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University Updates
Welcome to your regular update
This week in University Updates...
This week there's an update on exam results, the National Student Survey and the 2021 Guild Elections!
COVID-19
Test to protect and stop the spread of COVID-19
Get tested twice a week, every week, and stop the spread of COVID-19
You’ve all worked hard to control the transmission of COVID-19, but with the emergence of more easily transmissible variants it is crucial that you carry on helping to stop the spread by getting tested for COVID-19 twice a week, every week. Make it part of your routine by scheduling two tests in a week.
Below are details of how to book/access your twice weekly tests at each of our campuses:
Streatham Campus
Booking is simple, schedule your slots and book in advance. You can make multiple bookings, just leave a gap of two to three days between your two tests in one week. To book your regular tests please use the relevant online booking form below:
St Luke’s Campus
There’s no need to book your twice weekly tests - just turn up at the testing centre at the Sport’s Hall, St Luke’s, this week on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7.45am-10.30am. From next week, Monday 15 February, the drop in session will be running at St Luke’s Monday to Friday inclusive from 7.45am-10.30am.
When you come for your tests please remember to bring your University ID and to continue to follow the current government guidance and lockdown restrictions.
The testing process is easy, quick and free, and by getting tested twice a week, every week, you’ll help us to spot outbreaks and ensure everyone can live together safely. Establishing regular testing routines will also help us to make the case that it is appropriate for managed in-person teaching to resume at the end of the current lockdown.
Further information about our rapid twice weekly COVID-19 tests, including advice on what to do if your test result is positive, can be found on our dedicated student COVID-19 test webpages.
IF YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS OF COVID-19 THE TEST YOU NEED IS DIFFERENT
Remember, if you develop COVID-19 symptoms, such as a high temperature, new continuous cough or a loss of taste/smell, you must self-isolate and request a HALO PCR test through our Rapid Response Hub.
Keep to just one bubble!
You can only form a support bubble with another household during lockdown, under certain specific conditions, such as if you live alone. You can read more about eligibility here. Wherever possible you must stick to the one support bubble throughout the whole of the lockdown. This is to minimise the spread of COVID-19 to different households.
National Student Survey open
The National Student Survey (NSS) is now open for final year undergraduate students and we encourage you to complete it. This anonymous survey, run by independent agency Ipsos MORI, is your opportunity to feedback about your entire University experience and help shape future plans. It is open until April 30 and you can complete the survey here. Once again, we will donate £1 to charity for every survey that is completed, via RAG (Raise and Give) in Exeter and RAD (Raise and Donate) in Cornwall. Last year that led to a donation of £3,286 which was distributed to worthy causes.
Registrar and Vice-Chancellor emails
Have you seen the emails from the Registrar and the Vice-Chancellor? If you’ve not read them please check your inbox and if you’ve not received them, you can find them here.
Exam results
January exam results will be released by email, to your University email account, on Thursday 18 February. They will be released throughout the day but if you do not receive an email by 4pm, please contact your Hub Info Point. If you are concerned about your results, please contact your Academic Tutor to discuss it with them. You can also contact Wellbeing Services or Students' Guild Advice Service if you need further support and guidance.
Exam Adjustments for May 2021 exams – deadline next week
If you require exam adjustments such as extra time or rest breaks and you have not already been in touch with Wellbeing Services to organise this, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can arrange an appointment for you.
The deadline for arranging adjustments for the May 2021 exams is Monday 15 February at 5pm, and you need to have filled out a disclosure form and sent your supporting evidence to Wellbeing Services by this date and time. If we receive your form and medical evidence after this time, we cannot guarantee your adjustments will be in place for May.
Please be aware that the next exams in May will take place online. We post information about the exams on the webpages here, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Look out for further updates in the coming weeks.
Residence Life support available
The Residence Life Team is here to support students living in University residences. They provide 1-2-1 virtual appointments where you can talk to a member of the team about any questions or concerns you may have - request one by emailing us at residencelife@exeter.ac.uk. They also have regular peer-support drop-ins, and run a programme of virtual social events, including international student events, postgrad hang outs and regular gaming nights. Check out the webpage to find out more about what they’re up to, or follow on Instagram or Facebook at @exeterreslife.
Guild Elections 2021 - nominations are now open!
Election nominations for positions within the Students’ Guild are now open. Can you make a real change? Nominate yourself as a Full-Time Officer to make your voice heard and improve the student experience! Being an Officer will provide you with many employability benefits, including a competitive salary, gaining fantastic transferable skills and making a difference.
Eating Difficulties Peer Support Group
The Eating Difficulties Peer Support Group is run by students for students struggling with their relationship to food, exercise and body image. The group has recently launched a new chat service which runs bi-weekly from Thursday 11 February (7-8pm). Their Wellbeing trained facilitators create a safe, supportive and non-judgmental environment for students to discuss whatever’s on their mind with others facing similar issues. There’s no need to speak or turn on your camera during these sessions as all responses are typed to give attendees added privacy.
Further support and information about the group can be found on our social media- Facebook: EDPSGexeter, Instagram: @edpeersupportexeter
Want to volunteer for the St John Ambulance Vaccination Programme?
St John’s Ambulance, in partnership with the First Aid Society, is offering all students the opportunity to volunteer as part of the NHS COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.
The volunteers will be part of a team that helps people throughout the whole vaccination process, from arrival to discharge. This might mean providing support to vaccinators, caring for people before and after they have their injection or administering the COVID-19 vaccine, after all the necessary training. Successful candidates will receive a complete programme of training. They ask that volunteers can give at least two 8-hour shifts a month. If you would like to know please email exeterunifirstaid@gmail.com. You can also find more information on the St John’s Ambulance website.
LGBTQ+ History month resources
To mark LGBTQ+ History month, the Library has curated a selection of digital research archives, books, TV shows and films exploring LGBTQ+ history, culture and community. You can explore the collection online.
Interested in US Politics? Check out our latest podcast!
The United States of America has gone through one of the most tumultuous times in its history. In our latest Exeplore podcast we catch up with University researcher Will King to discuss what challenges will face its 46th President. The episode is available to listen to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
A Conversation with Simon Boyden and Nicolas Hopton: Regional Challenges in Libya and Mauritania - Thursday 11 February, 6:30-8:00 PM
We welcome two distinguished British representatives in North Africa for a discussion of the region and challenges faced there.
Nicholas Hopton is the current UK Ambassador to Libya. He was previously the UK Ambassador to Qatar, to Yemen and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ambassador Hopton has also worked on national security issues in the Cabinet Office, led the International Organisations Department in the FCO and was Private Secretary to the Minister for Europe.
Simon Boyden has enjoyed a rich and varied career in the Diplomatic Service, working across different policy areas in London and in Russia, Austria, Germany and, most recently, in Afghanistan.
This event will be live on Zoom, you can sign up and submit your questions on our google form. The event link is also live on Facebook.
Sustainability
Sustainability Week - Get Involved! 1-5 March 2021
Sustainability Week is back for another year, this time packed with virtual events from both our Exeter and Cornwall Campuses. The full schedule will be announced shortly, but you can look forward to a programme of exciting sustainability-focused events. If your society would like to get involved and host an event then make sure to get in touch at climateemergency@exeter.ac.uk, we’d love to hear from you! Find out more on our website.
Climate Emergency Action
Since our Environment & Climate Emergency declaration we have been working on developing our climate agenda and carbon net zero commitments. Our aim is to mobilise our colleagues, students, partners, and the wider community across the region to work together to deliver a meaningful agenda for climate action. Take a look at our new video which outlines how we plan to achieve this. #oureffect
Studies seeking participants
Widening collaboration in COVID-19 times: Let us know your thoughts and participate for three Amazon vouchers of £80!!
As part of the "Widening collaboration in gendered educational setting" project (supported by the Centre for Social Mobility of the University of Exeter), we are looking to know more about your academic experiences during this COVID-19 pandemic. All undergraduate students from the University are invited to participate. The online survey won't take more than 10 minutes and all the participants will enter to a draw to win a £80 Amazon voucher.
You can access the survey here. You can find more information about the project in the Centre for Social Mobility website . If you have further questions, please send an email to dpf204@exeter.ac.uk.
2-week smartphone study on Social (Dis)engagement during COVID-19.
We are seeking participants for a 2-week smartphone study on Social (Dis)engagement during COVID-19. Participants will have a 1 in 10 chance of winning a ₤20 Amazon gift card This is an experience sampling study looking at social isolation, social engagement and solitude-seeking in daily life during COVID-19. Participation in this study is done entirely online using smartphone apps and online surveys. Click the study URL to sign up and complete the initial 20-minute online survey
International Mother Language Day competition
International Mother Language Day is on Sunday 21 February. Whilst we may not all be together to celebrate, we want to raise awareness of the amazing cultural and linguistic diversity across our community with a special competition.
In your video please:
💬 Say Edmund de Waal's phrase below in your own language:
'With languages, you are at home anywhere." ― Edmund de Waal
Then add a message of your own in your own language and repeat it in English. We’re particularly keen to hear positive messages which bring us closer together. You could even write it down and hold it up.
You'll need to log into Flipgrid using your University email address to enter. Good luck!
Online Fitness Class Timetable
During the national lockdown, our sports department is offering an extensive online class programme. You can book and join a class here. There is also a Facebook Health and Fitness Group where further health, wellbeing and workouts are shared.
Future of Work
This week marks the launch of the ‘Future of Work’ spring programme and Global Hackathon, which provides you with the unique opportunity to engage in a range of interdisciplinary, global experiences and experiential learning activities. These will help you understand how the world of work is changing, whilst helping you to understand how you can prepare for and succeed in a post-pandemic graduate labour market. The programme launch is a special ‘Industry Leaders Forum’ on 11 February, allowing you to hear from experts and alumni representing various sectors and employers.
You can register here. To learn more about the range of exciting webinars, virtual work-related experiences and Global Hackathon, visit the programme website.
Become digitally excellent with the Digital Hub
As we’re spending more time online, we’re all having to quickly become more digitally skilled, and it’s easy to continue doing things the way we always have. This week we’re asking you to take 5 minutes to seek out digital excellence!
Are you tired of hand-writing your notes? Why not try dictating your notes with office.com? Or try using an app on your phone to organise your work. Planner on Microsoft Teams is great for this, and it synchronises with your desktop app so you can easily switch between devices.
For more tips on becoming digitally excellent, visit the Digital Hub.
Digital and Coding Week
Join us for the Digital and Coding Week to find out more about the variety of roles available in the IT sector. Jobs in the IT sector are available to all graduates who have an interest in technology and who are prepared to up-skill themselves.
Throughout the week we will be running a range of sessions to help you decide whether this is a sector you wish to explore further. Sessions include How to Design a Mobile App, a Q&A Panel, as well as some special episodes of the Career Zone podcast. For more information visit our website.
Forage for Virtual Internships
We’ve partnered with Forage to bring you a range of online virtual work experiences that’ll help you develop the skills top employers are looking for. Forage is free, open to all students, and you don’t need to have any previous work experience to take part. Plus, Forage is flexible so you can complete the work experiences in a timescale that’s best for you. Experiences are available from a range of Fortune 500 employers including Microsoft, KPMG, and JP Morgan, along with SMEs offering experiences from data analytics to design and branding. Interested? Go Forage!
All of the following events will be held online:
Monday 8 February- Wednesday 10 February, 1:30 – 4:30pm each day, Microbiology Symposium. You can find out more about the confirmed speakers and sign up for a free ticket here.
Wednesday 10 February, The Sex and Nature Salon presents 'What's the deal with gay frogs? Join stand-up comedian Siân Docksey and Dr Ina Linge from the University's Sexual Knowledge Unit for this event. You can book a space here.
Tuesday 23 February, 6 - 7pm, University talk and Q&A for students in Exeter co-hosted by the Students' Guild. More details and a link to join this live event will be sent via email.
Friday 5 March, 7 – 8:55pm, we mark St Piran's Day by looking at that global, outward facing aspect of Cornish past and present in a Cornish World. For further details, please visit the Cornish World/Bys Kernow event webpage. To attend please register here.
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
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