Colleagues are invited to attend the Learning & Teaching Network session taking place on Friday 8 February, from 13:30-15:30 in the UELT Seminar Room, Canterbury.

Presented by Harriet Cannon and Jenny Brady, Disability Advisory Team, University of Leeds.

In this two hour session we will explore what makes an inclusive exam paper, and examine themes related to inclusive assessment practices.  Set in the context of a rapidly diversifying student body, we’ll discuss the interplay of academic integrity and genuinely equitable assessment methods, describe the difference between inclusive assessment and modified assessment, and explore how assessment language can inadvertently contribute to discrimination and poor student outcomes.

Using guidance and materials developed by the University of Leeds, this interactive session will enable participants to work together to create inclusive exam papers, using real-life examples, as well as providing an opportunity to discuss this important topic. Participants are encouraged to bring along their exam papers.

Please confirm your attendance by completing the online booking form.

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

Having formed just over two years ago, the team of University staff players came from a background of little or no netball experience. With the intent to try something new and get active during their lunch breaks at the University of Kent, each player has thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and have seen improvements in their skills and overall fitness.

Kent Sport staff member and Unicorns coach Sadie Appleby has taken the team from strength to strength: “I am absolutely thrilled to coach a team of such fantastic ladies. Each one has made huge leaps with their skills and I really look forward to where the team can go in the future!”

All the Unicorns have shown commitment and determination in training sessions, have improved their knowledge and skills and shown outstanding sportsmanship in every match. This hasn’t gone unnoticed and is regularly commented on by umpires, other teams and the league committee. With their shining reputation it was no surprise that Kent Unicorns were awarded ‘Team of the Year’ at the Thanet and District Netball League presentation evening – a great accolade and a fitting tribute to their determination.

Congratulations to the Kent Unicorns and we look forward to seeing what the new year brings!

Fancy playing netball? If you’re looking to get active, have fun and learn new skills, Kent Sport run open staff netball sessions each Monday at 1pm in the Sports Centre – just £2 per session with a Bronze membership (free for Gold and Silver Kent Sport members).  See membership options.

Colleagues are invited to attend the Learning & Teaching Network session taking place on Wednesday 6 February, from 13:15-14:30 in the UELT Seminar Room, Canterbury.

Presented by Dr Ruth Herbert and Dr Rich Perks, School of Music and Fine Art/Centre of Music and Audio Technology, Humanities Faculty Teaching Prize Winners 2018 the session aims to explore the utilisation of peer-review in the teaching environment. Referring directly to the redevelopment of music performance courses within the SMFA and CMAT as a case study, this session will discuss the conventional approaches to teaching music performance employed across the higher education landscape in the UK, and how the measures taken in SMFA/CMAT changed the performance culture and enhanced student learning at the University of Kent.

Participants will then break into small groups to discuss the viability of employing a similar strategy in their own subject areas, and potentially re-think approaches to delivery of content . The session will be interactive and participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and discuss their experience and examples.

Please confirm your attendance by completing the online booking form.

For History Month, the ‘Out & Proud’ LGBT+ Role Models Exhibition, previously at the Templeman Library, will be at the Drill Hall Library. The exhibition will be opened by University of Kent Vice Chancellor Karen Cox, Champion for the LGBT+ Staff Network, at the Drill Hall Library (Medway campus) on Thursday 14 February at 4pm.

Please register for your FREE ticket on Eventbrite.

‘Out and Proud’, curated by the University of Kent LGBT+ Staff Network, aims to highlight the diverse experiences of staff on our campuses who share their stories to show the realities of being a queer person. From coming out stories to awkward conversations and incidences of discrimination and harassment, the exhibition is an honest representation of real people, from the harsh realities to the wonderful acts of solidarity and humanity.

Nicola Shaughnessy, Professor of Performance in the School of Arts has just co-edited a new collection, Performing Psychologies: Imagination, Creativity and Dramas of the Mind (Bloomsbury 2019) with Philip Barnard.

The book offers new perspectives on arts and health, focusing on the different ways in which performance interacting with psychology can enhance understanding of the mind. The book challenges stereotypes of disability, madness and creativity, addressing a range of conditions (autism, dementia and schizophrenia) and performance practices including staged productions and applied work in custodial, health and community settings.

Featuring case studies ranging from Hamlet to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, the pioneering work of companies such as Spare Tyre and Ridiculusmus, and embracing dance and music as well as theatre and drama, the volume offers new perspectives on the dynamic interactions between performance, psychology and states of mind. It contains contributions from psychologists, performance scholars, therapists and healthcare professionals, who offer multiple perspectives on working through performance-based media.

There will be a book launch at the Omnibus Theatre in Clapham, London, on Wednesday 23 January 2019, at 18.30. This precedes a performance of Hearing Things (Playing On Theatre), which is featured in the book, (performance starts at 19.30). The event is also an NHS night, organised by Dr Paul Gilluley, Chief Medical Officer at East London Foundation Trust, with a panel discussion afterwards at 21.00 in which Nicola will participate with representatives from the theatre company, mental health service users and medical professionals. The panel includes the psychiatrist Hugh Grant-Peterkin who contributed to the final chapter of the book: “Re:Creating Psychiatry”.

Tickets for the performance of Hearing Things on Wednesday 23 January can be booked here.

For more information about the book, please see the publisher’s page.