This week we have sent out a number of updates to our Sussex community about the marking and assessment boycott. Please see below what we have communicated with our audiences.

Information for staff 

This action, known as Action Short of a Strike (ASOS) is on a continuous basis from Monday 23 May 2022 until 7 October 2022 unless advised otherwise by the University and College Union (UCU). This action is due to the UCU calling on their members to take action in relation to ongoing, national disputes about pay, working conditions and pensions. Sussex is one of more than 20 universities who are still proceeding with a boycott of all marking and assessment processes.

University Executive Group (UEG) members and UCU local and regional representatives are continuing with ongoing talks to explore possible ways to resolve this dispute, in particular the marking and assessment boycott.

If you choose to participate in the marking and assessment boycott, then you are required to notify the institution on or after 23 May 2022 that you are participating in the action, providing information about the date on which your marking and assessment duties start, which you will be able to do via this electronic form – which is now live. Please can you complete this form by 5pm on 27 May 2022.

All staff who are taking any form of industrial action need to co-operate with their managers and provide information about participation in ASOS now the start date has passed.

• Please see our FAQs page for further information about ASOS and pay
• Please see our Industrial Action webpage for the latest information
• For updates on the USS pensions position from UUK go to https://www.ussemployers.org.uk

Information for PGRs

The impact on PhD students will be minimal as UCU have confirmed the boycott does not extend to PGR internal/external examiners, vivas, doctoral conferences, thesis panels, progression reviews or associated administrative procedures. If you are reaching the end of your doctoral studies, you should submit your thesis as usual.

UCU have advised members that they should deliver on external examining obligations so there should be no impact on the examination of your thesis. Your PhD supervisor/s will be able to provide more information on the details of the examination of your thesis.

Should any unforeseen issues arise, please be assured that we will mitigate any impacts on your studies at Sussex.

Information for students

We have been providing information to students and you can see that guidance on the Student Hub

Best wishes,

Rachel Mills
Provost and Chair of the Combined Joint Negotiating Committee