LATE campaign latest: MMUnion asserts independence in response to UCU statement
We are extremely disappointed that the UCU have publicly attacked the LATE campaign and the independance of the Students' Union from the University. We are also disappointed that it has been linked to an individual’s disciplinary case within MMU when the campaign itself has no connection to the disciplinary matter.
The LATE campaign is entirely the property of the students’ union. We are independent of MMU. Our ability to remain autonomous and take an opposing position to the University on issues affecting our members is core to all we do. However we have always been able to maintain a professional and respectful approach. It is simply untrue to say the students’ union is an instrument of the management and there is little evidence to support such a statement; we are the representatives of the students and the students alone and have demonstrated this many times over the years.
The LATE campaign was undertaken in response to reports of lateness and cancellation of classes from students and existing university systems. Most significantly the National Student Survey results within the ‘Organisation and Management’ category fell 3% to an average satisfaction rating of 61%, which is 12% below the national average. In addition references were made in the 2008 Faculty AME results as well as course rep feedback. Further investigation revealed a complete lack of data or means of quantifying the issue.
We have repeatedly stressed to the UCU that we are merely representing what is important to students and trying to ensure students receive the learning they are entitled to. We believe there are a number of factors that may contribute to late or cancelled lectures, we also believe that it is necessary to measure a situation to be able to manage it and improve matters. The objective of this campaign is to look at ways of minimising dissatisfaction to students who can struggle through peak time traffic to attend one lecture, only to find on arrival it has been cancelled. This is our usual representative activity being carried out in a more modern way.
We wrote to the UCU explaining the rationale behind the campaign and sought to assure them that we value the professionalism of academic staff. It was our intention to meet with UCU representatives to offer further assurances on this point once we became aware of their uncertainty. We hope the UCU will adopt a more helpful approach to the campaign and grow to understand what we hope to achieve by it. It is possible for the UCU to influence the situation positively by working with us in a way that reflects a genuinely student focused community, but we feel this will require a change of approach on their part.