Are you available between 10.00 and 15.00 on Saturday 16 or Sunday 17 September? We’re looking for volunteers to help support a meet and greet service as part of a new initiative running over arrivals weekend.

Arrivals weekend is known to be a busy period at the Canterbury campus despite students having the option to register later in the week. Often parents and carers accompany students during this process, which contributes to the length of the queues. This can complicate the management, and compromise the efficiency, of this process.

This year the University is piloting an approach to improve this by offering parents and carers a place to relax and enjoy a free coffee and cake. We are referring to this as the Parent Pit-stop and it will be held in the café of the Sibson building. This will be sign-posted from the Sports Hall and we will work the queues handing out tickets which can be exchanged for tea/coffee and cake.

The initiative is being supported by the Development Office who will help with the meet and greet of parents and chat with them to allay any fears or apprehension. As this is the first time we are trying this and we are uncertain of what engagement we will have we are seeking further support to ensure we have sufficient staff. Many staff are already committed over the weekend, but if you are not and you are able to join us on campus, your support to meet and greet would be very much appreciated.

The Parent Pit-stop will be open in the Sibson building from 10.00-15.00 on Saturday and Sunday.

If you are able to volunteer, please contact Darren Ellis on extension 7745.

For all you newbies, here’s a helpful introduction to Kent and some of the fantastic services available to you.

• Your school – is a helpful point of contact for all your studying needs. Whether you need guidance on how to reference or employability advice, your school can help, and if they can’t, they will know who can. Find your school and academic adviser.
• Studying at Kent.There is a wide range of study support available across the University. You can not only go to your school for study advice, but you can also talk to one of our learning advisers from the Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS).
• Employability support. In an increasingly competitive job market, we want to make sure you have the skills and experience to stand out. From work experience opportunities to support showcasing your skills, we offer a range of services to help you bag that dream job.
• Our Student Finance Teamis here to help, whether your student loan is late or you just need help managing your money.
• Kent is a great place to live and study. Here is some useful information to help you while you’re living in Kent over the next few years.
• As a student you have access to a wide range of support and wellbeing services, including help with a disability, child care and a counselling service.
• Greenwich and Kent Students’ Unions Together is your students’ union and are there to represent the student voice. They also look after a range of student activities including social events and societies at Kent.
•  The Student Hub at Medway is GK Unions’ newly refurbished home. It hosts a range of student events, serves a good choice of food including home-made pizzas and is a great place to relax. Read more about the Student Hub.
• As well as a fully-equipped library, most our library resources are online, so you can get the information you need 24-hours a day. Visit Drill Hall Library’s website.
• When you join Kent you automatically become part of a college. Joining a college community gives you a support network and your Masters’ Office is somewhere you can go for help and advice.

Power has now been restored to all University buildings on the Medway Campus following a power cut in the area earlier today.

If you are continuing to experience issues, please contact the helpdesk on ext 8901

From 11 September 2017 the University’s tendering portal will change from In-Tend to the new Delta E-sourcing Portal to publish all procurement opportunities over the value of £25,000.

The new portal will offer more functionality, information, and a better experience for suppliers, the Procurement Team and the University.

As with the current portal, this portal is free for potential suppliers to register and use and provides a secure, efficient, transparent method of conducting compliant tendering exercises. Suppliers are able to register on the portal and receive alerts when opportunities arise.

Registration is quick and easy and if you have any suppliers that may be interested please direct them here.

If you have any queries please contact the Procurement Team.

In 2016-17, the generosity of our alumni, staff, former staff and friends saw over £800,000 raised to support University of Kent students.

Gifts received in 2016-17 support a wide range of projects and initiatives across the University, including:
• The award of two Alumni Postgraduate Research Scholarships to enable two talented Kent graduates to undertake PhD study;
• 50 bursaries for students experiencing financial hardship;
• Opportunities for students to organise or participate in projects which enhance their employability;
• The continuation of the prestigious University Music Scholarship scheme;
• The launch of the new First 500 Scholarship, being awarded for the first time in 2017
• Support for students and academics seeking refuge from uncertainty, conflict or persecution;
• An array of prizes to celebrate academic achievement and participation in school life;
• Kent Union’s Access to Activities Fund;
• The launch of a new crowdfunding platform which will provide increased fundraising opportunities for student-led initiatives.

Donations to Kent in 2016-17 came from almost 1,300 donors, over 1,000 of whom are Kent alumni. Last year, a number of alumni and friends chose to remember the University with a gift in their will. As well as individuals, Kent receives philanthropic support from approximately 50 corporate organisations and charitable trusts.

Our fantastic community of alumni, staff and friends lend their generous support to today’s students. By sponsoring a brick in the Footsteps path, making a gift during our telephone campaigns or joining us for one of our In Conversation events, each donation makes a difference to our students.

Find out more about how your support makes a difference at www.kent.ac.uk/giving

Photo caption: Maricela Santiago Torres, MA Modern French Studies, was awarded a scholarship supported by Santander Universities.