Earlier today, Kelly Coate Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students emailed all taught students. You can read the full message below:

Dear students,

I hope you had a good break and managed to have a rest; ready for the summer term. 

I'm proud to announce that the University of Sussex has been ranked joint 37th (with a score of 93.1 out of 100) in The Higher Education (THE) World Impact Rankings 2022. The ranking measures universities’ impact on society based on their success in delivering the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals are embedded in our plans to become one of the most sustainable universities in the world. One of our aims includes having the most biodiverse campus in the UK, and to this end this week we celebrate Biodiversity Week at Sussex. As I mentioned in previous updates, the Big Biodiversity Conversation, taking place this afternoon until 7.30pm, will be an opportunity for our community to come together to pick our favourite biodiversity projects.

We also won a Bee's Needs Champion Award last week. The award recognises the University's efforts toward supporting local bee populations and our commitment to campus biodiversity.

Read on for the student update

• Finalists - the National Student Survey closes on 30 April
• New Student Centre
• Industrial action
• West Slope development
• Santander Union Black training
• Women Student of the Year competition

Finalists - the National Student Survey closes on 30 April

Thank you to all final year undergraduates who have already filled in the National Student Survey (NSS). If you haven't done it yet, you have time until Saturday. It takes less than five minutes, and for every Sussex finalist who takes part, we're donating £1 to charity.
 

New Student Centre

If you haven't seen the new Student Centre yet, I encourage you to go and take a look. The Centre opened its doors on Monday, and it's there for you to collaborate and connect, and access all the student services there to advise you throughout your university experience.
 

Industrial action

We understand student concerns about a potential marking boycott as part of the extended national industrial action by UCU members at Sussex and in 40 other Universities in the UK.

We do not yet know the details of the potential marking boycott. It’s important to remember that not all students will be impacted by a marking boycott at Sussex, and if you are impacted your School will be in touch when more details are known, and will provide information and support to you.

We will do all that we can to ensure we mitigate any impact on our students’ education and assessment and examination results caused by any potential marking boycott activity at Sussex. Please, be reassured that we have a range of mechanisms for ensuring that marking can take place properly, maintaining quality and standards so that you can graduate on time and that your award will retain its value both now and in the future.
 

West Slope development

From next week, preparatory works on the redevelopment of the West Slope of campus will commence. The first step in this programme is to ensure that all our utilities underground can support the new development and our existing campus, and are futureproof for decades to come. Works will be conducted one section at a time with the aim of minimising disruption as much as possible, and we will keep you up-to-date as works progress.
 

Santander Union Black training

You have time to register for the Santander Union Black training course until Monday 2 May. The programme provides an insightful and thought-provoking exploration of Black British history and steps to antiracism, and can be completed in stages. If you complete the course by Monday 2 May, you could win one of 50 x £500 Santander Development Grants to support your studies
 

Student Woman of the Year competition

Finally, congratulations to our Chevening Scholar Wadi Ben-Hirki for being a runner-up in the 2022 Student Woman of the Year competition. Wadi is studying for a Master's in International Education and Development and is the founder of the Wadi Ben-Hirki Foundation, which focuses on gender equality, quality education and peacebuilding.

 
With best wishes,
 
Kelly

Kelly Coate
Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students