Advanced frontrunners help boost students' study skills

The University Skills Centre is offering more one-to-one academic skills support for students thanks to the appointment of four new team members on the Frontrunner Plus in-house internships scheme. All four are postgraduate and research students from different disciplines, chosen for their own high levels of academic literacy skills and experience in mentoring. Based in the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) room 4.204 at our Colchester Campus, they will work alongside the existing team to offer support to students on all stages of academic essay and assignment preparation, including interpreting assignment questions, planning and structuring an essay, good practice in citation and referencing, and achieving good academic style. Students can now book tutorials through the LRC Librarian, all of which last for 30 minutes and are free of charge. The LRC is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and offers a small lending library and study area, available to all University students and staff. Email: ialrc@essex.ac.uk to find out more and visit the University Skills Centre website and our Facebook page.

New car park opens Wednesday 27 February

If you drive onto our Colchester Campus, the new multi-decked car park situated on the south side of campus will open this week on Wednesday 27 February. The new car park is for use by staff (with registered vehicles) and for visitors. To improve car parking for students, two parking bays along Valley Road – totalling some 170 spaces – will be reserved for students only. In order to make parking easier for all, we are strongly advising any staff who do not need to park on the north side of campus to please park on the south side using the new multi-decked car park, as you will be able to find a space much more easily. The entrance to the new car park is on the second turning on the right along Boundary Road, past the traffic island. The car park’s facilities include LED motion-sensor lighting, and CCTV cameras have been installed for personal safety. Season ticket holders may also use the new car park, as there are no barriers. If you have any questions please e-mail: parking@essex.ac.uk. As the new payment system for the multi-decked car park is not yet ready for use, from now until mid-March our car parking assistants will be issuing tickets with handheld machines at the normal daily rate for those parking in the new car park, as an interim measure. Please make sure you have change available, and if you wish you will be able to purchase your tickets for the week, in advance, to save time. Further information for staff and students.

Students! Please complete your survey now

A major campaign to encourage Essex students to complete one of four major student surveys, and have their say, is now live and will continue throughout the spring term. Each year it’s important that as many students as possible take part so the University gets a complete picture of what it's like to be living and learning at Essex – and can identify areas where improvements are necessary. Great prizes are up for grabs for completing your survey, including an iPad, Amazon vouchers and other goodies. Complete your survey now via the 2013 Surveys Gateway and for further information about the four surveys visit the student surveys webpage.. Please note: postgraduate research students will be invited to complete their PRES survey from 1 March to end of May.

Come along to the Strategic Plan consultation roadshows

The University is now in the process of developing our new Strategic Plan for 2013-14 to 2018-19, and all members of of the University community - staff and students - are invited to have their say as part of the consultation process. Consultation on the draft Strategic Plan started at Senate on 23 January 2013. When the process is complete, the final version of the Plan will be considered for approval by the University’s Council in Summer 2013. The draft strategic plan that you are invited to comment on is now on the Developing our Strategic Plan website. Please send your comments by e-mail to: spconsultation (followed by @essex.ac.uk). Roadshows will also be taking place on Monday 25 February, 11am-12noon in Southend room GB.2.42 with video link to Loughton, and Monday 4 March, 1-2pm in LTB5 Colchester with video link to Southend GB.2.43 and Loughton. Please e-mail: events@essex.ac.uk to let us know if you will be attending, as space is limited. Thank you in advance for your views and ideas as we shape the future of the University.

FindYourWay@Essex app gets an upgrade

Let getting lost around our Colchester Campus be a thing of the past! The popular Find-your-way electronic campus map is now live online plus a mobile app is available and has had a recent upgrade, so it now includes nearby toilets, restaurants, and notifications of routes or lifts that are out of use, as well as the full room-finding service for our Colchester Campus. You can view it online or use the app on your smartphone. If you need any help, just ask for more details at the IT helpdesk off Square 4. The app is also now available for use on iPhones.

New building to house Essex Business School underway

Following the recent groundbreaking ceremony for the new building that will house Essex Business School on our Colchester Campus, work is now underway, with a planned completion date of May 2014. View images of the new building on Flickr. Installation of an electrical supply is now underway until the end of February, that involves digging a trench past Swaynes House leading down to William Morris Tower. Safety notices will be in place and pathways will remain open, we would ask that students and staff take extra care when in this area. Part of the University’s major capital investment programme, the new three-storey 5,500m2 building is being constructed by Morgan Sindall, is designed by leading architects BDP, and will contain a 200-seat lecture theatre, seminar rooms, learning and teaching areas, common rooms and social space. It will feature sustainable design throughout such as low and zero carbon technology, an interior winter garden, a ground source heat pump and photovoltaic panels. The project is being managed by the University’s Estate Management team and any questions may be sent to: ebsinfo@essex.ac.uk. For further information read the news release.

Creating our vibrant new Student Centre

From Spring 2013 we will start building a major new centre for student services and extending the Albert Sloman Library to enhance the student experience at our Colchester Campus. The project is planned for completion by late 2014, and the architects are Patel Taylor, who designed the University’s award-winning Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall. This exciting new space will offer:

• A one stop shop for accommodation, payments, registration and student welfare
• A new IT learning hub for creative and group working
• New IT facilities including touchdown access and new helpdesk
• State-of-the-art media centre for Students’ Union media
• New reception area to serve the whole campus
• A 24-hour reading room
• An archive and special collections book store
• A 24-hour postgraduate study area
• Additional study spaces and library shelving
• Expanded student book collection in existing library
• Modern new meeting space

View further information and architect's images on the Student Centre webpages.

Recycling bins at our Colchester Campus

Our scheme to improve recycling and reduce carbon continues to be rolled-out since the pilot in 2010, with the addition of more centrally-located recycling bins across our Colchester Campus. All the new bins are now in use, and follow many other new recycling facilities that have already been installed and are in regular use by staff and students at our Colchester Campus. Feedback so far has generally been positive following an initial settling-in period. Importantly, staff are recycling more, and finding it easier to recycle. Please also read the FAQs for further information.

Vice-Chancellor’s staff blog and briefings

The Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Forster updates his blog for University of Essex staff monthly, via his dedicated University webpages. The latest blog post is titled ‘Research and scholarship that matters’. To access the page, staff need to enter their University log-in details, and bookmark the page to revisit it regularly. Professor Forster has also published a new external blog, and the first issue asks 'What is the regional role for an international university?' which you can read online now.

• Follow the Vice-Chancellor Professor Anthony Forster on Twitter

See the Forum Southend-on-Sea take shape

The Forum Southend-on-Sea partnership £27 million development is taking shape, and now has its own webcam – providing a bird’s eye view of how work is progressing, and it's updated every minute. Take a look at www.theforumsouthend.co.uk. In addition to the webcam, visitors to the website can also view a computerised animation showing how The Forum Southend-on-Sea will rise from its bare foundations to an impressive four-storey building. Find out more about the Forum Southend-on-Sea, and the excellent facilities it will offer, on this University of Essex news release.

Southend town trail - blow away the cobwebs with a walk

If you're studying, visiting or working at our Southend Campus, then why not download this town trail walking tour and accompanying map to help you find your feet around town, visit some interesting places right on our doorstep, and blow away the cobwebs with a bracing seaside walk? Second and third year students, and our University staff, may also discover a new place or two!

• Southend-on-Sea town trail (.pdf)

• Southend-on-Sea town trail walking map (.pdf)

Keep the latest Student News in your pocket

Excellence in education is our ethos, and if you're a current Essex student, there's a new Facebook page that already more than 550 followers, where you can find all the useful guidance and support you need to help you achieve your full potential during your time at Essex. And if you use the Facebook smartphone app you can carry it around in your pocket. This information is also included in the start and end-of-term student e-bulletins, containing information from right across our University. 'Like' the new University of Essex student news page for more about help and support as you continue your studies at Essex.

Improve your writing with help from the professionals

Any Essex student looking for help to improve their writing skills need look no further. Because our Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies is hosting two Royal Literary Fund Fellows - both of whom are professional writers. Gillian Richmond is a dramatist for TV, radio and stage and Jim Kelly is a crime novelist (pictured). Gillian and Jim can help with all aspects of improving your writing - from getting multiple ideas into essay form in a clear, accessible style, to developing writing strategies and reviewing feedback on marked work. Gillian will is now on our Colchester Campus on Mondays and Tuesdays from 10am-5pm, and Jim on Thursdays and Fridays from 10am–5pm. Both are based in room 5A.334. and to make an appointment, please visit the Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies administrative office in room 5A.201, or e-mail Gillian at: grichmon@essex.ac.uk or Jim at: kellyj@essex.ac.uk.

The Meadows student accommodation takes shape

October 2012 saw the 'ground-breaking' ceremony for The Meadows - the vibrant new student accommodation set to open at our Colchester Campus in autumn 2013. When finished the new development will offer an additional 648 student bedrooms, and a social pavilion, which will house a common room, launderette and a 'grab and go' shop. Pictured at the ceremony are - from left to right - David Pannells from Derwent Living, Arnaud Bekaert from construction company Bouygues UK, Bryn Morris, the University's Registrar, and Nicolas Guerin of the Uliving@Essex partnership, that has overall responsibility for managing the project.

Essex Offers - the new benefits scheme for our staff

The University of Essex has teamed-up with employee benefits company Reward Compass to offer staff everyday savings and discounts in an extensive new staff benefits scheme, called Essex Offers. It provides easy, online access to benefits available to staff working for the University and our wholly-owned companies, and offline deals are also available. Money-saving schemes include medical insurance to dental care plans, alongside salary sacrifice options such as childcare vouchers and mobile phones, good local deals, disocunted shopping cards and exclusive privileges. If you're a member of University staff, join Essex Offers now and find out more.

Maths support for all

A free Maths Drop-in Centre is now open at the University to offer help and advice to students and staff on a range of maths problems. Providing a one-stop-shop for any maths issues, the service is part of an on-going scheme by the Department of Mathematical Sciences to improve the employability of students. The new helpdesk, run by trained frontrunner Plus student advisors, will offer support to students and staff on maths issues on all levels. The aim is to provide the opportunity for staff and students to chat through their maths problem and be given guidance on how it can be solved. All questions will remain confidential. To contact the Maths Drop-in Centre e-mail: mathshelpdesk@essex.ac.uk The Drop-in Centre is open from 2-3pm Monday to Wednesday and 12 noon to 1pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Local businesses are also invited to use the service, although their problem may be dealt with on a consultancy basis.

New Essex timetabling and scheduler app

The new Essex Scheduler app makes it easier than ever for our students to keep track of schedule and coursework deadlines. Created by Computer Science students Vegard Polden and Jonny Baker, for students at the University of Essex, it lets you quickly access your timetable and online Essex resources at the touch of a fingertip. Please note: this is a student showcase app, created by students, and is not an official University of Essex product.

Features include:

• Personalised timetable – check your schedule for the next day, week or two weeks
• Deadlines – view your coursework deadlines by module or date
• Useful links – instant access to the most visited online resources on the University website
• Personal events – easily add your own events to the schedule
• Widget – display your timetables in a compact format on the home screen of your device
• Find and download this useful new student-created app on Google play here!

Buses, bikes and trains

There are a number of ways you can get to our Colchester Campus – and great discounts on offer for students and staff. Working with First Essex Buses and the Student’s Union, we have negotiated a special discount that saves students more than £300 off zone 1 annual bus tickets. These tickets will be available from the First Bus stall on our Colchester Campus during and after Freshers’ Week, from the Burrow – the Students’ Union ticket office, on Square 3. For train travel, staff can get a 10 per cent discount on a monthly season ticket, and 15 per cent off quarterly, six monthly and annually for travelling to campus by Greater Anglia trains. Students may wish to purchase a 16-25 Railcard which enables discounts of up at a third off rail fares.

• View bus ticket prices and travel zones here

• View the interactive map of local buses services here

Research Excellent Framework website goes live

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) website is now live, to provide staff with the latest news about the development of the REF by higher education funding bodies, and the steps being taken by the University to prepare for its submission in 2013.

The REF is the new system for assessing the quality of research at universities in the UK, and replaces the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) last conducted in 2008.

The website includes resources for departments to help them in the development of their REF submissions and easy access to previously circulated documents used to collect data from academic staff.

Boost for books in the Albert Sloman Library

Following the allocation in 2010 of an additional £300,000 to develop the student book collection within the Albert Sloman Library, the redevelopment of the first floor of the library is now underway to house the expanded collection. The student book collection refers to text books and other reading material typically used on degree course reading lists. The revamped space is planned to open in time for the start of the 2012-13 academic year, and will hold some 45,000 books in total. This work is in addition to the new extension to the library. Find out more about the new Student Centre and extension to the Albert Sloman Library.

Discover the benefits of car sharing

Did you know the University of Essex's online car-sharing database now has more than 300 members of University staff, and students, who are looking to share their journey onto our Colchester Campus? Colleagues from across Essex, Suffolk and beyond have now signed up and are waiting to hook up with a car share buddy who lives nearby. The easy-to-use online database uses liftshare.com’s proven IT system which brings together potential car sharers, and is totally free to use. When you register your details, the system supplies you with a number of suitable matches, and a useful map will help you pinpoint different locations - so you can find a car sharer near to where you live. Why not give it a go - and see the benefits of saving the environment, saving on fuel, reducing wear and tear on your car, and making it easier for all car users to park at the University. Signing up is quick and easy - join the scheme today here.

Our research repository is now online

The University of Essex Research Repository is now live online with some 1,800-plus academic research papers already uploaded – boosting the visibility and impact of our research. The repository hosts publication details and full text of published research, and all material uploaded is open access – anyone can view it – and it is available free of charge. If you’re a member of University research staff, by uploading your research to the repository you will join academic colleagues in making it available to the global scholarly community on a scale that is impossible with paper. Visit the University of Essex research repository at http://repository.essex.ac.uk

Meet the Students' Union sabbatical officers for 2012-13

The University of Essex Students' Union sabbatical officers have taken up their new roles for the 2012-13 academic year. Pictured left to right are: Lily Flaherty, VP Welfare and Community; Zain Kukaswadia, VP Education; Becky Fisher, VP Student Activities; Nathan Bolton, President; Mimi Crunteanu, VP Loughton and Southend; Chris Fowler, VP Services and Communication and Jovanna Yiouselli, VP International Students. The sabbs are also supported by part-time officers who are also current students. For a full list of all SU student officers for 2012-13, please visit the Essex Students' Union 2012-13 officers' page

In 2014 the University will be 50

The University of Essex's 50th Anniversary campaign has now been launched. The University will be 50 years old in 2014 - and a short film has been produced to start the campaign, which charts the University's growing reputation locally, nationally and globally. Watch it on the 50th Anniversary website.