Broadcast: News items

Academic update: December 2024

Posted on behalf of: Internal Communications

Last updated: Wednesday, 11 December 2024

Academic update highlights the key priorities for academic colleagues and recent news and updates which you and your teams may find useful.

If there is information you would like included in future Academic updates, please submit your request to the Internal Comms mailbox.

The next edition of Academic update will be published in February 2025.

Quick links:

Research and Enterprise 

New Research & Innovation newsletter to be issued this week
Expected to land in your inboxes later this week, we are launching a new all-staff monthly newsletter on all things Research and Innovation. Including an update from Keith Jones, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Innovation), the newsletter will feature research-related news from around the University and give us an opportunity to celebrate success and learn from each other.

Changes in the leadership team
Professor Kristi Langhoff will come to the end of her term as Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Knowledge Exchange during the winter break. Professor Keith Jones and all members of the Research Innovation team would like to thank Kristi for her work over the last six months, especially in relation to Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) and Knowledge Exchange Framework (KEF). In the new year we welcome back Professor Debbie Keeling as Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Knowledge Exchange, after a period as Interim Executive Dean of the Business School.

Making our research and innovation more environmentally sustainable
The University has signed up to the Wellcome Trust’s Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice, highlighting the role of research and innovation in understanding the impact of climate change and biodiversity loss. The agreement calls for a number of steps to be taken across the sector by 2025, such as introducing more reusable products and a shift to net zero carbon infrastructure. Find out more about the Concordat.

Global and Civic Engagement

Sussex Co-Lab
Sussex Co-Lab is a collaborative programme designed to improve local communities by addressing challenges and making policies more effective. Using creative and participatory methods to enable more inclusive decision-making, the programme aims to improve outcomes for local people by testing new ways of working that can help everyone to flourish. If you would like to learn more or get involved, please email the Public Affairs team at: publicaffairs@sussex.ac.uk.

Education and Students

Curriculum Reimagined takes important steps
Curriculum Reimagined is a wholescale review of our curriculum and the structures and processes that enable it. As a key part of this work, the team are developing the Sussex Academic Framework which provides guiding principles for learning, teaching and assessments.

Professor Claire Smith, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Innovation) has worked with students and key stakeholders to develop a set of assessment principles and approaches that will be included in the framework, and these have now been approved by the Education and Students Regulations Sub Committee.

Read a full update on the Sussex Academic framework.

About you

Staff survey infographic with results highlights at a glance
Thank you again to everyone who took part in our recent staff survey. You can now view an infographic with our results in brief, including the highest and lowest scoring questions and our overall staff engagement score. Full results for the University and for our Faculties, Schools and Divisions will be shared on the staff survey webpages later in December.

New financial wellbeing benefit for staff
Free mortgage advice and support is available for Sussex staff through our discount platform, Reward Gateway. Charles Cameron & Associates specialises in providing completely free of charge and independent financial education and mortgage advice, whether you are a first-time buyer, looking to re-mortgage, or are looking for other property advice.

Winter wellness and useful information
As the winter break approaches, here a few reminders about ways to stay well and healthy. Our free Employee Assistance Programme is available 24 hours a day all year round for staff and their immediate family who may need help and support. You can also view information about services and opening hours on campus over the winter break.

Sussex staff have been given an additional minimum service day on Monday 23 December 2024. If you are required to work that day, or wouldn’t normally be working, please arrange an alternative day off with your line manager. The extra minimum service day should not be booked on MyView.

About Sussex

Voluntary Leavers Scheme support for staff
Following the Vice-Chancellor’s recent update on our financial situation, full details about the Voluntary Leavers Scheme can be found on MyView. This includes a set of frequently asked questions which is being updated regularly to reflect additional questions from staff. Support is available for those who may want more information, and briefing sessions are taking place on 16 December and 6 January with an opportunity to ask questions.

The HR team will also be holding an in-person drop-in session, where staff can come along and ask questions about the scheme on Wednesday 18 December.

Applications for the scheme close at 5pm on Wednesday 8 January 2025.

Autumn Senate Report now available to view
The autumn term Senate meeting was held on 13 November and you can now read the report summarising the business and decisions of the meeting. The next Senate meeting is planned for 12 March 2025 and minutes and papers will be published a week in advance. Find out who are the elected senators at your School and please contact them in confidence if there is a matter you would like them to raise at Senate.

University to seek planning permission for a temporary car park
The University is seeking planning permission to build a new temporary car park on campus to accommodate West Slope construction employee commuting vehicles from August 2025. The extra capacity is needed to reduce the risk of congestion both on campus and the local area. The application proposes the use of Boundary Field, which is accessed via University Way. Our application includes a commitment to preserving and enhancing Boundary Field, including a comprehensive restoration management plan. You can read more about our plans on the Staff Hub and there will be a proposal on display in the Library (near the café) from Tuesday 10 December until Monday 16 December. Members of the West Slope team will be in the Library on Wednesday 11 December between 2pm and 4pm to answer your queries at a drop-in session.

Paperless Parking: answers to frequently asked questions
Paperless Parking has been active across campus for eight weeks. Take a look at some frequently asked questions and answers received during that time, including queries about charges, signage and timings. Further information about Paperless Parking can also be found on the Transport Office website.

Latest Transforming Sussex newsletter now available
Read the November issue of the Transforming Sussex newsletter for the latest news on programmes and projects underway at Sussex. A few of the key updates this month include:

the latest successful release for the Student Information System project
when and where Network Replacement Programme cabling works will be taking place
how colleagues from Estates and across campus have been giving back to the local community
the latest news on the Cloud Transformation, Research Management System, and Curriculum Reimagined projects

If you haven’t already, don’t forget to sign up for our mailing list to receive the newsletter directly to your inbox in future.

A reminder

Join the seasonal switch-off before the winter break
You can help save energy and reduce waste by taking a few simple steps before you leave campus. Appliances left on standby, radiators heating unused spaces, and lights illuminating empty rooms all contribute to higher costs, energy and emissions so please take a few minutes to follow this checklist. Small actions can make a big difference – thank you for helping us reduce our carbon footprint and save money.

Multi-factor authentication advice for the holidays
If you receive a new phone over the holidays, you can transfer your multi-factor authentication (MFA) account from your old phone using these instructions. If you trade in your old phone, or don’t have it to hand once you’ve received your new one, you can raise an IT Support Portal ticket or email itservicedesk@sussex.ac.uk to request an MFA account reset. For more information about MFA please visit the ITS MFA homepage.

Safety and security on campus this winter
The Security team is on hand to keep you and our campus safe this winter. You can play a vital role by reporting anything that makes you feel unsafe to the Security team. You know your surroundings better than anyone else, including your workspaces and any communal areas. So, if you see or hear something that makes you feel unsafe on campus, get in touch with the Security team on 01273 67 8234 or email Security@sef.fm. The emergency phone number is 01273 873333.

Keeping you informed during severe weather on campus
As extreme weather events in the UK become more common, campus activity can occasionally be disrupted by high or low temperatures, flooding, or stormy conditions. Find out how you will be kept updated before and during adverse weather.

Coming up

Celebrating the festive season

Take a look at what’s happening on campus during December to get you into the spirit including:

winter solstice ceremony with Pagan Chaplain Erin Johanson on Wednesday 11 December
Sussex Astronomy Christmas Lecture, a family-friendly event for all on Thursday 12 December
Christmas lunches with all the trimmings at the Conference Centre
festive treats all through the month from SussexUni Food.