No Images? Click here University Updates Welcome to your last newsletter of term, packed with information, events and reminders for you. We hope you have a great holiday! Out and about?If you're looking to celebrate the end of term, here are some tips to help you stay safe:
You can read more general safety advice on the FXU website If you think your drink has been spiked, report it immediately. You should tell a trusted friend or relative, a member of staff at the venue, a medical professional or the police. Be wary of accepting help from a stranger and never leave the venue with someone you don't know. If you need urgent help call 999. You can find out more information on the NHS website. Remember your neighboursPlease remember that while you may be approaching the holidays, many of your neighbours and other local residents won't be. They will need to get up for work or school so please keep noise within reasonable levels. Thinking of decking the halls? Christmas safetyIt's a traditional time of year to put up the decorations but if you're in halls or rented accommodation you need to check your tenancy agreement to see what is or isn't allowed. The government has also produced some festive tips, so you can enjoy the season safely. Christmas opening hours at Penryn CampusOpening hours of retail and catering outlets, library and all our services throughout the festive period are now online. Student Christmas hostsAre you remaining on campus this Christmas? Some local people, mostly members of local churches, are offering hospitality to remaining students, free of charge, at their homes. In past years people have offered, either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, a homely atmosphere, a Christmas meal, fun and games, or a local walk. If you would like to take up this offer, please contact Pete King in the Multifaith Chaplaincy, on chaplaincy@fxplus.ac.uk. The deadline for letting us know is Friday 21 December, but it's even better if you contact the team earlier. Education Strategy eventsAll students are warmly invited to workshops exploring the key themes of our emerging Education Strategy, to be held on the Penryn campus throughout next week. Led by students and staff involved as consultation leaders, these informal sessions are an opportunity for all to contribute to the discussion (see also the online forums available through ELE) Sessions will be held as follows: Success for All Our Students Global 21st Century Education Learning Reimagined January examsJanuary exams take place from 7-11 January 2019 and you should have received an email of the timetable. You can also view it online by visiting Exams in Cornwall. Please make sure you check the details carefully. If you have specific exam provisions you will also be sent an email which confirms your provisions and location of your exams. Remember, you can't have any electronic devices on or near you when sitting your exams and this includes mobile phones, smart watches and fitness trackers If you have any questions relating to exams please contact cc-exams@exeter.ac.uk , visit the Info Point in Peter Lanyon building, or call 01326 371800 Exam concerns? There are people who can help you if you’re feeling worried, anxious or under pressure:
Check your time zone If you’re viewing your exam timetable on your smartphone or tablet, make sure it's set to the UK timezone (GMT) so you don’t miss your exam Good luck with your exams! MitigationIf you feel unable to complete an assessment to the best of your ability due to adverse personal circumstances, such as illness, you may be able to apply for an extension or deferral through the University’s mitigation process. The application form and further information on mitigation can be found online. Please ensure that any application is submitted within one working day of the original deadline/exam date and that independent supporting evidence is received within ten working days of the original deadline/exam date. If you have any queries about this please contact your Hub. SilverCloudSilverCloud offers secure, 24/7 access to online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy programmes tailored to specific needs. The programme has received positive feedback and has improved outcomes for those with depression, anxiety and stress. SilverCloud also has a programme on body image and self-esteem. Learn more and sign up Future SpacesFuture Spaces is a major two-part development to create new, flexible academic spaces and vibrant social environments at Penryn Campus. Extensive consultation with staff and students throughout the development process (Campus 2020) has helped shape the direction and design of these new spaces. We are continually investing in our spaces, to enhance the student experience and enable world-class research to flourish, and this is the latest in a long list of projects, which includes a new Sports Centre and nursery, Masters Suite, REEF, two new learning lounges, and refurbishments to the library, lecture theatres, IT suites and catering outlets. Find out more online. New Peter Lanyon study spaces2019 will see additional study space in Peter Lanyon, including an IT/ Language Laboratory and Undergraduate Study Lounge on the ground floor, and Postgraduate study suite and offices on the first floor. Work on the IT/language Lab is underway and will be complete for the start of Term 2. We hope to schedule work on the other spaces very soon. HV Maintenance - building closuresAs part of the statutory maintenance regime for all high voltage electrical transformers on campus, on Monday 17 December from 8pm-11pm, the power will be shut down and as a safety precaution, buildings will be closed in the centre of campus. This will affect the Exchange, the Library, the Stannary and Bar, East DDuM (from the bridge), Tremough House and Annexe, Chapel Lecture Theatre, Heart Reception, the Shop, Aviary and Greenhouses and School of Film and Television. Scams alertPlease continue to be alert to potential scams – recent national ones targeting students include perpetrators pretending to be from universities and another where they promise a tax rebate. If you’re contacted by someone and it seems unusual, unexpected or just odd, end the call/communication. Don’t give away personal/financial information or click on links. You can read more on our website. Spam and phishing emails - IT adviceAs we are an open institution, it is inevitable that you will receive some spam and phishing emails in your University email. Some of these appear to be very authentic. Never reveal your University password to anyone and don’t give away personal details (especially about banking). You can read more guidance online. Do not report phishing emails to SID to alert them, they can only tell you to move them to your junk folder. The Provost CommissionOver the summer and throughout this term, the commission established and led by the Provost, Professor Janice Kay, has been working to recommend, develop and implement new approaches, events, initiatives and policies to ensure the University is an open, diverse and safe community for all. New induction materials have been launched, equality and diversity training has been enhanced and extended, curriculums are being reviewed and opportunities for us to celebrate our diversity as a community have been developed. We will continue to keep you informed of the important work being done and how you can contribute. Exeter Speaks OutWe have also launched Exeter Speaks Out, a site which allows staff and students to report incidents of harassment, bullying, intimidation or discrimination. If you have experienced any of these we strongly encourage you to use the site to report them and to access the wide range of support and advice available for you at the University and beyond. TRIGGER WARNING - This item contains information about sexual assault which may cause distressThe Truth ProjectThe University is part of a pilot scheme raising awareness of the Truth Project, which invites victims and survivors of child sexual abuse to share their experiences. The Truth Project will put forward recommendations for change to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse as a result of these conversations. The Inquiry is encouraging young people to come forward, because they can offer insights into the nature of new threats like online grooming, and share their experiences of current support services available. Find out more on our Truth Project webpage. If you or someone you know is affected by these issues and wish to discuss this further or access support, contact the Wellbeing Service. Sustainable travelWe are committed to reducing our environmental impact and therefore have excellent green transport links to and from campus with Falmouth, Penryn and the surrounding area. We also have a range of other initiatives such as cycle parking and hire on campus. We therefore strongly discourage students from bringing a car to university. If you must bring a vehicle please ensure it is parked considerately and legally – it should not block driveways, entrances or roads. We have recently had concerns raised by residents in Mabe. You can find out more about sustainable travel online. Smoking - survey and a polite noticeWe have had some issues with cigarette or vape smoke getting into buildings, which means we are not providing acceptable study and work conditions. Could all smokers please adhere to the five-metre smoking exclusion zone around buildings, or smoke in designated smoking areas around campus, to prevent smoke drifting into buildings. We're also reviewing our smoking policy, to ensure it is fit for the future. All students, both smokers and non-smokers, are encouraged to fill in the survey, which will take a few minutes. Access to InternshipsAccess to Internships (A2I) provides support and funding to help students arrange paid internships in the UK. The deadline to apply for A2I funding has been brought forward one week, to Sunday 16 June 2019. Student research showcaseThere’s not long left for aspiring student researchers to enter this year’s Undergraduate Research Showcase. If you have research you can share as a poster, enter it by 7 January and win a place to present a national exhibition in Parliament in March 2019. Read more online. FXU - sports bursaryWhen the Sports Bursary Committee met recently to review applications, they couldn’t believe the high calibre of applicants - of the 12 who applied, ten are at a national or international level in their sport. Ten awards of varying financial levels were made, of which six were to Exeter students, coming from a wide variety of disciplines and sports including canoe polo, fencing, hockey, longboarding, pole vault and water polo. Award recipients have received support from the Penryn Campus Sports Centre, and those with Gold membership will receive an upgrade to Platinum and a free Health MOT. Watch James Spencer-Boyce’s video, which shows the support he receives. New name for SERSF extensionWe are delighted to confirm the winning name for the SERSF extension is the Stella Turk Building. Staff and students were asked to vote for one of three prominent female Cornish Scientists, with the votes cast as follows:
An official opening will be arranged for the building in early 2019 - more details to follow in due course. Thank you to all who voted. What is the Prevent duty? Am I expected to do anything?Our Prevent webpage has been revised following feedback from the University community and includes a statement from the Provost and the Registrar. The web pages will tell you more about the University's approach to compliance with the duty, whether you are simply interested, or need to do any of the following:
We held an event at the Streatham Campus in October, looking at the safeguarding aspects of Prevent, and have published the event notes. If you have any feedback or further questions, please contact Prevent@exeter.ac.uk. Tuesday lunchtimes, 12.30-1.30pm Thursday 10 January, room booked 2-4pm come for the first 30 mins (leave any time after)
Monday 14 January, 5.30pm Wednesday 23 January 2019 6-8pm Tell us what you think of this newsletter: Get in touch with your feedback or news stories at: studentcomms@exeter.ac.uk |