Strike action: Plans to support learning and assessment and mitigate disruption

The Pro Vice-Chancellor for Student Experience and Academic Standards updates students on plans to continue to support your learning and assessment, and to mitigate the disruption caused as a result of the recent strike action.

Dear student,

As many of you head home for the Easter break, I want to update you on our plans to continue to support your learning and assessment, and to mitigate the disruption caused as a result of the recent industrial action.

I know that the last few weeks have been difficult and challenging for some of you, with some teaching and learning disrupted.

We are very sorry this situation has arisen and want to reassure you that we are working hard to ensure we can provide you with a clear understanding of what mitigating actions will be taken to address the disruption caused by the industrial action.

You should have received detailed information this week from your School setting out the actions that will be taken for each module affected by the strike.

If you have not yet received this, please check your University e-mail and Learning Central.

You can also contact your School Office who should be able to provide you with this information.

I am pleased to let you know that we have set up a dedicated enquiry line and e-mail address if you have further enquiries and questions related to the disruption caused by the industrial action.

The Industrial Action Student Helpline, 029 2251 1333, will be open on working days during the Easter recess – Tuesday 27 March to Friday 13 April – between 9am and 5pm.

You can also send an e-mail to: disruptionadvice@cardiff.ac.uk and we will do our best to respond to your enquiry as quickly as possible.

I can also confirm that the examination timetable will be published on schedule on Thursday 29 March 2018.

Examinations will go ahead as planned, and the examinations will assess the learning delivered.  If exceptionally it has been necessary to make changes to examinations and assessment as a result of disruption to modules, you will have been informed by your academic School.

Some of you have asked about requests for extenuating circumstances. I can assure you that all Examining Boards will be made aware of all direct disruption to teaching caused by industrial action and the mitigation actions taken.

I can confirm that all modules directly disrupted by the industrial action will be regarded as having a defect or irregularity in the delivery and/or assessment of the module and therefore you will not be required to report these issues as extenuating circumstances.  Appropriate adjustments will be made.

You should continue to report all other extenuating circumstances, for example relating to illness or other personal circumstances, in the usual way.

Further information on how to do this is available at: https://intranet.cardiff.ac.uk/students/study/exams-and-assessment/extenuating-circumstances

Some students have raised the issue of compensation and this has been widely referenced in the media. Our priority and commitment has been and continues to be to ensure that all students are provided with appropriate opportunities for learning and assessment.

Please continue to monitor the information published via the student Q&As, Learning Central and via e-mails from your School. We will update information on a regular basis.

Finally, we expect graduation to proceed as planned and invitations will be sent out shortly.

Yours sincerely,

Professor Amanda Coffey

Pro Vice-Chancellor, Student Experience and Academic Standards