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

Hello,

Best wishes for the final teaching week of the autumn term and the winter break. This also marks the end of my first teaching term as the PVC for Education and Students. It has been an exciting and challenging time and I have really enjoyed meeting and hearing from students across the University.

From January, the Office for Students will be asking all final-year undergraduate students to tell the world about your time here, through the National Student Survey (NSS). For each Sussex student who takes part, the University will donate £1 to a charity chosen by students. Last year we raised £2,996! Read below for more information on how you can vote for your preferred charity.

Thank you to Bruna Pellegrino, a second-year student in International Relations and Development, who recently represented the University of Sussex at a national event run by the UK Council for International Student Affairs. The event was an opportunity for international students to share their experiences and help inform policy and practice. You can read about Bruna’s experience on the Student Hub.

Our online Global Summer Internship Programme was featured in Phoenix magazine (page 12) as well. This exciting programme has so far supported over 330 students from underrepresented groups to gain work experience and boost employability. This programme will open for applications in March. This is a good time to think ahead about summer opportunities as well as placements. Visit the Student Hub for more information about the dedicated careers support, advice and opportunities available to you.

You might also like to read about the recent lecture and blog on freedom of speech by Professor David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality and Inclusion).

Please read on for your regular update, including:

• Which charity would you like to see receive our National Student Survey donation?
• T-shirt design competition
• Preparing for your assessments
• Upholding academic integrity
• Looking after your wellbeing during the holidays
• Consent matters
• Reminder: Festive events on campus and in Brighton

Which charity would you like to see receive our National Student Survey donation?

From 29 January until 30 April 2024, final-year undergraduates will be able to take part in the National Student Survey (NSS). The University will donate £1 to charity for every Sussex student that participates in the NSS. We will split this donation between charities chosen by students.

All students are invited to vote for your preferred charity using this form. Please cast your vote by Monday 15 January.
 
You can visit the Student Hub for more information about the NSS at Sussex.

T-shirt design competition

Calling all budding designers! As part of the Spirit of Sussex Award, we’re looking for a student to design a t-shirt that will be given out to final-year undergraduates completing the 2024 National Student Survey.

The deadline to submit your design is Sunday 17 December 2023. Please email your design to rosie.jones@sussex.ac.uk. 

Read our story on the Student Hub for more information, including terms and conditions.

Preparing for your assessments

I wish you those of you preparing for your assessments great success. These assessments scheduled after the winter vacation typically relate to Semester one and will fall between Monday 8 January and Saturday 20 January 2024. Below are reminders of the how you can achieve your best results by exploring the support the University provides.:

• Do take the time to read through our guide to submitting work and accessing feedback in Canvas. It takes you through the process of submitting assessments online, as well as finding and understanding any feedback from your tutors you may have received already, which can guide in future academic work.
• You might like to revisit our Digital Learning Guide to Sussex Direct and Canvas, which was created by students to help you when preparing for assessments.
• Your tutors, course leaders, academic advisors, and student mentors are here to support you. If you have any questions about School support, contact your teaching team or School Office before the break.
• Our refreshed Skills Hub has lots of resources to help you with your studies, including support around referencing and revision. You can watch the welcome video as a starting point.
• The Library will also be available during the winter holidays for those staying in Brighton, and they have compiled a useful list of Frequently Asked Questions based on queries from previous years. Check opening hours on the Library website.

If you experience a short-term, unexpected and beyond your control circumstance that is impacting your academic performance, do review our Exceptional Circumstances webpages. We may be able to provide additional consideration to you should this be needed. Remember, there are important deadlines you must observe should you require this for an assessment.

Upholding academic integrity

As a University of Sussex student, you are expected to uphold academic integrity by demonstrating this in all your academic work. Breaching our academic misconduct regulations goes against these values. The consequences of academic misconduct can be serious and can jeopardise your degree result with penalties ranging from marks reduction, reduction of your overall final classification and ultimately expulsion from the University in the most serious of cases.

We know that assessment periods can be very stressful. Sometimes you might find yourself in a situation where you have deadlines that are close together or overlap and this can heighten stress levels. It is often in these situations that the temptation to cheat might be considered as a way to cope, and Essay Mills or paid cheating services exploit this.

Using one of these services is not worth it for a variety of reasons. Please see our Student Hub story for more information, as well as reminders of support available to you.

Look after your wellbeing during the holidays

While it is important that you prepare for your assessments, make sure you also use the break to rest and look after yourself. You can find top tips for coping with the holidays on the Student Hub, including how to access the Togetherall online community.

For those of you staying in Brighton, you might want to explore some of the beautiful walking routes around the South Downs, weather permitting. The Sport Centre will also be open until Thursday 21 December, and the Falmer Sports Complex will open for a few hours on 27 and 29 December. Check their opening hours on Sussexsport website.

If you have not registered with a doctor in Brighton & Hove yet, this is a good time. Please don't wait until you’re ill. The National Health Service (NHS) provides free healthcare for UK residents and some, but not all, overseas visitors. Check the Student Hub for information on how to register with a doctor and what free healthcare you're entitled to. I also encourage you to make sure you’re up to date with all free routine NHS vaccines.

Consent matters

Here at Sussex, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment for every member of our community. To aid this endeavour we need each and every student to play their part.

If you received an email earlier this week entitled Consent Matters, you were expected to complete Consent Matters prior to starting or resuming your course at Sussex in September 2023. If you have not yet done so, please complete the course now, ensuring it is completed no later than 1 January 2024.

Consent Matters is an online course covering areas of sexual consent, communication, relationships, and how to step in if others need help. The course can be found on your Canvas site or accessed via Consent Matters [23/24] (sussex.ac.uk). It will take approximately one hour to complete.

Content warning: the course contains references to sexual violence and so you may wish to avoid completing certain parts. If you find the course is too distressing, then please do not continue.

If you are affected by any of the subjects covered in this course you can find details of support available on the Student Hub, MySussex, and Report and Support.

Reminder: Festive events on campus and in Brighton

On Monday 18 December, join the Belong at Sussex programme for some festive fun and baking. Between 12 noon and 3pm, there will be food and games in the Meeting House and a festive film showing in Arts A.

On Thursday 21 December, Brighton will celebrate the winter solstice with the Burning of the clocks. For more events in the wider Brighton area, explore the Visit Brighton website.

On Christmas day, the University Chaplaincy will hold a Catholic Mass from 11am. From 12 noon to 3pm, students living on campus are invited to the Meeting House for an afternoon of board games, music and refreshments. Check the Student Hub for more information if you’re staying over the holidays.

With best wishes,
  
Kate

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