Refunding of fees arising from UCU industrial action

Clifford Moth submitted on

Monday 10th February 2020

Complete

What is SUSU doing to ensure that the University refunds fees to students who have been impacted by last years UCU industrial action especially in view of the expected forthcoming action? I am aware that SUSU is supporting the action by UCU but at present that seems to be no more than words, as if no refunds are to be made then the only direct effect of the action is to gift the University with money that they are not paying to striking academic staff. If students have been affected by cancelling of lectures etc surely it also beholds SUSU to secure refunds on behalf of the students that you proport represent.

Answers

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Emily Harrison submitted on

Thursday 27th February 2020

Complete

Hi there,

Thanks for your You make Change submission.

Unfortunately the University are unlikely to offer individual compensation for everyone affected. This is partially because it would result in a very tiny amount for each person but also because tuition fees do not solely pay for lectures but also the resources and facilities you use (such as the libraries, Sport and Wellbeing facilities, Enabling services, etc.). This makes it very hard to work out what you would actually be entitled to, as all of the other services are still in place for you to use throughout the strikes.

Having said that, following the previous strike action all of the withheld lecturers’ salary was put into a pot which was spent on improving student experience in various ways. This included improving air conditioning and acoustics in teach spaces, funding a trial of the weekend shuttle bus between WSA and Highfield campuses and improving the library by updating the collection and digitising them so they were more accessible to students.

If you would like to get in touch with the University directly about compensation, the best email is studentcomms@soton.ac.uk.

I hope this helps to answer your query but if you'd like to discuss this further, please feel free to get in touch with me via president@soton.ac.uk

Kind regards,

Emily Harrison,

SUSU President, 2019-20.