World ranking rise
The University has climbed 28 places in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. We are now ranked 156 in the top 200 institutions, cementing our status among the top 1 per cent of universities in the world. Exeter has particularly strong scores for international outlook and research influence, and also for teaching, research and knowledge transfer.

£100m investment
The Vice-Chancellor has announced a new wave of £100m for further capital development. Projects over the next 5 years include investment in learning spaces, IT, science, library books and sports. We anticipate a lot less campus disruption than the current £300m capital investment programme.

New academic posts
The University is in the process of appointing around 50 more academic posts, adding to the 844 academic staff currently on the payroll. This aims to improve staff-student ratios and reduce pressure on academic staff.

Council Chair
The University’s governing body, Council, will have a new Chair from August 2012. Sarah Turvill graduated with a Law degree from Exeter in 1975 and is now the Chairman of Wills International Ltd, a leading global firm of insurance brokers. She succeeds Russell Seal. The Chair of Council is a part-time non-executive role.

Bike boost
In 2010 the University invested over £100k in new cycle parking across the Exeter campuses. This, plus Cyclescheme and the wide spread distribution of cycle maps, has seen a 60% increase in the number of bikes parked on the Exeter campuses. A Bike Fair is on the Great Hall Piazza on Mon 31 Oct from 11.30am – 2pm with stalls from bike retailers and the University Unicycle team and mountain bike stuntman Andrei Burton performing.

Careers Fair – real and virtual
The Careers and Placement Fair is on Tues 25 October,11am-3pm in the Great Hall and Lower Examination Hall, Streatham Campus. Students from all years and disciplines can meet and talk informally with graduate recruiters about internship programmes, vacation work and graduate careers. There will be 70 stands, see full list of exhibitors online. It’s followed by a Virtual Careers Fair from 25 Oct to 4 Nov, with global graduate vacancies and placements from employers including HSBC, Siemens, Bosch, Intel and many more. Access via the employability website.

Ambassadors needed
Student ambassadors are being recruited from across all three campuses to work on outreach and recruitment events. Ambassadors take part in activities including tutoring in schools, giving tours, helping to deliver workshops in schools and helping out with University Open Days. See the Student Ambassador website. Deadline is 7 Nov.

Career Mentor Scheme
The Career Mentor Scheme matches 2nd year undergraduate students to professional mentors who can provide guidance, insight, contacts and support the development of their career paths for 12 months. Mentors include successful alumni of the University, local business people, and other professionals with links to the University. More information is online – apply before 1 November.

Recruiters coming
Throughout the autumn term a range of graduate recruiters will be on campus to deliver presentations (videolinked to Cornwall Campus), skills sessions and mock interviews. These events outline the latest graduate opportunities and are designed to prepare students for recruitment. See details online.

Book retail
Blackwell’s are the preferred supplier for the new online book retail service. Once the Forum opens there will no longer be a physical bookshop on campus throughout the year. Instead there will be a ‘pop up shop’ at the beginning of the Autumn and Spring terms and a dynamic new web ordering system which will be accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Blackwell’s will be providing a guaranteed buy back system (both online and physical) and will sell second hand textbooks at discounted prices. They are also exploring the possibility of renting textbooks to help all students get value for money.

Study garden
Library users at the St Luke’s campus can now work in the tranquil setting of a new study garden. The disused area at the back of the library was transformed by the University grounds team. Library staff applied for funding of just over £4,800 from the Annual Fund, which is made up of donations from Exeter graduates (alumni). The Annual Fund supports individual projects which will benefit students.

Faster net
There are faster internet speeds on both Exeter campuses thanks to a ten-fold increase in our internet capacity.

Exeter IT Self Service
A new simple Self Service web based support system allows staff and students to request IT service and support with more services to follow.

Sea of tears
A new book by the Chancellor, Baroness Floella Benjamin OBE DL, has just been published by Frances Lincoln children’s books. Sea of tears is her first novel.

Police contact
Constable Ian Lugg is the new Neighbourhood Beat Manager for the ‘Exeter University Community’, covering the Streatham campus and Duryard and Pennsylvania wards. Contact him via Devon and Cornwall police on 08452 777444. Constable Dave Dalziel has retired after having the role for nearly 20 years.

Virtual Gym
All students have been given free access to VirtualGym TV. It includes comprehensive health testing software and downloadable exercise classes. Free access has been provided by the Sports Park, thanks to the Annual Fund.

Terrace Restaurant opens
Terrace Restaurant on the first floor of Devonshire House is now open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, offering a wide range of dishes, a daily changing menu, ample seating and free wi-fi. Pick up a meal loyalty card or take advantage of the breakfast and dinner 2-4-1 offer. You can eat in or take out and Guild Society meetings are welcome - bespoke menus can be designed for groups. Email catering team.

An exciting programme of Black History Month events are happening in Exeter and Cornwall this month.

Mon 24 Oct, 3-4.30pm
Egenis Seminar: Dr Berris Charnley, Egenis
'Why didn’t an equivalent to the US Plant Patent Act of 1930 emerge in Britain?'
Location: Room GF7 Byrne House, St German’s Road, Streatham campus
Info: Egenis Communications Officer 01392 725126

Tues 25 Oct, 11am-3pm
Careers and Placement Fair
Location: Great Hall, Streatham Campus

Tues 25 Oct, 5pm
Seminar: ‘What has morality to do with Religious Education?’
Dr Philip Barnes, KCL
Location: BC114, St Luke’s campus

Tues 25 Oct, 6-7.30pm
Paul Muldoon lecture: ‘The University as patron of the Arts’.
Paul Muldoon, renowned poet and founding chair of the Lewis Centre for the Arts at Princeton University. Hosted by the Arts and Culture Strategy
Location: Newman E lecture theatre, Peter Chalk Centre, Streatham campus with videolink to LT B, Daphne du Maurier building, Cornwall Campus.
Tickets are free but advance booking online essential.

Wed 26 Oct, 5.45 – 7.30pm
Lecture: Nonlinear Nanoelectromechanics
Professor Jari Kinaret, Chalmers University of Technology
Location: XFi Henderson Lecture Theatre, Video Linked to Peter Lanyon LT2

Wed 26 Oct, 6pm
Paul Muldoon will read from his work
Hosted by the Centre For South-west Writing and The College of Humanities
Location: LT2, Queen’s building, Streatham campus
Tickets £5 available from the Phoenix box office, on 01392 667080, or on the door, but are free to students of the university.

Thurs 27 Oct, 1pm
Centre for Ecology and Conservation Seminar
Guy Woodward (QMC, London)
Global change in complex systems: scaling from individual to ecosystems
Location: Lecture Theatre A, Cornwall Campus

Sat 29 Oct, 3-7.30pm
Diwali
Celebrate the Fesitval of Lights at a free festival
Location: Cornwall house, Streatham campus

Wed 2 Nov, 9.15-11.45am & 1.45-4.15pm
Blood donation
book an appointment on 0300 123 2323
Location: Great Hall, Streatham campus

Weds 2 Nov, 1.30 – 8pm
Transcience and Transformation
Public workshop bringing together artists, social scientists and scientists
Location: Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, Exeter

Thurs 3 Nov, 7.30pm
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
‘My Country’
Location: Great Hall, Streatham campus
Box Office: 01392 667080

Fri 4 Nov, 9am – 2pm
Farmers’ market
Location: Great Hall Piazza, Streatham campus

Tues 8 Nov, 1pm
Seminar: How Lesson Study works and what it offers: lessons from the Lesson Study MLD project Professor Brahm Norwich, Dr Annamari Ylonen and Abigail Paterson (Exeter)
Location: BC114, St Luke’s campus