See how to submit a complaint if you were impacted by the marking and assessment boycott during the summer resit period (August 2023).
Submitting a complaint
Find out how to submit a complaint relating to the period of industrial action associated with:
- the 2023 marking and assessment boycott and,
- if you continue to have provisional results or missing marks.
The scheme is available to you if the University's determination of your academic outcomes in the August 2023 resit period was impacted by the marking and assessment boycott (Summer 2023). This is not a re-opening of the University's previous marking and assessment (Summer 2023) complaints scheme, which is now closed to new complaint submissions.
Background
Thank you for your cooperation and understanding during this current period of industrial action.
As you will be aware, the trade union representing some university staff (University and College Union / UCU) had been participating in industrial action in universities across the country, including Sussex.
The marking and assessment boycott, which began on 20 April and concluded on 6 September 2023 has been the main focus of this industrial action. Staff who choose to take part in the marking and assessment boycott did not undertake marking or associated assessment activities, including invigilation and the processing of marks.
The University is currently taking steps to manage the end of the marking and assessment boycott but it is recognised that students continue to be differentially impacted by their Summer assessment period resit results and their overall stage results.
See further information and updates concerning this period of industrial action.
Responding to your concerns
The University’s priority is to ensure that any disruption is minimalised and mitigated as much as possible for our students. Earlier in the summer a bespoke process was available to those impacted by the assessment outcomes of the Spring 2023 semester examination boards. Another bespoke process is now open and only available to those impacted by the assessment outcomes of the Summer 2023 resit examination boards.
Industrial action complaints (Summer 2023 resit) procedure
This procedure will consist of two tiers: Tier 1 and Tier 2 (if applicable).
Our responses to any complaints raised via this scheme will address the marking and assessment boycott’s impact on the Summer 2023 resit period only. Any matter raised that is not associated with this industrial action period is likely to be referred to alternative university procedures/policies for consideration.
Timeframes
Concerns considered under this procedure must be received in accordance with the below timeframes. Where a student submits their concern early, they will be required to resubmit their concerns at the appropriate time.
A University of Sussex student may submit a concern under this procedure as outlined below:
| Student status | First date of eligibility | Last date of eligibility* |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate finalist students | 29 September 2023 | 20 October 2023 |
| Undergraduate continuing (progressing) students | 29 September 2023 | 20 October 2023 |
*until 11.59pm of the stated date.
For Postgraduate research students, you are eligible to submit your concerns under this procedure where you have received confirmation from either the Student Records Office or the Exams and Assessment Office confirming that you have been impacted. Any postgraduate research student who believes they have been impacted and not received confirmation should contact the relevant team, where confirmation will be provided (if applicable) and referral to this procedure will take place.
If you submit a complaint after the above stated timeframes, it is likely that the University will issue you with a letter explaining that you are out of time.
The University reserves the right to consider concerns outside the published timeframes at its discretion.
Tier 1 – Assessment stage
On 29 September 2023, an online form was made publicly available to all students to submit their concern/s regarding this period of industrial action. The deadline has passed to submit a Tier 1 request.
All students who submitted an on-time Tier 1 assessment via this procedure will receive dedicated correspondence at the earliest opportunity.
If you have any queries regarding the Industrial Action (Summer Resit period 2023) complaints process you can contact complaints@sussex.ac.uk.
If you submit a complaint outside of our time limit, it is likely that the University will issue you with a letter explaining that you are out of time.
For students who submitted on-time applications:
- we will respond to any individual concerns regarding this period of industrial action only – any matter raised that is not associated with this period of industrial action is likely to be considered via a different procedure
- accepted Tier 1 applications are anticipated to receive an outcome within 20 working days of receipt – all Tier 1 outcomes are expected to be communicated by 17 November 2023
- we may need to get in contact with you for further information, if this is required to conduct an assessment – your outcome will be communicated within 20 working days from receipt of full articulation
- the University may consider your Tier 1 application withdrawn in the event we do not receive a reply where further information is requested.
Tier 2 – review stage
We hope that the Tier 1 stage of this procedure will address your concerns. In the event that a concern remains, you are eligible to request a review of your Tier 1 outcome under any of the grounds specified below (if applicable).
A Tier 2 review is not a re-assessment of your concern/s. It considers your ongoing concern on three grounds.
These are:
- there were procedural irregularities in the Tier 1 assessment stage and this irregularity had a material effect on the outcome
- there is new evidence that was not considered at the previous stage, and, this new information reasonably could not have been provided earlier
- the outcome of the assessment is unreasonable based on the weight of the evidence.
You will be eligible to request a review on any of the above applicable grounds for 15 working days, from receipt of your Tier 1 outcome.
In order to submit a Tier 2 review:
- you must be in receipt of your individual Tier 1 outcome
- your request for a Tier 2 review must be submitted within 15 working days of receipt of your Tier 1 outcome in order to be considered.
A Tier 2 outcome (response) is anticipated to be provided within 20 working days of receipt and acknowledgement, if determined eligible for consideration.
We may need to get in contact with you for further information if this is required, to conduct a review and determine eligibility.
The University may consider your Tier 2 submission withdrawn in the event we do not receipt a reply where further information is requested.
Please note, the University may need to vary the above timescales in order to ensure that your concerns are appropriately considered and responded to. We will contact you to make you aware if this is the case and provide you with any variations required.
Use the online form to request a Tier 2 review.
Support
You can get advice and support about your complaint from:
- the Students’ Union Advice Team, part of the University of Sussex Students’ Union
- advisory staff within the Student Centre.
Completion of Procedures
You will get a Completion of Procedures document when we have reached a point where we cannot pursue your complaint any further.
The University’s decision on this is final.
You can use your document to request an independent review.
Independent review
If you have exhausted our complaints process, or you have received a Completion of Procedures document, you may wish to contact the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA).
The OIA provides an independent scheme for the review of university student complaints and appeals.
Other appeals and complaints
This process should not be used if you wish to appeal a final mark or assessment result.
For this, read about our process for academic appeals. You have 21 calendar days from the publication of your final results to submit an academic appeal.
You can also raise concerns and complaints about anything else you feel has gone wrong by reading our complaints procedure.