Broadcast: News items

Coming back to campus webinars

Following the Government’s easing of Covid-19 restrictions, we have been welcoming more staff back to campus over recent weeks. To make sure you are familiar with all our Covid measures and the new Remote Working Framework, in September we are hosting three more webinars allowing you to put questions to senior managers from Estates, HR, Student Experience, and Health & Safety. The webinars take place on 1, 9 and 16 September – register for a place now.

ACCA coffee and cake sessions – now extended to 14 September

During the summer we’ve been hosting a series of sessions at the ACCA café to help staff meet up with colleagues face-to-face and reacquaint themselves with campus after so long working remotely. It’s an important part of recognising the shared experience we’ve all lived through during the pandemic.

To make sure staff don’t miss out on this valuable opportunity to reconnect, we’ve added some extra sessions. You can now book an 11am or 2pm slot between now and Tuesday 14 September. If you'd like to book space for a group of ten or more please email: events@sussex.ac.uk.

Please take a few minutes to read our other suggestions for ways to reconnect with your colleagues and campus.

Getting campus ready for the academic year

A huge amount of preparation is currently taking place at Sussex for the new academic year. With this in mind, please rest assured that the safety of our staff and students remains our top priority. Read our return to campus guidance.

The University will ensure that a number of health and safety measures are in place to manage the Covid-19 pandemic by the start of term. These include:

• refreshed signage in high footfall spaces that face coverings are expected from 9 – 5pm
• sanitiser stations in place across campus
• Perspex screens remaining in place where requested
• additional bins in teaching spaces
• QR codes to support the Track & Trace app
• ensuring ventilation systems and windows operate effectively
• the provision of lanyards or wristbands so staff can signal they’d prefer greater social distancing

Ventilation of campus spaces

Thorough checks have already been carried out on all spaces on campus to ensure that Sussex is compliant with all industry standards for ventilation – a review of ventilation arrangements will be undertaken in November.

If you do have concerns about a specific space health and safety have created a form to allow staff to submit queries about ventilation where they work.

Testing

A reminder that the Government recommends that people in the workplace get twice-weekly Covid-19 tests. We are making this as easy as possible for staff by supplying home testing kits at 11 locations across campus and making Covid-19 testing available at Bramber level 1 throughout September – see our latest guidance. Home testing kits are also easily ordered from the gov.uk website.

Face coverings

While the Government has confirmed that the requirement to wear face coverings has now been lifted, there is an expectation and recommendation that they are worn in crowded spaces – and new signage will make it clear that this is the University’s expectation in busy areas across campus.

Flu jab

The Government is rolling out a seasonal flu vaccine programme next month alongside any booster programme for COVID-19 vaccines to protect as many lives as possible – and all staff returning to campus are encouraged to take advantage of this. Find out about current information about flu vaccines and who is and isn’t eligible. University staff who are under 50 who are not eligible can pay for a vaccination and reclaim the cost through expenses.

Parking

We will soon reinstating parking charges. Applications for campus parking permits and parking passes in 2021/22 will open on Wednesday 1 September, with all previous permits expiring on 31 August.

All staff seeking to park on campus during the 2021/22 academic year are eligible to apply for:

• a parking permit: £30 per month pro-rate, paid via salary deductions
• or a free pass to park: this allows the purchase of daily scratch cards - £20 per book of 10

Parking charges, which have been suspended in recent months, will apply from Friday 1 October to allow staff and students to apply for permits and receive them in good time. Please ensure that you display your permit or pass as soon as you receive it. Scratch cards do not need to be displayed until 1 October.

Support for you

Returning to campus can be an adjustment, so please remember that our wellbeing hub also offers many tools and resources to look after your mental, physical and financial wellbeing.

The University’s Employee Assistance Programme also offers a comprehensive service for Sussex staff and an evidence-based app providing tools and support to improve mental wellbeing. You can seek help and guidance on issues like health and wellbeing, finance, family issues or work/life balance. A confidential helpline also provides urgent support to staff on these matters 24 hours a day, seven days a week.