Sussex Not For Sale

UCU have sent the following message to their members:

Dear members,

Some of you will have seen the revised White Paper that is going to Council tomorrow. On page 12, as part of the risk assessment, is the following: 

Our website now hosts a Wiki that will make it easier to assemble facts about the management-proposed changes. All logged-in users can (should!) add to the wiki if they are well-informed. The research group maintains editorial control. You can find it here.

The results of our staff survey are in. In total 63 members of staff took part, cross-section of people working at Sussex university. Perhaps surprisingly, the most popular statements are of an explicitly political character: nearly three-quarters of participants are concerned academic freedom could ultimately be undermined by increased financial pressures, and two-thirds reject the language of business being used for discussing education. Two-thirds also insist that normal procedure must be followed in the decision-making on the Strategic Plan. Conversely, almost nobody (3%) understands and trusts the decision-making process for picking research themes, and almost nobody (3%) thinks working closely with senior management should be the main role of the heads of the new Schools. Only 14% of participants see an urgent need for restructuring. More interesting, and perhaps more relevant, than the numbers are the comments that we received (all are reproduced below).

Sussex Not For Sale launched today a survey of Sussex university staff about the large-scale changes proposed by senior management. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the opinion among of those who keep the university going. If you are a member of staff at Sussex university, please fill out the form. It would also be great if you got your colleagues to do the same. http://www.sussexnot4sale.org.uk/staff_survey If you are a student, please ask your your tutors and lecturers to take part in the survey. -------------------- ADDITION 21. 2. 2008: Although the survey will continue until the beginning of next week, we have started to publish the comments respondents have made: http://www.sussexnot4sale.org.uk/node/47

Sussex Not For Sale! - Mass meeting

Thursday, February 21, 2008
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Arts C133

Did you know that our University management have recently proposed large-scale reforms for Sussex?

Did you know they want to start teaching and researching in the field of International Security, Guantanamo style?

Did you know that they have dodged the democratic process, putting Senate meetings (the academic body) after Council meetings (the highest governing body), counter to the normal procedure?

Did you know that our associate tutors recently got a pay cut?

What do these changes mean for students and staff at the University?

Come and hear about the view of lecturers, students and associate tutors regarding the management's vision for Sussex, how this affects us, and what we can do about it.

Thursday 21 February, 5pm, Arts C133.