Our e-consultation on the University’s ‘Transforming the Academic Year’ project opened late on 15 May and closed at 12 noon on 21 May.
The University is considering three options, which members were asked to rank in order of preference:
- Option 1: No changes to the academic year, but workload peaks will be addressed ‘through changes to process, practices, systems and behaviours’.
- Option 2a: 12-week teaching semesters retained, but earlier start to the academic year, shorter Easter ‘break’, and the addition of an intensive marking week for staff/short break for students between Semester 1 and Semester 2.
- Option 2b: Number of Semester 1 and Semester 2 teaching weeks reduced to 11, shorter Easter ‘break’, and the addition of an intensive marking week for staff/short break for students between Semester 1 and Semester 2.
We received 76 responses, which, while low, exceeds the quoracy requirements for branch votes. The results were as follows:
| 1st-pref. votes | 2nd-pref. votes | 3rd-pref. votes | |
| Option 1 | 26 | 25 | 20 |
| Option 2a | 3 | 33 | 32 |
| Option 2b | 47 | 11 | 14 |
Option 2b is therefore the preferred option of those members that voted, securing an absolute majority of all 1st-preference votes. Option 2a was the least-favoured option, with fewest 1st-preference and most 3rd-preference votes.
Thank you to everyone who took part, and thank you to the Regional Office for organising the vote at short notice.