You may be aware that the Universities and Colleges Union (UCU) has asked its members to participate in national industrial action from 6 November. The action takes the form of a comprehensive boycott of all assessment and marking activities by those UCU members who choose to participate.

This action is in response to proposed changes to the Universities’ Superannuation Scheme (USS), one of the pension schemes provided by universities for their employees. UCU intends to continue its action from this date until there is a negotiated settlement.

We very much regret the decision taken by UCU but it is unclear how many of our academic colleagues will join the boycott. We are currently investigating the potential impact of this on student progress at Kent and the ways any such impact may be mitigated.

We are at the same time working with Universities UK who are leading negotiations with UCU on behalf of universities. We are encouraging them to fully explore all the options and alternatives to the proposals currently under discussion.

We will be contacting you again with more information when we have it. In the meantime, please attend all timetabled events including teaching, assessments and examinations. Your academic school will contact you should they be aware of any industrial action affecting your modules.

If you have any urgent enquiries, please contact me by email at the address below.

Jon Pink, Academic Registrar
Academic Division, University of Kent
academicdivision@kent.ac.uk