A response from the University...

Sadly, a generic response with little detail and no regard for the issue of reimbursement. I have replied to pursue this point specifically. ----- Many thanks for your e-mail to the Principal and others regarding your concerns about the UCU strikes which have been announced over a four-week period starting Monday 26th February 2018. We understand that you will be concerned about the potential impact of the industrial action on your studies and we very much regret the concerns that this situation raises for all of our students. In terms of avoiding the dispute, this national dispute centres on proposals to change the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension scheme. Unfortunately the University of Edinburgh cannot act alone to resolve it. We definitely recognise the concerns of many staff - lecturers and support/professional services staff - about the pension changes. The issues are complex, however - with the many other institutions involved - we will continue to seek and to do everything that we can to reach a negotiated agreement. If the action goes ahead, the University will seek to minimise the impact of any action on students whilst maintaining academic standards, and a group of senior colleagues from across the institution is working hard to co-ordinate plans for this. Meanwhile, we need to stress that not all staff within the University are members of the UCU and so the industrial action may not affect your course at all, or the effect may be less than the loss of 14 days' contact time. The University will be open as usual during the action and will seek to ensure that as many academic and support activities continue to operate as usual. We will be in contact with all students with a further and more detailed update very shortly. Updates will also be posted at https://www.ed.ac.uk/student-administration/heaction