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University Updates
Welcome back to your regular University Updates.
In University Updates...
There's information on COVID-19 vaccination walk-in clinics, the night bus service, a new episode of our podcast ‘Exeplore’ and an invitation to join our Mind over Natter talk with Laura Penhaul, team leader of the first all-women crew to row the Pacific.
COVID-19 Vaccine event - TODAY with new joining link
Have questions or concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine? If so, join our online COVID-19 Vaccine Q&A with experts from the University and NHS - from 17:00-18:00 TODAY Monday 27 September.
Students’ Guild President, Lily Margaroli will host the event and to join the session, all you need to do is click on this link using your University email address. The link has changed from last week's University Updates, so please ensure you use this one. During the event, you’ll have the opportunity to put questions to the panellists.
The event will be recorded, so if you’re not able to join us, you’ll be able to access the recording by clicking on the event link (above) a few days after the live session has ended.
COVID-19 vaccinations – drop-in clinics
Working with NHS Devon, we’re hosting more drop in vaccination clinics on our Streatham and St Luke’s campuses. The clinics will offer the Pfizer vaccine and will be open from 10am-5pm at both locations. There is no need to book. You can get your first or second dose at the clinic – please remember, if receiving your second dose, your first must have been Pfizer and must have been 8 weeks ago.
- Monday 27 – Weds 29 September, Innovation Centre, Streatham Campus
- Thurs 30 September, Exeter Medical School, St Luke’s
Additional clinics are also planned to take place in central Exeter on Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 October. More details will be released soon.
Reducing the spread of coughs and colds
As well as COVID-19 there are coughs and colds around at this time of year. If you do get a cough or cold, or have any symptoms of COVID-19, such as a temperature or a loss of taste/smell, please self-isolate and get a PCR test. If your test is positive, you must continue to self-isolate for 10 days from the start of your symptoms. If your result is negative, please continue to wear your face covering indoors to help stop the spread of general coughs and colds.
Face coverings
Please continue to wear your face covering in our indoor spaces, unless you are exempt. This will help protect yourself and others and keep University life moving. Don’t forget to read and respect our ‘Safe Community Charter’ which sets out the personal commitments we must all make, alongside our commitment to managing the risk presented to us all by COVID-19.
COVID-19 case numbers
The daily numbers of confirmed positive cases for students and staff can be found on our COVID-19 statistics web page. The data shown uses a 7 day rolling average and provides the last date for which case numbers have been collated.
The overall rate of positive results on our campuses remains low - to ensure we continue to protect our University community, we must all continue to follow Government advice – test regularly, wash hands, wear a face covering and use the NHS test and trace app. Alongside the vaccination programme, following this advice will help us to keep case numbers low and keep our University life moving.
Accessing remotes study materials if you are self-isolating after arriving in the UK
If you are self-isolating after arriving from overseas but are able to return to on campus teaching by Friday 8 October 2021, you do not need to apply for remote study. You will be able to access some learning content through your ELE pages and you should ensure that you are keeping up with this and associated work whilst in quarantine. Please attend the on-campus teaching in your timetable as soon as your quarantine ends and seek any clarification about content of sessions missed.
If you are studying with the University Business School, it may also be possible for you to attend live remote seminar sessions (small group teaching) before 1 October. If you would like to consider this, please contact the module lead for more information.
If you are self-isolating after the 8 October, you will need to put in an application for remote study (if this is available on your programme. For more information, please see our dedicated Remote Study web pages.
Have a question and don’t know who to ask?
We’re here to help!
If you’re new to Exeter and don’t know quite know where things are or how things work, don’t be afraid to ask for help. No question is a stupid question!
The first port of call for most student queries is the Student Information Desk (SID). You can visit them in the Forum on Streatham Campus and on St Luke’s. Alternatively, submit a query via SID online. They also have plenty of FAQs which may answer your questions.
For pastoral/academic concerns we suggest getting in contact with your personal tutor. Welfare Advisors located at your College Info Point can also offer advice.
If your issue is wellbeing related, our Wellbeing Services are open and available to support you. Our Residence Life Team is also able to provide support for students living in halls. They can be contacted directly via their Facebook page @ResLifeTeam.
Other useful resources:
- The Students’ Guild Advice team is able to provide free, independent and confidential advice on a range of topics such as finance, housing and academic support.
- If you are an international student, our International Student Support Team is here to help!
- Our Multifaith Chaplaincy supports students of all faiths and none.
- You can connect with your peers and ask questions in our Freshers Facebook group.
- If you have a specific learning difficulty/difference and/or need extra learning support, please contact our AccessAbility team.
- Nightline is a confidential and anonymous listening service run and trained by student volunteers at the University.
Wellbeing talks and activities
Come along to our wellbeing activities taking place in week 2:
- Mind over Natter Talk: How to cross your own pacific with Laura Penhaul, Olympic rower, Wednesday 29 September 12.45pm – 1.30pm Online (Teams) Book here
- Wellbeing Road Trip: come and meet us in our campervan at Rowancroft and find out more about Wellbeing Services, Thursday 30 September 3.00pm – 4.30pm
Mind Over Natter Talk
Our wellbeing talk series, Mind Over Natter, resumes this Wednesday 29 September with an online talk from Laura Penhaul, team leader of the first all women crew to row the pacific. Join her at the usual time of 12.45 for tips on facing the unknown and living in shared accommodation. More information and free ticket sign up can be found on Eventbrite. Mind Over Natter is a regular, 45-minute lunchtime talk series, with a range of speakers sharing information and tips on a wide range of wellbeing topics.
Education Welfare Team Instant Chat
Do you have questions about your health and wellbeing and how it might be affecting your studies? The Education Welfare Team is here to help. Based in your College, we have a wealth of information and resources to support you. If you have a quick question and don't want to wait for an email response, why not use our new instant chat function? The team is online between 12.30pm and 2.00pm every weekday - whatever you are studying, get in touch and we will try our best to help.
Stay Safe
Exeter is generally a safe place to live but it’s always best to be aware of how to stay safe and who to contact for help. Our Exeter Speaks Out safety pages, which can be found here, provide information, advice and guidance on how to have fun, stay safe and be respectful.
Night Bus service in Exeter
We’ve worked with Stagecoach to introduce a Night Bus service in Exeter which runs on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from late evening until 4am. The service incorporates the Streatham campus and is designed to support students returning from the city centre. You can use all Stagecoach network tickets on this service along with the discounted Unirider tickets. The single fare is only £2 as the University has subsidised the service to ensure affordability. You can download the stagecoach app here, to track the live location of the bus and buy tickets.
FREE drink spiking test kits and personal alarm
While our campuses are generally safe places to live and socialise, for those who would like them we have free personal alarms and drink spiking test kits. They’re available from the Estate Patrol office (in University reception at the top of the Great Hall piazza), the Ram Bar and across accommodation receptions.
Drink spiking is the act of adding unwanted chemicals or alcohol to someone’s drink. Remember - don’t leave your drink unattended and never accept a drink if you haven’t seen it being poured/opened, or accept a drink from someone you don’t know or trust. If you think your drink’s been spiked, get help straight away. Drink spiking carries a maximum 10 year prison sentence - adding something to a friend’s drink may seem like a bit of fun, but it can be very dangerous and could result in criminal charges. Find out more here.
Download the SafeZone app
SafeZone is an app that helps us to help you whilst on campus, if you request it.
In the event of an emergency, we’ll be able to keep you updated, via text messages of any vital information. If you press Emergency, Help or First aid, your location will be sent to relevant staff on campus and allows us to keep you updated, via text message or notifications.
To download the app please go to: www.safezoneapp.com and follow the instructions for your device. You will need to register with your University of Exeter email address. Find out more information about the SafeZone app online.
Meningitis: be aware of the symptoms
Meningitis is a life-threatening condition, so it’s important to make sure you’re vaccinated and know the signs and symptoms. Symptoms can appear in any order. Some may not appear at all. Early symptoms can include: fever with cold hands and feet, headache, vomiting, diarrhoea, muscle pain and stomach cramps.
If you think you or someone you know has these symptoms call NHS 111 or your doctor straight away. If you or the person concerned becomes seriously ill, then dial 999.
The MenACWY jab protects against four types of meningitis and it is free for students from the Student Health Centre on Streatham Campus or from your local doctor - if you’re unsure if you have already had the vaccine, please contact the health centre.
Complete our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Consent training
All students are expected to complete our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion and Consent training. This training is an important step in ensuring everyone feels welcome and included at our University and you are central to this. We realise that some students will already have deeper knowledge about the topics covered but these are introductory modules designed to ensure all our students have a foundational understanding of these key issues. There will be opportunities to further explore these important topics throughout the year.
Welcome & Reflection Service - Wednesday 6 October 7pm
Join our service at Exeter Cathedral to welcome University students and staff at the start of a new academic year, and to reflect on the last difficult 18 months.
The service will be hosted by the University Christian Chaplains and will include some words from our Registrar Mike Shore-Nye. There will also be music from the University Chapel Choir and ENC band, along with prayers from the Presidents of the Christian student societies. There will be an opportunity to remember the people we have lost, and a chance to look to the future.
Need funding for a student project?
Every year thousands of Exeter graduates and supporters donate money to support a wide variety of student projects. This may include equipment for sports societies, academic conferences, community projects, and society speaker events. There are a couple of options available for students looking for funding:
The Alumni Annual Fund
Funded by donations from alumni and supporters, the Alumni Annual Fund supports a variety of projects every year. To be successful, projects must demonstrate that they will enhance the experience across our University community, benefiting current and future generations of students and making Exeter an even better place to study and live.
For more information visit the Alumni Annual Fund webpages. The next deadline for applications is Sunday 24 October 2021.
Crowdfunding
We also have a dedicated crowdfunding platform that is free for students to use, meaning that projects receive 100% of the money they raise. It is quick and easy to use and you will be supported every step of the way. For some projects, match funding may be available. For more information, please visit the crowdfunding webpage.
Introducing Student Community Wardens
Student community wardens are there to assist you settle into the community positively and safely, so feel free to ask them for advice regarding waste disposal, meeting neighbours or noise issues.
If you would like to contact the Community Liaison team, raise a query or suggest a possible community project email: communitywardens@exeter.ac.uk. The Warden team looks forward to assisting you.
In response to feedback from long-term residents and student residents, we now have a larger team of 15 wardens this year, divided into three smaller teams of five working across the city.
Stay up to date - follow our social media channels
Are you following our student social media channels? It is a great way to keep up to date with all of the need to know information and opportunities during your time at Exeter.
Facebook – www.facebook.com/exeterunistudents
Twitter – www.twitter.com/Exeter_Students
Could you be our next takeover of @exeterunilife?
The University’s @exeterunilife Instagram account is always on the lookout for students to run a voluntary takeover, focusing on your ‘experience at the University so far’. The account is primarily aimed at prospective students thinking about studying here, although current students also find much of the content helpful too.
Takeovers usually run from Monday to Sunday. You can share your photos of highlights of your experience so far through grid posts and stories, and post your tips on student life, covering anything from sports to societies, studying, your course, wellbeing, accommodation and settling in, and life both on and off campus.
If you’re interested in running a takeover, contact studentcontent@exeter.ac.uk along with your name, programme/year/campus of study, and where you’re from.
The role of the arts in COVID-19 – new podcast episode
While the medical and science communities were in the frontline of the physical fight against COVID-19, arts and humanities played an important role in helping maintain mental health and connection within communities.
As the Principal Investigator for ‘The Pandemic and Beyond’, Professor Pascale Aebsicher oversees over 70 research projects exploring the importance of the arts, humanities and creative industries in understanding and addressing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In this episode of Exeplore, we discuss the significant contributions these industries make to public health and the economy, explore some key misconceptions, and consider the long-term innovations that have happened as a result of COVID-19. Listen here on Spotify or Apple podcasts.
Arts and Culture Survey
The Arts and Culture team is looking to develop their internal communications and activity strategy going forward and would love to know your thoughts via a very short survey. There's a chance to win gift vouchers and an Arts and Culture tote bag! It shouldn't take more than 5 minutes to complete. Find out more and fill out the survey here.
New Arts and Culture Display Space
Situated in the West Wing foyer of the Queen's Building on Streatham campus, this new display space offers a dedicated area to share and showcase a selection of arts and culture related projects from across the University's campuses. On until 9 December, find out more about the inaugural display 'Shared Endeavours' here.
Student Sport kicks off for the new academic year
All fifty Student Sport clubs are offering free taster sessions for new and returning students to give a sport a go! If you are interested in joining one of our sports clubs, head to our website to find their memberships and free bookable sessions – be sure to sign up before spaces run out. On top of this, there are brand new flexible health & fitness memberships to support your physical and mental wellbeing, with access to facilities across our two campus gyms in Exeter. Head to our Memberships page to find out more and learn how to sign up online.
Old Library footpath diversion
From Monday 4 October the Old Library car park will close and you’ll need to follow the footpath diversion around it to enter the Old Library from the main entrance. The car park is closing to create a compound for Mercury Construction, who are remodelling the vacant retail space on the Forum’s South Piazza to create a new Food Court.
Green Consultants programme now open
The award-winning Green Consultants programme is now open to all students who are interested in a career in sustainability, undergraduates and postgraduates.
Green Consultants is open to all in 2021, including undergraduates and postgraduates, and is suitable for anyone who wants to work in sustainability. You will learn about careers in sustainability consulting, project management, environmental impact assessments, BREEAM, ISO14002, BCorps and many skills that employers in this sector need. Head to the Green consultants' page to access the training. Everything you need to be successful is in the training and you can take as long as you need to complete it. When you have finished, you can apply for an on-campus project and internship.
Take a deep-dive into Handshake
You probably already know that Handshake is where we post all the vacancies that employers send us; that means part-time jobs, vacation work, placements, and graduate jobs. But Handshake does more than that. Once you’ve claimed your account you can build your profile and begin networking with employers looking for Exeter students. Our careers fairs, employer events and skills sessions are via Handshake, as are most of our appointments. Handshake really does add value to your time at Uni. Claim your account then download the app - search ‘Handshake’ on the App store or Google Play.
Monday 27 September, 5pm-6pm, online – COVID-19 Vaccine Q&As. A chance to ask questions about the COVID-19 vaccines with academics and a panel member from the NHS.
Monday 27 – Weds 29 September, 10am – 5pm, drop-in vaccination clinic, Innovation Centre, Streatham Campus.
Wednesday 29 September, 11:30am-1pm, online event, Catalysing Institutional Reform: Creating an inclusive learning environment for British Muslim students, with Dr Zain Sardar.
Wednesday 29 September, 12:45-1:30pm, Mind Over Natter: How to cross your own pacific with Laura Penhaul.
Thursday 30 September, 10am – 5pm, Exeter Medical School, St Luke's campus, drop-in vaccination clinic. Find out more here.
Thursday 30 September, 3.00pm – 4.30pm at Rowancroft, Wellbeing Road Trip: come and meet us in our campervan and find out more about Wellbeing Services
Wednesday 6 October, 7 – 7:45pm, Welcome and Reflection service at Exeter Cathedral.
Monday – Friday, 9am – 6pm, now until 9 December, ‘Shared Endeavours’ art display in the West Wing foyer of the Queen's Building on Streatham campus.
Don't forget to also keep your eye out on events and activities run by your Students’ Guild.
Tell us what you think of this newsletter:
Get in touch with your feedback or news stories at: studentcomms@exeter.ac.uk
