Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students), Professor Kate O'Riordan, wrote to all taught students earlier today. You can read the full message below:

Hello,

As we head into the teaching break I want to say well done for all your recent work and wish you luck as you prepare for upcoming assessments. Setting yourself up for success in your assessments involves planning and good time management – I recommend checking the Skills Hub for support across a range of topics. Making time to rest and do things you enjoy can also help you in the run up to deadlines or exams, so I hope you have some relaxing and fun moments too.

I know some of you will have caring responsibilities or paid work (or both) to continue during the vacation, some will be celebrating Easter, and some will be continuing the month of Ramadan and celebrating Eid al-Fitr. Whatever the vacation looks like for you, you might find the health and wellbeing resources on the Student Hub helpful. We also have information for those of you staying on campus, and a lovely family fun day coming up on 12 April as well. The updates I send to you will continue after the vacation, with the next edition planned for Thursday 18 April.

In other exciting news from our community, Mark Walters, Professor of Criminal Law and Criminology and Deputy Head of Sussex Law School, has been awarded Fellowship of the Academy of Social Sciences. Dr Sylvia Schröder, whose research in the School of Life Sciences focuses on the field of visual system neuroscience, has also won a prestigious Physiological Society Prize Lecture.

This week is also Neurodiversity Celebration Week – find out more about what is happening on campus below.

Following voting last week, you can view the initial Students’ Union election results on their website and find out who will be representing you next academic year!

Please read on for your regular update, including:

• More roundtable events and workshops with Poet-in-Residence Jenny Mitchell
• Family fun day for student parents and their children (12 April)
• Pitch for the Planet – get support, with two weeks left to apply!
• Final-year student? Log your Spirit of Sussex Award points by 1 April
• Enjoy and learn through our novel arts programme with Brighton Festival
• Neurodiversity Celebration Week (18-24 March)
• Learn about careers in publishing (27 March)
• Become a school governor
• Dental Care Falmer to close
• Carbon labelling has come to campus.

More roundtable events and workshops with Poet-in-Residence Jenny Mitchell

Book your place for upcoming roundtable events with award-winning poet and Sussex alumna Jenny Mitchell. Next week’s discussions will focus on healthcare and aging populations (26 March), and racism (27 March).

You are also welcome to book a place for workshops on poetry and freedom (17 April) and poetry and resilience (24 April).

Family fun day for student parents and their children (12 April)

Join a free day of fun on campus for Sussex students who are parents, and their children, on Friday 12 April. Book your spot for a day of Lego, glitter and possibly some chocolate!

This event was designed in collaboration with student parents. It is open to undergraduates and postgraduates, and both current and future students.

Pitch for the Planet – get support, with two weeks left to apply!

Our annual Pitch for the Planet competition offers you the chance to win up to £5,000 seed funding and a coveted spot in our Summer Accelerator to bring your innovative sustainability proposal to life. If you have a great idea but you are not sure about applying, you can book an Entrepreneurship Exploration session to discuss your idea further. Applications close on 3 April 2024.

Final-year student? Log your Spirit of Sussex Award points by 1 April

For undergraduate finalists, the deadline for logging Spirit of Sussex Award points is 1 April.

Not logged enough points to reach Bronze, Silver or Gold yet? There is still time! Plus, remember you can log points for activities you have done throughout all your years at Sussex.

Check out a recent Instagram video where a few of our Digital Media Creators show you how to log your points.

Enjoy and learn through our novel arts programme with Brighton Festival

As the Higher Education Partner for Brighton Festival 2024, we are pleased to continue to put education at the heart of the city's annual celebration of arts and creativity. Our partnership helps to support this great opportunity for you to experience a range of arts and cultural events on campus, and in our local community.

With a series of events led by students and staff in our School of Media, Arts and Humanities, keep an eye on the Brighton Festival page on the Student Hub, where you can see our programme, plus any latest ticket offers.

I am looking forward to attending Radical Remembering, an event led by spoken-word performer, activist and our Stuart Hall Fellow, Subira Joy.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week (18-24 March)

This week aims to challenge stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences and transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported. There is still time to get involved and I encourage everyone to visit the vibrant display in the Library wellbeing area, which will be filled with information, activities and resources that showcase the strengths of diverse neurological differences until the end of the week. Find out more on the Student Hub.

Learn about careers in publishing (27 March)

For those of you interested in a career in publishing, there is an event taking place at the Brighthelm Centre on Wednesday 27 March. Panellists will offer insight into different roles, discuss what they love about the industry, and look back at their career journeys so far. See more information and how to book.

Become a school governor

A few weeks ago, I told you about an opportunity to become a school governor and make a difference in the schools in your local area. If you were not able to attend the webinar that we co-hosted with the Governors for Schools charity, you can now watch the recording.

Dental Care Falmer to close

Dental Care Falmer will be closing its campus dental practice later this year. This closure is part of the West Slope development, in which a brand-new Health and Wellbeing Centre will prioritise space dedicated to student welfare and therapeutic services. 

Carbon labelling has come to campus

Last year, when we asked our campus community what would encourage them to eat more sustainable meals, one in five responded they would like to have more information about the choices they were making. As a result, we are now piloting a new carbon labelling system, starting with the menu at the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts Café.

Tell us your views on carbon labelling by taking this short survey and you could win a free meal for two.

With best wishes,
 
Kate

Professor Kate O’Riordan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education and Students)