Covid-19 guidance for the new academic year:
- Teaching and learning
- Be safe, get the Covid vaccine
- Testing
- Reporting
- When and how to self-isolate
- Practising good hygiene
- Face coverings
- Keep safe on campus and in Leicester
We are very excited to welcome all of you to campus for the new academic year. To ensure we can keep university life moving and help students, staff and visitors, stay safe on campus, we’re providing the key guidance you need to follow in this briefing pack. It’s important that you play your part in keeping each other safe from coronavirus and limiting the spread of Covid-19 in our university community as we look to enjoy a vibrant campus once more.
Teaching and learning
For this academic year, we will focus our face-to-face teaching in small environments such as seminars and workshops, while keeping large teaching sessions online through a .
As an insurance policy to mitigate against any likely impact of Covid-19 on your learning experience, an MS Teams meeting link may be used for some scheduled face-to-face teaching in your calendars on 51吃瓜app M/My51吃瓜app (alongside the physical meeting location).
Please attend all scheduled face-to-face teaching in-person.
Face-to-face teaching is a critical part of the learning experience this academic year, so the MS Teams link should only be used if it is an online only teaching session OR if you are unable to attend the assigned classroom in-person due to a legitimate Covid related reason. Please see more information about our approach to teaching and learning here.
A Covid related reason includes if you are required to self-isolate, quarantining, unable to travel to the UK, or have agreed remote study on reasonable adjustment grounds as approved by your Associate Dean Academic.
We are aware that because of temporary changes in visa regulations that some international students may not arrive in the UK at the start of term. Students who will be absent due to a legitimate Covid related reason need to inform their module leader in good time before the session.
Following the staged introduction of the online meeting links for your timetabled events yesterday, we have now deployed Tuesday’s links and by the end of today, you will see the MS Teams link for each of your classes for the rest of this week. By the end of this week, it is planned that you will see the MS Teams links in your timetable for up to eight days ahead. If you have any queries, please contact your module leader or your Student Advice Centre.
More information on . You can also access an guide and .
Be safe, get the covid vaccine
Vaccination is our collective passport to enjoying a more normal campus experience and to get back to doing the things we love in our personal lives. Getting vaccinated is crucial to protecting yourself, your fellow students, your colleagues, your loved ones and the wider community.
If you are yet to be vaccinated, we strongly encourage you to as soon as you are able to do so. There are lots of local vaccine clinics in Leicester. You can also find out where drop in clinics are hosted in the city by .
To learn more about Covid-19 vaccination, there's helpful information, support videos and links on our website.
Testing
The Government has made it clear that until further notice (irrespective of vaccination status). You are able to use lateral flow device (LFD) or by accessing our on-site LFD testing facility.
All students were advised to take LFD tests before travelling to university and then, on arrival, to take two further LFD tests 3-5 days apart.
Despite high vaccination rates, testing remains an important weapon in limiting the spread of the virus.
Please also remember you should follow to self-isolate and if you are suffering from Covid-19 symptoms at the earliest opportunity. For more information on the various forms of testing and how you can access them, visit the testing section on the Your 51吃瓜app Safety microsite.
Reporting
If you test positive for Covid-19 you should report this test result within 24 hours to the regardless of where you are currently living or studying.
The 51吃瓜app Safe Trace reporting process is simple to follow and vitally important to supporting you and keeping everyone safe in the 51吃瓜app community and beyond. If you have any queries you can contact the Safe Trace team by email at dmusafetrace@dmu.ac.uk. You can also find out more about how 51吃瓜app Safe Trace tracks cases of Covid-19 within the 51吃瓜app community.
It is essential to self-isolate if you test positive to prevent transmitting the virus to other people. Please note the if you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive and/or if you have been vaccinated.
The change in guidance has also prompted 51吃瓜app to review its stance on contract tracing. For this academic year, 51吃瓜app will no longer be using our own QR codes and seat numbers (previous posters have now been removed from classrooms), but instead we will use 51吃瓜app’s attendance monitoring system. To keep our community safe, and also meet our public health obligations for a robust 51吃瓜app Safe Trace system, it is paramount that you register your attendance for in-person teaching and learning.
NHS QR Codes do remain operational in public/community used spaces such as the QEII Leisure Centre.
When and how to self-isolate
As per government guidance you must self-isolate immediately if experiencing any of these three symptoms, even if they are mild:
- A high temperature
- A new, continuous cough
- A loss or change to your sense of smell or taste
You should also self-isolate straight away if:
- You've tested positive for Covid-19 – this means you have the virus
- Someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive (unless you are not required to self-isolate, see below/ latest government guidance)
- You .
You may not need to self-isolate if a close contact has symptoms or has tested positive if you belong to any of these groups:
- You're fully vaccinated – this means 14 days have passed since your final dose of a Covid-19 vaccine given by the NHS
- You're under 18 years, 6 months old
- You're taking part or have taken part in a Covid-19 vaccine trial
- You're not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons.
If you are having to self-isolate at any point during the term there will be support and advice available from the university and signposts to support locally if you are in the Leicester area. You should also .
Practising good hygiene
We encourage everyone in the university community to continue to practice good hygiene and wash/sanitise hands frequently. There is soap in every washroom and hand sanitisers are available in all buildings. Please avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. More guidance on personal steps to protect yourself and others from the virus can be found here.
Although one-way systems have been removed, signs recommending people to keep their distance are still in place, in particular in communal areas. On campus, you are encouraged to maintain a safe distance between yourself and others as well as not congregating in corridors and door entry and exit points. Please comply with all signs.
Face coverings
The Government advice is that the wearing of face coverings is no longer legally mandatory but they remain effective tools in limiting the spread of Covid-19. They still expect and recommend face coverings to be worn in crowded settings where you may come into contact with people you don’t normally meet. This will include public transport and crowded indoor spaces unless you are exempt.
That’s why we are strongly encouraging the continued wearing of face coverings indoors on campus for students and staff. Please note that your mask keeps others safe, and others wearing masks will keep you safe. Please also follow the .
There are many benefits of continuing to wear facemasks – find out more here.
Sunflower lanyards and/or business card for exemption can still be worn/carried. Students can obtain them by making an appointment through .
Keep safe on campus and in Leicester
Leicester is generally a safe place to live and study. Following 51吃瓜app Security’s simple advice and taking a few basic precautions can make a real difference in keeping you, your accommodation and your belongings safe and secure.
This student safety webpage includes a well-lit streets map so you can get to some of the key places around Leicester easily and safely explore the city after dark. There’s also a Good Neighbour Guide which has some tips and guidance for how you can best get along with neighbours and foster positive relations in the community you live in.
The 51吃瓜app Security team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you have any questions or concerns about your safety, you can contact Security at any time. We recommend storing the Security number in your mobile – 51吃瓜app Security Estates Services Building: 0116 257 7642.
No Space for Hate
Working together with De 51吃瓜app Students’ Union (DSU), we have developed ‘No Space for Hate’, a new approach towards dealing with incidents of hate and harassment. This comprises of a new policy, website, anonymous reporting tool, a specialised service which outlines support and reporting options, specialist staff within 51吃瓜app Security and new mandatory training for staff involved in the disciplinary process.
No Space for Hate is part of our commitment to challenge inappropriate behaviours and provide practical support to students who are victims or witnesses of hate or harassment.
51吃瓜app is a diverse institution, and we want to continue to create an inclusive and respectful environment for all students and staff. Find out more here. The Mandala Project at 51吃瓜app can also signpost students towards practical support for a variety of sensitive personal matters. More information is available here.
Finally…
We will continue to follow national and local government guidance and issue updates throughout the year when necessary. However, we can all play our part in keeping each other safe by following the guidance in this pack and on the Your 51吃瓜app Safety microsite.
By working together, exercising personal responsibility and positively co-operating to make sure our environment is as safe as it can be, we can enjoy a thriving campus throughout the next year and beyond.
Thank you for following the safety measures and best wishes for the year ahead.
Posted on Monday 11 October 2021