Covid safety in the new academic year

September 15th, 2021

Ahead of the start of term, and with many colleagues preparing to begin hybrid working or teach both in-person and online, we would like to remind you of the Covid safety measures and expectations on campus.

The university asks staff to follow national guidelines set by government and the Chief Medical Officers unless otherwise advised – this applies to all restrictions including face coverings, which are strongly encouraged, and social distancing.

Exceptions may be in place where there is a specific risk assessment or local public health officials require specific measures.

NHS buildings, including shared spaces, have additional rules including mandatory face coverings and differing rules on isolation of close contacts. This is to ensure that the most vulnerable patients can continue to access medical care as safely as possible. Staff, researchers and research students working in these buildings should ensure they are aware of the differences and follow NHS protocols.

The Westminster government has published its Covid-19 Response: Autumn and Winter Plan 2021 which includes guidance on booster vaccinations and measures which could be implemented later in the year.  The University will of course follow this guidance and update advice, should it become necessary.

Please be respectful and considerate of both our university and local communities, understanding some people will feel more comfortable with fewer restrictions than others and that health vulnerabilities remain.

This communication provides updates on the following:

Our work, teaching and research

• Hybrid working
• Teaching in Semester One
• Research and Innovation

Safety on Campus

• New safety campaign
• Face coverings and social distancing
• Vaccines
• Test, trace and isolation
• Ventilation and monitoring
• Health and safety

Preparing to be back on campus

• Car parking
• Hopper buses
• Catering
• Sustainability
• Mental and physical wellbeing

Our work, teaching and research

The government’s lifting of national restrictions does not mean that the risks from Covid-19 have disappeared. It simply marks a new phase where we are all urged to manage risks to ourselves and to others. The university has created a policy which supports a new way of working during this period. The information below also sets out how some of the different groups of staff around the University will be working, while acknowledging that there are also many who have been on campus throughout the pandemic.

Hybrid working

Hybrid working supports colleagues in spending part of their time working remotely and part of their time on campus where their role enables this. Managers should help staff prepare for return, ensure they complete the appropriate online training, and understand what will be expected of them. Supervisors and PGR Programme Directors should do the same for postgraduate researchers who have not already returned to campus, or who will be involved in teaching activities.

Professional Service colleagues will be able to use Professional Service Hubs – a mix of bookable desk and collaborative spaces. Please note that for some teams this will be a different location to pre-pandemic office space. To find out more visit the Hub SharePoint site.

Teaching in Semester 1

The university is committed to providing our students with as much in-person teaching as we can deliver safely during 2021-22. Detailed plans for teaching have been developed by Faculties in discussion with their Schools and Departments. Read the University-level plan for teaching.

Alongside the vast majority of Russell Group universities and the higher education sector more broadly, small group teaching will normally be delivered in-person on campus whereas a significant proportion of our large group teaching will remain online for Semester One. Schools and Departments have developed their approaches according to the needs of their disciplines, and whether or not they have students studying remotely during Semester One.

The proportion of in-person teaching will increase substantially for Semester Two, subject to the course of the pandemic.

Research and Innovation

The University is now back to full capacity in all our research facilities, with colleagues being supported to work flexibly and in hybrid mode, as appropriate. The Biodiscovery Institute on University Park and the Cobot Maker Space on Jubilee campus both officially opened last week, reaffirming the University’s commitment to world-class, transdisciplinary research spaces that are hubs for innovation and knowledge exchange. The latest consultation on the University Research Strategy has recently been published and colleagues are invited to contribute their thoughts.

Approaches to fieldwork and international travel should continue to be conducted according to University policy which is kept under regular review.

Safety on Campus

New safety campaign

Materials and resources to support the general rules and information for keeping staff, students and visitors safe across our campuses have been created and are available for staff on a dedicated SharePoint site.

While digital screens, social media, posters and banners are being installed across our buildings the SharePoint will enable staff to access other assets to help with sharing the message to colleagues, students and visitors.

Face coverings and social distancing

In line with government policy, the University expects and recommends that staff and students wear face coverings in enclosed spaces, communal areas and busy parts of the University. We have made it clear to our students that by ‘busy’ we mean rooms and spaces where any form of social distancing would be difficult, emphasising that  face coverings help them to reduce their  risk to others and help others to reduce their risk to them. Please continue to follow good hand hygiene measures and give people space where it is sensible or requested.

The Equality Impact Assessment on this decision and advice for vulnerable people or those who have caring responsibilities for vulnerable people can be found on the EIA SharePoint. It sets out the ways in which we will support staff, and their line managers, and mitigate risk. A set of supporting FAQs has also been shared with Senior Leaders.

Vaccines

The university actively supports the roll out of Covid-19 vaccines and is encouraging all those who can to take up the offer of the vaccine as soon as it is offered. Two doses are needed to ensure the vaccine is most effective, but they do not have to be taken in the same location. The Government has announced that booster vaccinations will now be given to vulnerable people in the autumn.

More information about vaccines, how to book them and other FAQs can be found on our Coronavirus webpages. Experts at the university have also put together a factual website dispelling myths and providing independent advice about vaccines.

At end of August more than 82% of 18-21-year-olds registered at Cripps Health Centre had received at least one dose and more than 50% were fully vaccinated.

Test, trace and isolation

All staff and students spending any time on campus will be expected to continue taking asymptomatic testing at least once a week which can be performed quickly and easily through the Asymptomatic Testing Service (ATS). This test has now been recommended for accreditation by the Government meaning anyone who tests positive is automatically entered into the NHS Test and Trace system and does not need to take a confirmatory test.

Of course, those who experience Covid-19 symptoms should continue to isolate immediately, notify the university and book an NHS confirmatory swab test.
Contacts of those who test positive no longer need to isolate if they have had both doses of the MHRA-approved Covid vaccination, or are under 18, unless told otherwise by NHS ‘Test and Trace’ or if they begin to experience symptoms themselves.  Government advises contacts to seek a PCR test, and the university’s ATS test would be a suitable option for this – we recommend that you test daily in such circumstances for a period of 10 days.

If you are not fully vaccinated and are identified as a close contact of a positive case, you will need to isolate in accordance with government guidelines. More details on support during your isolation can be found on our Coronavirus webpages.

Ventilation and monitoring

Ventilation of our buildings is being closely monitored by the Estates teams to ensure that rooms and laboratories are as safe as possible. A detailed policy on room ventilation and monitoring will be available next week on the Health and Safety SharePoint. If colleagues are ever concerned about the air flow within a room, they should report this immediately to the Estates team for investigation.

Health and Safety

Do take time to review the latest documents and policies in the Health and Safety workspace pages. A revised master risk assessment has been created in light of changing restrictions. This can be found on the Health and Safety workspace pages.

Preparing to be back on Campus

Car parking

Parking charges have been re-introduced across the university and staff returning to campus by car will need to renew their permits. There are two different ways you can pay to park:

• Full permits – full annual permits available at any point in the year
• Occasional use vouchers – available in books of 50

If you wish to upgrade to a full parking permit, the cost of it will be reduced to account for the amount you have already spent on vouchers. For any members of staff typically needing to park on campus for fewer than four days each week, the occasional use voucher scheme offers the more cost-effective solution. Permits and vouchers can be ordered through the online permit system.

Hopper buses

The Hopper buses have resumed operations this week. For more information and the latest timetable visit the website.

Catering 

There have been some changes to university and commercial catering outlets across our campuses. For the latest information on opening times and menus, please visit the Catering webpages.

Sustainability

Finding the balance between working from home and working from an office offers the chance to establish new routines that can benefit both ourselves and the environment.

Visit the back to work sustainably pages for some tips on how to help make your return to campus more sustainable.

Mental and physical wellbeing

The past 18 months have been challenging for everyone and affected us all in different ways. There are a number of ways you can access support with mental and physical wellbeing if needed.

Staff wellbeing resources can be found on Moodle.

The Staff Sport programme and fitness opportunities resumed in the 2021 Summer term and follow all relevant government guidance and safety measures.

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University of Nottingham set to invest in city centre campus

September 15th, 2021

The University of Nottingham today confirmed that it has made an offer to purchase the Castle Meadow site in the centre of the city at the foot of the newly-restored Nottingham Castle.

The purchase would realise a longstanding ambition for the university to have a greater physical presence in the city centre. Potentially it could provide a campus for final year and postgraduate students studying professional practice-based courses, as well as a prominent home for its work to support jobs, investment and growth for the city.

A city centre campus could house start-up businesses and partnerships developed under the University’s Digital Nottingham programme, as well as the joint activity delivered through the Universities for Nottingham partnership with Nottingham Trent University. Providing a city centre base for this work would create significant opportunities to use the institution’s research expertise to support the growth of the city’s economy, and help realise the potential, skills and ambitions of people across the city.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said:

“This is a symbolic milestone in the story of both the city and the University of Nottingham and presents a hugely exciting opportunity. Opening an additional UK campus is an expression of confidence in the future of both the University and the city of Nottingham.

“Having a campus in the city, with transport links that offer a gateway beyond the region, will help enhance our civic agenda and enable us to deliver on our ambitions to support jobs, investment and growth across the city. It also offers greater opportunities for collaboration with local business, industry and SMEs, making it easier for partners to engage with us and develop long-term, mutually beneficial relationships.

“For students in particular the site could enable greater and more convenient links with regional business and industry through placements, entrepreneurship, and collaboration to deliver a professional and practice-based curriculum, enhancing their graduate employment skills and opportunities to remain and work in the city.

“A civic and professional campus at Castle Meadow will accelerate the delivery of our strategic ambitions, demonstrating to the people of Nottingham just how far we are prepared to go to make a positive difference for the city, while offering the best of facilities for staff and current and future students.”

Professor Paul Grainge, Academic Director for Digital Nottingham said:

“The driving purpose of Digital Nottingham is to be in the city and for the city. The Castle Meadow site provides a tremendous opportunity to connect with people, business, and organisations in the heart of Nottingham.

“As a space to forge collaborations and build relationships around digital transformation, the central location will enable Digital Nottingham to take forward the University’s civic-focused ambition. It is the perfect location to realise its vision, helping to improve life, prosperity and prospects in the city. Castle Meadow provides a new geography for Nottingham as a University and as a place, and it will fast-track Digital Nottingham as an exciting and inclusive presence in the centre of the city.”

Originally designed by award-winning architect Sir Michael Hopkins, the site was put on the market for £36 million and covers an area of 32,500 square metres, including seven iconic office buildings, which would be renovated to the highest standards of environmental sustainability. The acquisition is likely to complete during the autumn and, subject to successful purchase, renovation of the site would commence in 2022.

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Renewing our research strategy: my thanks and next steps

September 13th, 2021

President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West

I am delighted to invite colleagues from all job families across our campuses in the UK, China, and Malaysia to take part in next stage of our consultation on the future of research at the University of Nottingham.

We are asking for your views on a white paper, published today (Monday 13 September), which sets out a framework to deliver a high-performing, inclusive research ecosystem.

Please take few minutes to review the white paper, and respond to some questions:  is it sufficiently ambitious to deliver our new research strategy and the challenges ahead? What opportunities does it offer you and how can you contribute?

The consultation closes at 5pm on Friday 8 October.

I am grateful for the engagement of the university community over the past year in debating our research ambitions and how we can achieve them. Your responses have helped shape our vision for research as expressed in the white paper.

What has come through most strongly from you, and aligning with my own mission, is that our people are at the core of a renewed research strategy.

Research defines us as an institution and drives progress towards a fairer and more resilient society, while providing the bedrock for our teaching and learning.

Regardless of your career stage, discipline, academic, technical or professional services role, and whether your research is individual or team-oriented, discovery focused or industry-engaged, all of you have a contribution to make to the quality and impact of our research in the coming years.

Now we want to ensure we are on the right track and that the white paper’s framework to deliver a step-change in our research quality and performance over the next five years is robust and truly reflective of our whole community.

I look forward to your response to the white paper and consideration of how we can better support each other to strengthen our ambition to deliver research of the highest quality that develops new knowledge, transforms lives and shapes the future of our world.

For further updates, resources and more on how to get involved, please visit and bookmark our research strategy white paper consultation pages.

My thanks and best wishes

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