Author: UCU Nottingham

Posted on

Motion on Higher Education Sector Finance

The following motion was passed at the Wednesday 3rd February branch meeting.

This meeting notes:

  • the lack of leadership from the University of Nottingham in publicly lobbying the government for a sector wide deal.

This union branch believes:

  • Whilst other sectors have had success in openly challenging Government to step in and support them, the only defence of HE has come from unions, whilst UUK has remained mute. Financial losses incurred by universities due to the pandemic should not be borne by staff who have been working under immense pressure to continue to deliver high quality education to our students.
  • that without a sector wide deal financial losses will be unsustainable and the damage to the sector irreversible.

Therefore, this meeting resolves:

  • to urge the University of Nottingham to use its weight within UUK and the Russell Group to publicly lobby the UK Government to provide adequate financial support.
Posted on

Summary of Meeting with UoN – Student Experience / Blended Teaching

UCU met with University management to discuss concerns on the 11th Nov 2020

UCU concerns:

We are still in a position where we are asking staff to deliver in person teaching in the middle of a lockdown. As you know, UCU national position is that all non-essential activity should move online and, as local branch, we have asked that online teaching and working be the default position, with staff being given the choice to opt-in to face to face. We believe that this would be the best solution for all concerned. It is unlikely to result in great disruption to the current provision and changes would be manageable.

Continue reading “Summary of Meeting with UoN – Student Experience / Blended Teaching”
Posted on

Summary of Meeting with UoN – Finance

UCU met with University management to discuss concerns on the 11th Nov 2020

UCU asked for update, with info re Covid spending

UoN update:

When Covid struck in March, we lost £43m income (commercial, research, tuition), approximately half of it related to a reduction in research income. We would have been in dire straits in August, at the end of the financial year, and therefore had to introduce stringent spend controls. The Emergency Finance Group chaired by Andy Long was created to monitor spend. The finance plan worked better than anticipated and the net debt position (£100m) is as strong as we could have hoped going into this financial year.

Continue reading “Summary of Meeting with UoN – Finance”
Posted on

Summary of Meeting with UoN – Health & Safety

UCU met with University management to discuss concerns on the 11th Nov 2020

UCU concerns:

Data of asymptomatic testing is not made available, allegedly due to ethical approval issues. The ethical approval should be reviewed so that data can be shared.

Testing on site needs to be more accessible, particularly for BAME staff and students Rise in staff active cases earlier this week.

Suitability of ventilation in smaller rooms, especially with requirement of keeping windows open and weather becoming colder.

Number of students coming forward for test (both asymptomatic and symptomatic dropping), due to fears of being required to self-isolate. There are also serious concerns regarding student compliance with H&S measures, like wearing masks in study spaces and buildings.

Continue reading “Summary of Meeting with UoN – Health & Safety”