Durham University

[KingscoteStaff]

The continuation thread for those with DC at Durham, or applying to Durham, or alumni, or staff!

January 2022 finds our DC packing their big coats, checking the forecast for snow and wondering when Michaelmas actally is...?

Assemble!
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Oh I’m glad it sounds like he’s getting sorted and that uni are now aware @Peaseblossum22 . Sorry to hear of your back problems though! - at least that means you can’t be tempted to be anything other than ‘hands off’ I guess. I hope it improves soon .. I have much sympathy as a past sufferer myself.

Have come up to Durham to visit DS. I can't believe students are sitting exams not knowing if they will be marked.
Does anyone know about the legal stance of the contract the universities have with the students? How do you find out what their obligations are?
I do understand why the lecturers feel they need to strike but I really can't support them making students suffer like this. It's the same as if doctors went on strike over their pay and conditions which they have done only for 1 day in history and that was a pre planned event for junior doctors with senior cover so that patients won't suffer ......

I know it's not life and death but it's a young person's future ........

Geography department seems particularly badly hit.

One of DS's 3rd year friends has a Law conversion course place dependent on him getting at least a 2i in his degree and a first in his disertation. Everyone's telling him that something will be sorted, but the uncertainty can't be condusive to these final weeks of revision and study.

What on earth is being done to the peace of mind of the Corona cohorts?

Here are the ballot results for Durham
www.ucu.org.uk/media/12733/Durham-University---USS-reballot-results-Apr-22/pdf/Durham_University_20220408_USS.pdf

it’s such a small number who are perusing this and whilst some of their grievances are valid after four years of action they gave gone backwards and lost a lot of pay . One wonders how much more they will be prepared to lose

Most of the marking will have been finished well before the boycott is due to start. The university and union are negotiating hard behind the scenes to avert this on a local level (i.e. in this scenario they wouldn't take part in the national boycott due to improvements promised by the university for its staff).

I would be cautiously optimistic and please urge your DC not to panic and just crack on with exams - as a BOE member and non-striking academic I can reassure you that we are doing a TON of marking right now and proceeding as usual (obviously the academics who usually strike are also marking as usual because the boycott would not start for some time even if it went ahead). Students will graduate and get degrees. There is a lot of slack built into the system. Everything is going to be okay.

This is not meant to be patronising or belittling, just an insider's view.

Thank you for that message @SchnitzelVonCrummsTum . My dd got an email from her head of department last week during her second exam, which started by saying that Durham was one of the universities where the members had voted for the marking boycott and saying it’s their right to do so. I can’t believe the head of the department would send that actually during a 24 hour exam. To divert the students attention away from their academic work during an exam makes me so angry. Students who have no discount on their fees, and have had to work through covid and strikes.

Thank you for the input @SchnitzelVonCrummsTum

I think @SpringSparrow post has shown not academics think the same way as you.

DS would only finish his least exam around 22nd May ......... I do Hope lecturers crack on and get it marked.

DD finally got an offer last week and has been allocated Van Mildert.

Any feedback on this college would be much appreciated!

I hope your DD likes ducks cocopops

My DS isn't there but he has friends there and they are very happy.

I think the vast majority end up loving their college even if it wasn't the one they originally wanted.

My DS loves Durham (the college, the University and the city) and I hope your DD does too

@cocopops my DD's not at Mildert but has friends who are - it's good for dance if your DD is into that and it's a solid college choice from what I hear

DS1 is in Van Mildert (not through choice!) and having the time of his life. The buildings are eyesores, the food is terrible but the students are a very broad church and a fun crowd. He is very happy there.

Thanks! It was my DD’s 8th choice and she was initially really disappointed but when we looked at the facilities she cheered up a bit. She is really into music and was glad to hear they’ve just taken delivery of a Steinway grand so that works in its favour. I agree the buildings are ugly and from what we can tell (had to hunt internet for photos), the rooms aren’t too swanky either although I am pleased in that it’s presumably easier to pick up and drop off by car at term start and finish than the Bailey colleges?

I will keep quiet about the food, I think. 😏

Dd says everyone she meets likes their own college. Lots of friendly rivalry too with other colleges! . One of DD’s course friends was reallocated last year to VM and loves it so I think that means the collegiate system seems to do its job very well there.

Marking boycott is off due to DUCU and university management reaching an agreement to help address some of the worst problems staff at Durham are facing at the moment. Note this only applies to Durham, and only to the current mandate i.e. up til October 2022.

Great news @SchnitzelVonCrummsTum

twitter.com/ucuatdurham/status/1527688589466816513?s=21&t=MGQxHIesFdeebVPRl69g1Q

Hi - anyone made plans for picking up for end of term? Do they need to be out of halls 24th june? My sons house doesn’t start until July 1st.

Last year they could stay in College until July 1st, but that could have been a Covid thing.

Does he have any 2nd year friends that he could camp with until he can get into his house? Or park some kit that he doesn’t need at home over the summer?

Dd has to be out on morning of 25th @WentworthMillerMad . They can’t get into their Yr 2 place til sept.
Your Ds could look into a storage perhaps ?
Dd is relieved she doesn’t have to clear out every term next year. Although (imo) it did mean it was less messy 🙄

My DS also has to be out of his college room on the morning of Saturday 25th June. He is coming home that afternoon

He can move into his year 2 accommodation from Friday 1st July.

We looked and there are lots of student storage units that will provide boxes, collect the stuff, store it and deliver it to the new address. Wasn't unreasonable a cost but we can fit all of Ds's stuff in the car, probably just not Ds so he might have to hop on a train but he is prepared for that.

Ds will be moving out way before the end of the contract and his new accommodation is from September. We will move lots of stuff in then like kitchen items, bedding etc but return to move the rest of his stuff in for when term actually starts but it is an easy day trip for us living in Yorkshire.

I know some students store things in friend's houses, just make sure they are covered insurance wise just in case.

Wow I haven't been on here for a while, didn't even know about the strikes!

@cocopops My ds is at Van Mildert. Completely agree with comments that it is fairly ugly esp. as compared to the Bailey, food is not great but my ds is loving it. It was not his first choice and in fact was his third allocation due to the craziness last year. His room is tiny and on top floor in a corner but he said it has actually been nice and quiet in hindsight. His kitchen stinks both literally and figuratively, so he is looking forward to having a proper kitchen in second year. One good thing about VM is that you don't have to clear out each term, so if you live many hours away like we do then at least you only have to make the long drive twice a year. Also, the drop-off is easier as it's not in the Bailey. And there is a lot more space to move around outside. Not sure if relevant to your dd but ds likes the gym too and it is super cheap. And he likes the bar...unsurprisingly.

Re: pickup, we are doing an early pick up next week due to various logistical issues in our family, so we will leave him with just a few belongings to bring back on the train when he has finally partied himself out. He finished his exams last week!

Hhhh

Anyone else going up for graduations next week?

@MargaretThursday my dd has just finished Year 2 so no graduation this year. How was your ceremony?!