Do you have any great photos of our campuses or the local area from your walks during lockdown?

If so, we would love to share them on the University’s Instagram account – @unikentlive.

If you are happy to be featured on our Instagram account please tag us (@unikentlive) in your photos.

Alternatively, if you don’t have Instagram but would like your photos to be considered, please email communications@kent.ac.uk

The photo shown above is from Stephen Burke, Master of Eliot College.

Don’t forget to also share your favourite book with us by emailing stories@kent.ac.uk! 

Following last month’s update on the programme of activity required to return the University to a financially sustainable footing, work is continuing to carefully reduce costs while specifically targeting increase in income in areas that make sense. 

Staff Cost Savings 

Work has continued with the JSNCC on proposals to mitigate the need for redundancies in order to deliver the staff savings required this year, with a number of proposals either in effect or under consultation. This includes suggested changes to the University’s Reward Strategy, which staff are invited to give feedback on before 5 June, alongside specific proposals regarding promotions and discretionary payments for some senior staff.  

Cash & Capital Approvals 

A number of measures have been introduced to reduce our day-to-day costs, building on the good work already underway in a number of areas to reduce staff costs. This includes restrictions on both credit cards and travel use, work with budget holders to reduce end-of-year spend and tighter control on the use of external providers. 

Business Improvement & Value for Money 

Recent changes to our European strategy are now being implemented, centred around a strong hub in Brussels supported by an increased focus on partnerships with universities across Europe. Alongside this, progress has been made in a number of areas in exploring online opportunities through Future Learn as part of ways to complement on-campus teaching in the future. 

Find out more on the Financial Sustainability and Improvement programme. 

Four long-serving Kent Union officers will be leaving at the end of this term – and you can say goodbye to them via their e-leaving card. Please note that you’ll need a free Google account in order to sign the card.

Students’ Union President Sasha Langeveldt is leaving after, in her words, ‘five long but extremely fun years’. Also leaving are Omolade Adedapo, Vice-President Welfare and Community; Emily Window Vice-President Student Engagement (both after two years’ service); and Laura Carlin, Vice-President Postgraduate Experience (after one year).

Describing her Kent experience Sasha said: ‘It’s been a pleasure to work with the University in creating a better student experience for all. We are sad to leave but are grateful to have worked alongside some amazing people.’

Normally the four departing officers would be gathering goodbye messages around campus. But, because of Covid-19, they are hoping that as many University staff as possible will be able to sign their e-leaving card.

Picture shows (from left): Laura, Sasha, Omolade and Emily.

Kent is committed to fostering a positive working environment where all staff and students are treated fairly, with dignity, courtesy, respect and consideration.

All of us are responsible for creating an environment that’s free from harassment and bullying. We are therefore excited to launch our new EDI Harassment website, which sets out how to report incidents of harassment, how to become a Harassment Contact, and includes an up-to-date Harassment Contact list.

If you are interested in becoming a Harassment Contact for the University, please email the Learning and Organisational Development team and we can talk through what it involves.

UPDATE: Our free initial online consultations have been extended throughout June 2020!

The Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic is pleased to now offer free 20 minute online or telephone consultations with Vicky Annis, lead physiotherapist. Consultations are open to all, whether you have used the clinic previously or whether you have never experienced physiotherapy; and whether you are a student or staff member at the University of Kent or whether you are from the wider community.

The clinic, situated at the University of Kent sports centre on the Canterbury campus, remains physically closed while following government coronavirus guidance. However, Vicky has a wealth of physiotherapy experience and expertise and is keen to continue to assist and support people during these challenging times.

“I am extremely excited to offer free online physiotherapy consultations. This will enable me to keep in touch with clients and is currently the closest opportunity to fulfil what I enjoy doing the most. Whether this time is used to simply touch base, update on where you are at or ask questions, I am more than happy to help.”

She recognises that the unusual circumstances that we find ourselves enduring may for some lead to increased stress, anxiety, discomfort or pain. Many people may be tolerating issues without knowing where to turn for help and advice during this time of social distancing and isolation. The clinic wants to continue to support your freedom, ease of movement and quality of life during this pandemic. You can hear more from Vicky about this announcement in this video.

“The online physio appointments with Vicky have been so helpful and beneficial. She was able to apply her skills and knowledge about physiotherapy via a Zoom meeting during our consultation, and she provided me with a variety of exercises to work on during a two-week period after which we had a follow up appointment. Vicky is genuinely nice and caring and really helped me improve my running performance–I would not hesitate to contact her again!” Suzy Mejia-Buenano

To find out more about Kent Sport Physiotherapy Clinic please visit our website and to stay up to date Like us on Facebook.

Join the Music Department for a unique event on Tuesday 2 June, as we present a online Lockdown Lunchtime Concert as part of an online Summer Music Week!

From Scottish piping and Baroque woodwind to nimble electric guitar and a song from ‘The Prince of Egypt,’ we’re delighted to present a special Lockdown Lunchtime Concert!

Taking place between 13.15 – 13.40, this virtual concert will be featuring several University Music Performance Scholars and Award Holders recorded performing in isolation in their homes (and gardens!).

Click on this YouTube link and you can watch from wherever you are as we bring a selection of musical morsels for your lunchtime viewing pleasure.

The Reward Strategy proposals for changes to pay and additional reward are available to view on the HR staff webpages. All University staff are affected by these proposals and you are invited to give feedback before 5 June 2020.

The proposals are the result of a project that has been underway since 2018 to revise the University’s Reward Strategy, with the aim of:

• Providing a competitive offering across all roles and pay scales
• Futureproofing our pay arrangements
• Supporting our work to close gender pay gaps and increase transparency
• Addressing anomalies from the last Equal Pay Audit
• Accommodating growth in the National Living Wage

The proposals are also aimed at minimising redundancies as part of ongoing collective consultation, with a forecast that the proposed changes will save the equivalent of 23 posts, providing an important contribution to improving the University’s finances.

Proposed changes include:

• Changes to the Grades 1-10 pay framework
• Redesigned pay scales for senior Professional Services staff and Professors
• A new reward framework
• Additional reward mechanisms

Full details are included on a dedicated staff web page, together with background and transition information to enable you to understand what is being put forward.

Senior Professional Services staff and Professors should send their feedback directly to the Reward Team at hrrewardfeedbackseniorstaff@kent.ac.uk before 5 June 2020.

Staff in grades 1-10 should send feedback to their Staff or Trade Union Representative before 5 June 2020. Names of Trade Union and Staff Representatives are included on the web page to guide you to the appropriate person.

The proposals for staff in Grades 1-10 and the reward framework/additional reward will be discussed at the next JSNCC meeting on 5 June 2020 with a view to reaching a collective agreement. The proposals for the senior staff pay scales will be considered at the Remuneration Committee meeting on 12 June.

Your feedback is therefore important – thank you.

Alison Ross-Green | Director of HR and Organisational Development