Monthly Archives: November 2022

Support and services at Medway campus

Are you making the most of all the support and services on offer at our Medway campus? Here’s a quick guide of the support on offer and where to go to access it.

Medway Student Administration Team

The Medway Student Admin Team is responsible for student registration, online registration, record updating and much more. You can find them on the ground floor of Rochester Building.

Learn about all the ways the Student Admin Team can support you from council tax exemption to replacing your Kent ID card.

College and Community Life

As a Medway student you’re part of Medway College. Look out for events run by your Medway Residential Life Assistants. They can also offer you support. Learn more about College and Community Life and follow them on Instagram.

Finance

The Student Finance Team are committed to helping you understand the cost of study, how to manage your money and how to take full advantage of any financial support you are eligible for.

The team are based on the ground floor of the Medway Building and are available via email and telephone Monday to Friday 9.00-17.00.

Careers and Employability Service (CES)

There’s a wealth of information around careers on the CES webpages. You can also join career events and book an appointment with a Careers Advisor.

Find the Medway Careers Team on the ground floor of the Gillingham Building.

Student Support and Wellbeing

Student Support and Wellbeing supports students who have a disability, mental health condition, long term medical condition, autistic spectrum condition and/or specific learning difficulty, whether already diagnosed or suspected.

Our Advisers can help with Inclusive Learning Plans, study support, Disabled Students’ Allowance and counselling. They can also provide specialist support to students who have experienced sexual assault/harassment.

Medway Student Support and Wellbeing are based on the ground floor of Gillingham Building, room G0-05. You can pop in any time Monday-Friday 9.00-17.00, telephone 01634 888474, email MedwaySSW@kent.ac.uk, or complete our registration form.

Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS)

SLAS are here to advise you academically whether you’re an undergraduate or postgraduate student. They hold bitesize (15 minute) online events on topics to help you with your studies. You can also book a 1:1 advice appointment.

Medway Chaplain

Lynne Martin, our Medway Campus Chaplain, is here to support you through your academic journey, providing a listening ear for all students of any faith or no faith.

Find Lynne in the Chaplain’s Office in Pilkington (003/004) or you can email medwaycampuschaplain@gre.ac.uk. You can also follow the Medway Campus Chaplaincy Facebook page to find out about upcoming events.

Kent Union at The Hub

With so much to think about with your studies, you may find you need help with housing questions, your finances, or academic concerns. This might feel a little overwhelming so it is important to remember that you can access The Hub’s free Advice Service for confidential and impartial advice helping you make an informed decision to keep you on track.

Drill Hall Library

Drill Hall Library offers a variety of study spaces from individual silent study booths to relaxing sofas in the group zone. You can contact the Library Team by emailing dhlhelp@medway.ac.uk or calling 01634 883878. Get the latest news from your library on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Campus Security

Campus Security are on campus 24/7, 365 days a year. You can find Campus Security on the ground floor of the Medway Building next to reception. Come say hi and pick up a free personal safety alarm.

University Community Choir autumn dates

Try something new and feel connection, create community and lift your spirits… We are delighted to invite you to join the University Community Choir, meeting weekly on Canterbury campus.

Singing in a Choir has many benefits, it’s informal, social, and helps you focus on something different as part of a group. Most importantly it’s fun!

It’s free to join, and there are no auditions, and you don’t need to be able to read music. Come along to meet others, or bring a friend.

Upcoming dates for Autumn Term

9 November 2022 13.00-14.00 (Grimond LT3)
16 November 2022 13.00-14.00 (Colyer-Fergusson)
23 November 2022 13.00-14.00 (Grimond LT3)
30 November 2022 13.00-14.00 (Colyer-Fergusson)
7 December 2022 13.00-14.00 (Grimond LT3)
14 December 2022 13.00-14.00 (Colyer-Fergusson)

Spread the word to anyone else (staff or student) who might enjoy this opportunity. If you have any questions, please email Mita Mondal, Email: mm595@kent.ac.uk

British Heart Foundation pop-up shop, 17 Nov

On Thursday 17 November from 11:30-14:30, we will have a British Heart Foundation (BHF) pop-up shop in the Colyer Fergusson Foyer, on the right hand side of the Gulbenkian.

Come along and grab a bargain, perhaps a new party dress for Christmas, or a new winter coat!

You’re also welcome to bring along any donations of clothes, CDs, DVDs and books – BHF donation bags available at each college Reception, Parkwood Reception and Estates Customer Services.

We hope to see you there.

CSE Waste & Recycling Team

Kent Union Strike Forum dates

Kent Union is holding Strike Forums to gather student opinion about the upcoming University and College Union (UCU) strike action and to decide whether Kent Union should support the action or not.

This is an opportunity to hear both sides of the dispute, with members of UCU and the University’s Senior Leadership offering their perspectives. Students are encouraged to ask questions, and use this as an opportunity to fully understand the background of and types of action that they will see during the strikes.

Strike Forum dates

14 November, 17:30-18:30 (Online – Teams link)
16 November, 14:30-15:30 (Grimond Lecture Theatre 3)

See all Kent Union events.

Industrial Action: 24, 25 and 30 November

Yesterday the University & College Union announced national strike action at 150 universities across the country. This will take the form of strikes on the 24, 25 and 30 November, along with ‘Action Short of a Strike’ until further notice. At this stage this does not include a marking and assessment boycott.

The strikes are part of a national dispute over pay, pensions and working conditions across the university sector. As an individual institution, we don’t have a major influence over the negotiations which take place at national level between UCU and both Universities UK and UCEA. Our hope is that through discussion all parties can come to an agreement that works for everyone – all of us want to work in a sector where staff are well rewarded for their hard work, but the same cost of living squeeze felt by people across the country also has an impact on the finances of universities too.

Our priority initially will also be ensuring we minimise any impact on students as far as we can. We will shortly be sending an update to students which will set out our principles in responding to industrial action, including that we will do all we can to limit the impact on their studies and that we will never devalue their degree or coursework.

Alongside this we will shortly publish student and staff information which will be regularly updated throughout. This will include the background to the strikes, what we have been doing at Kent to address the issues being discussed, what happens on strike days, plus links to wider support. These will be regularly updated throughout.

Working groups are also meeting this week to manage our response to strikes across the University, while there will be a number of opportunities for students to have their say, including via the Strike Forums organised by Kent Union.

Covid-19 vaccination pop-up at Canterbury, 9 Nov

NHS vaccination teams will be at the Old Bank, Canterbury campus TODAY 13:30-15:30 (Wednesday 9 November) to offer Covid-19 vaccinations.

Who can get vaccinated?

Under 50s can receive the 1st, 2nd or 3rd Covid vaccine. If you’re clinically vulnerable or live within the household of someone who is clinically vulnerable, you can get the Covid booster.

All over 50s can receive the flu vaccine and the Covid booster.

If you are unsure if you are eligible, please go to the vaccination pop-up where the team will advise you.

Find out more information about Covid-19 vaccination. See student FAQs for Covid-19 vaccination.

SafeZone competition winners

Competition winners

Congrats to our SafeZone competition winners! They each won a £50 Coop gift card, and were chosen from a pool of students who registered on SafeZone at the start of the year.

Pictured are winners Dan and Roland, along with Mark, Head of Security, and Kelsey, Sustainable Travel Operations Coordinator.

What is SafeZone for?

SafeZone is a free and simple-to-use app for students and staff at the University of Kent. It’s main uses include summoning emergency help and first aid to your exact location on the Medway and Canterbury campus and support on the Canterbury Connected Routes between the University of Kent and Canterbury Christ Church University.

You can use SafeZone:

in an emergency for urgent assistance from Campus Security
to get first aid and medical assistance for you or a friend
to receive notifications if there is an incident on campus that requires you to take action
to check-in when working late on campus
for general enquiries with quick access to the University of Kent switchboard.

SafeZone only shares your location when you request help, and when you do so this is only shared with the Campus Security team. The team will always call you when they receive an alert, so if you do press a button by accident, be sure to answer the phone so they know you are safe.

Download SafeZone and find out more on the University of Kent SafeZone guide

Connected Routes

If you are living off-campus or regularly walk into the city centre, make sure you have SafeZone installed to access the Canterbury Connected Routes. Any activation of SafeZone on the Connected Routes will give the University of Kent or Canterbury Christ Church University security control room your location, so they can offer you support.

Connected Routes have regular patrols from local services and university Street Marshals, increased lighting and CCTV coverage and are covered by the SafeZone App. There is also refuge points along these routes where you can wait for help to arrive in a safe space, you can find out more information on the Connected routes refuge points.

Find out more about Canterbury Connected Routes, and download a Connected Routes map here.

Building Resilience for International Stress Awareness Week

It’s International Stress Awareness Week this week. The theme for this year is ‘Working Together to Build Resilience and Reduce Stress.’

Stress is not new. The stress hormone cortisol has even been found in the hair of ancient Peruvians who were alive between 550-1532 CE/AD. Defined as a state of mental or emotional strain caused by adverse circumstances, stress is a physical and emotional reaction experienced by all of us, with symptoms such as headaches, a pounding heart, sweating, and more. Experiencing long-term stress can lead to the development of health problems such as high blood pressure and mental health problems, as well as a physiological and psychological condition known as ‘burn-out’.

People can experience stress due to many circumstances in their lives. With the current cost of living crisis, many people are struggling with the basic demands of living. Work can also cause stress, with studies suggesting that costs to businesses from poor employee mental health have increased by 25% since the pandemic.

At Kent, we have measures in place to help you. For example, our Employee Assistance Programme can be accessed 24 hours a day and you can reach out to them if you are struggling, feeling overwhelmed or just at your wit’s end! Details on how to contact them and other support available can be found on the University’s Mental Health Support webpages. There’s also the Staff Wellbeing Reading List, a useful Staff Wellbeing Toolkit, and the opportunity to use the Roberston-Cooper i-resilience tool.

Using the available resources and having a toolkit of tips such as working out how to look after your wellbeing, building a support network and finding out how to organise your time effectively can help you manage stress and build your resilience. Although it’s impossible to make all the stress in your life disappear, the help available could make it easier to get through stressful situations.

WorldFest Bitesize Fund for cultural events and celebrations

We’ve set up the Worldfest Bitesize Fund so you can apply for a financial award of up to £250 to help run a multicultural event.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis but must be submitted at least four weeks prior to the date of the event.

Examples of past events and celebrations we have supported include Diwali, Chinese New Year, Thanksgiving, Kent African Summit, Newroz, Holi, African Evening Gala, Discover Islam, Japanese Cultural Festival, Asian Fusion and a Thai Festival.

Open to all Kent Societies and students.

Find out more about how to apply for the WorldFest Bitesize Fund.

Sign up to Leading Routes workshops

Building an inclusive postgraduate community is an important priority for the University and one of our specific goals is to reduce the gap between proportions of white and black students undertaking PhDs.

To support this work, the Graduate and Researcher College is hosting two online workshops for staff led by Leading Routes on increasing the representation of black students in doctoral training and creating more inclusive research cultures. Leading Routes are leading contributors to this work and their report, The Broken Pipeline, is playing a key role in shaping national policy debates.

Workshops

Both workshops are open to all Academic, Research and Professional Services staff.

The first workshop, ‘The Pipline: Challenging Meritocracy and Acknowledging Structural Barriers for Black Students’ will run on Monday 14 November.

Book your place by visiting this webpage.

The second workshop, ‘Changing Cultures: Practical Steps Towards Long-Term Change’, will run on Wednesday 16 November .

Book your place by visiting this webpage.

Professor Shane Weller, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Innovation has welcomed this initiative saying, “I am delighted that the University of Kent is working with Leading Routes to support the next generation of Black academics. This initiative lies at the heart of our commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive research culture both at Kent and across the UK.”

The workshops come alongside the announcement of a new set of University scholarships for BAME and ‘First in Family’ Kent graduates who wish to study for a taught postgraduate programme here – each worth £5,000. Further details on these will be available on the University’s scholarships pages soon.