Earlier today, Kelly Coate, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, wrote to all taught students. You can read the full message below:

Hello,

As this week marks one year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, I would like to take a moment to reiterate the University’s support for the people of Ukraine, and the students and staff in our community affected by the ongoing conflict.

We are proud to be officially ‘twinned’ with Ukrainian University Oles Honchar Dnipro National, with an agreement to support students and academics displaced by the conflict in Ukraine. Following the launch of our Emergency Ukrainian Students Sussex Fund appeal and the increase in hardship funding last year, we continue to encourage students affected by the ongoing crisis to contact our support services via the Student Centre, either online or in person. If you are affected and want to get in touch, please do reach out.

Read on for the rest of this week’s update, including: 

• Cost of living support: National Student Money Week at the Student Centre
• Workshops with our Psychological Wellbeing team
• LGBT+ History Month: Sussex past and present
• One World Week is coming soon
• Industrial action paused for two weeks
• National Student Survey: £1,000 prize draw closes on Tuesday 28 February
• The future of campus catering
• Looking for housing for next academic year?

Cost of living support: National Student Money Week at the Student Centre

For National Student Money Week 2023, our Advice and Guidance Team will be running a stall in the Student Centre atrium on Tuesday 28 February, Wednesday 1 March and Tuesday 2 March. Come along to get tips around budgeting and managing your money. There will be a limited number of freebies too.
 
Visit the Student Hub for more information about money and funding.

Workshops with our Psychological Wellbeing team

The University’s Psychological Wellbeing team is running wellbeing workshops on various themes, including:

• Long-term health condition wellbeing group (four-week course starting 3 March)
• Presentation anxiety workshop (10 March)
• Race and belonging support group (24 March)
• Support for supporters group (28 April)
• Stress control webinar series (four-week course starting 26 April)
• Homesickness group (3 May)

Please use the links above for more details and email therapy@sussex.ac.uk if you have any questions about these group sessions.

Remember you can visit the health and wellbeing section of the Student Hub for more information and resources.

LGBT+ History Month: Sussex past and present

February is LGBT+ History Month and the theme this year is ‘Behind the Lens’, which invites us to listen to LGBT+ people’s lived experiences. To mark this, colleagues in our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit have compiled a selection of articles and resources relating to LGBT+ History at Sussex, which you might like to look at.

One World Week is coming soon

During One World Week, which starts on Monday 13 March, students and staff can share aspects of their own culture with others, promote cultural understanding and explore global issues. This annual celebration is a collaboration between the Students’ Union and the University. I’ll be sharing more ways for you to get involved in the programme very soon.

Industrial action paused for two weeks

On Monday we wrote to all taught students to let you know that the University and College Union (UCU) have suspended strike action for a period of two weeks. See the Industrial action page on the Student Hub for the latest information.

National Student Survey: £1,000 prize draw closes on Tuesday 28 February

If you’re a final-year undergraduate, the National Student Survey (NSS) is your chance to tell the world about your time at Sussex. Fill in the NSS online before 28 February and you’ll enter a prize draw for one of two £1,000 cash prizes.
 
For every survey completed, we will also donate £1 to a charity chosen by you – vote for your favourite charity.
 
Thank you to everyone who has already taken part. Don’t forget to collect your free tea or coffee voucher from the NSS Agents on campus too.
 
Find out more about the NSS on the Student Hub.

The future of campus catering

Following an extensive consultation with the campus community, the University has launched a competitive tender process to identify those who will partner with us to deliver catering services on campus from August 2023. With the support of our students and staff, we have developed a values-based, ethical procurement process that will drive the choice of partners, alongside considerations of value for money, quality and efficiency.

Find out how your views are shaping the future of catering on campus.

Looking for housing for next academic year?

I know some of you will be searching for your next student accommodation at the moment. Do have a look at the accommodation section of the Student Hub, which has pages about living in the private rented sector, house hunting, signing a tenancy agreement, council tax and other information to support you. You can also check out Sussex Student Pad for local accommodation listings.

With best wishes,

Kelly

Kelly Coate, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students