(Another) Voluntary Severance Scheme Opens for Staff.

This morning, Interim-Principal Professor Nigel Seaton has announced the opening of a new voluntary severance scheme (VSS) for staff.

Professor Seaton said the VSS, “will support the University’s recovery by achieving further, necessary cost reductions.”

Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Art Practice, Gair Dunlop said:

“It’s a disaster area; 

“The temporary interim ‘leadership’ are doing such damage that any potential long-term leadership will be dissuaded from taking the wreckage on.”

This comes after an extend period of financial turmoil at Dundee University, with the first intake of a VSS (which opened in June) leaving at the start of the academic year.

In a statement released this afternoon, DUCU representatives say they were informed of the new VSS under confidentiality, preventing them from consulting members or influencing its design.

They argue that the proposed timing (during exams, marking, and grade processing) risks severe disruption for students and staff, with potential long‑term damage to the University’s reputation.

DUCU also questions the necessity of the scheme given the University’s additional £20m SFC funding this year.

The statement read:

“DUCU is disappointed that our concerns on the wellbeing of staff and students have not been taken into consideration by the current University Executive Group, who has made no changes to the VS proposal since it was presented to the unions on 11 February.”

Professor Seaton opened the announcement stating that:

“Since the crisis emerged, we have substantially reduced our expenditure, almost ceasing investment in our infrastructure and cutting operating expenditure as far as possible.”

Despite this and the previous VSS, a sustainable position for the University remains out of reach.

Professor Seaton continued:

“closing the gap between income and expenditure for the long term means the University must operate fundamentally differently from how it has in the past.”

“Even with additional support from the Scottish Funding Council (expected but not yet in place) we have to make further savings.”

The University is in the process of transitioning into smaller faculties and integrating proffesional services.

This VSS is set to launch next wednesday (25th) and will be open for applications untill Friday 13th March/

The email announcement confirmed that, “the terms, conditions and criteria of the scheme will be the same as that offered in the 2025 VS scheme and have been reviewed  via the University Governance process, including Court approval.”

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS STORY. FURTHER UPDATES WILL BE INCLUDED AS AND WHEN RECIEVED