How can I get involved?
There's a variety of ways you can join in. If you are interested in finding out more about staff events within the College or are interested in volunteering, do get in touch with the College Manager Jo.
Furness College Teams Group
There are plenty of opportunities to get involved with College life as a senior member. To find out more and get involved, please do not hesitate to join the Senior Common Room (SCR) Staff Teams Group. We'll also send you an Senior members newsletter with information, news, activities and events.
Come to a Syndicate meeting
All University employees who are senior members automatically become members of the College Syndicate, which usually meets once per term. This happens before the meeting of the University Senate and will discuss the Senate agenda and any matters relating to the College. Syndicate provides a useful forum in which senior members can discuss University matters and raise particular items of interest, and a light lunch is provided to attendees.
It is normally attended by the College Officers, the JCR Executive and by members of staff from across the University who don't hold a formal role but are affiliated with Furness College. We're always welcoming new faces, so please feel welcome to come and join us.
Our Syndicate meetings have been scheduled for 12.30pm-1.30pm on Wednesday 12 November 2025, Wednesday 25 February 2026 and Wednesday 17 June 2026.
If you would like to join any or all of these meetings, please register via LibCal, Network booking so we can order enough refreshments.
Furness Memorial Day
On Saturday 15 March 2025 the college held its Memorial Day. Congratulations to Furness FC who won the football competition and to Chris Barnsley who won the pool competition. Thanks to the gracious permission of those involved, the Nick Lewis Football match and the Richard Slatter Pool Competition took place during the course of the day in the hope we can have a day of commemoration (and hopefully celebration), which was enjoyed by both past and current members of the college.
Network - Join us for a meet and greet
Join us when we host a 'Meet and Greet' for all new and current staff who are affiliated with Furness College. New starters to the university are encouraged to join us and meet staff from other Departments who all have one thing in common, you are all members of Furness College. Come along and join us over the lunchtime period where you can relax, find out more about the College and we'll provide the refreshments.
We have scheduled in the following dates for this academic year:
All events will take place in the Furness TV Room between 12.30 and 1.30 pm. If you would like to join us, please register via LibCal, Network booking so we can order enough refreshments.
Join in on Graduation Day
Graduation Day is one of the key events of the year as we see our students off in style. The University encourages staff members to sit on the stage for the ceremony and will send out details about hiring robes (at no cost to yourself of course) in advance. Registration opens during the summer term and details can be found on the graduation webpage. Graduation week this year takes place between the 13 until the 17 July 2026. Information about the College celebrations will be circulated to staff and students nearer the time.
Give us a talk or start a group
If you have something interesting to talk about and want to give a presentation we can facilitate a lunchtime talk in our TV room. In the past we've had talks on managing the Lake District, exploring the Chornobyl exclusion zone, and the history of the University and the Lancaster County Mental Hospital. All very varied! If you'd like to set up a group such as a book club or lunchtime walking group we can help facilitate that. If this is of interest to you, please contact Jo Dickinson, the Furness College Manager.
Take up a college role
Aside from the informal opportunities we occasionally recruit for more formal roles within the college team, for those that want to take on something else besides their main employment within the University. The Principal and Senior Advisor are all honorary roles, as are the College Advisor Team. Keep an eye on the Teams group for upcoming opportunities within Furness and any of the other colleges.
