Your time at York

Dear finalists

Over the last few days, we’ve been sharing your degree award letters and I wish to congratulate you on all the energy and sheer hard work that you have put into your studies.

You have been through so much in the last few years, and you have all demonstrated what it means to be part of a community that embodies creativity, empathy and resilience. Never underestimate what you can achieve, and I hope you can use these qualities as the bedrock for how you approach your next steps.

For those of you who don’t yet have your degree or final degree classification because of the marking boycott, we are truly sorry. I know many staff have worked tirelessly to try and find alternative, well-qualified markers, and we will not stop these efforts until we can let you know your final outcome.

If you’re still waiting, I can imagine you are incredibly angry and frustrated. There is advice and guidance on our industrial action FAQs, about what to do next and how we will support you. You can also read more about how both the University and the local UCU are trying to push for reform at the national negotiations to bring an end to the action. 

Ultimately, the current national pay offer is not what staff deserve. But we also need to recognise that we are in a broken UK higher education funding system, which leaves many universities in a position where higher UK pay rises creates severe financial difficulties. A marking and assessment boycott is not the answer. Yet I know that for those caught up in this appalling disruption, a national resolution has not come quickly enough.

This means that our 2023 graduation celebrations may be bittersweet for some, but I hope that everyone is able to come together to recognise all you have achieved. These ceremonies are very special occasions, to mark a lifetime connection to each other and to York, with all your supporters, family and friends looking on. 

We will no doubt find time in these ceremonies to reflect more on the challenges you have had to face over the last few years, but for now, I would like you to know how proud the University is of you. 

With best wishes,

Charlie
Vice-Chancellor and President