Kate O'Riordan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students), Professor Kate O'Riordan, wrote to all taught students earlier today (Thursday 15 August). You can read the full message below:

Hello,

I would like to begin by acknowledging the recent racist, anti-Muslim/Islamophobic and anti-migrant violence in towns and cities, which has had impact across the UK. Michael Luck, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Provost, wrote to all students and staff about this last week, affirming that our diverse, international community makes Sussex the university that we are. We are, along with the City of Brighton and Hove, committed to principles of inclusion and sanctuary.

My thoughts are also with everyone affected by events in Bangladesh. This may be a difficult time for members of our community who are connected to the region. The Student Centre team has been in contact with students who have a Bangladeshi declared nationality or home address, to highlight support available. If you or others you know of need support, or someone to talk to, please contact our support teams or those of the student union. 

I know students at Sussex may be impacted by these or other domestic and international events so please do contact Student Support Services if you need to. If events have had an impact on your academic work, please think about whether our exceptional circumstances provision might be useful. We are committed to providing a safe environment that is inclusive, respectful and supportive for everyone and I appreciate your contribution to this. If at any time we are not meeting our ambition please let us know.

We are really looking forward to welcoming new and returning students to campus and there is a lot of work going in to this at the moment. We are launching a new university-wide Big Read event this year (read more about this below). I am very much looking forward to seeing you all return, together with our new students in just a few weeks.

Please read on for your regular update, including:  

• Sussex joins the Big Read!
• Sussex flies the flag for inclusion at Brighton Pride 2024
• Could you be a paid Digital Media Creator?
• Support around resit assessments
• Accessing University services during the summer
• New Dignity, Respect and Inclusion Policy
• Got five minutes? Leave a review about Sussex on the Whatuni website
• Blog post: inspiration from a Sussex graduate.

Sussex joins the Big Read!

I am thrilled to let you know that we are taking part in the Big Read, an award-winning shared-reading scheme, for the first time. This year the selected title is Everything is Everything by multiple award-winning BBC journalist and Sussex alumnus Clive Myrie. You will be able to collect a free copy on campus at the beginning of the academic year – we will have more to share about this soon.

Sussex flies the flag for inclusion at Brighton Pride 2024

Students, staff and alumni took to the streets of Brighton on Saturday 3 August as part of the University’s walking group in the Pride community parade. The sun shone and the glitter sparkled, with thousands of people lining the streets to celebrate and show solidarity and support for the LGBTQ+ community. Take a look at all the photos from the day and hear what it was like to be part of the parade with Sussex.

Could you be a paid Digital Media Creator?

Our paid Digital Media Creators help to cover some of the biggest student events, activities and campaigns across campus and Sussex, from One World Week to Graduation and more! Recent projects include interviewing senior University leaders on camera, introducing students to essential services, publishing Instagram stories from Brighton Pride and developing content in partnership with Brighton Festival.

We will be hiring soon for the 2024/25 academic year, so keep an eye on your emails if you are interested in joining the team.

Support around resit assessments

The resit assessment period is underway and it will run until Saturday 24 August. Check Sussex Direct for your exam dates and deadlines.

As you continue preparations, you might find the Skills Hub, Library pages or the Exams and assessments area of the Student Hub helpful. If you have queries about your resits, please contact your School Office.

If you are feeling upset or anxious about resits or results, please remember you are not on your own. I encourage you to seek support from your School Student Experience teams. If you have non-academic concerns about your situation (i.e., wellbeing, financial or similar) you can also access all our advice and guidance services via My Sussex or through the Student Centre. Find more information on how to access support services in the section below.

Accessing University services during the summer

University support services continue to be available during the summer months. You can go to the My Sussex portal for answers to frequently asked questions and to make appointments with our friendly advisors. We will be hosting some wellbeing events on campus this summer and, if you are based in the UK, you can register for support from the University therapy service.

On the Student Hub, you can also find information on wellbeing support, careers support and money advice, including how to apply for financial support through Hardship funding and short-term welfare loans.

You can contact the Student Centre in person at the Welcome Desk or by phone (01273 075700) too.

You can check the Student Hub for information on opening times over the summer period. Some campus facilities may operate different hours from term time. There are still lots of options for where to eat on campus over the summer, including where to find the Sussex Saver meal.

New Dignity, Respect and Inclusion Policy

We support dignity, respect, equality, diversity and inclusion for everyone in our University community. Earlier this month we launched a new Dignity, Respect and Inclusion Policy, which brings together our existing approaches and includes our commitments to freedom of speech and academic freedom. Relevant to all University staff, students and visitors, the policy aims to help everyone in our community to know that they belong at Sussex and have the opportunity to contribute and thrive.

Got five minutes? Leave a review about Sussex on the Whatuni website

Did you know you can leave a review for Sussex on the Whatuni website? It only takes a few minutes of your time, and your reviews help us to understand what is going well and how we can improve the areas that matter most to you. Thank you to everyone who has left a review so far!

Blog post: inspiration from a Sussex graduate

Finally, student blogger Similoluwa caught up with Dr Bendangyangerla Imchen at graduation for a quick chat about her time studying for a PhD and what she loves about Sussex. Read all about it on your student blog.

With best wishes,  
   
Kate 

Professor Kate O’Riordan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students) 

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