The Student Centre opened its doors last April and has been busy ever since. It offers a space for students to meet, study or relax in the heart of campus – just beyond Bramber House.
The ground floor open-plan area is open 24/7 and is where you can find the Welcome Desk, next to our beautiful courtyard garden. The desk is staffed by our Welcome Team between 8:30am and 5pm, and by a team of porters out of these hours.
On the ground floor, you can also find a café area with coffee, cakes and hot food order points, as well as a ‘Heat & Eat’ kitchen complete with microwaves and a boiling water tap.
Whether you have a query or need support with a more complex issue, there is a wide range of information, advice and guidance available at the Student Centre. The Centre brings together all our Student Support Services, who provide confidential pre-booked appointments, in-person or via Zoom, on a variety of issues. They will also be running drop-in sessions, events and other activities throughout the year.
For more information about the spaces, services and events in the Student Centre, please visit the Student Hub.
The Student Centre was ‘soft launched’ in April 2022, which allowed us to listen to students and respond to their requests before this academic year started. Our team of Student Connectors collected feedback in the first weeks of opening, and you gave us some areas to improve. Here’s what we did:
You wanted more power outlets
Over the summer, we installed extra power and data sockets throughout the ground floor. So, if you are looking for a power supply, remember there are:
- 24 power and data points on the tables,
- 34 touchdown seats,
- 12 sockets each in the huddle sofas and beach huts,
- six in the Woodland corridor
- and three static PCs for you to use.
You asked us to improve the WiFi
In August, we upgraded the cabling and we had all WiFi access points checked. A recent WiFi survey showed good or excellent coverage in all areas.
You wanted to be able to book rooms
No spaces are bookable yet, but we're constantly reviewing demand and usage to understand how we can best use our spaces. Our Student Support Services currently use the confidential Landscape and Seascape meeting rooms for student appointments. And we’re now taking some bookings for Connector-run events, such as Residential Life drop-ins.
You wanted more seating
We've had several pop-up receptions in the atrium for the start of term, which has impacted the space available for seating. Now the Welcome period is over, we'll look at how we can best use the space and increase the amount of seating.
And…
- We've also updated all locks in the toilets for easy closing and opening.
- We have designated microwaves for vegetarian or vegan-only use.
- We've reopened the internal courtyard.
Coming soon
- lockers will be available for you to use for the day whilst you are in the Student Centre.
- we're adding more plants and greenery by completing the ‘biophilic’ columns next to the Welcome Desk.
- we're putting furniture outside on the plaza in front of the Student Centre.
Our Student Connectors have also been collecting feedback this term and will analyse the data shortly. We welcome your feedback at any time, so please feel free to talk to our Connectors when they are in the centre.
We look forward to seeing you in the Student Centre soon!