On Tuesday 27th Feb the Students' Union met with the University's Deputy Vice Chancellor to represent the concerns of students over the impact of the current strike action (see full story). Today the Deputy Vice Chancellor has responded in an email to all students, as follows:

Dear students

Thank you all for the patience and determination you have shown over the last two weeks in dealing with the impact of the industrial action on our campuses. We understand that the strike is affecting some of you more than others but we are committed to keeping you all updated as far as we can.

As UK law does not require staff taking part in strike action to inform us in advance of their intention to do so, it is not possible to be certain how the action is affecting individual modules. Nonetheless, both the University and the Students’ Union have been monitoring the impacts of the strike as best we can and we have been collating your questions and concerns.

I want to assure you that your voice is being heard and that we are taking note of the pressures you have felt. Although there has been an impact on some teaching, we are doing all we can to ensure that your education is not adversely affected by the industrial action.

In response to the issues you have raised, I would like to highlight four specific matters:

1. Those students who have incurred expenses for a trip or visit that has been cancelled due to the industrial action and cannot be rearranged will have those costs reimbursed through our Hardship Fund, where salary deductions being made for staff taking industrial action are being directed. Please contact your department or school for more information.
2. For all students, including those from overseas, I want to reiterate that your attendance record will not be affected by the strike. If you come to campus and your class or lecture goes ahead as normal, just tap in and out as you usually would. If your lecture or class does not take place, or you decide not to come in and it does go ahead, you do not need to tap in and your attendance record will not be adversely affected.
3. We understand your concerns about the impact on your academic supervision and assessment outcomes. We are doing all we can to minimise the impact and are keeping a close eye on the effects of the strike in this regard:
   • If you have any concerns about your academic supervision for dissertations or other coursework, whether undergraduate or postgraduate, please contact your Department or School as soon as you can, and they will advise you on the appropriate next steps depending on your circumstances.
   • Where you feel your academic performance has been affected adversely by the strike, you should consider submitting an extenuating circumstances application, along with evidence of the impact you have personally experienced. The Board of Examiners will consider every application carefully and determine if and how it should be taken into account. Find out more about the extenuating circumstances process on our website and the issues you should consider before applying. The Board of Examiners will also be made aware of any significant strike impact on particular courses or modules so they are in a position to take it into account.
4. While a number of you have asked about fee refunds or reimbursements, I am afraid that the University will not be making any refund payments. It is our intention to ensure that the overall impact on your learning is as minimal as possible and that all of your intended learning outcomes are met. We are committed to ensuring that you will still be able to access the wealth of materials on offer to support your education and that you will be fairly and properly assessed.

The week before last we held a briefing for staff and students, regarding the proposed pension changes and the related industrial action. A recording of the briefing is online.

Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Anthony Forster, published a blog expressing our University’s position on the proposed USS pension changes. The blog has been featured in the Times Higher Education online.

I know this has been, and will continue to be, a difficult time for our students. Please be assured that you remain at the heart of everything we do. Stay in touch, and please keep talking to your Department or School and to the Students’ Union. We will continue to monitor the impact of the industrial action and to ensure that your learning outcomes will not be adversely affected.

Once again, we apologise for the disruption this industrial action may cause you. Our students are at the heart of everything we do and we will do all we can to keep you as informed as possible.

Professor Jules Pretty

Deputy Vice-Chancellor