Congratulations, here and there..
Well, the academic year has finally come to an end at the University of Sussex. This afternoon we had another marathon meeting of Senate to round off the week and today was also the last day of the examination period; final-year students had their last exams earlier in the assessment period so their papers could be marked and scrutinized in time for yesterday’s meeting of the Progression and Awards Board. Although we were operating under new regulations this year, so there was some nervousness about how it would go, it all went pretty well in the end. The recommendations of the PAB were checked by the University authorities yesterday as I went up to London for an event at the Royal Society and when I returned to work this morning it was my (very pleasant) job to sign off the pass lists and also sign the certificates relating to prizes for outstanding students.
When all was done, the pass list was put up in the foyer of Pevensey 2 at which point a scrum of anxious students formed around it to find out how they’d done.
The vast majority of the faces I saw had very happy smiles on them, as I knew would be the case because I had seen the results beforehand and knew how well so many of them had done! Champagne corks popped and prizes were handed out. There then followed a celebratory BBQ outside the building, organized by staff and students. The weather didn’t look very promising, and it remained rather windy – threatening to blow smoke into the building and possibly set off the smoke alarms – but it was a nice occasion.
Unfortunately I had to leave in mid-party to attend a Senate briefing meeting, followed by Senate itself, which went on from 2pm until almost 6 during which time the Sun came out. The weather thus looked favourably on similar celebrations going on around campus, but not on those couped up in Bramber House for the Senate meeting.
Anyway, as Head of School I’d just like to say congratulations to all this year’s graduating class on their achievement and wish them well as today’s celebrations no doubt continue into the evening and perhaps beyond. I’d also like to all staff in the School for working so hard to get everything done so the students got their results in time and in good order; to the lecturers and examiners for getting their marks in on time; to the PAB members for their diligence in following the procedures; and, above all, to the wonderful staff in the MPS office for their huge contribution to the administration of the process. It’s the first time I’ve been involved in examinations here and the support staff did a fantastic job, sometimes under very difficult circumstances.
Meanwhile, back in Cardiff, similar events will have unfolded there. I don’t know how many of the graduating class from Cardiff University School of Physics & Astronomy are likely to read this blog nowadays. A few did in the past, but have probably stopped now that I’ve left. Just in case, however, I’d like to congratulate them all on their success and express regret that I didn’t see the same kind of smiles on their faces as I did on the Sussex students!
Well, that was the week that was always going to be very busy. Now I’m going to head home, put my feet up and tackle the latest Private Eye crossword. Oh, and maybe a glass or two of wine…
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