UCU supports appraisal schemes that focus on supporting staff and the principle of professional development.

The recent introduction of the numerical grading system into appraisals at Anglia Ruskin University brings questionable and subjective criteria for the assessment of staff and ranking of performance.

UCU advocates:

 - Co-operation, rather than competition between staff
 - Support, not demoralisation or demotivation
 - Appraisal as a joint, professional task, shared between appraiser and appraisee

UCU at Anglia Ruskin University believe that the use of this new performance management tool in our appraisal system is heavy-handed, unacceptable and detrimental.

We are concerned about:

 - The potential for the introduction of a rank and yank policy
 - The potentially negative and disproportionate impact on under-represented groups
 - Expectations around teaching and research performance may be unfair and inconsistent
 - Ranking staff establishes winners and losers, which fosters competition amongst staff

UCU rejects the numerical grading system and proposes that it is removed from the appraisal scheme.

Please sign the petition to add your voice to our campaign and make sure that colleagues know about the issue. Pass this information on.

The petition will close on 14 September 2012, and will be presented to ARU management only if we have more than 100 signatures.