News

Students’ exams & industrial action by the AUT

(12 May 2006)

Durham University’s Vice-Chancellor has written to all final-year students to explain that their planned degree ceremonies at the end of term may have to be ‘celebrations of achievement’ rather than graduations, if some lecturers continue to take industrial action that prevents the processing of exam results.

Sir Kenneth Calman says in his letter: “I must highlight that we hope the dispute will be resolved soon and that degrees will be conferred in the normal manner during the Congregation ceremony. However, if this is not possible, and the nationwide pay dispute is not resolved, there may be some delay to the marking of examination scripts and the production of pass lists.” If so, the ceremonies would be held to celebrate students’ academic achievements, but they would not legally confer degrees. As soon as possible afterwards Sir Kenneth would confer the degrees in writing. Exams begin as normal on 15 May. No exams are being cancelled and an enlarged pool of invigilators is on standby to cover any gaps caused AUT members taking action. The University Senate decided, in consultation with students’ representatives, that it would not be appropriate to compromise on academic quality. Degrees will therefore be awarded on the normal set of marks, for the normal range of exams and other work – even if the AUT action makes that process longer than usual.