UCSC Scrambles To Ensure Final Grades Amid Wildcat Strike

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CA — A day after final grades were supposed to be turned in for the fall quarter, a wildcat strike at UC Santa Cruz continues. Employed as academic student employees, some UCSC graduate students working as teacher's assistants are withhold students' grades until their demands for a higher wage are met.

According to the university, campus officials are working with faculty members to ensure grades are submitted in a timely manner. The campus has asked chairs to make themselves available to instructors to help them make decisions regarding final grades.

In a Dec. 13 letter to UCSC faculty, Interim Campus Provost/Executive Vice Chancellor Lori Kletzer said, "Faculty members are responsible for assigning and submitting final course grades. While portions of student assessment may be delegated to teaching assistants and readers, ultimately the assignment and submission of grades is the responsibility of the faculty member (Senate faculty and non-Senate faculty), including those who have oversight of graduate student instructors."

The strike will impact some students if grades are late. Students planning to graduate need final grades so their graduation applications can be reviewed. A student applying to graduate school or a job may need a complete transcript. Some students on financial aid may have aid disbursement delayed until all grades are finalized.

The striking grad students are asking for a $1,412 cost of living adjustment and are in their second week of the strike that began Dec. 9. The current contract for student workers includes a 3 percent increase per year to reflect the cost of living, but the students say it's not enough. The students are striking without the union leadership’s authorization.

More than 500 alumni have threatened to withhold donations to UCSC until the students' demands have been met. On Monday, UC Berkeley students marched in solidarity with the strikers.

The UCSC campus is set to close beginning Dec. 24. for winter break.