Industrial Action: Maintaining Standards

Professor Jeff Grabill, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Student Education, University of Leeds

I know many students are worried about the strike action and what it means for you. And that’s understandable. I want to take this chance to reassure you about all the work the University is doing to ensure you get the education you deserve and that we create a university community that is truly fairer for all.

Our efforts over the coming weeks will be focused on ensuring that student education is the priority, supporting all heads of schools and their staff to support you, ensuring that any lost opportunities to learn are made up for, and that assessments are appropriate, based on what you are taught.

Those conversations have been happening for some time and will carry on throughout the period of industrial action to ensure we understand fully any effects on students and to do everything we can to minimise any disruption to your learning.

Our actions as a University community will continue to be guided by our underlying principles of protecting the interests of students, retaining the cohesion of our community, and protecting the standard of Leeds degrees and other qualifications.

The University has been working tirelessly to address many of the issues the unions are taking action over, some of which are in our gift to tackle.

We are already working to improve the working lives of our staff, as demonstrated through our Fairer Future For All pledges. These include a pledge to reduce short-term contracts and boost job security, evident in our current recruitment of 100 lecturers to bolster a 10-year curriculum development plan focused on student education.

To be a great university we need to be a great place to work. We must continue to work to ensure staff have a healthier, happier and even more fulfilled work life.

While USS pensions is a national issue and not something that the University of Leeds can address on its own, we are working with Universities UK – which is taking part in national pension negotiations – in a bid to find a solution that works for everyone.

I want to reassure you that help and advice is available to any student who is struggling as a result of the strike action, and the best place to go if you have concerns about your education is your school.

Speak to your Head of School or other academics and staff within the school because they have the greatest understanding of any impact the strikes might have on you and are best placed to listen, help and advise.

The quality of your education and the experience of all of our students remains my top priority and, together with all of my colleagues, we are doing everything we can to minimise any disruption to you in the coming days and weeks.

Covid Restrictions Still Encouraged on Campus, but Why?

(Image credit: Pixabay)

‘Plan B’ covid restrictions were relaxed by the UK Government throughout the country on  Friday the 21st of January 2022. On the same day, ‘Student Communications’ sent an  email to all staff and students at The University of Leeds explaining that from Monday 24th January, covid restrictions on campus were being ‘updated’ to comply with the relaxed national covid guidelines.  

However, on campus staff and students are still expected to wear a face mask, unless  exempt, and to keep a one metre distance from one another indoors. Many students have  been asking why this is still the case if ‘Plan B’ has ended?

It appears the University is basing their guidance on a moral responsibility to ensure collective safety. They suggest  that all current campus restrictions are to make staff and students feel safe and  comfortable, as the pandemic has caused ripples of anxiety and dismay globally. A level of respect for one another is automatically expressed if face masks are worn, something the  student communications team strongly advocates in their email. Furthermore, situational  factors and disabilities are not always visible or discussed. To wear a face mask is for the safety of the collective and not just for the individual.  

Despite this, the relaxation of national restrictions means it has become a personal choice  to follow campus guidelines. Student communications expressed that there are no  academic repercussions if compliance is denied by an individual.  

Therefore, the encouraged rules on campus show that the University of Leeds is asking for  staff and students to be considerate of one another. Signage has been erected all over  campus as a gentle reminder but not as an enforcement. 

Visual encouragements such as signage, raise potent questions regarding the future on  campus. Such implementations have not been given a time limit, so speculation amongst  students has begun with reference to the return back to campus normality.  

This of course raises the question, how much longer will covid be affecting our lives at university? Some students believe it will be until the end of semester two, others believe this may go on for years. A strict time frame  cannot be given to a pandemic and its restrictions.  

Updates are to be closely monitored from the student communications team.