Broadcast: News items

Teaching plans

Today we wrote to all staff with information about updates on our teaching plans for the Summer term and an outline of our teaching plans for 2021.

Both are subject to future UK Government advice and guidance. The University’s position remains the same as shared on 24 February 2021 and as soon as we receive the next Government guidance on this we will be back in touch. 

We will also update our Semester Two webpages with the latest information.

Returning to campus

If you have recently returned to campus following the recent lifting of current restrictions in early March, please familiarise yourself with information and guidance on the staff webpages

Our health and safety page contains extensive guidance for staff about working on campus during the pandemic, information about risk assessments and FAQs about the measures taken to make Sussex a safe place to work, study, socialise and live.

Getting tested on campus

The test centre on campus is there for staff at the University who need to come on to campus to work, and all Sussex students. All essential staff who need to work on campus can now be tested up to twice a week until at least the end of April.

If you haven’t been for a test on campus yet, then it’s worth reading about the process from the perspective of staff who are volunteering at the test centre, and viewing the photo gallery that walks you through the process.

You can book tests on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, at any time from 10.00 am - 3.00 pm. Testing time will be expanded as demand for testing increases.

Staff wellbeing

In recognition of how staff have continued their work over the past year in challenging circumstances, two extra minimum service days (31 March and 7 April) have been added over the long Spring vacation weekend.

Please take some time to review the University’s wellbeing resources and encourage staff to take a break over this period.

The wellbeing hub is a useful resource for all staff during such challenging times and counselling support is available from our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) partners Care First 24 hours a day. Next week, Care First are hosting a series of short webinars on a range of health topics that might prove useful:

• Spring clean your wellbeing Monday 29 March | 12pm-12.30pm

• Isolation after lockdown eases Tuesday 30 March | 12pm-12.30pm

• How Care first can support you Wednesday 31 March | 12pm-12.30pm

• Managing Pressure Thursday 1 April | 12pm-12.30pm

Keeping students informed

On Friday 19 March we ran a joint forum with the Students' Union where students could ask questions about assessments in the pandemic to senior University staff and SU officers. View the Zoom recording.