Students' return to campus

On Tuesday 13 April, the UK Government announced that all students who have not yet returned to campus and in-person teaching may do so no earlier than 17 May.

Read the email that was sent to all staff.

A message was sent to all students about what this latest announcement means for them and that the majority of students learning will continue online – unless they have already been invited back to campus.

We will continue to closely monitor the situation and will inform staff and students if there are any changes in relation to this latest Government decision.

If you are due to return to campus, please familiarise yourself with information and guidance on the staff webpages, including the University’s health and safety measures and the Community Pledge.

Testing on campus

The test centre on campus is there for staff at the University who need to come on to campus to work, and all Sussex students. All staff who need to work on campus can be tested up to twice a week until at least the end of June. 

This test centre is for those without symptoms; anyone with a new cough, a high temperature or changes in their sense of smell or taste should instead self-isolate and arrange for a home test kit to be delivered.

Read about the testing process from the perspective of staff who are volunteering at the test centre. There’s also a photo gallery to guide you through it. 

You can book tests on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, at any time from 10.00 am - 3.00 pm. These times will be expanded as demand for testing increases. 

Update from Alastair Hill, Director of Public Health, Brighton & Hove City Council

While the relaxing of some of the lockdown rules on Monday has been a great morale booster, mixing in public places does come with a risk. Now more than ever, it is essential to follow the safety guidelines to stop Covid. When you go outside, please always remember: hands, face, space, and fresh air.

Up to one in three people with Covid-19 don’t have symptoms. So we encourage all residents to make regular symptom-free testing part of your weekly routine. The tests are free and they can be done at home in your own time. You can collect them from pharmacies and centres all around the city or you can get them delivered directly to your home address. How to get your free testing kits.

Staff wellbeing 

The University Chaplaincy is hosting a new series of online, weekly Crafty Drop-In sessions on Fridays at 12 noon. Being creative and making something from pretty much nothing is a great mood-booster so bring whatever craft you like, or just bring your lunch if you'd prefer to just chat 'around the water cooler'. All staff and students are welcome.

Please remember that as well as the staff wellbeing hub, counselling support is available from our Employee Assistance Programme partners Care First 24 hours a day. Next week, Care First are hosting a series of short webinars on a range of health topics that might prove useful: 

• How Care first can support you
  Monday 19 April | 12pm-12.30pm
  
  
• How hobbies can help with your work/life balance
  Tuesday 20 April | 12pm-12.30pm
  
  
• Healthy Hydration
  Wednesday 21 April | 12pm-12.30pm
  
  
• Long COVID: What do we know so far?
  Thursday 22 April | 12pm-12.30pm
  
  
• The way weather can affect our mood & behaviour
  Friday 23 April | 12pm-12.30pm

Campus sport facilities reopen

Following the government's current roadmap out of lockdown, Sussexsport have now reopened their outdoor sports facilities; reopened the Falmer Sports Complex fitness rooms; and restarted outdoor group exercise classes at the Falmer Sports Complex.  

The Sport Centre remains closed for recreational use while Sussexsport continues to support the University's testing programme. However, some Sport Centre facilities, like the fitness room and squash courts, will hopefully reopen in the near future.  

Please remember, you now need to book in advance for all activities, and equipment and facilities will be arranged in a way to ensure social distancing, with enhanced cleaning taking place regularly. 

The Stay Home With US programme of online classes, blogs and downloadable home workouts is continuing too, so it's easy to keep moving and stay connected - even if you're not back on campus yet. 

Committee timetable now live

The committee calendar for 2021/22 has now been published. This includes all the minimum service days at the University.