The University has been advised that the University and College Union (UCU) will be undertaking two days of strike action on campus on Wednesday 25 and Thursday 26 May. The information below aims to provide students with the details they will need in relation to scheduled exams. 

Q. Will all exams be going ahead?

A. Yes. The exam timetable has been set for some time and will be going ahead as planned, so students are able to complete the requirements of their courses.  It is a priority for the University that final year students are able to sit their exams and graduate this summer.

Q. Will there be picket lines outside of the exam halls?

A. No. Legally, the picket lines have to be held off campus grounds but in practice we allow picket lines within the main entrances to the University for safety reasons.

Q. Will I be able to get to campus on public transport on exam days?

A. Both rail and bus services will be operating. However, bus drivers may choose to drop off and pick up at Falmer station so they are not crossing the picket line. Students should allow extra time to potentially walk across campus.

Q. Will I be able to access campus with my car?

A. Yes you will. All car parks will be open as normal and all roads leading onto and off campus will be accessible.

Q. What happens if I am delayed getting to an exam as I have been talking to staff on the picket line?

A. Students should allow extra time to get to their exams so they are able to turn up 15 minutes ahead of start time as usual.  If a student is over one hour late, they will not be allowed to enter the exam room, as is standard University procedure. If they arrive within the first hour they will be able to take the exam but will not be given any extra time to complete the paper due to lateness.

Q. Does the strike qualify as an ‘exceptional circumstance’ for not turning up to an exam?

A. No, this activity is planned by UCU with advanced notice for participants.  An exceptional circumstance is defined as an event or situation that is sudden, unexpected and temporary, such as an acute illness. If a student is taken ill, they will need to provide a doctor’s certificate via the online exceptional circumstances claims process to be considered for this criteria. This is the standard University procedure.

Q. What happens if I don’t want to cross the picket line to get to an exam?

A.  Any student who doesn’t turn up for a scheduled exam will be marked as absent.  They will be given a resit by the progression and award board scheduled in the summer vacation assessment period (August/September).  This means their grade will be capped at the pass mark threshold of 40% for modules at levels 4, 5 and 6 and 50% for modules at level 7.

Q. What happens if I have a contract with the University to work but also have an exam on a strike day? 

A. Students will be expected to attend the exam as scheduled. Exam scheduling is really complex and provides for a maximum of one exam per day per student. It is not possible to reschedule the exams at this late date as this would impact on other students. In addition, marking of exam papers, moderation and checking has been scheduled to allow for graduation and adequate notice for revision for those students required to take a resit.

• Any students who have additional questions can email internalcomms@sussex.ac.uk or tweet to @SusxUniStudents.