Update on AUT
At the meeting of Senate (the main academic decision making body in the University), the following recommendation was put forward by the Senate Business Committee, to be ratified by Senate:
“In the context of the industrial action, the Business Committee recommends to Senate that it agrees as follows:-
Where, in the opinion of the Principal and Clerk of Senate, after consultation with the relevant Dean of Faculty, there is risk that inability to complete the normal assessment procedure may cause irrevocable damage to the interests of a student or students, the Principal shall have authority to amend the assessment arrangements and progression requirements. Such measures will reflect the long-established Code of Practice on Incomplete Assessment and Good Cause, shall not be used in such a way as to disadvantage students, and shall be such as to maintain the University’s academic standards.”
The SRC, after consultation with our student representatives on Senate, the SRC Advice Centre, and Students, decided not to support this course of action. We proposed an alternative recommendation:
“Senate notes the recommendation of the Business Committee but at this time feels the proposals therein are unnecessary and ill conceived.
Senate notes that the aforementioned proposal provides unspecified and wide-ranging powers to amend assessment arrangements in the light of the currently unresolved action short of strike.
Senate further notes that negotiations between the AUT and UCEA are set to re-commence on Monday. Senate calls for a swift resolution of the negotiations and compromise by both parties thus rendering the implementation of the Business Committee’s proposal unnecessary.
Senate recognises its duty of care to all students at the University of Glasgow and we are therefore opposed to the premature introduction of measures which not only lack clarity but appear to afford virtually unrestricted powers to amend the assessment arrangements without recourse to long established governance structures and safeguards.
We are concerned that it is inevitable that students will be disadvantaged by any alternative arrangements, and that the international reputation of the University of Glasgow will be compromised.
Senate resolves to convene a further meeting one week from today, in order to afford senior management the opportunity to report on the progress of aforesaid negotiations. Furthermore Senate requires that the Business Committee provides detailed and prescriptive guidance on the exact nature of the proposed amendments to assessment and progression, in order to ensure on going accountability and effective monitoring. Until satisfied that such provision meets the foregoing criteria senate will not agree to the amendment of the arrangements for assessment and progression.”
The SRC proposed this alternative arrangement as we felt the proposal was a hasty move as negotiations with the AUT were set to begin a few days later. We found the passage to be vague and unclear in terms of the degree to which powers would be delegated. We were worried about the processes which would be used to “create” marks for students and the damaging effect which this would have upon students’ career prospects and the progression throughout the University.
At Senate, after the SRC presented the alternative proposal, there was an hour and a half discussion on the matter, with all angles of the situation explored and many options examined. At the end of this period of discussion, the Senate agreed not to proceed with the proposal from the Senate Business Committee. Instead Senate decided to await the outcome of ongoing negotiations, whilst lobbying the AUT and UCEA to come to an agreement as soon as possible. If an emergency meeting of Senate is needed within the next few weeks to address the situation then one will be called. The University will deal with each development as it comes and consult Senate on any measures which need to be taken.
The SRC will update you on any further changes in the situation. We have written to The Principal, the Head of AUT Scotland and to UCEA, urging all to come to a resolution so as not to further damage the education of our students. The SRC will continue to push and lobby for the best interests of all students. We would urge anyone with concerns to speak to their Department and to the SRC Advice Centre.
If you wish to make a formal complaint about the situation please write to The Principal by filling in a Stage 1 Complaints Form which can be found here