The University is currently in dispute with its campus trade unions, which is resulting in strike action by some staff.
While we fully respect the right of our staff to take part in industrial action, the University’s priority is to minimise disruption to your studies and progression as far as possible.
We continue to engage with the trade unions and remain open to constructive discussions aimed at resolving the dispute.
Guidance for students
We’ve provided guidance and answers to questions you may have, which we will update in response to any developments.
If you have a question which is not covered below, please contact the Vice-Principal for People and Student Wellbeing via email vppsw@gcu.ac.uk .
About the industrial action
Background on the industrial dispute
arrow_forward
Like many universities across the UK, GCU is facing significant financial challenges due to a reduction in recurring income. To help secure the University's long-term future, we need to reduce our costs.
Since March, we have been taking steps to manage our budget while seeking to minimise the impact on staff wherever possible. Significant progress has been made through vacancy reduction, voluntary redundancy and careful resource management, reducing the number of roles currently at risk from an original estimate of around 100 to approximately 40.
GCU has a strong track record of avoiding compulsory redundancies and we remain committed to exploring all reasonable options to protect employment. While compulsory redundancy remains a last-resort measure and would only be considered after all other options have been exhausted, it cannot be ruled out at this stage.
The trade unions have commenced industrial action in relation to the University's position that compulsory redundancies cannot currently be removed as a potential option.
We understand that you may be concerned about what this means for your studies. Please be assured that our focus is on supporting you throughout this period, maintaining your learning and teaching experience wherever possible, and helping you stay on track to achieve your academic and professional goals.
While we respect the right of colleagues to take industrial action, our priority is to minimise disruption wherever possible and provide you with the information and support you need during this time.
Strike dates
arrow_forward
The University has been advised that the EIS and UCU trade unions are inviting their members to take strike action on the following dates:
20 to 22 and 26 to 29 October 2 to 5 and 10 to 13 November Throughout the industrial action, University buildings, facilities and services remain open, and you are welcome to make use of the learning spaces, study areas and support services available on campus throughout the day, although some services may be operating with fewer staff.
Please continue to check GCU Learn and your University email regularly for further updates. We continue to work closely with the Students' Association and will keep students updated as further information becomes available.
Crossing picket lines?
arrow_forward
We respect the right of our staff to join a picket line and these usually form on Cowcaddens Road. Staff on the picket line may share their view of the industrial dispute with you but will respect your legal right to pass the picket line and access campus, attend classes and make use of University services as normal.
Impact on your studies Please continue on the basis that your studies will proceed as normal. Unless advised otherwise, you should attend scheduled classes, submit assessments by the published deadlines, and complete all course requirements as planned.
To date, 80% of scheduled teaching has continued to be delivered as normal, with the University taking steps to minimise disruption to students' learning and academic experience.
Where your programme is affected, you will receive further information from your department in the coming weeks about the arrangements being put in place. You will not be assessed on material that has not been taught.
If your class has been cancelled due to industrial action, it may still temporarily show as an absence in SEAtS. Don't worry, we're working to update attendance records as quickly as possible. You don't need to contact us in the meantime.
Attending classes
arrow_forward
On strike days, some classes and assessment activities may be affected. Unless advised otherwise, you should continue to attend classes, engage with your studies and submit assessments as planned.
As staff are not required to notify the University in advance if they intend to take industrial action, we may not always be able to confirm disruption ahead of time. Please check your University email and GCU Learn regularly for updates.
If a class does not take place, you should continue your learning using the resources available on GCU Learn and your course reading lists. You will not be marked absent for any cancelled classes.
Attending classes that involve assessment
arrow_forward
For some courses, attendance and participation in classes contributes to the overall assessment for the course, and some students will have other assessment activities such as presentations scheduled during the period of industrial action. If your classes are running, you are expected to attend these as normal, and no alternative teaching or assessments will be offered in these circumstances.
Teaching and learning affected by industrial action We recognise that students are looking for certainty about what will happen to missed teaching. Significant work is currently underway within Schools to assess the impact of disruption across programmes and we are taking a systematic approach so that any recovery arrangements put in place are proportionate and appropriate. The range of options available will depend on the extent and nature of the impact of industrial action.
As industrial action is ongoing, in some cases this will mean we need to understand the full impact before decisions can be made. However, where decisions can be made now, they will be and we will communicate directly with students once arrangements for their programme have been agreed.
For professionally accredited programmes, we are also liaising with relevant professional, statutory and regulatory bodies and NHS partners where appropriate to ensure any plans meet regulatory and placement requirements.
Coursework deadlines, extensions and feedback
arrow_forward
Where you have been set coursework, you should continue to work towards submitting this on time and on the assumption that normal deadlines and procedures remain in place, including deadlines that fall on planned strike days.
The University is taking steps to ensure students are not disadvantaged by industrial action. Students will not be assessed on material that has not been taught, and Schools are working to minimise disruption to learning, teaching and assessment wherever possible.
In the normal course of events, the University operates a Fit to Sit/Submit approach to assessment. This means that when a student sits or submits an assessment, they are declaring themselves fit to do so. If exceptional circumstances or serious issues arise that mean you do not believe you are fit to sit or submit an assessment, you should follow the University's Fit to Sit/Submit process and make a declaration within the timescales set out in the policy .
Schools will continue to meet published deadlines for the return of feedback wherever possible. However, industrial action may mean that some feedback is returned later than expected. Schools have been asked to prioritise teaching and assessment activities wherever possible to minimise delays.
Attendance recording
arrow_forward
You should continue to attend classes, engage with your studies and complete assessments unless advised otherwise. If a scheduled class does not go ahead, you will not be marked absent. Your SEAtS record will be updated within the same week to reflect this, and your overall attendance percentage will reflect only the classes that took place.
If a class or assessment activity is taking place as scheduled, you should continue to attend and engage with your studies. If attendance is recorded and you choose not to attend, you may be marked as absent.
Will the industrial action affect the Visa Team reporting my eligibility for the Graduate Route?
arrow_forward
No. The Visa Team will continue to process Graduate Route eligibility and will ensure that all eligible students are reported before their current visa expires.
Tuition compensation as a result of industrial action
arrow_forward
Tuition fees relate to the overall programme of study, learning resources and student support that lead to the award of a degree, rather than to individual teaching sessions. The University's responsibility is to take reasonable steps to enable students to achieve their learning outcomes and successfully complete their studies. The University, in line with relevant terms and conditions, will not be offering tuition fee refunds.
The University continues to support students who are affected by industrial action. This includes mitigations put in place to ensure that students are not disadvantaged in exams, dissertations or in progressing to the next year.
Will professional accredited programmes and qualifications be affected?
arrow_forward
The University is liaising with relevant professional, statutory and regulatory bodies and NHS partners, where appropriate, to ensure any plans to mitigate any lost learning will meet regulatory and placement requirements.
International students on a Student Visa
Impact on my current Student Visa status
arrow_forward
As long as you remain enrolled and engage with all non-disrupted elements of your course, industrial action will not negatively affect your Student Visa, CAS or overall right to study in the UK.
Attendance and Engagement
arrow_forward
You must continue to attend as normal. If a scheduled class, lecture, seminar, lab or tutorial is running, you are required to attend and check in using SEAtS. Standard attendance monitoring rules apply to all classes that are running, and you must engage fully to comply with the requirements of your Student Visa and protect your immigration status.
If you arrive for a scheduled class and it does not take place, you should continue your learning using the resources available on GCU Learn and your course reading lists. You will not be marked absent for any cancelled classes.
Working Conditions
arrow_forward
The conditions of your Student Visa remain unchanged. Class cancellations during term time do not turn term time into a ‘vacation period’. You must continue to adhere to the weekly working hours permitted by your visa (i.e. a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time).
Student support and wellbeing
Contacts
arrow_forward
We understand that industrial action may be an unsettling time for some students. If you have any non-academic enquiries , require support, or are concerned about your wellbeing, please contact the Campus Life Desk on Level 1 of the George Moore Building, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. The team can provide information, answer questions and help connect you with the most appropriate University support service.
Using University buildings and services
Access continues
arrow_forward
The University will remain open during industrial action and students can continue to access University buildings, including the library. While some services may be affected on certain days, we will make every effort to minimise disruption and keep students informed of any significant changes.
