Campus News
Celebrating the class of 2020: graduating… but not graduation
June 16th, 2020
In line with government advice, the University of Nottingham will not be holding physical graduation ceremonies this summer.
Graduation for the class of 2020 is on track for this summer, however due to current restrictions students will graduate in absentia and certificates will be sent in the post. There is no option to defer graduation this year.
Students will be invited to a special graduation ceremony as soon as it is safe to host such an event on campus again. Graduation is an important event for students to share their success with family and friends, and the University will ensure that they are given the opportunity to enjoy the experience they deserve.
Whilst we are unable to welcome students onto campus this summer, the University would like to take the opportunity to celebrate their achievements as our graduating Class of 2020. Therefore, the class of 2020 have been asked to save the date of Friday 24 July for a day of celebration across social media. Heads of School have been asked to nominate a point of contact to work with a project team coordinating these efforts, which will bring students together virtually; with each other, with their Schools and teachers, as well as with their new global community of alumni – for a graduation without borders.
Tags: coronavirus, COVID-19, graduation, Graduation summer 2020
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New online course to support student volunteers
June 16th, 2020
The Nottingham Advantage Award team have created an online course to support students volunteering or working in response to COVID-19.
The course will help them reflect on their experiences, articulate their skills to employers and apply these skills in the workplace.
Students can also choose to participate in extra assignments to gain Advantage Award credits.
More than 100 students have already enrolled and colleagues are encouraged to share the Moodle page and course information with all students.
Tags: COVID-19, Nottingham Advantage Award, online course, student volunteers, volunteering
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The legacy of scientific racism – join the event
June 15th, 2020
Explore the murky history of race science and the ways it has been resurrected in the 21st century, in this open discussion event hosted by the University’s BME Staff Network.
Journalist Angela Saini will discuss her book Superior: The Return of Race Science at the event The legacy of scientific racism – and how we tackle it: in conversation with Angela Saini. It will be hosted by Val Watson and Dr Maria Augusta Arruda – the outgoing and incoming Chairs of the BME Staff Network.
The discussion will examine how science has been used to further the racist ideologies of the far right from the 1600s to the present day. There will be a focus of the role that race science has played in the context of the current global Black Lives Matter protests.
This event is open to all, and will run online on Tuesday 23 June at 5pm. Bookmark this page and click the link below to access the event live.
The event will take place in Microsoft Teams. You do not need a Teams account, to register or log in to join the event – just click the link and join live. You will be invited to join Teams, but you don’t need to do that to access the event – you can view in your web browser.
Angela Saini is an independent British science journalist and author. She presents radio and television programmes on the BBC and her writing has appeared in The Sunday Times, Nature, New Scientist, National Geographic and Wired. She has won a number of national and international journalism awards.
Her latest book, Superior: The Return of Race Science, published in 2019 by 4th Estate and Beacon Press to widespread critical acclaim, was named a book of the year by the Financial Times, Guardian, The Telegraph and Sunday Times and won the Transmission Prize. Her previous book, Inferior: How Science Got Women Wrong, was published in 2017 and has been translated into thirteen languages. She is currently working on her fourth book, to be published in early 2023.
Dr Valerie Watson (Val), has worked in education for over thirty years, initially as a school teacher then as an adult education lecturer, trainer, and director of counselling studies, and now as a head of the University of Nottingham counselling service for students and staff. She has undertaken a range of voluntary roles in the community including Victim Support, Rape Crisis and, more recently, adoption consultancy. Val has been Chair of the BME Staff network since 2008, and steps down from the role at the end of this month.
She has maintained an abiding interest in issues of race, ethnicity and the impact of difference on relationships, community action, and the maintenance of health through the use of and access to the arts for all. Latterly her work has focussed on the potential of therapeutic work in groups and organisational reflective practice as a healing agent.
Dr Maria Augusta Arruda is Research Development Manager in the University’s Research and Innovation and Lead of the Research and Business Development Network. After 15 years as an academic in the field of Pharmacology, she is now interested in diversity in science and science communication. She is the incoming Chair of the BME Staff Network and takes up the role on July 1 2020.
The Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) Network has been established by the University of Nottingham for all staff regardless of grade, job family, or contract length.
The aims of the BME Staff Network are:
- Provide a forum for BME staff to network and at which we can discuss issues of specific interest that have an effect on us.
- Provide professional support and information about how individual issues may be raised.
- Act as a voice for BME staff offering a source of consultation and a means of communicating with the University about BME issues in relation to University policies and practices.
- Assist with policy development on BME issues by providing advice and feedback to EDI Committee, Human Resources and other relevant University committees
The BME Staff Network is delighted to welcome new members and contributions from existing members. For further details, please email the BME Network.
Tags: Angela Saini, online event, open event, race, race science, racism
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Registrar’s blog: Supporting the University’s recovery
June 10th, 2020
I wanted to update our community on the work undertaken by colleagues across the University’s professional services teams to support the phased re-opening of our UK campus and to welcome students in the autumn.
Our new academic year will start as planned, on 21 September 2020 and the Recovery Group, chaired by Deputy Vice-Chancellor professor Andy Long, is looking at every aspect of our preparations. Supported by colleagues in Planning, Performance and Strategic Change the Group is overseeing our programme for recovery and the re-opening of University buildings over the weeks and months ahead.
The Recovery Group is working through seven main strands of activity, involving colleagues from across professional services, and developing detailed plans for how we are going to conduct our research, teaching and services across the University. There are many complexities and interdependencies to consider and our over-riding concern will remain that of the health and safety of our staff and students. It is worth offering a sense of just some of the issues our colleagues are engaging with currently.
One of the challenges we face lies in supporting students to start their studies with us in the autumn. While the number of students accepting places at Nottingham is currently similar or better than previous years, we do not know yet how this year’s extra-ordinary A-level arrangements will play out, whether some students might opt to defer their studies, or what international applicants are really going to do when faced with travel across a globe still emerging from lockdown. To engage and reassure offer-holders, colleagues across External Relations are keeping them closely informed of our plans for September as they are developed, and are implementing virtual open days and digital recruitment and conversion campaigns to show prospective students what Nottingham has to offer.
Universities also face close scrutiny from our main regulator, the Office for Students, as well as the government and national media about their plans for re-opening. Colleagues in our Health & Safety Department are working with Estates teams to ensure that we are following all of the necessary guidance and regulations, so that we can ensure staff and students have the safest and best possible experience on returning to campus. This is perhaps the tallest order we face while government regulations continue to emerge at an increasingly rapid rate and may of course change to suit the circumstances we face at the time.
Looking ahead to September, professional services colleagues are working with Nottingham Trent University, the City Council and public agencies ranging from the NHS to Nottinghamshire Police to manage the safe and organised return of tens of thousands of students to the city. A significant operation at the best of times, it will be additionally challenging this year to ensure this is managed in line with whatever social distancing regulations remain in force come September.
And of course, we are working to address the big issues for students once they have arrived in the city: ensuring student accommodation is safe and supports social distancing; managing any quarantine and self-isolation requirements; providing catering, libraries, and learning resources alongside the necessary student support and welfare services.
As well as supporting our colleagues and students, professional services teams will also need to plan for our own phased return to campus, when this is both necessary and permitted, which may not be until much later in the summer. To ensure safety once we are back on campus and to embrace one of the positives of working during the lockdown, our new model of working is likely to be different from that of the recent past, with a greater emphasis on agile and remote working patterns.
In turn, a more agile approach will rely on excellent collaboration between professional services colleagues across Registrar’s, Finance and Infrastructure, Human Resources and in Schools and Faculties. We will support this partnership culture with a new set of values for professional services staff that will augment the values of Fairness, Ambition, Inclusiveness, Respect and Openness at the heart of the University Strategy.
These values will help guide our actions as we seek to respond to the biggest challenge our University and the higher education sector has ever faced. However, as you have demonstrated in your continued focus on delivery since lockdown, professional services colleagues are an incredibly resilient team. I know that every one of you will continue to do all you can to support our students and colleagues across the University.
I am extremely proud of the way that professional services staff have risen to the challenge of delivering our vital contribution – some working on campus to maintain critical operations, and so many more working at home while also managing caring, home education and shielding responsibilities. Thank you all for professional, dedicated and excellent standard of work in difficult circumstances over the past few months, and a special thank you to those in Estates, Security, BSU, Campus Life, in Medicine and Health Sciences, IS, Health and Safety and many others who have continued to maintain vital operations on campus during the lockdown.
Of course, the most important thing to enable us all to continue this important work is to do all that you are able to look after yourself, family, friends and colleagues at this time. Your personal health and wellbeing alongside that of your family and friends remains the number one priority. Do please keep in touch at paul.greatrix@nottingham.ac.uk and let me know your thoughts on our approach to recovery for the University.
Thank you again for you hard work, dedication and commitment to our University. I appreciate it enormously.
Tags: Registrar, Registrar's Department
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Updated menopause support guide for managers
June 8th, 2020
An updated guide for managers supporting staff members who may experience workplace challenges due to the menopause is now available on the HR web pages.
The guide aims to provide guidance to line managers in supporting staff, sharing information about common symptoms of the menopause and how these can impact on work and to support managers and staff in considering adjustments that may be helpful.
It incorporates best practice sources of further information and support.
The guide also contains information explaining what the menopause is, how managers can encourage communication about health issues and what managers can do to help.
Everyone is encouraged to read the guide – you can find a copy here.
Tags: HR guidance, HR pages, Menopause, menopause support
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Hosting meetings, video conferences and broadcasts
June 8th, 2020
In April, Information Services communicated that Zoom should not be used for internal meetings, video conferencing or webinars. There is now updated guidance on what services are available.
Video conferencing and broadcast solutions range from group meetings to webinars and symposiums.
There are a number of services that can be used to host meetings, conferences and broadcasts to internal or external audiences.
Services offered by the University are:
- Microsoft Teams Meetings
- Engage (Echo360)
- Microsoft Live Events
- StarLeaf Video conferencing suites
For a description of each service, please see the IT Services website.
Each service has multiple use cases and scenarios depending on your desired audience, number of participants, content you wish to present and the level of interactivity.
- If these services do not meet your requirements, please contact Campus IT support for further advice.
The Virtual Broadcast Group
Since May 2020, Information Services are working with media production specialists from across the University including colleagues from External Relations, Information Services, Learning Content, and Teaching & Learning Technologies. Together they have formed a working group (named Virtual Broadcast Group).
They have been working hard to develop advice, scenarios and good practice to help users’ film and stream their events to audiences.
The group are currently working on the process to request booking a Microsoft Live Event and providing support for University hosted events. Live Events is in an early adoption stage and the working group are prioritising Online Open Days.
You can find out more about the Virtual Broadcast Group on this SharePoint site.
Update on use of Zoom
As previously communicated, the use of Zoom within the University is not recommended because of the security and GDPR issues associate with using the free, non-corporate version.
These risks are lower if you are joining an externally hosted Zoom session where the host has a corporate Zoom licence and has taken steps to secure and control the meeting using joining credentials and passwords.
Information Services always recommend using the in-house services provided by the University with which we have contracts and support arrangements.
Tags: Information Services, Microsoft Teams, online meetings, virtual broadcast, Zoom
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New survey launched to gather views of student life during pandemic
June 8th, 2020
A new survey is being launched to help the University understand more about the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on students’ education and overall student experience.
The pandemic has had a huge impact on everyone’s lives – but students especially have had to adjust to a completely new way of life to meet this unprecedented challenge.
Colleagues who have direct communication with students are asked to share news of the survey and encourage students to fill it in.
You can find the survey here.
It should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete, and students who do so will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win one of six £50 vouchers.
All responses will be vital in identifying how the University improves support for students and plans teaching and assessments going forward.
The University has responded to the pandemic not only by moving teaching and assessments online, but by providing key services online, such as counselling, careers and study support. However, as this is the first time this has happened, feedback from students is absolutely vital to inform what future teaching and assessment looks like.
The survey will officially launch on Monday 15 June. However, some Schools/Departments whose students have finished their assessments have agreed an earlier launch date from Monday 8 June – if you’re not sure whether this applies to you, please check with your Education and Student Experience Team.
The survey closes on Wednesday 15 July.
Tags: Education and Student Experience, Student Experience Survey, student survey, survey
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Deputy Vice-Chancellor’s blog: reflections on progress so far
June 8th, 2020
This week is the twelfth week of the UK’s Coronavirus lockdown and the fourth week of the University’s Recovery Board. It feels like a good point to pause and reflect on what we have achieved to date, while looking ahead to what we still need to do.
I do not think that any of us would have ever expected to be in a situation like this, separated from families, loved ones and colleagues, and living and working in a largely digital existence. Yet we have adapted quickly and our community has shown great resilience and come together in extraordinary ways. I am incredibly proud of the efforts you have all made to enable our University to continue to deliver high quality education and essential research supporting the COVID-19 efforts.
We are now at a key point in building on the University’s Recovery plan and we cannot lose momentum. Hearing me repeat the message to continue working from home may seem frustrating for some but it is necessary to keep our community safe and to enable us to prioritise our coordinated and phased return to campus. Please, be patient while we progress with this very complicated process.
As Chair of the Recovery Board, I have seen at first-hand a lot of the ‘behind the scenes’ work taking place and I wanted to share with you some of those efforts while also publicly thanking the Recovery workstream leads and their teams.
Health and Safety, Estates, Schools and Professional Service teams are working tirelessly to open up more of our buildings as soon as is safe. As you might imagine this is not a simple process, even for buildings that have had people working in them throughout the last few months. There are many factors to consider including implementing the right health and safety measures, ensuring that staff have correct personal protective equipment where required, and that they have undergone appropriate training.
In terms of re-starting on campus research activity, we are currently focussing on the following buildings: the Biodiscovery Institute and Chemistry Building at University Park; Vet School and Plant Sciences at Sutton Bonington Campus; and Advanced Manufacturing Building at Jubilee Campus. We are also developing an approach to allow access to research materials from the Hallward Library. Once we have made progress in these areas we will open up more facilities based on the priorities identified by our Faculty PVCs.
No one should return to campus until asked to do so even if you usually work within these buildings. Please be patient and in doing so avoid placing extra burden on colleagues who are working hard to open up our facilities.
While we continue to get our campus ready for research priority areas, we are also looking ahead to recommencing teaching. While the main focus is on the new academic year in September we are also looking at some early returners, in particular courses with clinical skills components or placements.
Our Education and Student Experience workstreams have been navigating the task of how we can deliver our high standards of teaching and learning in a safe way and this will be communicated, firstly to staff, and then to returning students, later this week. This work ranges from how to set out seminar rooms safely for face-to-face teaching to getting students engaged with online lectures and examining how students might move around campus. Already Estates have carried out checks in some 175 teaching rooms, assessing them for use under new guidelines.
Workstream leads are also looking at how we can adhere to guidelines on social distancing in halls and reassuring our students and their families, as well as local communities, that staff and student safety is at the heart of everything we are doing.
Digital workstreams are supporting plans to manage the student confirmation and clearing process this year, and Virtually Nottingham will give next year’s potential applicants an online version of our open days and a taster of life at Nottingham. This will progress to include support for Registration and Welcome Week activities at a time when social distancing restrictions are likely to continue.
With these few examples, you can see how these workstreams are interconnected and reliant on each other to drive our recovery. Please support this work by continuing to be patient, continuing to uphold the highest of standards in education and research and continuing our commitment to making the University a safe place to be.
Professor Andy Long, FREng,
Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor
Tags: blog, DVC blog, Professor Andy Long, Recovery Group
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Black Lives Matter: statement and resources
June 5th, 2020
You will all be aware of the significant events that have taken place this week in response to the killing of George Floyd. These events have had a significant and distressing impact on our black students and staff, and brought into stark focus the persistent presence and impact of racism in our global society.
We would like to take this opportunity to offer our support to all of our students and staff who are experiencing distress, anger and upset. We also recognise that racism affects many groups within society, and within the BME staff and student population, in different ways.
At the University, we have made a strong and meaningful commitment to inclusivity. The response that we have heard from our student groups this week has told us that we are not doing well enough to ensure that all of our students and staff feel included or listened to, we have not been working quickly enough, and that we have not been open enough about the work that is already taking place.
We are very proud of the diversity within our staff and student population across all of our global University campuses. We aim to embrace and celebrate this diversity. But we should also work to understand the different ways that our diverse population experiences life as a member of society, and recognise that world events will inevitably impact people differently.
It is the responsibility of all of us, no matter what our ethnicity, race or religion, to work together to understand how best to work to be anti-racist. We have supported colleagues to ensure they take the time to listen to any concerns that any staff or students raise regarding racism and inclusion, and to work together to build responses that are long-lasting and impactful.
In our response to an open letter which we received from a number of student groups, we have also outlined the actions that we have already been taking to support inclusion of BME students within our University, and we look forward to talking to students and staff to focus on how we can do more.
We have also published education and support resources which we hope can help you to learn what you can do to respond to the current situation, and to work in the future to confront and respond to bias and to discrimination.
It can be very easy to write words, and can be much harder to deliver actions. It is also important that we do not feel alone. One of the things that the past few months have shown us is that university is not just about being situated in the same place. It is about our community, and the people within it.
With our best wishes,
Professor Shearer West
President and Vice-Chancellor
Professor Sarah Sharples
Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Tags: Black Lives Matter, BME Staff Network, BME Students, education and support resources, support
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