Broadcast: News items
Financial challenges mean pause on academic promotions
By: Charlie Littlejones
Last updated: Thursday, 2 July 2020
Following much careful consideration and discussion, the University has taken the decision to pause this year’s academic promotions round.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the on-going financial challenges the University is facing, a number of difficult decisions have had to be taken about the institution’s expenditure.
While staff will understandably be disappointed by this decision, this is in no way a reflection on the value the institution places on colleagues and their contribution.
It is important to emphasise that this is a pause and the decision will be reviewed by the University’s Executive Group in the Autumn when the full financial impact of our student recruitment is better understood.
Pausing academic promotions forms part of the financial measures the University is taking to protect the long-term financial sustainability of the institution. Other measures include: the Voluntary Severance Scheme (which ran from May 27 to June 29); the application the University has submitted to the Government’s Job Retention Scheme (JRS) last month; and the recruitment and expenditure initiatives outlined in recent financial guidelines.
Staff can find out more about Sussex’s current and future challenges by viewing one of webinars - Understanding the University’s Finances – available on the Finance Resources webpage. There is a video and comprehensive Q&As.
All staff can expect to continue to receive communications on all of the major decisions of the University as soon as information is available.