They are allowed to demonstrate, but not at the expense of education or research
No second chance for students who miss an exam to attend a protest
Students and employees protesting in the Alternative Opening of the Academic Year. Photo: DUB
Earlier this year, all universities in the Netherlands drew up a joint set of "guidelines" for protests (link available only to those with a Solis ID). The document states that demonstrating is permitted but universities will not make any special arrangements for protesters, such as rescheduling classes or offering additional opportunities to take exams. Utrecht University writes on its website that it will be lenient regarding attendance requirements.
Students are allowed to demonstrate, but those who miss classes or exams to protest will not be given a catch-up class nor will they be entitled to two extra opportunities to take the exam. According to UU, doing this would increase its employees' workload. Teachers are also allowed to demonstrate as long as classes are not hindered. Other university employees are allowed to demonstrate as long as the “continuity of business operations” is not jeopardised. In addition, they must obtain permission from their managers to miss those working hours. In this particular case, UU is being lenient by not demanding employees use their own vacation hours to protest the cutbacks.
The Executive Board also writes that when many students or teachers are absent from a class, making it impossible, this will be considered a "force majeure situation". In that case, the possibility of arranging customised replacement classes is still on the table. Furthermore, the board says that administrators can support demonstrations or strikes if education and research are "demonstrably threatened".
UU not closing its doors
UU will not provide buses to transport students to Koekamp, in The Hague, where they will be demonstrating on Friday against the fine to penalise students who take more than one extra year to graduate. They will also protest a reduction in the monthly benefit received by students. The demonstration is organised by the national student union (LSVb).
When meeting the Executive Board on September 30, the students in the University Council asked if the university could accommodate students who wanted to demonstrate by not teaching in the afternoon. They also asked whether students who miss an exam that day would be allowed to retain their right to a resit. UU will not be accommodating these wishes.
On Thursday, November 14, there will be a national demonstration against the one-billion-euro cuts in the higher education budget. Organised by the education union (AOb), this protest will happen here in Utrecht. UU will have to cut 35.1 million euros from its budget in the next calendar year as a result of the government's cutbacks. The university is consulting with all faculties and services to figure out how to save this much money. UU estimates that it will have to cut an additional 10 percent of its budget in 2026. During the meeting with the University Council, UU President Anton Pijpers said that the university supports the demonstration "but we are not closing the university."