Throughout February we will be observing LGBTQ+ history, and the history of gay rights and related civil rights movement.

The University of Kent, LGBT Staff Network, Kent Union, LGBT Student Network and the Gulbenkian Theatre have brought together a range of events throughout February to celebrate and commemorate LGBTQ+ individuals and history.

Find the full programme of month-long events here.

Qualify to teach English or improve your own English

The Centre for English and World Languages runs an intensive CELTA training course starting on 17 June.  CELTA (Cambridge Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is an internationally recognised qualification.

If English is not your first language and you’d like to improve, you can sign up for FREE classes, which will be taught by our CELTA trainee teachers.

Find out more about the CELTA course and the free English classes.

The Universities at Medway have been awarded a further significant donation to The Medway Student Support Bursary.  This donation will provide bursaries to home (UK/EU) students from Canterbury Christ Church University, University of Greenwich and the University of Kent each year.  This is an excellent opportunity to apply for additional funding and the selected recipients will receive a bursary of £1,250 (Spring applications).

Applying for this bursary is easy. Check the eligibility criteria below, if you meet the requirements, all you need to do is complete the attached application form and return it along with the required evidence by the deadline. The Selection Criteria and Important Notes below will provide guidance on this.

The deadline to apply by is 12 noon on 8 February 2019 (Spring Term applications)

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA OF THE MEDWAY STUDENT SUPPORT BURSARY
In order to be eligible to apply for The Medway Student Support Bursary you must:

• be a home student (UK/EU)
• be currently registered full or part-time on an undergraduate degree programme based at the Medway Campus
• demonstrate a household income of £42,875 or less

SELECTION CRITERIA OF THE MEDWAY STUDENT SUPPORT BURSARY
Your application will be considered on the basis of your fulfilment of the eligibility criteria and the 350-500 word statement sections demonstrating:

• why you are in need of financial support and what has changed in your financial circumstances since embarking on the programme
• what the award will be used for (See important note below)
• information about you and your aims and aspirations for the future
• You may want to include additional information relating to volunteering or ambassadorial work that you have done or are planning to do within the local community e.g. voluntary work, paid work, sports contributions, community activity organisations such as the Scouts etc.)

Important notes:

• awards will not fund general (exceptional travel may be considered) programme travelling expenses or new equipment such as laptops or phones
• awards are intended for the student‘s use only and not for family support
• The first payment will only be made upon submission of a thank you letter to the donors outlining how the Bursary will be used to support the Bursary recipient.
• The second payment will only be made upon submission of a report outlining how the Bursary has supported the Bursary recipient and how this support has impacted on their academic studies.
• successful recipients will be able to hold other awards whilst in receipt of the Medway Student Support Bursary such as the NSP and may reapply for a further bursary in subsequent years
• successful recipients will be required to sign a Bursary Agreement which sets out the conditions of the bursary award
• payment of the bursary will be suspended immediately, and any payments may be required to be returned, if an awardee:

(i)            ceases to hold an offer of a place at any of the Universities,

(ii)           ceases to be a registered student at any of the Universities,

(iii)          becomes a debtor to any of the three Universities,

(iv)          is found to have made a misrepresentation or misleading or fraudulent statement in connection with his/her application

• recipients are expected to remain in satisfactory academic standing
• students out on a placement year are not eligible for that year, but may apply once academic studies are resumed
• successful recipients will be required to write a report to the board detailing how the bursary has supported them and how this support has impacted on their academic studies.  The deadline for submission of the report by the Medway Student Support Bursary recipients is 24 May 2019 (Spring applications).
• All applications confirmed as meeting the eligibility criteria will be taken forward. The bursary recipient(s) will be chosen by the Medway Student Support Bursary Board which will meet in early March (Spring applications) and all applicants will be advised of the outcome shortly afterwards.

The Medway Student Support Bursary application form is available for download as a Word document here.

Your completed application along with all required evidence can be scanned and emailed to us at medwaymastersoffice@kent.ac.uk or a paper application can be submitted to M2-13 (Medway Building 2nd Floor).

We look forward to receiving your application and remember, the deadline is 12 noon on the 8 February 2019 (Spring applications).

As we approach a possible period of adverse weather, here’s a timely reminder of the University’s snow policy for both the Canterbury and Medway campuses. Students are also being sent similar information today.

The Adverse weather policy for staff has been re-written in the last year and includes updated guidance for managers and their teams as well as clarity over pay arrangements:

https://www.kent.ac.uk/hr-staffinformation/documents/policies/adverse-weather/Adverse%20Weather%20Pay%20Policy%20V1.3.pdf

You can also find it on the HR list of policies for staff:

https://www.kent.ac.uk/hr-staffinformation/policies/a_to_z.html

The University recognises that staff and students may face difficulties attending the University and returning home during periods of adverse weather conditions such as heavy snow falls or flooding which may result in journeys to work being extremely hazardous and may create significant transport disruption.

The University must ensure that disruption caused to its services remains minimal whilst at the same time protecting the health and safety of all its staff, students and visitors to campus.

In the event of adverse weather or transport disruption staff are responsible for:

•   making every effort to get to work if possible and safe to do so;
• assessing the risk in travelling and not undertake journeys if they consider them to be unsafe;
• following the reporting arrangements if likely to be delayed / unable to travel to work;
• ensuring they make the necessary arrangements such that where appropriate they can work from home if adverse weather is forecast;
• taking up opportunities offered to them to make up time for work already paid;

Our Estates Department Travel and Transport team provide information on planning your journey should you be in need of assistance – https://www.kent.ac.uk/transport/planning.

The University will not normally close, but there may be circumstances in which a reduction to ‘essential services only’ is declared either at Canterbury, Medway or both

Should that happen, we will inform you by email and by updates to the University’s News Centre – http://www.kent.ac.uk/news/.

This will result in all teaching being cancelled and the closure of the majority of University services while those service staff deemed ‘essential’ focus on safety, security and the needs of students who live on campus. Professional service departments should already have determined which staff are ‘essential’ and discussed with them their duties under these circumstances.

If you have any queries relating to this policy, please discuss them with your line manager.

Denise Everitt | Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Operating Officer

Sport, fitness and recreation is back and starting the New Year off with a bang! What better way to get those New Year’s resolutions off on the right foot than with our recently reduced Kent Sport student membership.

Gold student membership is now £164 and Silver £140, for use until 31 August 2019. Student membership is available to all undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Canterbury campus.

Student membership offers a huge range of benefits including access to the fitness suite, to all fitness and dance classes and access to facilities for club training. Membership also includes free rental of bicycles from the Cycle Hub and discounts on fitness services. So whether you enjoy keeping fit in the gym, dancing at Zumba, playing badminton with friends, participating in competitive sports, or access to special events such as UV Sports Night, DJ in the Gym, Fitness Fest and Xercise Factor, there is lots to enjoy at Kent Sport.

Join us, make friends, get active and discover more! Buy your membership online or at the Sports Centre and Pavilion receptions.

To stay up to date with the latest news, special offers and activities, Like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter UniKentSports.