Deadline extension for marking and assessment completion

18 Sep 2023

An update from Adèle Mackinlay

Earlier this month, we updated colleagues that following an agreement with national UCU, MAB officially ceased on Wednesday, 6 September and participating colleagues were required to prioritise and complete all their outstanding marking and assessment duties.

We had hoped to avoid further industrial action, however we respect colleagues’ legal right to participate and note the upcoming strike days scheduled from Tuesday, 19 to Friday, 22 September, and from Monday, 25 to Friday, 29 September inclusive.

We hope colleagues will complete their marking and assessment duties as soon as possible to reduce further delays to our students, but in consideration of these strike days and through talks with the local branch of the University and College Union (UMUCU), we have extended the deadline of completion to two weeks after this period of strike action has concluded, with a new deadline of 13 October 2023.

All colleagues who participated in the marking and assessment boycott (MAB) are required to prioritise (over non-teaching duties) and complete all their outstanding marking and assessment duties, including but not limited to posting, releasing, uploading marks feedback and/or moderation duties (where moderation duties are still available to fulfil) within a maximum of two weeks (not including any formal period of approved leave - annual leave, parental leave etc.) from the last day of upcoming strike action, assuming that strike action goes ahead. Therefore, colleagues must submit all outstanding work by Friday, 13 October 2023.

While it is unfortunate that additional strike action is due to take place, we believe that the extended period provided to allow colleagues to prioritise and complete marking represents a reasonable period to ensure that they can complete all outstanding work, so we can return marks to impacted students as quickly as possible.

Reporting participation in local action

We are continuing to update our detailed guidance and FAQs relating to the above, and they have been updated to include information on upcoming strike days and information relating to the reporting process for participation in the September strike action.

Adèle Mackinlay

Director of People & Organisational Development