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50 years

August 1979 - July 1980

  • Government will impose full recovery cost on overseas students from 1980-81 by deducting full cost from UGC grant. Opposition to this is met by all universities and lobbies, protests are undertaken throughout the year. All universities are at risk of losing a substantial proportion of income and in Sussex's case up to 16 per cent. The VC is vehemently opposed to this cut
  • The University is predicting a financial deficit of between four and 19 per cent if the Government pursues current policies. This could mean a drop of student numbers if the worst figure is realised and consequentially a loss of staff and substantial academic damage to the institution. A Working Party is set up to consider options and to look where the budget could be cut with minimum impact to the University
  • The Atkinson Report is concerned with the rationalisation of Russian Studies in UK and Sussex is on the list for consideration for phasing out. It would have serious ramifications for Sussex if the Government considers rationalizing the curriculum subject by subject
  • Senate meets in January and July to consider the student unrest of the previous year. Two male students are expelled: R Flint and S Fensom with effect from 11 Jan 1980. New discipline arrangements are brought in June 1980. This year is much quieter and constructive dialogues with the Students' Union are taking place
  • A change is coming to the financing of the Students' Union to take place from 1981-82. Funding will no longer come via Local Authorities but via the University block grant and tuition fees. This gives institutions a say in how much will be levied
  • Sussex edged Oxford out of top spot as the university that has gained most income from research grants and contracts. Engineering and Social Studies are both first in their field and Sussex is in the top 10 in seven out of eight groupings. The University is 'immensely proud' of the achievement
  • Funding for children's facilities is no longer available from UGC. Money is made available from the accommodation budget in view of the fact that 60 per cent of the users are students. New ways of funding are being considered
  • Maggie Boden is awarded a Chair in Philosophy 1 October 1980, the first woman to be awarded a Chair at Sussex
  • Graduation takes place in the Brighton Centre because of repairs being undertaken to the Dome
  • Monks House, home of the Woolfs, is conveyed to the National Trust but the Woolf Papers remain at Sussex
  • The computer centre invests in a new computer system. Terrace Restaurant in the Refectory opens. Four new squash courts open. The lease on Stanmer House, which has been used for administration, the Library and IDS, ends in January 1980. The new road entrance to the University is now complete
  • Arts and social studies is offering new degrees in Linguistics with Philosophy, and Philosophy with Linguistics, from October 1982. More part-time MAs are being introduced in English Literature, International Relations and Urban Studies. However, many excellent potential MA students refuse places because of the lack of Government awards and the rise in tuition fees
  • Several vacancies for faculty and staff in arts and social studies have been left unfilled because of the financial constraints. The Arts Buildings are closed earlier in the evening because of portering and heating economies
  • Diminishing resources are still a serious issue for the sciences. Uncertainty about financial provision makes budgeting difficult, compounded by the effects of inflation. The problem of unfilled posts and low levels of pay in some areas of mean it is difficult to attract staff. Temporary buildings are becoming increasingly dilapidated. Nonetheless, research activity and teaching numbers are increasing
  • MOLS faculty are leaders in the field and are recipients of many of the most prestigious awards eg Nobel Prize, Royal Society Fellowship and Davy Medal. Faculty includes Nobel Prize Winners Professor AJP Martin and Professor Sir John Cornforth. However, MOLS has slipped against its main rivals over the past three years and is losing international status because of serious resource and funding issues
  • MOLS plans to offer a Minor in European Studies with Chemistry; a four-year degree including one year at a European university
  • There are fears that the School of Education will be dissolved in the mid 1980s when initial courses are transferred to Brighton Polytechnic and West Sussex Institute when CNNA validation is completed, as this will lead to the restructuring of the area
  • Late intake of students leads to problems with accommodation. The reduction in Government funding leads to the Kelsey Housing Association development being cancelled at the last moment. It is difficult to keep the costs of student accommodation down to an affordable level
  • Children's facilities can no longer be subsidised by UGC or fee incomes – a great deal of national protest takes place in response. Sussex has twice the national average of UGs over 25, with more women with children entering HE or pursuing their careers while having children
  • Conferences are suffering because of the economic situation. Gardner Centre is also affected by the economic climate; the high VAT level is crippling it and Brighton Council is discontinuing its grant. Sponsorship is being sought and more commercial offerings produced and this seems successful to date
  • CCE is 10 years' old. Cuts in funding will seriously affect the centre and lead to more expensive programmes

Quick facts

  • The most popular science subject is Biology with 154 students and the least popular is Applied Physics with one male student
  • The most popular arts and social studies subject is English with 146 students, and the least popular is Religious Studies with one female student

Student numbers

Arts and social studies

2,689 students: 2,296 undergraduates, an increase of 64, and 393 postgraduates (337 full-time and 56 part-time), a decrease of 10

Sciences

Undergraduate intake of 507, one of the largest intakes in the history of the University

28 per cent increase in Engineering students

Overseas student numbers decline by three per cent

Decline in postgraduate intake of 10 per cent

MOLS undergraduate numbers have fallen to 194 and the number of research students and fellows has stagnated at around 138

CCE

CCE has around 300 full-time equivalent places