Campus News
Trent Building is in the pink
September 4th, 2020
The University’s iconic Trent Building will be lit up pink on Wednesday 9 September to help raise awareness of organ donation.
The building will be one of many well-known Nottingham landmarks lit up to mark national Organ Donation Week, which runs from 7 -13 September this year.
The annual campaign, run by the NHS Blood and Transplant service, aims to raise awareness of organ donation, encourage people to discuss the issue with loved ones and register their wishes online.
Other buildings that will be in the pink include Queen’s Medical Centre, King’s Mill Hospital, and the Council House in Market Square.
This year, following a change in the law that means organ donation in England is now an ‘opt out’ system, the Organ Donation Committee at Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust are joining NHS Blood and Transplant in asking people speak to their loved ones about what they want to happen to their organs after they die, and to register their wishes through the online organ donation register.
Currently in the UK there are over 4,200 people waiting for an organ transplant. National data from the NHS Blood and Transplant service reveals that, compared to last year, there has been a 1% fall in the number of deceased donors, whilst the number of living donors fell by 4%. Sadly hundreds of people die every year whilst waiting for an organ.
Sadie Harris, Specialist Nurse (Organ Donation) at NUH Trust said: “The change to an ‘opt out’ system has brought with it some misconceptions, but we want to use this week to reassure people that they still have control of what happens to their organs after they die. Donated organs improve and very often save lives, so we’re encouraging people considering organ donation to visit the NHS Blood and Transplant website and to register their decision today”.
Dr Paul Greatrix, Registrar at the University, said: “We’re delighted to support this cause and light our historic Trent Building pink. We hope in doing so, along with other Nottingham landmarks, we will encourage more people to have a discussion about organ donation with their loved ones.
As well as turning local buildings pink, the trust has also worked with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service to wrap two of its fire engines with distinctive pink organ donation artwork.
Find out more about organ donation, including what the change in the law means and sign the Organ Donor Register at www.organdonation.nhs.uk. You can also call 0300 123 23 23.
Tags: Dr Paul Gretrix, national Organ Donation Week, Organ donation, Trent Building
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Applications open for 2020 Confidence in Concept scheme
September 4th, 2020
Applications are now open for the 2020 Medical Research Council funded Confidence in Concept scheme, awards which are administered by the University.
These grants are designed to support discovery research to facilitate acceleration to early stage therapeutic / diagnostic development in any area of health and offer funding to support preliminary work, or feasibility studies, which establish the viability of the approach.
Who can apply?
Members of the University of Nottingham with prospective projects which are suitable for early stage translational research funding can apply.
Projects should aim to generate sufficient preliminary data to establish the viability of an approach before seeking more substantive translational funding (e.g. from the Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme (DPFS)).
To apply. visit the Workspace pages and follow the instructions.
The deadline for applications is Friday 16 October 2020 at 4pm.
Tags: confidence in concept, DPFS, funding, research, translational research
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Microsoft Teams and teaching
September 3rd, 2020
With the return of students fast approaching, now is the time to think about how you can take your Microsoft Teams knowledge to the next level.
A number of Microsoft Teams and Teaching sessions have been developed to help people do just that.
In one-hour sessions, colleagues can learn about:
- The different types of teams and which is best for you
- The different meeting options that are available
- The different ways you can engage students on Teams e.g. through Microsoft Forms and Polly
- How to use breakout spaces for student group work
- Using Bookings to make arranging meetings with students and colleagues easier
Sessions are currently scheduled for:
- Friday 4 September – 1.45pm
- Monday 7 September – 11am
- Wednesday 9 September – 11am
To book onto one of these sessions, please visit MS Teams and Teaching.
Please note: This session is aimed at University Staff who have either watched or attended the Teams Basics for Staff. A Microsoft Teams training session aimed at students will be available in due course.
Tags: Microsoft Teams, MS teams, Staff training, teaching session, training
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Vice-Chancellor’s blog: A phased return to our UK campuses
September 2nd, 2020
In this week’s Vice-Chancellor’s blog, Professor Shearer West discusses the University’s plans for a safe, supportive and phased return for staff to our UK campuses, informed by the experiences of colleagues in China and Sutton Bonington.
Tags: COVID-19, recovery, return to campus, VC Blog, Vice-Chancellor's blog
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Principles for a phased return to UK campuses
September 2nd, 2020
The University has published a set of principles to support senior leaders and managers in ensuring a safe, supportive and phased return for staff to our UK campuses between now and January 2021.
Informed by the experience of colleagues in China and Sutton Bonington, the Return to Campus: Schedule, Principles and Approach sets out a return for staff in three phases, according to the role they perform and criteria which prioritise the need to be on campus.
• Phase 1: Early Returners – until late September. This continues the approach that has been introduced since the national lockdown eased and relates to staff whose work cannot be carried out at home and those who have been deemed a priority for return by the Recovery Board.
• Phase 2: Start of Session – from now and leading up to 21 September. This entails the return of many more staff to campus on a partial basis to deliver teaching and research and to support students and other campus services. It allows us to ease the burden on facilities, embed COVID protocols and reduce the opportunity for virus transmission.
• Phase 3: New ways of working – from January 2021. This will see the implementation of a new long-term model of blended, agile working with clear University-wide expectations for attendance on campus for at least some of the time for all staff.
The approach feeds into the reopening of our University estate, as well as teaching timetables and the start of the new academic year. It will enable us to avoid high concentrations of people in areas and to ensure the latest health and safety guidelines, particularly those around social distancing, can be met.
Writing about the Principles in her latest VC Blog, Vice-Chancellor Professor Shearer West recognised that while many staff will be eager to get back to work on campus, there will be others who will be apprehensive about returning, as well as some cases where staff are unable to return. The health, safety and wellbeing of the University community is at the heart of decision making and a phased return forms just one part of extensive measures that have been introduced to keep people safe.
Following these principles will allow us to deliver on our teaching and learning promises, ensure we create the sort of University experience our students would expect at Nottingham, while reducing the pressure on the infrastructure and facilities that support us all. It also paves the way for new more agile, flexible and adaptive ways of working that will become common practice across the university.
Heads of Schools and Departments will brief their teams on which category they fall into, how the schedule will be implemented locally and the time frame for their return. This will be subject to individual health declarations and risk assessments and adjustment due to changes in the national COVID-19 alert level and or local lockdown restrictions.
Tags: COVID-19, health and safety, lockdown, protocols, recovery, return to campus
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New libraries re-opening schedule
September 2nd, 2020
The phased re-opening of library buildings continues throughout September as the University prepares to welcome students back to our campuses.
Djanogly Learning Resource Centre and Greenfield Medical Library re-opened on Tuesday 1 September taking the total number of open libraries to four.
Both libraries offer:
- book returns
- print, copy and scan services – via mobile print
- Click and Collect access to print items on the shelves
- online scanning requests
Djanogly LRC is also open for browsing and access to fifty individual study spaces.
A range of safety measures are in place to keep the University community safe including one-way systems, reduced capacity and enhanced cleaning. Hand gel and wipes are available at key points throughout libraries for use before, and after, touching surfaces.
Updated schedule
Libraries staff are working hard on re-opening the remaining buildings and estimated dates are now available for all remaining libraries, plus phase two dates for those that are already open, on the Libraries website.
We expect all eight libraries to be open for selected services by the end of September, however, dates and services may change depending on essential Health and Safety checks. Libraries staff will share any changes on their website and social media channels.
Please note, the capacity of our library buildings has been lowered to support social distancing measures. Staff will be managing visitor numbers at the entrance for both long stay visits (study space) and short stay visits of up to 30 minutes (printing, browsing, collecting books). You may be asked to wait if the library is full.
Tags: Djanogly Learning Resource Centre, greenfield medical, Libraries, recovery
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Professor Dame Jessica Corner: re-establishing and growing our research capacity
August 28th, 2020
In her latest blog, Professor Dame Jessica Corner welcomes news that the University is on course to achieve an ambitious goal of reopening nearly all our research buildings and facilities by early September.
The University’s leadership and recovery teams are also looking beyond returning to our research spaces and adapting our procedures and practices to the challenge of an extended period of COVID-affected working.
Dame Jessica adds: “We must look at how to re-establish and grow our research capacity while ensuring that everyone remains safe, while exploring how to make our world-class facilities and expertise as accessible as possible to industry and other partners across society.”
Discover more in the latest COVID-19 update from Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Exchange.
Tags: blog, COVID-19 update, professor dame jessica corner, research, Research and Knowledge Exchange
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New print management supplier
August 27th, 2020
Following a competitive tender process, Corporate Document Services (CDS) has been selected as the University’s print management partner, effective immediately.
Why has this change been made?
The current print framework officially expired at the end of 2019, so a competitive process was undertaken to put suitable arrangements in place for 2020 onwards and to ensure best quality and value for the University.
What type of print will this affect?
All externally purchased print to include marketing print, stationery and bulk copying. It will not include internal photocopying machines.
What will happen now?
We have worked with CDS to finalise contracts, complete the finance set-up and establish ordering processes. The main contact email address will be uon@cds.co.uk.
Information has been updated on Workspace. We have worked with CDS to help them understand the University’s print priorities and wider strategy to include sustainability and digital ambitions.
What do I need to do?
Any new print orders will now need to be ordered through CDS, effective immediately. If a purchase order had been raised before Saturday 1 August 2020 with a previous printer, you can complete print jobs already underway – but these suppliers will shortly be removed from Agresso for new purchase orders.
Introducing our new print management partner
Take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with CDS. Please contact the Procurement Team if you would like to arrange a meeting with CDS to discuss your upcoming requirements.
Who do I contact with queries?
Tags: CDS, print, print framework, print management, printer
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New toolkit announced to support disabled staff
August 26th, 2020
The 2019 review of support for disabled staff recommended that the University develop tools and training for managers and staff to remove barriers and build a more inclusive workplace for disabled colleagues.
In response to the review, a new staff toolkit will be launched in October 2020 to help staff and managers understand more about the legal requirements to support disabled staff, the approaches we can take and the support available to achieve this.
A number of webinars will also be available to help managers learn more about disability, to introduce the toolkit and to facilitate discussions around their experiences of supporting disabled staff.
Tags: disability toolkit, support for disabled staff
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Cash payments phased out for student fees
August 26th, 2020
As part of the University’s COVID-19 safety programme, physical deposits of cash are no longer being accepted to reduce the risk to students and staff.
Students can make payment for tuition and accommodation fees easily and securely online via card or PayPal in My Nottingham or make payments in international currencies using our Flywire site.
Head of Transactional Services Carrie Richardson said:
“We have withdrawn the option to pay fees in physical currency this year, to reduce the risk of face-to-face transactions and physical handling of bank notes for students and staff. Paying online is simple and secure, so there should really be no need to travel to the University carrying large sums of money to pay fees.”
Information about how to pay fees can be found on the Paying Student Fees page.
Tags: accommodation fees, fees, Flywire, My Nottingham, Payment Services, tuition fees
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