Although some staff members are striking, Newcastle University has put measures in place to protect students who could be potentially affected by the boycott. These measures will allow them to graduate this year or progress onto the next stage of their degree programme. While students may be worried about what mark they will receive, the university also acknowledges the anxiety that comes with situations like these.
In order to mitigate the impact of the boycott on students, Newcastle University follows a ‘No Detriment’ approach. This means that, where possible, the university will create a temporary calculation of final grades based on the marks available to them from the rest of this academic year.
Speaking on the ‘No Detriment’ approach, Newcastle University Students' Union Education Officer Mack Marshall said:
“The No Detriment Approach [...] is to ensure students who are directly affected by the Marking and Assessment Boycott can progress onto the next stage of their programme or graduate, where possible. This is essential for those affected students but we recognise that this won’t be applicable for all programmes and Schools will inform those students if this is the case. All students’ assessments and work will be marked, when the marks are to be returned may be delayed.”
Due to this approach, students will be given a temporary estimated mark to graduate with. Once marks are received following the boycott, grades will only increase; limiting the fear of a decrease in classifications.
In terms of transcripts and certificates, students graduating this year may receive an ‘interim unclassified award’ instead of a classified degree. However, this will only remain until all final marks are received and will be replaced on the transcript with either a higher grade or remain unaffected. Students will still be able to graduate, but certificates will only be issued once an actual degree classification has been awarded by the Board of Examiners (BoE).
All assessments will be marked, and students will receive their marks, even if they are delayed by the boycott. Students should prepare for and take assessments as normal. If you decide not to sit examinations or submit assessments as you suspect they will not be marked in time for graduation, you will receive a mark of zero.
A Newcastle University spokesperson said:
“It is really important students continue to prepare for assessments and/or examinations as planned and submit work and sit examinations as usual. The University has a ‘no detriment’ approach to enable students whose assessments are impacted by the marking and assessment boycott to progress to the next stage of their programme, or graduate, where possible, with the reassurance that their academic outcomes will not have been seriously affected by industrial action and they will be able to continue on their programme or be awarded a degree classification that reflects their achievement.”
The spokesperson continued,
“Our Education Continuity Group, which includes our student Sabbatical Officers, continues to meet regularly and has clear guidance in place that aims, where possible, to mitigate the impact of this action on our students. Heads of School are monitoring the impact as the assessment period progresses and will be writing to those students likely to be impacted and will continue to provide further advice and support.”
If students would like any further support at this time, please reach out to the student wellbeing team at the university. This can be done online at ncl.ac.uk/wellbeing.
As negotiations were interrupted earlier this year and disruption continues, Newcastle University Students' Union would like to minimise this and has created an open letter to the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) and the UCU urging them restart negotiations.
Speaking on the open letter, Mack Marshall continued:
“We have launched an open letter to the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association (UCEA) and UCU, the two parties involved in the dispute, urging them to restart negotiations and resolve the dispute as quickly as possible, so students’ work is marked in a timely fashion, and the disruption to their future prospects is minimised. Students can sign the open letter through this link, https://nusu.co.uk/news/article/open-letter.”
For more information on the ‘No Detriment’ approach and what this means for you and your degree, visit https://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/industrial-action-22-23/no-detriment/. All updates on industrial action can also be found at https://www.ncl.ac.uk/students/industrial-action/.
