Did UC Santa Cruz deans send an email to graduate students threatening retaliation?
False. The deans of the Division of Physical and Biological Sciences and Baskin School of Engineering sent an email to graduate students in those divisions about research course credits.The email encouraged graduate students enrolled in research courses that earn academic credit to “discuss with your instructor the continuing expectations for satisfying the course requirements, and ensure that you continue to receive the important training and experience that the course is intended to provide.”
Students who are enrolled in research courses are engaged in academic study that is not employment subject to a strike. The right to withhold labor applies only to employment. A research course for academic credit is assessed based on the progress made in the course. Failure to make academic progress in an academic course may impact credit for that course.
The email also noted that the “university fully respects the right of every graduate student employee (GSR or ASE) to decide for themselves whether to withhold their labor as part of the announced UAW strike action.”
Read the full email:
The university fully respects the right of every graduate student employee (GSR or ASE) to decide for themselves whether to withhold their labor as part of the announced UAW strike action.
Students who are enrolled for research course credits are performing academic work that is not employment subject to a strike. The right to withhold labor applies only to employment and does not apply to academic work done for course credit.
If you are enrolled for research course credits, we encourage you to discuss with your instructor the continuing expectations for satisfying the course requirements, and ensure that you continue to receive the important training and experience that the course is intended to provide.
