Vice-Chancellor David Maguire
This week (29 November) the Vice-Chancellor David Maguire wrote to all staff. You can read the email in full below:
Dear colleague,
It was another busy week for me on campus and representing the University at an event in London. Last week there was a lot of committee work, but I am greatly encouraged by the progress we are making.
At a meeting of Council on Friday, we were able to approve a number of important developments to help secure the University’s future.
Our Chair of Council, Dame Denise Holt, will write to all staff, summarising these discussions. I encourage all colleagues to read her update, as these developments affect everyone and we all have a role to play in implementing them.
I want to share a few reflections on the Size and Shape update that was considered by Council, as so many of you have been involved or engaged with this programme of activity over the past year or so.
First, it is very welcome news that our collective efforts so far have manoeuvred the University into a stronger position than was looking likely at certain points. I would like to thank you all for your hard work to help us address our challenges and to recognise the uncertainty you have been operating under recently. I know how difficult this has been for some. Assuming the current phases of the project conclude as expected we will now be able to avoid any compulsory redundancies this academic year – as you know, exploring voluntary means has been our commitment throughout. Thank you for helping to achieve this very welcome position.
Whilst we are not planning to reduce overall staff numbers within Professional Services, there is the potential for some roles to change as we look to implement the organisational structures in a number of divisions. However, all staff affected will be offered an alternative role, with existing pay grades protected for up to four years. An update will be presented to Council in January.
We move now into the implementation phase of the programme. This is primarily about the immediate investments we need to make and setting up the University for investing further in the future, which we urgently need to do. This will be supported by our new Education and Research Investment Programme, which was also approved on Friday.
Although Size and Shape is now very much on track and by the end of this academic year a great deal will be achieved in terms of rebalancing the University, the need to adapt to changing external and internal circumstances will remain. However, we hope that in most cases we will be able to do this in more thoughtful, agile ways through better planning over longer time periods. Ideally, this would see more gradual change using natural processes. The mechanism for this we envisage will be a relaunched academic business planning process, starting in the next calendar year.
We will talk more about these and other developments at the UEG open forum hybrid meeting on 6 December. All staff will also be invited to attend a session led by your Head of School or Divisional Director following the UEG open forum, and I really encourage you to attend and hear more.
One current member of UEG who will be absent from that event will be Professor Kevin Hylton, who, sadly, comes to the end of his time at Sussex this Friday (3 December). Kevin’s appointment back in the summer was a crucial one and he has achieved a significant amount in his interim role, forming an excellent working relationship with Professor David Ruebain, who came on board in September. I would like to thank Kevin for everything he has set in train and wish him all the very best for the future. As a parting ‘gift’, he agreed to be interviewed for our This Sussex Life series in which he shares his reflections on his time at Sussex.
Finally, please do familiarise yourselves with the Government’s new Covid guidance most notably the need to wear face coverings on public transport and in shops. With the discovery of the Omicron variant I would also like to remind you that we advise all students and staff, except those who are exempt, to wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces, including classes, where social distancing is not possible.
We also encourage staff and students to take a test regularly and to get vaccinated unless exempt. We will outline any new measures specifically for our campus with you at the earliest opportunity. We will continue to act swiftly – ensuring that the health and safety of our staff and students is paramount.
Please look after yourselves and your loved ones. I hope you have a great week.
Warm regards,
David
Interim Vice-Chancellor