Broadcast: News items
Size and Shape: an update from the Provost
By: Sean Armstrong
Last updated: Wednesday, 13 October 2021
On Tuesday 12 October, the University's Provost, Rachel Mills, wrote to all staff with an update. You can read the message in full below.
Dear colleague,
Now we have had Town Hall meetings in each of our Schools and Divisions I am pleased to be able to provide a fuller update on the next steps in the Size and Shape Programme.
Sharing draft proposals with you:
Last week, we began a month-long period of information sharing; discussions about draft proposals and opportunities to provide feedback in each School and Division.
We are now seeking your feedback so we can refine the proposals in each area. You can share your thoughts anonymously via this online form. This will be open until 5 November.
Some staff have asked to see the Town Hall presentations from across Schools and Divisions, and I’m pleased you can now read these here.
Seeking voluntary means to find savings:
We are committed to exploring all voluntary means to find the savings that we need to make critical investments for our future. I can now share the details of the next stages for making savings.
Following the two voluntary severance schemes which have run in the last 12 months, we have decided to provide staff in those Schools and Divisions where pay bill savings and structural changes are proposed, the opportunity to apply for a final round of voluntary severance.
As the scheme is only open to staff in specific Schools or Divisions, this is referred to as Targeted Voluntary Severance. The scheme, which is enhanced from the previous two schemes is available to all staff in these targeted Schools and Divisions and you can read about the details here.
The Schools and Divisions in which all staff are being offered Targeted Voluntary Severance are:
- academic staff in the:
- School of Media, Arts and Humanities
- School of Mathematical and Physical Science
- School of Life Sciences
- professional services staff in:
- ITS
- Finance (incl Procurement)
- Student Experience
- Research and Enterprise
- Technical Services
- HR
Staff at Sussex have responded positively about the previous two schemes and we have been in regular discussion with the campus trade unions to ensure that once the scheme was open that the T&Cs and its implementation were as favourable to members as possible.*
Many colleagues will be feeling unsettled by these latest discussions about structural changes and the need to make budget savings in staff or non-staff areas. Please remember that support is available for you throughout this process and I strongly encourage you to contact your HR Business Partner, your line manager, or your Head of School or Divisional Director to discuss any issues or if you need any support.
Answering your questions:
Understandably many of you have questions about the programme which we are compiling and providing answers to on our webpages. We will continue to update these as we progress through the programme so do please check this link for further information. You can always ask additional questions via the online feedback form.
What’s next?
I will continue to keep you updated on the overall Size and Shape Programme and I will host a meeting later this term to share some of the emerging themes and potential outcomes.
With best wishes,
Rachel
* this story has been updated – the previous version said that ‘we have been in regular discussion with the campus trade unions about ensuring this targeted and enhanced voluntary severance scheme is put in place.’ It is more accurate to say that UCU’s involvement was to ensure that once the scheme was open that the T&Cs and its implementation were as favourable to members as possible.