Broadcast: News items

Pevensey I at dusk

Return to campus update
Semester Two teaching will remain largely online (except for those cohorts currently allowed in the government guidance) until at least 8 March, in line with the latest government guidance.  

We are working on a series of measures to enhance the academic experience of students this year - including additional support in the end of year assessment period; an emphasis on practice-based subjects; a focus on finalists; and in-person activity when it is safe to conduct this. We will provide further updates as soon as we are able.

Ongoing communications with staff
Following HR-related changes to policies and procedures during the current lockdown, we recently held two webinars so colleagues could find out more about these updates, and the advice and support available at this time.

Staff could also ask questions of the panellists about their areas including: Human Resources; Teaching and Learning; Health and Safety; Student Experience; and Estates.

A recording of the first Semester Two webinar (18 January) is now available to view online. A recording of the second event (26 January) will be published online shortly.

We will also be holding a number of other staff engagement opportunities for staff, including the VC Online Open Staff Forum on Tuesday 9 February.  Please register for a ticket and you will be sent the Zoom link.

Testing
A reminder that all essential staff who need to work on campus can be tested up to twice a week until at least the middle of February. 

Testing takes place in the Sport Centre on campus near Falmer House. You can make a booking for a test on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, at any time from 10.00 am – 2.00 pm.

Staff survey
Our 2021 staff survey is now live. We will be doing more frequent pulse surveys - two a year - so that we can hear the views of staff more regularly and respond to emerging issues. This is particularly important as we continue to live through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Today, you will receive a reminder email from People Insights, a third-party provider who are running the survey on our behalf. The survey is anonymous to encourage more people to take part and give an honest opinion of working at Sussex and say what they think could be done differently or better.  

If you have not yet completed the survey, you will receive reminder emails from People Insights, a third-party provider who are running the survey on our behalf. The survey is anonymous to encourage more people to take part and give an honest opinion of working at Sussex and say what they think could be done differently or better.  

The University will not be able to link survey responses to any individual respondent. All staff have been invited by email to take part in this online survey which should take no longer than five minutes to complete. The survey will run until Friday 5 February.

Supporting staff during lockdown
We know that many of us are finding the current restrictions to be challenging. One of the things that can happen when we are anxious is losing our sleep patterns. Good sleep is vital to our wellbeing, so if this is relevant to you at the moment, then you may find it helpful to look at the resources on the Calm app.

Take a look at the staff wellbeing page for a range of resources to help you look after your own physical and mental wellbeing, and that of your colleagues.