Kevin Hylton, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion

Earlier this week, Kevin Hylton, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion emailed all students about our new antiracist pledge.

Dear students,

Since joining Sussex in the summer, I’ve had lots of discussions with students and staff from around the campus where I have listened and learned more about the issues relating to racial equality.

I’ve also consulted with members of the Race Equality Charter group, which includes student representation from the Students’ Union and others.

And as I now approach the end of my time as Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion and executive lead for race equality, I’m really pleased to be in a position to share our Pledge for an Anti-racist Sussex which will ensure our commitment to anti-racism will become more visible for people's everyday experience at the University and in our culture.

The pledge has been created through collaboration with the University Executive Group, the Race Equality Charter group and others, including David Ruebain who referenced the pledge in his recent Culture, Equality and Inclusion update.

For us to make a real difference to racial equality at Sussex and beyond, we need to keep listening and talking to each other in a constructive way so we can continue to make progress.

My last day at Sussex will be 3 December and I'd really like you to read the Antiracist Pledge and share your thoughts with me and our permanent PVC for Culture, Equality and Inclusion David Ruebain on the pledge, what it means for Sussex, and your role in turning the pledge into action.

Please do read the Antiracist Pledge in full and our vision for an Antiracist Sussex which outlines:

• A University Executive Group committed to antiracism, and related personal and professional development.
• A Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion as executive lead on race equality and antiracism
• Race Equality Action Plan: as we work toward achieving the Advance HE Race Equality Charter Mark we will continue to review antiracism commitments in our Schools and professional services.
• Antiracism training and development opportunities for staff and students.
• Promotion of our Report and Support tool to ensure our community is supported and protected if anyone experiences bullying, harassment, a hate incident, sexual violence, domestic abuse, or discrimination.
• Review, revise and debias recruitment and promotion systems to make them antiracist and anti-discriminatory.
• Eliminate ethnicity pay gaps and improve workforce representation.
• Revise the structure of equality, diversity and inclusion work to ensure that race, and antiracism work is adequately resourced and sustainable.
• Work toward a more diverse and inclusive curriculum that inspires and reflects our University community.
• Eliminate the BAME degree awarding gap.
• Develop a communications plan that improves the transparency of the work on race equality.

With best wishes,

Kevin

Kevin Hylton
Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor for Culture, Equality and Inclusion