Meeting House in the snow - January 2010

Update Monday 11 January - 6.30 am

See separate new item for latest update on conditions Monday 11 January

Latest information here concerning:

• students returning to campus residences
• changes to assessment deadlines
• campus services
• new international students

The University of Sussex is planning for term to start as normal on Monday 11 January 2009.

We are of course keen to ensure we minimise any disruption for students returning to campus for the start of term, as bad weather is affecting access to campus and the services available. 

Transport to campus

Bad weather conditions, with snow and cold temperatures, are affecting the campus, with many car parks currently closed and unsafe to be used. 

With public transport operating - eg #25 buses now running onto campus - and some limited parking available on campus, we are aiming to run campus services as normal. See state of campus Monday for links.

We are advising students not to travel on to campus by car, but to use public transport.

Services on campus

During the week ahead, there may be some limitations on services - for example more limited catering services than normal. You will be able to get something to eat and drink on campus.

However campus will be open and safe to use, provided care is taken in walking around the campus.  Heating systems are working as normal.

Clearing and gritting work has continued over the weekend to seek to ensure as many paths and building entrances as possible are cleared.  However, all users of campus are advised to take care.

In emergency on campus call 24 hour security on 01273 678234.

Students returning to campus residences

Where students are returning to their residences by car, we would ask that you use only the car parks that are open.

We will keep Sussex House and Sports Centre car parks (at the front end of campus) open, and keep as much of the Science Car Park (Car Park 1) open as possible.

Other car parks on slopes (such as East Slope) are unlikely to be clear; they will be unsafe and will be closed off from use, with staff directing traffic to safe parking places where possible.

We will look to ensure that cars can access Lewes Court car park at the north end of campus, primarily for dropping off students, and not for any parking.

For Stanmer Court residences, we will be looking to clear the Southern Water car park on the south side of the A27. This car park can be used only on arrivals weekend - not at any other time.  New and returning students have vehicle access via the Southern Water site on the arrivals weekend between 8am and 6pm on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 Jan 2010.  There is no car park access for students at any other times during the term or vacation.

We have pedestrian access to Stanmer Court via the Falmer station entrance and the bus stop gates 24/7 every day of the year.  The nearest campus car park to Stanmer Court is the Sports Centre, which is just a short walk under the A27 subway.

This restricted parking situation across campus may require repeat trips by foot to carry belongings from more distant car parks to residences.  We would ask that students and families are patient and show understanding in these extreme conditions.

Students returning to on-campus residences can call the 24 Hour Housing Reception Desk on 01273 678323

Asssessments (Friday 10.30 am update): 

1. Information for students with examinations Monday 11 - Friday 15 January 

Unseen examinations scheduled for Monday 11 January will now take place on Monday 18 January. Affected students will be contacted today by e-mail with further information.

On Monday 11 January, we will review the situation in relation to those unseen examinations scheduled for Wednesday 13, Thursday 14 and Friday 15. 

Affected students are requested to check information on these web pages on Monday, and will be contacted individually if there is any further change to the current schedule. 

2. Information for students with assessment submissions week beginning Monday 11 January 

We are extending the deadlines for all assessment submissions scheduled for week 1 (week beginning Monday 11 January) by 7 days: for example, work due in on 11 January will have a revised deadline of 18 January. 

Other than this change of date submission arrangements (eg where work is handed in) are not changing. 

These arrangements will also apply to students based in the Institute for Development Studies.

We will not be contacting students individually, but Sussex Direct information will be updated to reflect revised deadlines as soon as possible. 

If you have an urgent query about assessment which is not addressed by this information, you can contact Student Progress and Assessment Office (email spaenquiries@sussex.ac.uk, tel 01273 877093).

New international students

Detailed information is provided in a separate news article.

Teaching activites and student information

We are making every effort to ensure that teaching runs as normal, although due to travel problems some teaching events on Monday may have to be cancelled.  Students should check Study Direct for specific information.  All School Offices should be open on Monday onwards.  School offices will seek to provide information about whether teaching activities are affected - and will be collating information from teaching staff. 

Other information

If you have questions or concerns about please use your normal University contacts wherever possible.

If you need more information to be added here about student issues related to the weather, please email internalcomms@sussex.ac.uk

Service providers should use normal routes (email, Study Direct etc) for communicating changes with students, but for general announcements can also email internalcomms@sussex.ac.uk to have information added here.