We promised to give you a daily update on the strike action taking place at Sussex and many other universities this week. Today (Wednesday 1 December) is the first of three consecutive days of strike action.
While some classes have been cancelled, many staff are working as usual and University services are operating well.
Please read the updates and reminders below and on the Student Hub, to make sure that you have the latest information to hand.
Your studies
Here are a few practical things to remember about your studies today and over the next two days:
- Please continue to attend your sessions, unless you are advised otherwise.
- If we know that a teaching session is not taking place, you will receive a notification on the relevant Canvas module and/or the class will be cancelled on Sussex Direct.
- Please remember to regularly check Sussex Direct or Canvas to see if your lecturer has given advance notice that your class is not taking place.
- UCU members don't have to let us know if they're striking. This may mean that in some instances we might not be able to give advance notice or cancel your lectures or seminars.
- If you come to campus and your class isn't happening, you can use the time for independent study. The Library and study spaces will be open as well as other campus services, such as sports facilities, cafés and bars.
- If you had an assessment scheduled during the strikes you should have been notified by your School if it has been changed. If you haven’t been told of any change, then it should be taking place as originally scheduled.
- Any assessments that were due to be handed in via Turnitin or Canvas with deadlines during the strike action remain unchanged, unless you have been told otherwise.
If you have a visa
Your visa status will not be negatively affected by strike action.
If any expected academic classes (such as lectures) do not happen because of strike action, this would not be your fault. We would make a record of this so it does not count against you.
However, it is important you come to campus as normal with the aim of attending your classes. If you do not attend classes which still go ahead, you will then be recorded as absent.
More about visas and immigration.
Picket lines
You will see picket lines at the entrances to campus. These are permitted by law and will be made up of a small group of people supporting the strike. This is the usual situation in any strike action and you are free to move around as normal.
If you feel concerned at all please get in touch with your tutor or our team at the Student Life Centre who can talk through any worries.
Travel to campus
Buses will be travelling to the University throughout the strike action.
Buses are not entering the campus between 6.30am and 3pm on strike days. During these times, buses are stopping just outside campus on the A27 slip road and then near Falmer Station.
For service updates, see the Brighton & Hove Buses website. We suggest you allow more time than usual to get to campus by bus.
Trains are running as normal.
Free minibus service
A free minibus service is available for students who need support accessing parts of the campus. This is available from 9.30am – 3pm from outside Sussex House.
You are able to show the driver a Helping Hand card, a Disabled Person’s Bus Pass or a Sunflower Lanyard, which will ensure those most in need can use the service.
If you have a disability and your access to campus is disrupted, please check the Student Hub or Student Support Unit website for up to date information.
Teaching returns as normal from Monday 6 December
Remember that teaching continues as normal next week (starting 6 December), with attendance monitoring as usual. This will be the last week of term and it will be important not to miss any of your classes.
Visit the Student Hub
We’ve made sure there is a range of information available to you on the Student Hub. This includes a set of commonly asked questions. These will continue to be updated regularly, so please look there first if you have any queries. Please also continue to speak to staff in your School office.