuous action short of a strike (ASOS) from Thursday 20 April 2023 in the following forms:

• A marking and assessment boycott (formally ended on Wednesday 6 September)
• Working to contractual duties and not undertaking any voluntary activities
• Not covering for absent colleagues
• Not rescheduling classes and lectures cancelled due to strike action
• Removing uploaded materials related to, and/or not sharing materials related to, lectures or classes that will be or have been cancelled as a result of strike action.

What is the reason or the continued action/boycott?

The Universities and College Union (UCU) is calling upon its members to take part in industrial action as part of their UCU Rising campaign. The campaign relates to changes to the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), and the national pay settlement for 2022/23. 

USS is a national pension scheme and the reforms were deemed necessary to ensure its future sustainability. Keele has contributed to national consultations and implemented changes as instructed by USS, but we have no direct ability to resolve the dispute ourselves. We will continue to keep in close contact with Universities UK (UUK) who represent employers. 

In relation to the 2022/23 pay settlement, the University takes part in national pay bargaining and is one of many universities that implemented the pay increase following the completion of the national pay bargaining process. UCU did not agree the proposed pay increase. 

In relation to working conditions, the University always seeks to work constructively with our local UCU representatives on matters of concern through regular UCU and senior management meetings. Over the summer of 2022 there were constructive and collaborative negotiations between the University and Keele UCU which led to an agreement to bring in new policies and approaches with the aim of making positive changes to our colleagues’ working lives.

WILL I BE ASSESSED ON ANY OF THE INFORMATION THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN TAUGHT IN CANCELLED SESSIONS, IF THESE ARE NOT RESCHEDULED?

We will not expect you to be assessed on areas that you were scheduled to be taught but were not taught, due to strike action, or which were not adequately covered by alternative learning activities. As we expect all missed sessions to be rescheduled or alternatively taught, wherever possible, we expect very few topics to be missed. However, it may be that these topics will not be identified until after exam papers are set, as exam setting occurs early in the semester in order to provide time for external examiners to scrutinise the papers and for them to be printed. If a question(s) is set on a topic that is not subsequently taught or adequately covered, invigilators will be instructed to advise you which question(s) on the exam paper should not be attempted. If you think you have been assessed on material that has not been taught due to cancelled sessions, then you are eligible to submit ECs.

WILL UCU STAFF BE PICKETING ON THE STRIKE ACTION DAYS?

Yes, we expect there to be pickets present at the entrances to the University on these days. However, they should not interfere with those who are not involved in the dispute.

HOW WILL IT AFFECT ME?

We have sent communications to all staff who could participate in the strike action and asked them to let us know, in advance, if they intend to take part in the strikes. We hope that staff will inform the school management teams, or students directly, if particular classes will not be going ahead as scheduled. However, it does remain a possibility that some students may arrive for classes, on the strike days, which will unfortunately not go ahead. School management teams will take all necessary steps to rearrange any cancelled classes and affected students will be advised as soon as possible of the alternative arrangements.

WILL THE IMPACT BE THE SAME FOR ALL STUDENTS?

Only a proportion of academic and professional services staff at Keele are members of UCU and it is expected that the potential impact of the industrial action may vary across the University. Be assured that contingency plans are being put in place to minimise the impact as far as possible.

WHAT HAPPENS IF MY TAUGHT SESSIONS ARE CANCELLED DUE TO THE STRIKE?

As we anticipate that many teaching sessions will still take place on the days of strike action, you should continue to attend all scheduled teaching sessions, regardless of the strike action, unless you have been explicitly advised that the session will not go ahead by your School. If your School has informed you that a specific session is cancelled your School will let you know when it has been rearranged.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A COMPULSORY SESSION (E.G. LABORATORY CLASS OR TUTORIAL) IS CANCELLED?

Where a compulsory teaching session does not go ahead due to strike action, there will be no penalty for you (e.g. your attendance record for professionally-accredited programmes will not be affected). However, if the compulsory session does take place and you do not attend, the normal sanctions will apply unless you have a valid reason for non-attendance (N.B. as the taught session went ahead, the strike action would not be considered as a valid reason). You do not need to submit an EC or planned absence form if a taught session is cancelled.

WILL CANCELLED TAUGHT SESSIONS BE RESCHEDULED?

Wherever possible, you will have alternative learning opportunities to mitigate against any loss of teaching activity and to minimise disadvantage to students. Your Head of School will provide specific information. In many cases, staff are providing alternative approaches, activities and various other contingencies to mitigate against any loss of direct teaching activities, to minimise the disadvantage to students.

CAN I STILL EMAIL MY LECTURERS/PERSONAL TUTOR/SUPERVISOR?

Yes, you should continue to email staff whenever you need to, just as you usually would. It may take a little longer to get a response, though, especially if you send an email on a strike day.

WILL THE STRIKE ACTION ONLY INVOLVE LECTURERS?

Some professional services staff are also members of UCU and may therefore be on strike as well. However, plans are in place to avoid any disruption to the support you receive from the professional services areas of the University.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE MONEY THAT IS NOT PAID TO STAFF FOR THE TIME THEY ARE ON STRIKE?

The money that is not paid to striking staff will be ring-fenced for activities that benefit and support students and will be allocated in consultation with the SU and KPA.

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What is a marking and assessment boycott?

The UCU is calling on its members to boycott (i.e. not engage with) activity associated with marking and assessment which contributes to either final (i.e. graduation/completion) or interim (i.e. progression) decisions. This will be with effect from Thursday 20th April 2023, and covers all activities/duties which are associated with summative marking and assessment.

The marking and assessment boycott formally ended on Wednesday 6 September.

How will this action affect my grades?

We understand that some of you may be concerned about the boycott, but please remember that not all staff belong to UCU and that most students will be unaffected. Be assured that contingency plans are being put in place to minimise the impact as far as possible.

Our priority is to ensure that you receive your marks and feedback, and that you are able to progress to the next stage of study or to graduate as expected, as long as you meet the requirements of your course.

If you are likely to experience a delay in receiving grades and/or feedback as a result of industrial action, then you will be notified by your Head of School.

Should I still complete my assessments? 

You should continue to study and prepare for your scheduled exams or other assessments. All exams and assessments will continue to take place as planned, and you should continue to submit your work according to the published deadlines. 

Will this affect all assessments or just certain ones? Will I know which assessments are affected? 

We have sent communications to all staff who could choose to participate in the strike action and asked them to let us know, in advance, if they intend to take part in the boycott. We expect that staff will inform the school management teams, or students directly, if you are likely to experience a delay in receiving grades and/or feedback because of industrial action. Please be assured we are closely monitoring marking progress and will keep you informed.

What is the University doing about the boycott? 

These are national level disputes, and we are fully engaged in the discussions with other USS employers to consider any formal proposals that are likely to emerge through the current triennial valuation.

Our priority is to do all we can to minimise the potential negative impact that a marking and assessment boycott will have on our students. We remain committed to ensuring the best outcomes and experience for our students and we will do everything possible to fulfil this commitment throughout any period of action, and to keeping students properly informed.

How long will the boycott last?

The marking and assessment boycott begins on Thursday 20 April 2023.  

The marking and assessment boycott formally ended on Wednesday 6 September.

FAQs for final year students 

I am a final year undergraduate student, will this impact me graduating?

The University has a policy to support students in the case of major disruption, including industrial action, which we have been using where necessary. The policy allows, in most cases, alternative calculations to be made to module marks without disadvantage, provided that a significant proportion of the module's assessments have been attempted. Different rules may apply to students on professional programmes, but we will do everything possible to ensure that your progression or graduation is not hindered by the industrial action.

Following the undergraduate exam boards (typically at the end of June/early July) you will have received confirmation of your results. In a small number of cases, it has been necessary to make a provisional award and classification due to unmarked work, however you should be confident that this provisional award reflects your academic achievement. We will look forward to celebrating your award with you at graduation in July.

We are working hard with staff to ensure all missing marks are made available as soon as possible, and at that point we will recalculate your award. In the majority of cases, your provisional award can only be raised (not lowered) once final marks are confirmed.

Please note: Unless your school has been in contact with you directly regarding an impact to your progression and/or graduation, your progression and/or graduation will be as normal.

I hold an offer from another institution for higher study which requires proof of award, what can I do?

There will be limited impact for the majority of students. However, should there be a delay to your degree outcome being finalised due to missing marks, the University will issue an interim HEAR transcript for prospective employers and other education institutions (for those applying for postgraduate study).

The interim HEAR transcript will be accompanied by an explanation of the circumstances affecting the assessment of students and the steps that will be taken by the University once normal business resumes.

I have been awarded a provisional degree award and classification - what does this mean?

If you have been awarded a provisional degree award and classification, it means that some of your marks were missing at the time of examination boards, but we have been able to reach a provisional outcome based on the available module marks. When the missing marks become available over the coming weeks, results will be updated and the degree classification recalculated. Any recalculation after the June examination board for finalists will normally only raise (and not lower) your degree class. Minor exceptions to this are students subsequently found to have academic misconduct or those where professional statutory bodies do not allow us to preclude a lower classification from the final outcome.

With a provisional classification, you will still be able to graduate during summer 2023, and we will issue you a provisional certificate and interim HEAR transcript. The provisional degree certificate will be replaced as soon as possible with the final certificate.

Provisional certificates are widely recognised and accepted by both universities and employers until you have been issued with your final certificate. However, should an employer or university ask for additional information or require verification of your award, they should contact Student Records for further information.

When will my provisional certificate be issued?

Your provisional certificate will be posted to you, and you will receive this within the timescale previously notified to you. Once your missing marks are available and we are able to confirm your final degree classification, you will be sent your final degree certificate and your HEAR transcript will be refreshed to confirm this, along with the result of those marks.

Can I appeal against a provisional degree classification?

If you have been given a provisional award and you wish to appeal against any of the marks included in the provisional degree calculation, you need to do so within the normal timescale set out in your award notification. You can do so on the grounds of previously undisclosed valid exceptional circumstances or a procedural irregularity. When the marks currently missing become available and you are issued with your final classification and certificate, you will have a further opportunity to appeal but only against those newly released marks.

FAQs for Level 4 and 5 students

How can I progress into my next year of study when not all of my marks are available?

Boards of Examiners will seek to facilitate and support student progression. Under our policies, Boards of Examiners have the discretion to determine progression where no mark has been returned for the module due to assessment(s) being unmarked or where a partial mark has been returned. The Board will utilise this discretion appropriately, and in line with the requirements of your academic programme of study, and the regulations.

I have been informed of a requirement to RESIT modules over the summer, but I am unsure which modules I need to resit.

Students must resit any module which shows as a fail and for which credits have not been added. These failed modules will be noted on your progression email and on eVision. If you have any doubt around which modules you need to resit, please contact the school teaching that module.

You are not required to resit any module you have been awarded a ‘pass’ for or which is currently unmarked. 

What happens if I have failed a module when my delayed marks are returned?

A small number of modules in a few Schools are returning marks after the exam boards have met. As a result of this delayed marking, your results will be recalculated and you will be notified of any reassessement which needs to be completed. Your School will confirm the details of this reassessment and an appropriate deadline for it to be completed. Wherever possible, we will be encouraging you to complete this reassessment before the start of the next academic year, but it is possible that some students will need to carry over outstanding reassessment(s) into the coming academic year. We will discuss this with you. 

For students requiring reassessments in modules unaffected by the boycott, you will have already received details of any reassessment(s) to be completed and the relevant deadline (in August). 

When will the marking be done for modules where there are no marks or only partial marks available?

The University will make marks available as soon as possible. This may depend on when individual members of staff end their participation in the Marking and Assessment Boycott or on the official ending of the boycott by the UCU. We will support Boards of Examiners to reconvene at the earliest possible point to finalise progression outcomes.

FAQs for postgraduate taught students 

I am a postgraduate taught student and am due to commence my dissertation over the summer, will my supervision be affected?

No, supervision is not covered by the Marking and Assessment Boycott.

FAQs for international students

I am an international student, what impacts might this have on my visa?

You should continue to engage with your programme and submit your assessments as required. The UK Home Office (UKVI) do understand that industrial action can take place during your degree. 

Graduate Route Visa

We understand that the boycott could impact your ability to be eligible to work after your studies in the UK after you have completed your degree. To be eligible for the Graduate Route visa, students need, among other things, to have attained their intended (e.g., BA, BSc, MA, MSc) award conferred by the University.

To support affected students the UKVI have put in a temporary allowance where they will hold Graduate Route visa applications submitted online to the UKVI, for an 8-week period if the UKVI have not been notified of your degree outcome.

This means that if your degree has not been awarded, you can submit a Graduate Route visa application before the expiry of your visa and remain the UK for 8-weeks to enable your degree outcome to be conferred.

You will be notified when the University has informed the UKVI of your eligibility for the Graduate Route visa.

We will do all we can to mitigate the impact of action on completion and progression for all students, as described in the FAQs. If you are concerned that you will not meet the requirements for the Graduate Route or need further advice, please contact visa@keele.ac.uk.

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Additional FAQs

HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION OR ASK QUESTIONS?

If you have any specific queries concerning the impact of missed teaching upon any of the module/s you are studying, please contact your School. If you are a research student, you should contact your Head of School or Director of Research. For more general queries around the impact of the strike action you can call Student Services on 01782 734481 or drop them an email student.services@keele.ac.uk and we'll get a university representative to call you back.  

You may also want to consult ASK in the SU (su.ask@keele.ac.uk) for support and advice.

AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?

The formal situation is that for all universities their terms and conditions state that universities are not liable for any events outside their control, including industrial action. Your university fees are used to provide a wide range of facilities that support you during your entire degree and cover a variety of costs including the teaching of lectures, tutorials and laboratory/practical sessions, as well as access to study and student support facilities. Your fees also contribute to the development and maintenance of our campus and its security, student services, the library and the IT network as well as providing financial support of the SU and KPA.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE MONEY THAT IS NOT PAID TO STAFF FOR THE TIME THEY ARE ON STRIKE?

The money that is not paid to striking staff will be ring-fenced for activities that benefit and support students and will be allocated in consultation with the SU and KPA.

IF I WANT TO MAKE A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE ACTION, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

You will need to follow the usual complaints procedure: keele.ac.uk/studentcomplaints.

WILL THE INDUSTRIAL ACTION ONLY INVOLVE LECTURERS?

Some professional services staff are also members of UCU and may therefore take part in industrial action as well. However, plans are in place to avoid any disruption to the support you receive from the professional services areas of the University.

WHAT IMPACT WOULD THERE BE IF EXTERNAL EXAMINERS RESIGN FROM THEIR POSITIONS. WILL THIS AFFECT MY DEGREE?

The University's policy sets out processes designed to enable the University to conduct assessment-related business in the context of major disruption. Through this, we seek to avoid disadvantage to students whilst maintaining the standards of the University’s academic awards and the rigour of assessment and examination processes.

External examiners scrutinise assessed work and attend exam boards to ensure that the academic standards of Keele awards are maintained. The external examiners at Keele are required to give three months' notice to terminate their contract, which in the majority of cases will mean that the assessment processes this summer are unaffected. Where it is not possible for an external examiner to attend an exam board there are procedures for obtaining their approval to degree results separately, or, if necessary, referring decisions up to the main University Examination Board. Once the strike action has been resolved we will ask external examiners whether they wish to be reinstated in their position.