Motion on Personal Tutoring
Aberdeen UCU passed the following motion at its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 16 May 2012 regarding Personal Tutoring:
AUCU is concerned about University proposals to introduce personal tutoring without negotiation, contrary to a previously negotiated agreement.
AUCU objects to the removal of honoraria for advisors without compensation - in effect a pay cut and worsening of terms and conditions.
AUCU recognises the importance of student welfare and support, but does not think changes should be imposed at the cost of extra burdens on staff time and loss of earnings at a time when the University has enjoyed an increase in its funding.
AUCU is concerned that compelling staff to undertake this role may lead to poorer support for students and the potential for increased workloads for junior/less powerful members of staff.
AUCU calls upon the University to enter meaningful negotiation about the future of advising and abide by its earlier agreement with UCU.
Joint Statement on Undergraduate Advising
In May 2010 AUCU agreed the following joint statement with the University:
In giving effect to the recommendations contained within the Senate Working Party report on Academic and Pastoral Support for Students, the following joint statement has been agreed between the University and AUCU:
The University requires more academic staff to be Advisors of Studies. Advising is recognised as a natural component part of an academic member of staff’s role and is also acknowledged as not being a compulsory activity. Advising forms part of the range of duties that may be allocated as part of the normal process of negotiating workload allocation between a Head of School and a member of Academic staff. There will be no change to the current administrative arrangements for confirming advising commitments.
In delivering the recommendations within the Senate report the University will seek to enhance the advising role by developing robust administrative procedures, adequate and timely training, effective IT systems, workload modelling and equitable and transparent treatment of those undertaking advising duties across all non-clinical, undergraduate degree programmes. For a three year period commencing academic year 2010/11 the total allocation of funding for advising will be ring-fenced at its current level and during this period advisors will continue to receive an honorarium directly proportional to the total number of advisors and the number of students allocated to each advisor. The undergraduate advising system will be monitored on a regular basis through JNCC.
Our intention is that advising will become an activity that most academic staff will find rewarding and will be happy to undertake as part of a balanced and diverse academic workload. This position will be reviewed jointly at the end of the 3 year period through JNCC with the view to joint recommendations being brought forward.
May 2010
