Today, 26 March, the University wrote to all staff. You can read his email in full:
This email provides:
- An update on our teaching plans for the Summer term
- An outline of our teaching plans for 2021-22
Both are subject to future UK Government advice and guidance.
Plans for the Summer term
The UK Government will review the situation for all students, not yet invited back, after the Spring vacation. As soon as we receive the next Government guidance on this we will be back in touch.
The University’s position remains the same as shared on 24 February 2021. If more students are invited back to campus after the Spring break for in-person academic activity, it goes without saying that nobody should be expected to work in an environment in which they feel unsafe and an important part of any return will be to give colleagues the agency to make decisions for themselves. This is especially important for those who have, or live with someone who has, an underlying health condition, although there are also other considerations.
Therefore, if you are asked to return to resume in-person teaching or support services and you have personal circumstances that you consider might prevent you from returning at that time, please speak to your line manager about the health and safety and other measures that are in place to make campus as safe as possible, to help you make a reasonable assessment about the safety of your working environment.
Whatever happens we remain absolutely committed to offering an excellent level of education for all our students.
Potential in-person teaching dates
After the vacation period we hope to be able to welcome students back to in-person teaching during the two weeks of teaching after the Spring vacation and in the following assessment period, which runs until 29 May, this also coincides with some teaching delivery, mainly for Postgraduate students.
Students who are unable to return to campus
We will still continue to support all students, whether or not they are able to return to campus.
For the rest of this semester, students who are unable to return will not be academically disadvantaged, and all assessment modes can be completed remotely.
Providing in-person academic activity
Where the government advice allows it, we will provide as much in-person academic activity and service provision as possible. If students are able to and wish to return, within government advice, we will provide academic support for them, through the following:
- access to study spaces, including bookable rooms, technical facilities, labs, library spaces and facilities
- some in-person academic and teaching activity – this may be through drop ins, tutorials, workshops and/or direct teaching in specified areas
Remote and in-person delivery
All teaching and academic work will continue to be fully supported through a combination of remote and in-person activity, and the focus for in-person resources will be directed to practical-related teaching in much of the science and media and arts areas.
All University academic services will be fully operational as remote services as well as in-person where necessary.
Schools will be in contact with their students about in-person academic activity.
For all students accessing sessions in-person, they must use the sign-up system on their Sussex Direct timetable so that we can anticipate numbers and organise appropriately. We will be reminding students of this.
Teaching plans for next academic year 2021–22
It is still too early to be certain about the next academic year but, if the current decline in Covid-19 infections continue, Sussex expects to see a return to a predominantly campus-based teaching and learning experience from September 2021.
We have been having constructive conversations with academic staff about the delivery of teaching and learning over the last few weeks. Key highlights about these proposed teaching plans (subject to future Government advice and guidance) can be viewed below.
- Campus safety
The health and safety of all students and staff remains our highest priority. Sussex will continue to follow the most recent government guidelines and will conduct ongoing health and safety assessments for all the spaces on campus. We will implement all recommended measures to keep everyone safe.
- Teaching delivery
To ensure that all students receive a high-quality education with us, we will use a mix of in-person and online educational experiences and resources. Where appropriate, online teaching and learning will be used alongside campus provision to offer an innovative and inclusive approach that enriches our students’ experience via improved access and flexibility.
- Assessments
All assessments are being planned so that they will not normally require in-person attendance (unless required by a professional body or where some exceptions may be necessary). Work is underway to further enhance e-assessment policies and guidance to improve access while protecting academic standards and the value of our students’ degrees.
- For students unable to join us on campus
Students who are unable to come to campus will be offered remote access to learning until they are able to join us.
The only exception is for students on courses that offer in-person only teaching and for students on these courses their Schools will contact them directly.
Sussex will be keeping up to date with the latest UK government guidance to ensure that visa applications and travel to campus takes place at the best possible time.
Sussex will continue to do everything possible to ensure that students will not be disadvantaged by studying remotely.
We are optimistic about welcoming the whole Sussex community back to enjoy our lovely campus and its facilities, as well as Brighton and the surrounding area – and we want to thank all staff for their continued commitment and dedication in enabling our students to reach their educational potential during these challenging times.