Need to know – March

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Top updates from across the University.


1. University Race Review: Have your say

Staff are invited to participate in a questionnaire to help us understand the racial climate in the University, and capture staff and students’ experience of racism. These surveys form part of a project commissioned to report on the University’s historical links to slavery, colonialism and the production of racial science and make recommendations to address structural racism.

Two surveys have been created. Survey 1 asks questions to help us understand the current racial climate at the University and is open to all University staff and students.

Access questionnaire 1

Survey 2 is open to staff and students who identify as racially or ethnically minoritised, or who come from regions that have been affected by European-led colonialism and enslavement.

Access questionnaire 2

2. Upcoming staff elections

Nominations have opened for both the Senate elections and the University Court professional services election.

Senate elections

All eligible staff from the University’s academic and research community who were in post before 31 January 2024 are invited to stand for Senate. The deadline for nominations is 27 March.

Senate elections 2024: nominations now open

Professional services staff election to University Court

Nominations are open for a professional services staff member to join University Court. Nominees need to have been on payroll before 29 February 2024 and their nomination must be supported by five or more individuals. The deadline is 3 April.

Professional services staff election: join University Court

3. Join the Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression Working Group

The University is looking to expand the membership of its Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression Working Group and asking staff to consider joining.

In 2023 the University convened a Working Group to identify how to support academic freedom and freedom of expression across our staff and student community. This group has provided a forum to examine sector-wide discussions and consider how we can ensure the University fosters an inclusive culture where all members of our community can inquire, study and debate without fear of harassment or discrimination.

Please submit expressions of interest before 18 March.

Join the Academic Freedom and Freedom of Expression Working Group