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Durham University
Policies to Mitigate the Educational Impact on
Students of UCU Industrial Action
First published: 29 November 2021
Updated: 4 February 2022
1. Background
1. Participation in the USS pension scheme is an important benefit for many members of staff.
The future of the scheme – its ability to meet the needs of current and prospective generations
of academics – is the subject of a national dispute between Universities UK (UUK) and the
University and College Union (UCU). The issues are complex and important. All would like to
see change; the differences concern when and how. A comprehensive resource for all members
of the community is available here.
2. The UCU has announced industrial action in the form a series of strikes and “action short of
strikes” (ASOS) across the sector, including at Durham. This will disrupt teaching and learning.
3. Students have a reasonable expectation that the University will enable them to progress in their
studies and complete their awards. This policy’s objective is to find a pragmatic means to enable
students to fulfil the learning opportunities and outcomes specified by their programmes of
study.
2. Programme Requirements
4. The Statutes of the University determine that awards are made to students who have completed
an approved course of study and passed the relevant assessments in accordance with University
regulations (Statute 21). Programmes are approved on the basis of a statement of intended
learning outcomes which are delivered through the programme modules and assessed in
corresponding summative assessments. Year-on-year progression is determined in the same
way.
5. Programme learning outcomes, as listed in Programme Specifications, are set at a relatively high
level. Mitigations will ensure that to the best of our ability all students are provided with
essential educational opportunities and are able to meet the learning outcomes of the
programmes on which they are registered.
3. Industrial Action
6. Not all members of academic and related staff are members of the UCU, and not all of those
who are members participate in industrial action. Many classes will proceed as usual. This
policy thus focuses on measure to mitigate the partial cessation of teaching during strike days.
7. Last term, strike action was planned for 3 days, from Wednesday, 1 December to Friday, 3
December. A further ten days of strike action is planned on Monday 14 February – Friday 18
February 2022, Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 February 2022, and Monday 28 February, Tuesday 1
March and Wednesday 2 March 2022.
8. On those days in which a member of staff participates in the strike, their classes will be
cancelled. Cancelled classes may include lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory classes and
individual UG, PGT or PGR supervisions. Some assessment activities may be affected. Some
