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University Updates
Welcome to your regular update
This week in University Updates...
There's information on the Festival of Discovery and the opening of the Exehale wellbeing space today. You can also find out about this week's Mind Over Natter event.
Exceptional Circumstances policy
Applications for our Exceptional Circumstances policy are still open.
This policy defines the process by which individual students can make known the exceptional circumstances they may have experienced, during the 2020-21 academic year, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Exceptional Circumstances differ from those declared for the purposes of Mitigation by their severity and/or duration and their cumulative impact. Students applying under this policy will have had an impact for a significant period, cumulatively more than four weeks or for the whole of the academic year, potentially having an impact on a number of assessments and/or examinations. Exceptional Circumstances should be situations which cannot be accounted for by our standard Mitigation processes or other University support.
Students who have experienced adverse cumulative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic during this academic year can submit evidence and an application to be considered by the Exceptional Circumstances Committee - with the exception of January PGT starters, who will have an opportunity to do so later in the calendar year. The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 21 May 2021, and students may only apply once. If you have already started an application, please remember to complete and submit it before the deadline.
The process does not apply to Postgraduate Research Students (e.g. on PhD and other research degrees), who should continue to access the support services and advice provided by the Doctoral College.
There are two parts to the process:
1. The Exceptional Circumstances / Mitigation Committees determine the severity and duration of COVID-related impacts, with a particular focus on the cumulative effects of multiple impacts, and make recommendations to APACs (Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committees) if they consider that students’ grades / grade profiles should receive additional scrutiny.
2. APACs will exercise their academic judgement to determine whether there is evidence of associated impacts on students’ grades / grade profiles. If there have been observable impacts, then APACs will exercise relevant powers (e.g. deferral, set aside, proxy marks, vivas).
Full details of this policy are available within the FAQs, including a link to the application form.
Get COVID-19 tested and you could grab a free voucher
Thank you to those of you who have engaged with regular testing for COVID-19. Remember we expect you to get tested regularly twice a week, every week. It’s even more important now because we’ve worked so hard together to control and minimise transmission in our University community.
To say thanks to everyone getting tested, we’re giving away vouchers and prizes at all of our test centres – book your test now, or drop into our new test pod in the Forum and you could grab a free coffee, treat or maybe a pizza to share with your household. If you are coming onto the campus irregularly, please get a test each time you come.
If you live in the St James’ Park area of the city, don’t forget, we have our test centre based in the Centre Spot Bar at Exeter City FC’s ground. This is open Monday, Thursday and Friday 1:30pm - 4pm, and there is no need to book.
Further information can be found on our dedicated student COVID-19 testing webpages. If you receive a positive test result, let us know via the form online.
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.
Provost Commission Forum - Extraordinary session on Gender Safety
Following a session where staff, students and members of our wider community met to discuss Gender Safety and the actions we can take to ensure every student and staff member is, and feels, safe on our campuses, a number of areas were identified as initial priorities. These include the launch of a new Gender Safety Group, chaired by Janice Kay, Provost and Mike Shore-Nye, Registrar and Secretary, alongside trials of new initiatives including a personal alarm trial, modular Bystander Intervention training for all students, a focus on better and more transparent communications and exploring student ideas such as NightSafe and Stroll Angels.
We want to thank all of those that attended this session for their excellent engagement, and you can read about the outcomes in more detail here. We will continue to keep our community updated as actions develop.
Exehale – Opening today
If you are looking for a quiet place to escape amongst the stress of exams and revision, come and discover Exehale, a new wellbeing space in Devonshire House. Situated on the second floor, Exehale is a relaxing space with wellbeing resources and comfy chairs to relax and recharge.
Exehale is open to all students seven days a week during Forum opening hours. Activities and drop-ins with support services will be available to book via our webpage from 5pm – 7pm on weekdays. Exehale can also be booked as a private space by individuals or small groups/societies.
For information on drop-ins and booking details visit our Exehale website. If you have any questions or enquiries about using the space, please email us at exehale@exeter.ac.uk.
Mindfulness for Sceptics: An Introduction
“Mindfulness” has become one of those buzzwords. It pops up everywhere, in the media, schools and workplaces. But what actually is it and can it really help alleviate anxiety, stress and depression? In Mind Over Natter on Wednesday 10 May, Wellbeing Consultant, Kathy O’Connor, is going to introduce us to mindfulness and demonstrate how anyone and everyone can reap its benefits. Get your free tickets and find out more on Eventbrite.
Wellbeing Survey – we want to hear from you
As part of our ongoing effort to continuously improve our services and support, we would like to invite you to fill out our short survey on the Wellbeing Services at the University. This survey should take no more than 5-10 minutes to complete. All data collected in this survey will be treated anonymously. More information regarding data protection at the University of Exeter can be found here.
Wellbeing study
A research team based in the Department of Psychology is carrying out a study into students’ wellbeing and mental health during the pandemic. They would like to hear from you about the wellbeing issues you may face at this time and help find ways to protect you from negative feelings. You can fill out an online survey here to tell them about the factors that may undermine or protect your wellbeing. Participants will have the chance to win one of three £20 Amazon vouchers.
EU Settlement Scheme deadline
EU/EEA and Swiss students resident in the UK on or before 31 December 2020 must apply for a status under the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 if they wish to remain in the UK without a visa past that date. Applying for a status under the EU Settlement Scheme also ensures that you will have the option to live in the UK permanently as long as you maintain continuous residence in the UK. Detailed information, and how to access specialist advice from International Student Support, is on our website.
Help returning library books
Understandably during the COVID-19 restrictions you may not have been able to return library books. We have a range of free options to help you return books, including contact free collection within Exeter, via Parcel Force for UK addresses beyond Exeter. If you are overseas, please get in touch so that we can discuss options. During this period no overdue fines are being applied. You can find more information about Exeter book return options here.
Report phishing emails in Outlook
You are now able to quickly and easily report phishing emails in Outlook using the ‘Report Phishing’ button. Please do this if you receive an email that you are suspicious of to help keep us all safer online.
To learn how to add this button to your Outlook, and for guidance on how to use the button, view this short video. For more information and guidance on avoiding phishing scams and staying cyber savvy, visit the Digital Hub.
Thank you for taking part in our second Big Conversation
Thank you to everyone who got involved with our second Big Conversation which closed last Friday 7 May. All of the feedback provided from both conversations, along with the insights we have gained from our national and international experts will now help to create a draft ten year strategy. In June we will be holding our final Big Conversation which will provide you with an opportunity to check and challenge the assumptions made, before the final strategy is developed and shared in the autumn. Find out more on the website.
Last Chance to Sign Up for Challenges Online 2021
Summer is fast approaching, and with summer comes the highly anticipated Challenges Online programme. Team up with other students to tackle urgent sustainability problems and develop your employability prospects. Whether you’re passionate about exploring the link between climate change and human health, or you’re keen to advocate for social justice, we want to platform your ideas for how to make our world better.
Running Monday 7 - Friday 11 June, you could explore these pressing challenges: the climate emergency, food sustainability, social inequality, planetary health, or fake news. You can sign up until Sunday 16 May via the Challenges Online website. Open to all undergraduates.
Festival of Discovery
After the exams period, join us for a Festival of Discovery on our Exeter campuses from Monday 24 May – Friday 4 June. Organised with your Students’ Guild, the festival will offer exciting academic and social events for you to attend including keynote speakers, sports activities, career support, society-led events, food stalls and entertainment, as well as the chance to reconnect with your friends and academic departments.
Stay tuned for future updates, which will also be available on our webpage here. We will let you know on the website which events are available to join online so you can be involved even if you’re not able to come to campus. We’ll be working hard to keep you safe throughout by ensuring we adhere to the latest Government COVID-19 regulations and guidelines.
Panel Event: Can we live in harmony with nature?
We’re facing a nature and climate emergency. Sustainable development means living in harmony with nature. But how can we balance our concerns for food and infrastructure with the protection of our natural world? How might this help to improve our health and protect us from increasing flooding? Can we live in harmony with nature?
As part of the University’s Festival of Discovery, the Department of Geography is hosting a panel discussion, chaired by Professor Katrina Brown, Professor Emerita. This online event, on Thursday 27 May between 5-6.30pm, is open to all. Tickets are now available and can be booked here.
Welcome Team 2021 applications now open
Your Students’ Guild is looking for volunteers to join the Welcome Team to help meet new students as they arrive, answer their questions, signpost them to their accommodation, help run welcome events and share their experience of being an Exeter Student via online content such as livestreams and blogs.
Getting involved with volunteering gives you valuable experience to talk about when you’re looking for a job after graduating. The Welcome Team provides you with unique experience as well as training on the job, not to mention the chance to make a real positive difference.
You don’t need any previous experience as you can volunteer as much or as little as you want. The Guild is looking for on campus and digital team members as well as a group of team leaders. Digital team members will need to volunteer over the summer period, and on campus team members need to be available for Arrivals between 10 and 13 September.
All volunteers will also get one of the infamous pink t-shirts to wear on shift. You can learn more and apply here.
Guild Unplugged
Your Students’ Guild is looking for acts to appear in their live-stream event, happening on Thursday 27 May at 7pm.
If you're a singer/songwriter, instrumentalist, duo/trio or any kind of musical act that currently lives together (due to current COVID-19 regulations), and would like the opportunity to perform as part of their online event, please fill in this form.
The survey will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. If you have any questions, please email activities@exeterguild.com.
Eat & Shop News
There are some exciting ‘pop-up’ events coming up this month. On Thursday 13 May there will be an amazing selection of homemade doughnuts, and on Thursday 20 May a bakery selection of homemade breads, filled baguettes and pizzas. Both events will be on the Forum piazza, next to the OAK kiosk. Further information can be found on the website.
Also, the Ram Bar has been re-opened with extra outdoor seating. They are also hoping to open indoors from Monday 17 May, if UK government rules allow.
Introducing Careers Forever
We know that all our finalists are unique, but we also know that your questions about life after university are a lot more common than you might realise. So, to help guide you through the transition from student to employee we’ve created Careers Forever, a new resource specifically for finalists and graduates. Careers Forever puts together issues and themes, so you can quickly and easily access the support you need, whenever you need it. We’ve called it Careers Forever because we’re here to help you with everything related to your career, for as long as you need us after graduation. Find out more online.
All of the following events will be held online:
Wednesday 12 May, 12:45pm – 1:30pm, Mind over Natter, Mindfulness for Sceptics: An Introduction. Please book here.
Thursday 13 May, 12:30 – 14:00, Anti-Palestinian Racism: Re-examining Race and Racism’s Conceptual Double-Bind. Register by 5pm on Tuesday 11 May.
Monday 24 May, 18:30 – 20:00, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lisa Robers in conversation with author Sir Michael Barber. Please register here.
Tuesday 25 May, 18.30, BAFTA award-winning screenwriter and director Amma Asante MBE. Places are limited so follow the link for more info and to book.
Thursday 27 May, 5pm – 6:30pm, Panel Event: Can we live in harmony with nature? Please book here.
Thursday 27 May: The Career Zone will be holding their first Virtual Summer Recruitment Fair. Don’t miss out – register now!
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
