We are always looking at ways to improve the impact of our staff communications and content, and earlier in the year we asked for your feedback on our internal communications channels, including our regular newsletters, the Staff Hub and events. Thank you to the 180 colleagues from across the University who responded to the anonymous survey, which ran for two weeks. It is good news that 88% of respondents reported feeling informed about University-level matters affecting them.
The survey results have enabled us to review our channels and agree on a series of changes which will further improve what we offer, helping to ensure that we provide you with the information and updates that you need, via your preferred communication methods. Read about the actions we are taking as a result of your feedback:
Improving the impact of our channels and content
Emails to all staff
77% of you indicated a preference for written updates, and as a result, we are limiting the use of video updates to key topics. We will aim to ensure that longer emails sent to all staff will include key bullet points to provide an overview of what to expect, as well as trying to make emails shorter.
Staff newsletters
We are taking measures to ensure our regular newsletters This week at Sussex and Sussex in focus are further differentiated and stay useful, interesting and engaging for our community.
From Monday 29 April, This week at Sussex - which comes out every Monday - will only feature events happening in the week ahead and important recent news updates. The media and social update will no longer be featured in this newsletter, but will be available in our fortnightly Sussex in focus newsletter, which celebrates our community, spotlights our ground-breaking research and updates staff on Inclusive Sussex initiatives, as well as providing training and development news.
Find out more about our newsletters, including how and when you can submit content to be featured in our staff newsletters.
Raising awareness of communication channels
We will have a presence at staff events, including welcome sessions for new staff, to engage with colleagues and raise awareness of our channels. Keep an eye out for a staff news update soon which will provide a summary of how to share news and updates with the wider community through our communication channels.
Reviewing our staff social media strategy
We are reviewing our use of the Staff Communications account in X (formerly Twitter), and exploring the possibility of expanding to other popular platforms that may be used more by staff across the University.
Viva Engage, an internal social media channel, is also available at Sussex and offers staff the opportunity to catch up on news and updates from projects across the University and share updates directly with the community.
Continuing to refine our approach to events
We continue to refine our approach to in-person events to make them useful and impactful for colleagues. It is important that that all events are as accessible as possible for those who want to attend, and that they reflect the changing workplace and hybrid working patterns of many staff.
Find out more about Internal Communications or get in touch with the team at internalcomms@sussex.ac.uk if you have any questions or suggestions.