Guideline on demonstrations

Staff and students of our university have the right to demonstrate. Because questions have arisen about demonstrating during working hours and/or teaching time, the Executive Board has established a guideline regarding demonstrations. This guideline has been discussed within Universities of The Netherlands (UNL) and is effective immediately.

For students

Students naturally have the right to demonstrate, but this right does not entitle them to substitute teaching as this would place significant pressure on both lecturers and the educational organization. As a result, the core tasks of our university would come under such strain that quality would be compromised. The decision to participate in demonstrations lies with the individual student. It is important that the right to demonstrate remains in full force, and that the university applies as much leniency as possible regarding attendance requirements to allow students to exercise this right. However, this leniency does not apply to exams. Students are responsible for making up on any missed learning.

For staff

Staff members who wish to participate should coordinate this with their supervisor. Teachers have the responsibility to ensure that students receive all required learning material within the duration of a course. As for operational management, continuity must naturally not be jeopardized. Within UNL, it has been agreed that staff do not need to take leave to participate in demonstrations related to the budget cuts in higher education and research.

For both students and staff, travel expenses for participation will not be reimbursed. Utrecht University will not arrange transportation to protest locations.

Despite proper coordination in advance, situations may arise in which so many students and/or faculty members are absent that education cannot realistically take place. This constitutes a force majeure situation. Depending on the circumstances, a decision will be made regarding which “solution” can be chosen, including the possibility of arranging substitute teaching, either at the UU level or the faculty level. This is always a tailor-made decision determined through proper consultation and mutual agreement.

This guideline allows space for administrators to explicitly and visibly support a demonstration. In doing so, the Executive Board maintains the principle of considering this only for issues that demonstrably threaten the university’s core tasks: education and research.