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

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students), Professor Kate O'Riordan, wrote to all students earlier today. Below you can read her email to returning undergraduate students:

Hello,

Teaching begins next week and I am looking forward to welcoming all of our returning students to campus. I hope you will join this new year with a sense of excitement and opportunity. As we all start this term, the latest edition of Experience Sussex! features tips from students to help you get settled.

Across our international community, something that connects all of our students and staff is the role we share in creating a friendly, inclusive and safe environment. We can do this in many ways, such as being open to different perspectives and views, celebrating our diversity and remembering that we have much more in common than that which is different. Throughout the year I will also keep you updated on news and events relating to Inclusive Sussex, an area led by Professor David Ruebain, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Culture, Equality and Inclusion).

Please read on for your regular update, including:  

• Reminder: please complete re-registration 
• Do you need accommodation?
• Set up your Multi-factor Authentication app now
• Money advice drop-ins at the Student Centre
• Book your place for our Student Jobs and Volunteering Fair (3 October)
• Applications are open now for the Student Consultancy Programme 
• Do you love social media and using your creative skills? 
• Where to eat this autumn – plus a fresh take on recycling in our new-look Eat Central
• New ActiveUs timetable starts Monday 23 September
• Celebrating 21 years of our trailblazing DNA research centre

Reminder: please complete re-registration

You should have received instructions for how to complete online re-registration via Sussex Direct. If you have not done this yet, please register as soon as possible for the 2024/25 academic year. For continuing students, re-registration triggers release of any Student Loans Company payments you may be expecting and ensures the payment of your tuition fees to the University. See more information on the UK government website.
   

Do you need accommodation?

If you still need accommodation, the University still has some on-campus accommodation places available. To get your place, please contact housing@sussex.ac.uk with ‘I need a room’ as the subject line of the email. Our Housing team will be in touch with more details.

Set up your Multi-factor Authentication app now

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is being introduced at Sussex, and now is a great time for you to set it up. Staff members and some new students are already using the system and we are now asking all remaining students to set up an authenticator app on their smartphone, ready for when MFA is switched on over the coming weeks. If you would like to save time later and set up your authenticator app now, please follow these instructions.

Money advice drop-ins at the Student Centre

If you would like to speak with someone about your finances and how to budget your money, our friendly advisors are here to help you. Come along to a money advice drop-in at the Student Centre next week. These sessions are running every day between Monday 23 and Friday 27 September (1.30-3.30pm, in Landscape 10). Please report to the Student Centre welcome desk if you are interested.

Following this, weekly money advice sessions will take place on Wednesdays during term-time from 2 October (1.30-3.30pm in Landscape 10 at the Student Centre). You can also get in touch with our advisors through My Sussex. Additionally, our Finance team offers bookable appointments for any student who is experiencing difficulties paying their tuition fees, accommodation fees or any other charges.

Our money advice page includes tips for managing your money, including this free Budget Planner from Money Helper. Check the wider money and funding area of the Student Hub for other useful guidance and links. I also encourage you to register with Blackbullion, an online platform where you can learn more about budgeting and other financial skills.

Book your place for our Student Jobs and Volunteering Fair (3 October)

Our Student Jobs and Volunteering Fair 2024 is coming up on Thursday 3 October, 12-3pm, at the American Express Stadium, Falmer. Open to all Sussex students, this is an opportunity to browse and connect with employers offering part-time work and volunteering roles, which can help finance your studies or help you gain valuable work experience. You will need book a time slot to attend, so please visit Ticket Tailor now to secure your place.

On the Student Hub you can also find advice about student jobs alongside useful links and resources.

Applications are open now for the Student Consultancy Programme

Run by the Careers and Entrepreneurship team, this is an opportunity to gain work experience on a live business, community or sustainability-focused project, set by an external organisation. You will receive a bursary paid at the UK living wage, and training on project management, teamwork and delivering a presentation. Final year undergraduates and taught postgraduates are eligible to apply. Applications are open until midnight on 29 September.

Do you love social media and using your creative skills?

You could join our team of students who create engaging content and share community and research stories on University channels. The Digital Media Creator scheme offers casual, paid roles with flexible hours, so you can earn extra money and develop your CV while you study. Apply by midnight on Sunday 6 October.

Where to eat this autumn – plus a fresh take on recycling in our new-look Eat Central

Check details and opening times for the many outlets on campus where you can enjoy coffee, breakfast, lunch or dinner at great value.

Eat Central, our biggest campus restaurant, opened its brand-new doors on 13 September, following an impressive transformation. Students and groups are welcome to book the space for events by contacting: cateringservices@compass-group.co.uk.

With sustainability a top priority, we have changed the way we recycle in Eat Central, making it even easier to separate out all your waste. When you have finished your meal, you can clear your tray into each of the bins, following the labels and images for guidance. Need help? There will be recycling champions on hand at lunchtimes for the next few weeks!

New ActiveUs timetable starts Monday 23 September

Find the new ActiveUs timetable on the Sussexsport website, Instagram (@sussexsport) and around the sports facilities. Only £2 a session, no experience needed and all equipment provided.

You can view timetables, book activities and keep up to date with events on our mobile app. Search for ‘Sussexsport’ on the App store or Play store.

Celebrating 21 years of our trailblazing DNA research centre

Read about our recent symposium marking 21 years since the pioneering Genome Damage and Stability Centre (GDSC) opened at the University of Sussex. One of our 12 Centres of Excellence, it is dedicated to research into DNA, gene damage and identifying the cause of a number of human diseases associated with cancer and neurodegeneration. Last week’s event welcomed back alumni, many of whom now head up their own laboratories across the world.

With best wishes,  
    
Kate

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