Anger at Salford over job losses

Lecturers at Salford University are threatening to withhold exam results after it emerged this week that compulsory redundancies are being considered to ensure that 70 jobs are axed by September.

A senate meeting on Monday approved closure of more than 60 undergraduate programmes in areas including chemistry, maths, biology and environmental science.

A statement says: "In reviewing its taught-course provision in these disciplines, the university will focus on providing courses that meet the future economic needs of the region.

"While some courses will be discontinued, growth will take place in areas of communication, internet technology and e-courses."

The Association of University Teachers said a compulsory redundancy committee was being set up as it was believed the take-up of a voluntary severance/early retirement deal had been low.

"Salford has faced serious financial difficulties a number of times since 1981, and we have managed to resolve them through voluntary means. But on this occasion, the university seems determined on a different course of action," said Elizabeth Laws, president of the Salford AUT.

Dr Laws said staff accepted that jobs had to go but they had been angered by the way redundancies were being handled. A decision to acquire a building principally to house the vice-chancellor and executive group had not helped.

The students union is worried about the impact of the cuts on teaching and said it had not been given a chance to contribute to the decision-making.

Salford students union president Ruth Everard said: "The students union will not support any action by the university or by teaching staff that would have a detrimental effect on existing students' progress through their programme of study."