Latest update on the UCU national industrial action
Industrial action
Industrial action
Industrial action
Industrial action
Update on 20 September 2023
The University and College Union (UCU) announced on Wednesday 6 September that the Marking and Assessment Boycott, which started on 20 April, has been withdrawn with immediate effect. We are prioritising the return of marking and continuing to update those students who are awaiting marks, with the intention that all outstanding marks and awards will be issued to students as soon as possible.
Following discussions between the University and leaders of the Exeter UCU branch, we have reached an agreement which has resulted in the planned strike action for 25-29 September being called off.
This means there will be no strike action on our Exeter or Cornwall campuses.
This period of industrial action ceases on 30 September. We hope that national talks will lead to an agreed resolution. We would like to acknowledge the constructive engagement with the Committee of the Exeter UCU throughout this challenging period.
Compensation scheme
The Industrial Action Compensation Scheme is now open for applications for students impacted by the industrial action during the 2022/23 academic year – either through strike action, or the Marking and Assessment Boycott. There is more information and how to apply on our web page and the FAQ below.
Please remember, our Wellbeing Services in Exeter and Cornwall are available to help you with free advice, guidance and support should you need it. You can also find further details in the FAQ below.
If you have questions about your own specific situation, please contact industrialaction@exeter.ac.uk.
Information about the marking and assessment boycott
The UCU ended the marking and assessment boycott on 6 September 2023, with immediate effect. We are asking colleagues to prioritise their marking now the boycott has come to an end.
For taught students, it is our intention to get work marked as quickly as possible. As we receive your marks, we will send them to you at the earliest possible opportunity after our quality assurance processes have taken place. This process usually takes approximately 10 working days.
If you are a postgraduate research student and your final assessment or upgrade viva was delayed because of the marking and assessment boycott, we will work with you and your Exam Board to rearrange it for the earliest mutually convenient date.
If you are a finalist with missing marks because of the marking and assessment boycott, you will be provided with an interim transcript based on the marks achieved until that point. You can download or print your formal transcript from the results section of your student record, via iExeter. It will show your modules studied and marks to date.
If you have a graduate job offer, or an offer of postgraduate study, we have provided a letter for you to share with future employers, or higher education institutions, to explain the reason for any missing marks. All affected finalists should have received a copy of the letter to their University email address on Thursday 29 June.
You will receive a digital copy of your full transcript with a degree classification once all marks have been received, and we will also post hard copies shortly afterwards.
We have developed a self-service ‘classification estimator’ which undergraduate and postgraduate taught students can use to model the degree classification you are likely to achieve based on your marks to date. This will not provide a final, confirmed result but offers a helpful guide.
We have worked with other UK universities to agree a position on allowing students to progress to postgraduate taught programmes where their marks to date meet the conditions of their offer but where, due to industrial action, they have not received their final degree results.
UK employers are aware of the current industrial action situation affecting all Universities in the UK and we are in contact with employer associations in the UK to make them aware of the industrial action, and the impact on students, so they can advise their members accordingly.
If, after you have used the interim transcript, employer/higher education institution letter, and the classification estimator, your employer/further study provider is still not able to confirm your employment/further study, please email industrialaction@exeter.ac.uk for advice.
If you plan to apply for a Graduate Visa you have until the date that your current Tier 4/Student Visa expires to submit an application. Your degree award needs to be confirmed before you can apply. If your degree award has not been confirmed please contact International Student Support via email or a drop in and they will be able to advise you on your options.
If an in-person assessment is cancelled and you have not been notified in advance, you can make an expenses claim to cover your travel costs, if you would not have otherwise been on campus that day. In line with the University’s policy on sustainable travel, any student travelling from outside EX1, EX2, and EX4 postcodes (Exeter) or TR10 and TR11 postcodes (Cornwall) is able to claim travel costs when they travel to campus and all sessions they were set to attend are cancelled without notice due to industrial action. (Those who travel to campus from within these postcodes with a valid exemption because they need to use public transport or their car, for example on medical grounds, will also be able to claim expenses.)
If you meet these criteria, you can contact industrialaction@exeter.ac.uk and provide details of your claim. In order to make a claim, you’ll need proof of costs, e.g. a train ticket. You will also need to note the date, time, and details of the assessment which was cancelled. If you have a valid claim, you’ll be sent an expenses form to complete and your claim will then be paid.
Additional information for taught students
Our guiding principle is that as many students as possible should be able to progress, whilst ensuring we protect academic outcomes. If your marks have been delayed, we have adapted some of our usual requirements so you can progress to your next stage of study - we are doing this to ensure no one is prevented from progressing solely as a result of the Marking and Assessment boycott. We outlined these new policies in our communication to taught students on Wednesday 31 May.
Summer assessment results were released to you by email on Wednesday 28 June, and results from the summer referral/deferral assessment period were released on 5 September. The email explained your individual situation in relation to any missing marks, next steps and where to go with any questions, or for support.
You should be able to progress to the next stage of your programme if you have a passing average across the modules where your marks are known, and normally with not more than 60 credits outstanding (subject to any restrictions imposed by external accrediting organisations).
If, when your missing marks become available, there are modules you have not passed and we are not able to condone the modules (i.e. you must pass them in order to complete your course) you will have options to:
- Resit the module assessment in the next available referral period or,
- Repeat your study, which includes attending all teaching and submitting all assessments for those modules.
As part of our commitment to ensure no students incur additional academic costs as a result of the industrial action, we have waived all referral fees for all students for assessment resits arising from the academic year 2022/23, regardless of whether or not the referral is related to the Marking and Assessment boycott.
In addition, we will waive tuition fees for those students repeating study during the next academic year (2023/24) because of the impact of industrial action. Where students trail modules in 2023/24 and subsequently fail, they will be offered a repeat study year in 2024/25 with the fees waived.
If you have a general question, or a specific question about your own personal academic circumstances, please email industrialaction@exeter.ac.uk. We have colleagues on hand who will be able to review your current situation with you and offer personalised guidance or advice. They can also help you should you need us to provide letters to any future employers or higher education providers, explaining the reason why you have missing marks.
No, as part of our commitment to ensure no students incur additional academic costs as a result of the industrial action, we have waived all referral fees for all students for assessment resits arising from the academic year 2022/23, regardless of whether or not the referral is related to the Marking and Assessment boycott.
In addition, we will waive tuition fees for those students repeating study during the next academic year (2023/24) because of the impact of industrial action in the academic year 2022/23.
For placement programmes, we have agreed to waive any academic requirements in the first year. This means that all students on placement programmes, whether or not they have missing marks will be able to continue on their programme. This also means that you can begin applying for placements for your third year as soon as you wish.
For those on a study abroad programme, where you study for a semester or year at one of our partner institutions, we aren’t able to waive the academic requirements as these are part of our agreements with our partners. This said, any student with missing marks who cannot yet confirm their year 1 stage weighted average will still be able to continue on the programme. If as results come in, you find that you do not have the required stage weighted average the Outbound Team will discuss your options with you at this time.
The Outbound team will run sessions during the application period (1 November – 15 December) for students to discuss next steps. Alternatively, you can book a 1-2-1 session with the Outbound team during the same time period. You can contact the Study Abroad team if you have further questions.
Information about accessing further support and wellbeing resources
We understand that this may be a concerning or upsetting time. Please do reach out for support if you need it:
Students based in Devon
Support for you
There are sources of support available to you for both academic or marking/assessment concerns and for any emotional impact this may have.
Academic Support
If you have an academic question about your personal circumstances, please email industrialaction@exeter.ac.uk. We have colleagues on hand who will be able to review your current situation with you and offer personalised guidance or advice.
When you receive your results, your Hub/Info Point will be able to advise on certain academic queries, such as what your outcome means for you and support you in understanding the University’s policy. Our Hub/Info Points are open for walk-in, telephone or SID enquiries from 9am until 5pm Monday-Friday.
Wellbeing Support
If you have concerns about the impact of the Marking and Assessment boycott on your emotional, mental health or wellbeing, you can book a drop-in with wellbeing services here. Wellbeing Services also has instant chat available from 2pm-4pm Monday to Friday throughout the summer, available through this link.
If you are under Health and Wellbeing Support for Study or have been receiving regular support from your Education Welfare team, please find information on how to make contact with them or book an appointment here. The Education Welfare Team also has an instant chat advice service available to all, and you can book a meeting with them using this link.
Students based in Cornwall
Support for you
There are sources of support available to you for both academic or marking/assessment concerns and for any emotional impact this may have.
Academic Support
If you have an academic question about your personal circumstances, please email industrialaction@exeter.ac.uk. We have colleagues on hand who will be able to review your current situation with you and offer personalised guidance or advice.
When you receive your results, Penryn Information Point will be able to advise on certain academic queries, such as what your outcome means for you and support you in understanding the University’s policy. The Information Point on Penryn campus is open for walk-in or telephone queries from 9am until 5pm Monday-Friday and you can book an appointment here.
Wellbeing Support
If you have concerns about the impact of the Marking and Assessment boycott, you can drop in to see the student support team. Visit The Compass helpdesk located in the library, call 01326 370460, or email studentservices@fxplus.ac.uk to book. The team also has a 24/7 helpline open 365 days a year and talking therapies you can access by calling 0800 0318227 or by Whatsapp: text “Hi” to 07418360780.
If you are under Health and Wellbeing Support for Study or have been receiving regular support from your Education Welfare team, please find information on how to make contact with them on their website.
The Education Welfare Team also has an Instant Chat advice service for all, or you can book an appointment with them using this link.
The Industrial Action Compensation Scheme has been introduced to provide compensation as a gesture of good will to students who have been impacted by industrial action, either in the form of strikes and/or the marking and assessment boycott, during the 2022/23 academic year and we welcome applications. You can find further information and how to apply on our web pages.
Postgraduate Research students who have been impacted should contact the Doctoral College for their case for compensation to be considered, on an individual basis.
Information about the national disputes
During the 2022/23 academic year, some members of the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) took industrial action in the form of strikes and/or action short of a strike, including a marking and assessment boycott in relation to two national disputes. The industrial action in relation to the national dispute about changes to the national Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS), which came into effect in April 2022, covered more than 60 higher education institutions and was paused in spring 2023 (see FAQ on pensions below). The industrial action in relation to the national dispute on UCU's 2022/23 claim for pay and working conditions for university staff, which covers more than 140 institutions, ends on 30 September 2023. UCU is currently balloting for national industrial action in relation to the 2023/24 national negotiations on pay and conditions. For more information about the two disputes, click on the questions below.
The University of Exeter's Executive Board and Exeter UCU (EUCU) agree the time, energy, and effort going into a stalemate is not beneficial for our community and we have jointly strongly encouraged the national UCU and UCEA to re-engage to address the areas that we are working on locally, as detailed in our progress update on the January 2023 joint statement.
Recognising the cost-of-living pressures facing colleagues, higher education employers brought forward the 2023-24 national pay negotiations. In January 2023 UCEA, representing more than 140 participating HE employers, made a pay offer which prioritised the disproportionate effect of high inflation on colleagues on the lower part of the national payspine, with a minimum increase of 5% for all other members of staff.
Part of this increase was implemented in February 2023, with the balance be applied from in August 2023. (National pay uplifts are normally implemented in August each year.)
National talks facilitated by Acas led to joint statements being issued on 17 February, 2 March and 14 March. These talks recognised that nations discussions on pay had reached “an impasse, rather than an agreement”. The talks, which have now concluded, led to terms of reference for further time limited national negotiations on a review of the national pay spine, workload, contract types and pay gaps. (See “What are higher education employers / the University of Exeter doing about working conditions?” below.)
UCEA has advised trade unions that the 2023-24 is at the limit of affordability for the sector and that given the current financial situation there is no possibility of this being revised. UCEA has offered to work with trade unions to conduct an independent review of sector affordability.
At Exeter, our joint University and Exeter UCU statements in January and June 2023 confirm the value the close working relationship we have with our campus trades unions. These statements set out the actions we have taken and further actions we are committed to taking.
To date, we implemented the increase to the Living Wage Foundation’s Living Wage in September 2022 (earlier than the normal date of November), providing an increase of approximately 10% for colleagues in grades B and C. We implemented other changes to grades B to F in November 2022, benefiting around 60% of colleagues - more info on this is online.
We are committed to a further ongoing review of salaries paid by our competitors to identify any roles or grades which should be priorities for further changes, recognising budget pressures, to ensure that the University is able to recruit and retain staff and deliver its strategic priorities and an excellent student experience.
The University and Exeter UCU have jointly encouraged all parties to re-engage with the national pay spine review proposed following national talks facilitated by Acas in the Spring and to start a conversation about the university sector’s finances with the aim of reaching a mutual understanding ahead of the 2024/5 pay round starting in January 2024. We welcome the recent announcement that UCU have accepted UCEA’s invitation to participate in a joint review of sector finances.
In Spring 2023 UCU members voted to move forward with pension proposals agreed with employers (set out in the joint UCU and Universities UK (UUK) statements of 17 February and 15 March. These proposals look to return the USS pensions scheme to a comparable level of future benefits as existed before the April 2022 changes, and to achieve a reduction in costs for members and employers, should the forthcoming 2023 valuation allow.
UUK and UCU have also agreed to work together so that the 2023 valuation (and future valuations) are undertaken on a moderately prudent and evidence-based basis, taking account of the open and long-term nature of the scheme.
The independent USS Trustee has agreed to complete the valuation within an accelerated timetable, with a view to achieving positive benefit change from April 2024.
The USS Trustee has been consulting with UUK, as representative of employers in the Scheme, on the Technical Provisions for the 2023 valuation. On 26 September 2023, a consultation will begin with members of the Scheme on proposed changes to Scheme benefits, to be brought into effect from April 2024.
UUK are also working with UCU on a constructive dialogue with the Pensions Regulator and the Department for Work and Pensions, taking account of the long-term nature of the USS scheme and the unique nature of the Higher Education sector. This includes submitting a joint response (with the independent USS Trustee) to the Pension Regulator’s consultation on the Defined Benefit (DB) funding code.
Joint work is continuing on low-cost options for employees who want more flexible pension contributions.
At Exeter, we are continuing to progress our Fair Employment For All initiative, which this has led to improved working arrangements for Postgraduate Research Students employed as Postgraduate Teaching Associates and more than 750 staff on fixed term contracts being converted to open-ended appointments. The University will continue to work with EUCU to review and reduce the use of non-permanent contracts in teaching and introduce a new procedure for staff employed on successive fixed term contracts or engaged over at least 3 successive years on eClaims to seek a review of their contact status. We will also work together to review arrangements for colleagues employed on externally funded projects to move between positions in order to maintain their experience within the University and provide greater continuity of employment. Our aim is for non-permanent contracts to be the exception.
The University and EUCU welcome the improvement of the University of Exeter Gender Pay Gap in 2022. (Progress on closing the equality pay gaps are shared online.) The University will continue to work with trade unions and other stakeholders, through our equality groups, to progress and monitor the commitments set out in the Race Equality Charter and our Athena Swan accreditations and action plans which will have a positive impact on the student and staff experience, and address historic inequalities in staff salaries. We will work together to ensure the positive contribution Our Culture Conversation can make in appropriately identifying further improvements to colleagues’ working environment is realised and together monitor the effectiveness of actions
The University and EUCU will continue to work together to review the effectiveness of the implementation of the new University academic workload principles, which have been agreed by the University Executive Board following recommendations from a working group chaired by Professor Alex Gerbasi, which included representation from EUCU. Currently, a similar development of principles for Professional Services is underway. The University will continue to work with trade unions, locally and nationally, to share, develop, implement and review principles and best practice for the management of the workloads of academic and Professional Services colleagues sector-wide
Our commitment to further joint working with UCU on these issues is set out in our Joint University and Exeter UCU statements in January and June 2023.
While national negotiations agree changes to the national payspine and non-pay issues are negotiated at institution level, the higher education employers’ organisation, UCEA, has offered joint work with trade unions to develop guidance on good practice on employment contracts, workload and pay equality, for implementation at local level. Further time-limited national negotiations on these issues were agreed with trade union negotiators in the spring (see the joint statements issued on 17 February, 2 March and 14 March., but subsequently rejected in an e-ballot of UCU members. UCEA has confirmed its readiness to re-engage with trade unions on these terms of reference.
The University and Exeter UCU (EUCU) strongly encourage re-engagement with the terms of reference agreed at Acas as we believe these have the potential to lead to meaningful change for the sector.
The University and the Guild and Students’ Union will work in partnership to determine how best to use the pay that is withheld from colleagues who participate in strike action. As in previous years, we will ensure that funds are allocated to initiatives that directly benefit our students and enhance their experience and wellbeing. Further information, including details of how the funds have been allocated, will be shared in due course.