Financial sustainability

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 dispute over the planned merger of the School of Humanities and School of Social Sciences and the proposals for redundancies.

The University and College Union (UCU) will be on strike on: 

• Monday 28 April
• Tuesday 29 April
• Thursday 1 May
• Tuesday 6 May
• Thursday 8 May.

Who is taking strike action? 

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) will be taking strike action, which includes both academic and professional services staff. Not all staff, including not all academic staff, are involved. 

Why is the Union in dispute with the University? 

The financial challenges that are currently facing Keele, and the university sector nationally, are well publicised. We have worked hard over several years to position Keele as well as we can to face these challenges. The last two years has seen increased challenges in student recruitment due to increased competition for recruiting UK students, and an unpredictable international student recruitment landscape. This has therefore meant that we have had to take measures to reduce our costs.  

We need to act to protect the University's long-term future and ensure that we continue to provide a first-class education experience for students and deliver world class research. 

We’re bringing together disciplines into a new single School of Humanities and Social Sciences. This will make it easier for staff and students to collaborate, spark new ideas, and open up exciting opportunities to work across different subjects. Students will benefit from fresh approaches to learning, more inclusive curricula, and new programmes shaped around what students need and want. 

Whilst there will be a small number of staff cost reductions, we will maintain favourable ratios of staff to students, thus safeguarding the student experience.  

Students in the new School will still get the support that matters – from academic mentors, careers and employability leads, disability inclusion tutors, and placement teams. And just as importantly, the student voice will continue to shape your education. All the current ways to share feedback and work with staff to improve the learning experience will stay in place. 

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 strike action 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. 

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. 

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. 

What support will be offered to disabled students whose DSA-funded support was affected by last-minute cancellations? 

If students are entitled to DSA funded in-person support and a teaching session has been cancelled without adequate notice (as required by the support provider), then it is likely the fee for this service will still be due. This would normally be paid by the University or DSA depending on the funding arrangements. If you have any questions about this or any other support arrangements, please contact the Disability Support and Inclusion team.

What arrangements will be made if a student cannot engage with alternative materials due to access needs? 

In line with Keele’s commitment to Inclusive Education, we do not envisage a situation to occur where a student cannot engage with alternative materials due to access needs. If this does occur, you should contact your Head of School.  

What should students do if their assessment performance is negatively impacted? 

If you feel that your assessment performance has been negatively impacted by industrial action you can consider submitting an appeal. Further information on appeals can be found here.  

Will Keele temporarily lift the three-extension limit on 7-day coursework extensions? 

Students have access to up to three automated extensions per semester for eligible assessments, and students can continue to utilise automated extensions. If teaching has been affected, wherever possible, you will have alternative learning opportunities to mitigate against any loss of teaching activity and to minimise disadvantage to students. Therefore we will continue with the current limit of three extensions per semester. If you would like to discuss support related to automated extensions, exceptional circumstances, or any other support need, please contact Student Services.  

Will students be reimbursed for travel or childcare costs where re-scheduled sessions create financial strain? 

Students that meet the criteria can apply to the Hardship Fund for support. Further information can be found here.

What happens if a postgraduate student misses a scheduled supervision session due to strike action? 

It is expected that any missed supervision sessions will be rescheduled. If you have any concerns about missed supervision sessions, you should contact your Head of School or Director of Research. 

Will students be penalised for choosing not to cross a picket line? 

Students will not be penalised for choosing not to cross a picket line during industrial action, such as a strike. While students are not employees and don't have the same legal protections as staff, they are free to make their own decisions about attending classes. However, you should be aware that any decision not to attend classes could impact your studies and you may be contacted by the university about your attendance. 

As noted above, 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).

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. 

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.

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.