Campus News

Student experience and learning during 2020-21 survey

January 18th, 2021

The university is conducting a survey with our students to understand the impact of Covid-19 on their education and wider student experience.  

We first surveyed our students in summer 2020 to find out how Covid-19 had affected their learning experience, with the aim to provide improved support. 

Over 5,376 students completed that survey, helping us to understand how the university needs to support students’ learning and wellbeing throughout the year. Communications, wellbeing support and enabling safe social interactions were highlighted as areas for us to improve. 

This survey was key to informing much of our work this year, including the Student Guide to Digital Learning, the Coronavirus webpages, the weekly student newsletter and more. 

The University is now launching a second survey to review the learning and wellbeing experience and to assess the impacts of the measures we have put into place. This will be available for undergraduate students to complete, while postgraduate students will be surveyed later in the year. The results from the survey will be used to inform our approach moving forward. 

The survey will open on Monday 1 February and will be live at the following link until Sunday 28 February: bit.ly/NottsCovid2021 

We are asking for the support of all staff in encouraging students to complete this survey; the more responses we receive, the better we can understand how to improve our provision. Please do encourage any students with whom you interact to complete this survey, whether that’s at the end of a lecture or while providing a student service – your Education and Student Experience team will be in touch with more information. If you have any questions, please contact carmen.tomas@nottingham.ac.uk. 

While this survey looks at the broader student experience during Covid-19, students (and staff) will have an opportunity to feed back specifically on their digital experience via the Digital Experience Insights survey, which will run in March. 

Tags: , , ,
Posted in News | Comments Off on Student experience and learning during 2020-21 survey

Microsoft Teams – keeping your data safe, secure and compliant

January 18th, 2021

With the increase in usage of Teams, the Information Services & Information Compliance team is reminding staff and students of best practice when using digital tools – especially in relation to data that is created.

Over the last six months, our ways of working, teaching and learning have all changed significantly. Many of us are now using digital tools on a daily basis to undertake routine tasks that may have previously taken place in person, as a conversation or a group meeting or event. The increase in Microsoft Teams usage across the university during the first lockdown was over 400%.

Good practice in Microsoft Teams

All information that is shared in Teams is kept indefinitely, by default, as long as the team has a valid owner and the site is not deleted. This includes (not exhaustive):

  • Files
  • Documents
  • Chat
  • Recordings

For example, if an individual submits a comment in a meeting using ‘Chat’, the data remains visible after the meeting and is searchable. Chats in Teams and between individuals are also searchable. Therefore, we would always ask users to be mindful of good practice data management when using Teams, whether in formal meetings or in discussions between individuals.

As good practice, any personal data should be removed where possible and instead stored securely on OneDrive or on a restricted access Teams site (see the Information Compliance & Security site for further information on personal data).

To support good practice management of data, we would ask users to remember that, whilst a Team or user account remains active:

  • Individual chat comments can be deleted by the author only
  • Team chats can be deleted by Team owners and the authors of individual comments
  • The owners of recordings can delete videos

The team is also asking individuals to ensure that all data contained within Teams, including Chat, remains complaint with the Universities Code of Practice for users of the University Computing Facilities.

Useful Information

  • A guide on how to use Teams can be found here
  • A guide on how to use Teams for meetings can be found here
  • A blog article on ensuring your version of Teams is up to date

Please submit any comments or queries here.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on Microsoft Teams – keeping your data safe, secure and compliant

Amid the gloom, some good news on research

January 15th, 2021

Update from Professor Dame Jessica Corner

It has emerged from the Brexit deal that the UK can look forward to associating with Horizon Europe, the EU’s new €95.5bn framework programme for funding research and innovation.

UK organisations will be able to fully take part in Horizon Europe alongside EU states, and it is anticipated we will be able to respond to the first calls in spring.

Being able to participate on a level playing field and as an equal partner with fellow European research institutions is wonderful news and tremendously important in these challenging times. Find out more about Horizon Europe

Supporting the fight against Covid

I’m also delighted to share further news of how our research is providing a glimpse of light.

The university is supporting the NHS Covid-19 vaccinations programme, with two local vaccination services opening across our campuses and staff and students stepping up to help administer the vaccine to patients.

This week the doors have opened at a new vaccination service based on King’s Meadow Campus, which is set to be one of the largest sites in Nottinghamshire providing the vaccine to patients from across the city and wider county.

It follows the launch of the first university-supported vaccination site at Cripps Health Centre on University Park Campus on Saturday 9 January, where the team has recruited 40 university staff and students to administer the jab. Incredibly, so keen were people to support the programme, they had more than 770 applications in just 72 hours.

The university has also played a key role in leading the distribution of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to members of the public across the UK.

The regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reviewed the data collected by researchers, including those based at the University of Nottingham Health Service, which played a crucial role in the study and led to the vaccine being authorised for widespread use.

Meanwhile,  a team led by Professor Silke Weinfurtner of the School of Physics has been awarded £4.3m by UK Research and Innovation to use cutting-edge quantum technologies to transform our understanding of the universe and black holes.

And Helen Kennedy, Professor of Creative and Cultural Industries in the Department of Cultural, Media and Visual Studies, and Professor Steve Benford from Computer Science have secured £1.6m from the European Regional Development Fund to partner with Nottingham Trent University and explore how digital and immersive technologies can support the local creative and cultural sector.

Our commitment to your safety

As the third national lockdown continues, a reminder that we should continue research from home wherever possible, but where research cannot reasonably be carried out at home, it can continue in our Covid-secure campus buildings, in line with government guidance.

While tremendous work is keeping our buildings Covid-secure, we must also all take personal responsibility to keep each other safe:  isolate if you suspect you have come into contact with the infection, follow guidance on social distancing, wear a face mask and wash your hands regularly, and follow your building’s protocols.

Please continue to act responsibly. At such a critical and worrying stage of the pandemic, thoughtful behaviour and care for others has never been so important.

Covid testing on campus

For further reassurance on a personal level, please remember that Covid-19 testing is available for staff. If you are visiting campus to carry out or support research, you are strongly advised to be tested once a week.

Please visit our pages on Covid-19 testing. All staff, including postgraduate research students, can access the university’s testing service at one of our dedicated testing stations. Staff working from home can also access the testing service, but please do not take any unnecessary risks in travelling to our testing stations.

More information on looking after your health

Read Dame Jessica’s full update

Tags: ,
Posted in Announcements, News, Research | Comments Off on Amid the gloom, some good news on research

University staff and students step up to support NHS vaccination programme

January 15th, 2021

The University is supporting the NHS Covid-19 vaccinations programme, with two local vaccination services opening across its campuses and staff and students stepping up to help administer the vaccine to patients.

This week the doors have opened at a new vaccination service based on the University’s King’s Meadow Campus, which is set to be one of the largest sites in Nottinghamshire providing the vaccine to patients from across the city and wider county.

The new site will initially be predominantly used for vaccinating priority patients over the age of 80 years old.

In just over two weeks, the University & NHS teams mobilised staff to convert space into suitable vaccination pods ready to receive patients and to ensure that health and safety measures and essential facilities such as adequate car parking were in place.

One such vaccination hub is based in Studio 7 – home to the filming of dramas and gameshows including Supermarket Sweep and Family Fortunes in the campus’ former life as Carlton TV studios, and more recently the location for the Heart Church’s Sunday services.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West said: “The delivery of these vaccines, starting with our healthcare heroes and the most vulnerable in our society, offer us all the hope that one day soon we will be able to come together again with family, friends and colleagues.

“Seeing the way in which our University community has risen to the challenge of Covid-19 from the start of the pandemic – whether it be through working to develop new vaccines, volunteering to support our local communities or leading numerous research studies to increase our understanding of the virus and its impact – has been a constant source of inspiration to me.

“The efforts of our staff and students who have helped to support NHS colleagues in the roll-out of the vaccination programme have been truly outstanding.”

It follows hot on the heels of the launch of the first University-supported vaccination site at Cripps Health Centre on University Park Campus on Saturday 9 January, where the team has recruited 40 University staff and students to administer the jab. Incredibly, so keen were people to support the programme, they had more than 770 applications in just 72 hours.

Daniel Hammersley, Chief Operating Officer for Cripps Health Centre at the University, said: “We are delighted to be acting as a vaccination site to help support colleagues in hospitals across the country, in vaccinating the population against Covid-19. In the coming weeks we will be vaccinating both our own priority patients and colleagues from across health and social care in Nottingham. We are proud to be playing a part in the national effort in the mass vaccination programme, which is of huge importance in getting control of this terrible virus.”

Among the University students who successfully applied to work at the Cripps centre was 24-year-old Shahzeb Ali, a 4th year medical student, who said: “The opportunity to get involved in a national vaccination programme in the middle of a pandemic that will have a huge impact on getting the country immunised and back on its feet was a once in a lifetime opportunity and not one I could pass up. When I heard about it, I knew I had to join. We all have to do our part in these unprecedented times, this is my way of contributing.”

Around 14 members of staff from the University’s School of Health Sciences have put themselves forward to be seconded to a vaccination service at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust’s Nottingham City Hospital next week.

They are being supported by other staff members in the school who have offered to take on extra responsibilities to free up their colleagues to deliver vaccinations.

Traci Hudson, Assistant Professor of Midwifery, is one of the staff members who wanted to help and has put herself forward for secondment.

She said: “This pandemic has impacted on us all in so many different ways and as a midwifery lecturer, I have been watching from the side lines feeling both frustrated and guilty that I cannot do my bit alongside my clinical counterparts. I am so proud of this university, as we know it has contributed a lot to the pandemic efforts and I am very much looking forward to being a further part of this.”

Staff from the University played a key role in leading the distribution of the approved Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine to members of the public across the UK.

The regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) reviewed the data collected by researchers, including those based at the University of Nottingham Health Service.

560 participants from across the East Midlands came to Cripps Health Centre at the University and played a crucial role in the study, which led to the vaccine being authorised for widespread use.

Vaccine recipients are being called forward in priority order as set out by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). The NHS is sending letters to eligible people and vaccines will be by appointment only. First priority at the vaccination centres is for those over the age of 80 and frontline health and social care workers.

Health bosses have asked the public to wait until they have received a letter before contacting the NHS, their GP or local hospital hub – the letter will have full details of how to make an appointment.  Do not call your GP or turn up at A&E or your doctor’s surgery – the only way to get an appointment and the jab is to follow the instructions in the letter. Once you have received a letter, please make your appointment as quickly as possible.

Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on University staff and students step up to support NHS vaccination programme

Joining Horizon Europe: exciting opportunities for our research

January 14th, 2021

Good news emerging from the Brexit trade and cooperation deal is that the UK can look forward to associating with Horizon Europe, the EU’s new €95.5bn framework programme for funding research and innovation.

While there remains a formal process to finalise association over the coming months, UK organisations will be able to fully take part in Horizon Europe alongside EU states, and it is anticipated we will be able to respond to the first calls in spring.

Horizon Europe offers some fantastic opportunities, many of which are similar to those we saw under Horizon 2020, including:

  • funding for excellent, large-scale, ambitious ‘frontier’ research under the European Research Council (ERC)
  • mobility of early career researchers and doctoral training as part of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie programme
  • top-down, collaborative research projects with European and international partners under specific global challenges

There is also scope for engagement in partnership with SMEs and large industry.

Nottingham is keen to encourage academic engagement with Horizon Europe. Research and Innovation includes a team of research administrators with huge experience of the financial, legal and administrative aspects of EU funding, and you can expect to hear from EU Development Manager Matthew Rackley, who is planning a programme of events to advise on the detail of the new funding programme and the support available, which includes expert external proposal preparation support and subscription to a Horizon Europe-facing virtual networking platform. Support will be delivered in collaboration with the research development function within schools and faculties.

The ongoing, long-term nature of the programme, with calls repeated on an annual basis, combined with the large-scale or collaborative nature of many strands and calls, means that a strategic approach on the part of individuals, teams or schools and faculties is advised. Please get in touch with Matt with any queries.

Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange, welcomed the UK’s association with Horizon Europe, adding: “Being able to participate on a level playing field and as an equal partner with fellow European research institutions is wonderful news and tremendously important in these challenging times.

“We urge our researchers to continue dialogues and open up new conversations with our European colleagues. By staying alert to opportunities we will build our profile as an adventurous, European-facing university, and secure further successes, such as the  €2million European Research Council Consolidator Grant awarded to the School of Medicine’s Dr Stam Sotiropoulos at the end of last year to develop new MRI technologies for mapping the human brain.”

Tags: , ,
Posted in Announcements, Research | Comments Off on Joining Horizon Europe: exciting opportunities for our research

Accommodation charges during lockdown

January 13th, 2021

The university has developed a support package for students in university owned/leased and managed accommodation. The communication below sets out what this means for students and how it will be achieved.

We are writing to students who hold contracts for accommodation that the university owns/leases and manages, to let them know what we have decided to do about accommodation fees in light of recent government guidance.
In the current circumstances, we appreciate that you will have many questions and anxieties about the implications of lockdown and staff at the university are working hard to continue to support your studies and welfare.

Exceptionally, and in recognition of the very specific circumstances that apply to the start of spring term 2021, we have put together another support package for those in university owned/leased and managed accommodation.

Accommodation support we have previously provided includes evening supper free of charge, additional weeks’ residency at no extra cost where a course needed to start earlier than originally planned, and more than £1 million in hardship funding since September to support students experiencing hardship as a result of the impacts of Covid-19.

Accommodation Support Package

The additional support package aligns your accommodation charges to the government’s current advice on which programmes can presently deliver in-person teaching or should continue online, where the majority of students are not expected to campus until Saturday 13 or Sunday 14 February.

The following information applies to students with accommodation contracts for university halls, Dagfa, Varsity, and UPP (Broadgate Park, Albion House & Cloister House).

We are pleased to confirm that if you are not studying on a programme that currently allows you to return for in-person teaching AND you are not using your room, you will not be required to pay accommodation fees for the period from the start of term (Sunday 10 January) up to and including either the date you start to occupy your room or the projected restart of in-person teaching (Saturday 13 February), whichever is earlier.

If you are studying on a programme that allows you to return early for in-person teaching, you will remain liable to pay full accommodation fees, regardless of whether or not you occupy the room, with the next payment due on Monday 18 January.

If you choose to occupy your accommodation for any reason prior to Sunday 14 February, accommodation fees will be due from and including the date on which you commence occupation of your room, with the next payment to be made on Monday 1 March.

Private Accommodation Providers

While the university’s accommodation support package can only apply to those in accommodation that the university owns/leases and manages, we are actively liaising with private and third party accommodation providers to see if they are able to support students in a similar manner.

Unite Students announced on Monday 11 January that eligible students will receive a 50% discount on rent for a total of four weeks, beginning on Monday 18 January, where students are not in residence in their property between 18 January and 14 February, and paid their account in full (to 31 January). Applications for the rebate must be received by 14 February, and the discount will be credited to student accounts in March. Unite Students has invited any student who is currently struggling to keep up with rent payments to contact them.

Student Roost (Nottingham 2 / Hydrogen) is offering a credit of up to 100% of 6 weeks of rent where students have been away from the property before 5 January 2021 when the latest national restrictions came into place, and affected by the government advice not to travel. Applications for this credit should be submitted by 25 January 2021.

The University may be able to offer interest free loans or non-repayable grants to students experiencing financial difficulties resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. For further information, please visit Support Funds or email financialsupport@nottingham.ac.uk.

We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding and assure you that the university will continue to monitor this situation and provide the best possible support for students in accommodation.

[Article originally published Friday 8 January 2021]

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on Accommodation charges during lockdown

Higher Education staff designated ‘critical workers’ – Updated Wed 13 Jan

January 13th, 2021

Updated 13 January 2021

In accordance with Government guidelines and in response to the national lockdown announced on Monday 4 January, the Department for Education has today written to universities with further clarification on the staff who may be considered ‘critical workers’ who may therefore continue to send their children to school during this period.

The Department for Education confirms that “higher education staff who are required to deliver or to support delivery of teaching or research and the provision of appropriate university facilities are considered critical workers for the purposes of access to education. Children with at least one parent or carer who is a critical worker can go to school or college if required, but parents and carers should keep their children at home if they can. The Government’s position remains that everyone who can work from home should do so.”

If you have young children who have yet to return to school or other caring responsibilities, please speak with your line manager to discuss your working arrangements. We understand how challenging this can be and, as on previous occasions last year, we will do our very best to support you in this situation.

Categories of ‘Critical Workers’ in Higher Education

The Department for Education also confirms that staff deemed critical to the continuing operation of the institution should be agreed on a case-by-case basis, with employers and staff expected to show understanding and offer flexibility when making these decisions. Roles that may be prioritised for accessing school places, would usually fall into the following broad categories:

  • staff or research students responsible for research and other activities to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and for other essential research and supporting activity necessary to meet regulatory, legal, health and safety or other on-going requirements. This would include long-running research which cannot tolerate a break, staff or others looking after living resources (e.g. animals, plants or bacterial cultures) or hazardous materials; or those that are essential for the maintenance of equipment and facilities.
  • academic and teaching staff, to deliver face to face teaching to those students that are permitted to receive teaching on campus, or to support those students who are continuing their placements in person and cannot be supported remotely, as well as those developing or delivering resources for remote learning including where these need to be created or updated using facilities only available on the provider’s premises.
  • staff responsible for providing services for students who need to remain in student accommodation or in facilities which remain open for students or essential research, including catering staff, cleaners, wardens, mental health support, IT and security staff, as well as staff critical to the safety and security of the university estate and other business critical operations.
  • healthcare and initial teacher training (ITT) students on placement who may have encountered difficulties in finding a place for their children at schools, where universities or the providers of the placements choose to designate such students as critical workers within health and social care for these purposes.

Evidence of Critical Worker Status

Staff can ask their Head of School/Department (or nominee) for a letter to confirm their ‘critical worker’ status, which can be used to either:

  • provide evidence that it is necessary to travel freely to and from work where work cannot be undertaken at home and/or
  • confirm their status as critical workers to primary/secondary schools to enable their child/children to attend school in person

Staff should make a request for a letter to be provided by their Head of School/Department who will issue this directly to staff and provide a copy to the Human Resources Department.

Heads of School/Department may also be asked directly from primary/secondary schools to confirm colleagues’ critical worker status, in which case the Head of School/ Department should provide a copy of the letter where requested to do so.

Employees travelling to campus where it is necessary to do so should take their letter with them on every occasion as they may be asked to provide this evidence by the police to travel to and from work.

Where there are waiting lists in schools for critical worker places, staff should discuss their arrangements with their relevant line manager.

If members of staff can work from home, but require flexibility in their working hours to do so, this should be discussed and agreed with their line manager. It is anticipated that this will be possible in the majority of cases.

You can find some helpful links below:

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on Higher Education staff designated ‘critical workers’ – Updated Wed 13 Jan

EDI Sphere Programme – call for applications for funding 2021

January 13th, 2021

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Sphere programme for 20/21 is being launched later than anticipated and offers an opportunity to apply for funding which will deliver change through Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) activity.

The types of activities, for which funding in the range of £100-£500 may be requested, include:

  • specific events which allow participants to explore particular issues relating to EDI in more depth
  • initiatives which change the way that we normally do things in our work or study, such as a new intervention to support students
  • recent experiences of life during the pandemic that may have generated new ideas to explore
  • virtual training activities or a seminar
  • purchase of external resources for use in teaching or training

Criteria for applications

Applications should be aligned to at least one of the University’s four EDI themes:

  • Demonstrable equality in experience for all of our staff and students
  • Strengthen our diversity and improve inclusion across student and staff communities
  • Excellence and ambition in delivery of embedded Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
  • The University, Nottingham, and our Global Community

In addition, projects may align to the Sphere challenges identified by Faculties and Professional Services.

Research projects with impact outside of the University will also be considered if there is evidence of broader value to the global community.

You can find further information about the review process here and can apply for funding using the online form.

Completed applications should be submitted by 12pm on Friday 29 January.  All funds must be spent by Thursday 1 July 2021.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on EDI Sphere Programme – call for applications for funding 2021

New Self Service portal coming soon

January 12th, 2021

From Monday 25 January 2021, Information Services will be releasing a new Self Service portal. 

As you may be aware, the project to replace the existing IT service management tools is nearing completion. The introduction of our new IT customer service platform (Ivanti Service Manager) in January will have streamlined workflows and tasks behind the scenes to ensure support requests and incidents are directed with greater efficiency. 

There will be a brand-new Self Service portal, with a modern user interface and a distinct set of service offerings to pick from. 

Information Services have produced some videos that provide details on how to use the new portal – you can watch these here before the switch over in January 2021. 

From Monday 25 January 2021, the new portal will be available from any location to make new service requests and to report IT faults.  

As a reminder, once the new platform is launched, Information Services will be removing the use of email to raise new IT support requests via the IT Service Desk. Email requests have previously led to long queues and response times and often the information required to resolve is not captured up front and visibility of progress is lost. 

There will be a transitional period over five weeks until end of February 2021 where emails to the IT Service Desk will be managed with either instructions on how to raise a request in the new portal or Information Services will log it for you.  

After February 2021, the new email requests to the IT Service Desk will not be accepted.

When the new portal goes live, there will be instructions for users who have support calls open within the current Self Service portal. 

IT Website project update 

Work on re-imagining the current IT Service website continues and we have re-scheduled with a new launch of early March, 2021. While the new Self Service portal has many more service offerings than the current portal, the new website will support users with finding services and making requests. 

We look forward to sharing further news with you in the new year.

Tags: , ,
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on New Self Service portal coming soon

New national lockdown – further detail

January 8th, 2021

Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Long has written to all colleagues and students providing an update to the university’s plans in light of newest national lockdown restrictions.

Dear colleagues

I am writing, as promised, to provide more information as to how the government’s announcement of a further national lockdown affects you.

This communication is lengthy but includes important details on:

  • My email to students including revised term dates, accommodation refunds, academic ‘safety net’, location survey and support
  • Staff Testing
  • Research update
  • HR/people support
  • Building and parking arrangements

We have now had updated guidance from the Department for Education. This continues to stress that education remains a priority activity and that teaching can be carried out safely in Covid-secure environments. The University can and will remain open. However, there is a need for new restrictions because of the transmissibility of the new strain of the virus and as such the movement of people into and across the country must be reduced.

I have written to all students reiterating the revised term date information, including exceptional reasons for returning other than course-based, along with additional details on testing, accommodation refunds, a response to the request for an academic ‘safety net’, and support with identifying current student locations. You can read a copy of this email here. I have also written to PGR students and you can read that email here.

Revised start dates
Thank you for your assistance in confirming or advising on the dates for the resumption of in-person teaching with your students.

I recognise that the challenge of teaching and supporting students both on and off campus is considerable, and that staff have made huge efforts to deliver high quality and engaging teaching both digitally and face to face in 2020. The Digital Learning Directors will continue to work with Professional Services colleagues to ensure that the Faculty Teaching plans can be delivered, and that staff know how to access advice and training.

Covid-19 Testing Regime
As you will be aware all staff, including postgraduate researchers with a University email address, can access asymptomatic Covid-19 testing through the University’s testing service. This is simple saliva test that takes about 10 minutes to complete, with results usually available within 24 hours.

Testing is, of course, voluntary but we hope that the service for staff will offer reassurance at this time and keep our community safe. There are no limits on the number of asymptomatic tests staff can take and those who are on campus regularly should consider taking a test weekly until vaccines are widely deployed. We are issuing the same guidance to students.

With that in mind we are asking all line managers to encourage and facilitate participation in staff testing as part of the working week. In light of the current restrictions this is aimed at staff who are currently on campus. We believe that regular testing is key to preventing outbreaks, although not a substitute for existing Covid-19 security measures.

Information on testing stations and times is available here. Staff do not need to book and can simply turn up at a convenient time for them. A support toolkit for staff who test positive will be added to the testing webpage in coming days. Anyone who is symptomatic should access a NHS test as per the Isolate, Notify, Test process.

Academic ‘Safety net’ and extenuating circumstances
We have a package of measures in place to support students during the new national Covid-19 restrictions. The 2021 ‘safety net’ measures ensure that their degree provides a strong foundation for their personal and professional aspirations. Read more here.

Research update
Professor Dame Jessica Corner has written to all research staff and PGR students to outline what the current restrictions mean for those working in research. The update can be found here.

HR and People support
HR are currently updating the SharePoint pages and FAQs with updated information and advice for line managers, the position and process for furlough and guidance for vulnerable staff.

Staff should not take the latest lockdown rules as an opportunity to travel overseas to work from home, e.g. where ‘home’ is not the UK. There are important considerations and potential liabilities associated with staff employed in the UK working outside of the UK e.g. regarding salary, tax and social security payments. Staff should consult their HR Business Partner and Payroll for further advice.

You will be aware that university staff have been defined as critical workers. This enables travel for work purposes and access to education. The latest information on this can be found here.

We realise that in spite of this some of you will be balancing your current role with home-school or caring challenges. If this is the case please speak with your line manager to discuss your working arrangements. We understand how challenging this can be and, as on previous occasions last year, we will do our very best to support you in this situation.

Buildings and Parking
In light of the new restrictions we will be operating a new process to ensure buildings remain safe and secure for those who cannot work from home.

The University will keep buildings open wherever possible to support those on campus. Where the usage is low or nil a building may be placed into standby, with any essential activities to be carried out elsewhere on campus. Standby means a building is maintained but not normally accessible by general staff or students, although access to offices for the collection of books, equipment, teaching materials etc. will still be available via the Grab and Go process.

This system means that resources can be better focussed, energy waste is reduced and buildings are more secure. It also means that buildings can be fully reopened, when permitted, within 48 hours. The majority of buildings will remain open but more details will be shared over the next week.

As in previous lockdowns we have also suspended parking restrictions until further notice. More information can be found here.

We will also be offering use of the Medical School Building car park to our NHS colleagues as we have done in the past. This will be offered from Monday 11 January through to the end of February. Spaces will be reserved for university staff who are coming on site for teaching and research.

Vaccine news
I’m pleased to share news that Kings Meadow Campus will host a regional coronavirus vaccination centre and our own Cripps Medical Centre will begin administering some of the first vaccines in the City.

The centre at KMC will be based using space currently empty in Studio 7 (A177, A151, A153a, b & c and the café area).

It will operate independently to the University, separated off using barriers, temporary walls and doorways, ensuring that patients are able to gain access without coming into contact with members of staff or accessing spaces used for university operations.

The site is expected to open to patients next week and will be in operation seven days a week until Spring 2021. Vaccinations will be pre-bookable only to limit the numbers accessing the site and parking and traffic management measures will be in place.

Support
I will continue to keep you informed with further news as we receive it. The health and wellbeing of our university community remains our priority. We should all do our best to ensure that we are not coming onto campus if we may have the virus, and adhere to the guidance on social distancing, wearing a face mask and washing our hands regularly.

It doesn’t matter how infectious the virus is, if it is not able to reach a susceptible host, it will not be transmitted. I appreciate that this is an extremely anxious time for many of you but please know that we will continue to work hard to support you as best we can. You may find our webpages on staff wellbeing useful but please don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Best wishes

Andy

Professor Andy Long, FREng
Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Announcements, News | Comments Off on New national lockdown – further detail