Cambridge Students’ Union (SU) sabbatical officers have backed a contentious set of policies designed to mitigate future marking boycotts, which would allow students to graduate with exams unmarked.

Ahead of an upcoming vote on the proposals, the SU’s undergraduate president, alongside other SU officers, has signed a statement in favour of the measures.

The statement claims that Cambridge’s lack of rules to protect its students from marking boycotts places them at a “distinct disadvantage” compared to their peers at other top universities, and leaves Cambridge vulnerable to “significant reputational damage”.

The vote was tabled by biostatistics lecturer Dr William Astle, who claimed that students are “being treated as consumers”.

His motion came after the University tabled a set of policies designed to mitigate the impact of future marking boycotts, following severe strike disruption in the summer of 2023.

The proposed motion removes the section of the proposals which would supposedly allow students to graduate with exams unmarked. This amended set of proposals will now be voted on by staff.

The SU-backed comments were published in a series of “fly-sheets” - statements circulated ahead of a vote among staff, signalling their signatories’ views on a particular issue.

One fly-sheet in favour of amending the proposals argues that allowing students to graduate before receiving their grades would “diminish the academic credibility of the University and the academic credibility of its degrees”.

The statement, signed by 32 staff members, also claims that Cambridge’s proposals were produced due to “pressure” from the Office for Students, the regulator of UK higher education.

“Although the OfS is obliged to act in the interest of students, in this case we believe it is attempting to defend them as consumers at the expense of standards,” the flysheet claims.

Another fly-sheet claims that Cambridge would risk its “academic integrity,” were it to allow students to graduate with unmarked exams.

“Crossing this line will erode the trust placed in the University by its students, by its alumni, and by society generally,” said 27 members of staff.

The statement backed by SU sabbatical officers, however, claims that the University’s original proposals “explicitly uphold academic standards while prioritising the protection of student interests”.

This fly-sheet, also signed by multiple staff members, students, and JCR presidents, emphasised that 2023’s marking boycott left students in “limbo - unable to continue their studies, proceed with visa applications, and missing job opportunities”.

The SU told Varsity that the sabbatical officers acted “in a personal capacity, but need to be noted as student representatives according to the University’s fly-sheet process”.

The SU spokesperson continued: “Our policy on strikes, as set at the first council of Michaelmas, is that we will continue supporting UCU’s fight for better and fairer working conditions and pay, and provide educational and welfare support to students during the strikes.”

“We believe that student solidarity with striking staff strengthens the strike and increases the likelihood that demands are met and that expressing solidarity does not have to come at the expense of academic performance,” they said.

The ballot is taking place among the body of academic and admin staff known as Regent House. Voting opened on Tuesday (21/01), with results due next month.

The University of Cambridge and the Office for Students were contacted for comment.