Earlier today, Kelly Coate, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students, wrote to all taught students. You can read her full email below:

Hello,

Brighton & Hove buses have extended their £2 fares offer until the end of June. This is part of the government's Help for Households programme.

You can also register proof of student ID within the Brighton & Hove Buses app to activate discounted student tickets on your phone. See their student travel page for more information.

Remember to use EcoGo and you can earn points when you use public transport too!

We're also continuing with our £2 meals initiative, which was recently shortlisted for a national cost of living award. You can find out more about the University’s cost of living support for students in this news story.

Finally, I'd like to wish our Muslim community all the best during the month of Ramadan.

Read on for this week’s update, including:  

• Update on online optional module choices
• National Student Survey: last chance to get your free tea or coffee voucher
• Get recognised with the Spirit of Sussex Award
• Join the election hustings and question your local candidates
• Choose your next student leaders from Friday
• Sussex v. Brighton – who will win Varsity this year?
• Easter family fun day
• Be aware of money mule scams
• Clocks go forward this weekend
• Sussex snapshot.

Update on online optional module choices

As mentioned last week, the online optional module choice facility in Sussex Direct had a number of technical issues, which required us to close the platform to enable our technical teams to investigate and to fix the problem.

We are sorry for the inconvenience this may have caused and can confirm that the issues have now been fixed.

The optional module choice facility will reopen for all students on Monday 27 March and close on Monday 3 April. Please read this news story for details on when you will be able to access the system and make your choices.

PLEASE NOTE: This includes any student who made their choices on either Monday 13 or Tuesday 14 March. You will need to log back into Sussex Direct and make your choices again. 

National Student Survey: last chance to get your free tea or coffee voucher

Congratulations to the winners of the two £1,000 cash prizes on the National Student Survey (NSS) prize draw.

If you haven’t taken part in the NSS yet, you have until Thursday next week to claim your free tea or coffee when you complete the survey. Take the NSS now and show your confirmation email to one of our student NSS agents in the Library (near the food vending machines at the entrance on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 11am-3pm) to get your voucher.

The NSS is a way for you to tell the world about your time at Sussex, helping future students to decide what and where to study. Find out more about the NSS on the Student Hub. 

Get recognised with the Spirit of Sussex Award

Have you been engaging in sports, societies or getting involved in new activities? Then it’s time to receive recognition for your efforts and commitments while at Sussex – and in little as 30 minutes or less, you can make sure you get that recognition.

The Spirit of Sussex Award is our way of celebrating and recognising your achievements, as you gain points towards either a Bronze, Silver or Gold award.

Undergraduate final-year students have until 1 April 2023 to log their points and receive a certificate at graduation. To log points, simply access the platform with your usual Sussex login details, choose the award category most relevant to your activity and then reflect on your level of involvement.

Read more about the Spirit of Sussex Award in our latest story. 

Join the election hustings and question your local candidates

Local elections are coming up in May and you can join the hustings taking place on 24 April, 5.30-7pm at the Meeting House, where you can pose questions to some of your local candidates standing for election.

This is your opportunity to find out how Brighton & Hove representatives plan to tackle local issues that matter to you. The event is free to attend but places are limited so make sure you book in advance.

Book your place on Eventbrite.

A full list of candidates standing in the local elections and further information is available on the Brighton & Hove City Council website. 

Choose your next student leaders from Friday

From 9am tomorrow, voting will be open for you to decide who will lead your Students’ Union (SU) next academic year. The team you elect will help to represent your voice at Sussex, through SU activities and regular meetings with the University’s leadership team.

You can view the full list of spring election candidates on the SU website. Voting will close at 5pm on Friday 31 March. 

Sussex v. Brighton – who will win Varsity this year?

The annual Varsity sports competition is currently underway, with lots of our teams competing against the University of Brighton. You can see the full line-up and get tickets via the Students’ Union website. Did you also know we have a new sports mascot, the Sussex Stingray? I’m rooting for all of our teams to win!  

Easter family fun day

On Tuesday 4 April, student families are invited to join a free day of Easter holiday fun at the Student Centre. There will be a range of activities for families to do together, like games, crafts and an Easter hunt around campus, plus free food and drink. Come along to relax and meet other students who are parents, while your children have a day out at no cost. 

Be aware of money mule scams

I’d like to remind you again about keeping an eye out for fraud and scams. HM Revenue and Customs is warning young people of potential scams to be aware of, including those involving ‘money mules’. In our latest story you can find advice and tips to keep your finances safe. You can always find more information in the money and funding section of the Student Hub. 

Clocks go forward this weekend

In the UK the clocks go forward one hour at 1am on the last Sunday in March, which is this coming Sunday (26 March). Remember to check your devices! 

With best wishes,

Kelly

Professor Kelly Coate, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Students