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University Updates
Welcome to your regular update
This week in University Updates...
There's an update on upcoming exams, alongside reminders to take part in our wellbeing survey and the 2021 census if you haven't already. You can also find out about our new wellbeing space 'Exehale', how to apply to become a community warden and a variety of events to get involved in.
Strategy 2030 – Our second Big Conversation opens next week
Our second Big Conversation will open next Monday 26 April until Friday 7 May and will be available 24/7 during this period. The second conversation will focus on the key themes that will be important for our new strategy and specifically on our vision and behaviours, as well as the goals we want to set ourselves for the next ten years.
We really value your input, so please do take part and share your thoughts. The feedback shared from yourselves, staff and alumni during the first conversation is still being analysed and will be used to help inform some of the discussion areas for this exciting next step. Due to the large amount of interest and input into the development of our new strategy the third conversation will now take place in June. Find out more online.
Returning after spring break? Get COVID-19 tested and grab a free voucher
Thank you to those of you who have engaged with regular testing for COVID-19. If you have been away for the spring break, we expect you to get tested as soon as possible after you return and then 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 and we want to ensure this continues as more students return and activities are able to restart.
To say thanks to everyone getting tested, we’re giving away vouchers and prizes at all of our test centres – book your test now and you could grab a free coffee, treat or maybe a pizza to share with your household.
Testing is even more convenient now we have more testing stations set up across our campuses. You can book your test now or drop into our new test pod in the Forum.
If you are coming onto the campus irregularly, please get a test each time you come. Booking is simple and the tests are free. Schedule your slots and book in advance:
If you live in the St James’ Park area of the city, we now have a test centre based in the Centre Spot Bar at Exeter City FC’s ground. This is open Monday, Wednesday 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.
Can I have a COVID-19 test during Ramadan?
We have consulted the British Islamic Medical Association and they have advised the following: "Our position is that PCR and LFD tests do not invalidate the fast, which is the opinion of the vast majority of Islamic scholars."
April 24
We have been made aware of rumours circulating online concerning supposed plans for coordinated criminal activity on 24 April. To the best of our knowledge this appears to be a hoax which originated from TikTok and has since spread around the world, designed to cause fear and to play on serious and genuine concerns regarding sexual assault.
We have relayed these rumours to Devon and Cornwall Police and our advice to students and colleagues is to ignore them and not to spread them further.
Any form of violence or sexual violence is a crime and is never acceptable. Threatening violence or sexual assault is reprehensible and can also be a criminal offence. We urge any members of our community who have been subject to threats or assaults to come forward to report them to the University and to the Police. If you have specific information relating to individuals or groups behind threats of sexual violence, including this rumour, then you should always report these to the Police.
We are committed to ensuring effective prevention and effective response to sexual misconduct when such incidents occur and anyone reporting such incidents will be fully supported. Anyone found to be threatening sexual assault will be dealt with through our disciplinary processes and will be referred to the Police.
If you have been affected by these rumours, or by issues concerning sexual violence, then we have lots of information on our Exeter Speaks Out web pages. If you feel talking to someone would help we strongly encourage you to reach out for support from our wellbeing services teams, as well as the Students’ Guild Advice Service.
Exams update
Please look out for your final April/May examinations update email, which we will send to you this Thursday, 22 April. It will include all of the up-to-date information you need to help you feel ready to complete your assessments. For more details about your upcoming exams, please visit this webpage.
Exceptional Circumstances policy
We have now finalised the individual student adjustment elements of our No-Disadvantage Guarantee, which we refer to as the Exceptional Circumstances policy.
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 now 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.
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 if they consider that students’ grades / grade profiles should receive additional scrutiny.
2. APACs (Assessment, Progression and Awarding Committees) 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.
Supporting you
We understand that the exam/coursework period is very challenging, so remember we are still here to support you – wherever you are. The wellbeing webpages contain useful resources which you can access at any time from home. Here are a few:
Silvercloud - offers secure, immediate access to online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programmes, tailored to your specific needs such as anxiety, stress and many other areas.
Togetherall - provides safe, anonymous online support with trained healthcare professionals 24/7. You can share your experiences anonymously with your peers at any time of the day or night and find support from those experiencing similar difficulties.
Wellbeing Approaches for Covid - Using these approaches may help you reduce the impact of challenges imposed by COVID-19, better manage the demands imposed by your studies and help you maintain your wellbeing.
Mind Over Natter – These short talks aim to provide quick tips and pointers which we hope all students and staff can take away and use in their own life to help them with their wellbeing.
MyMoodCoach - Learn about your emotions, develop resilience, and build well-being by using the MyMoodCoach App. Researchers from top universities across Europe, including the University of Exeter, are learning how emotions and well-being change over time in young adults. Sign up to the study here, receive our free app, learn about your own emotions and support cutting edge science.
Other apps – the Fika app is available to students to download. Fika is an app designed to improve your mental fitness and you can access from your app store and register with your University email.
Workshops & Webinars - Wellbeing Services offer a number of webinars that you can attend from home via your laptop or PC. Webinars are interactive online workshops that allow you to participate and learn new ways to approach different areas of your life. Some previous webinars have focused on dealing with exam stress and improving sleep.
Want to know what help is best for you? Please check out this summary leaflet.
Wellbeing Survey – your feedback matters to us
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.
Exehale – Wellbeing space opening in Term 3
If you’re looking for a quiet place on Streatham campus, then you’ll soon be able to make your way to Exehale, a new Wellbeing space in Devonshire House which is opening soon! Situated on the second floor, Exehale will provide a welcoming space with Wellbeing resources and comfy chairs to relax and recharge. Keep an eye out for further details including opening hours and programme of activities available. If you have any questions about using the space, please email us at exehale@exeter.ac.uk.
Calling all artists and photographers
To mark the opening of Exehale, we’d like to invite artists and photographers to submit pieces for possible display there and in other Wellbeing spaces. The theme is ‘Good Mental Health’ and should be suitable for display in those areas – think relaxing and comforting, or inspiring and uplifting. What does good mental health mean to you? The extended deadline for submissions is Monday 26 at 5pm. Please email your photos (or a photo of your art work) to exehale@exeter.ac.uk
Your artwork/photo needs to be suitable to put in a frame and hung on walls. Photos should either be submitted as a print ready for framing, or as a high-resolution image. You can submit as many pieces as you like, but we reserve the right to make the final decision on which pieces are accepted for display
Last chance to complete Census 2021
Census Day was on Sunday 21 March, but you still have time complete your census form now. Don’t worry, it only takes ten minutes per person, your data is confidential, and you can complete it online.
By taking part, you’ll be helping to make sure students get the services needed now and in the future - like jobs, training and university transport links. That’s why wherever you are, it’s important you complete the census.
If you’re currently living at your university address, you should have received a letter containing an access code made up of numbers and letters to complete the census online. You should complete the form using your university address that you were living in on 21 March.
If you are not currently living at your university address and cannot get your access code, you need to request a new one online. Your code will be sent via SMS.
If you’re staying at home temporarily, you need to complete the census questionnaire for your university address as well as being included on the household questionnaire.
Request a code and complete your census now at www.census.gov.uk or for more information, visit www.census.gov.uk/students. Thank you for your help in taking part in Census 2021.
Online Module Change
Over the summer you will have the opportunity to request changes to your module allocation via the ‘Online Module Change’ process. The key dates are:
Business School Postgraduate January Starters 10 - 21 May
Undergraduate students returning in 2021/22 12 -19 July
Further details will be provided in in the coming months, and the Online Module Change web page will be updated as further information becomes available.
Students’ Guild new app
Did you know your Students’ Guild now has an app? The app will give you the ability to browse events, your memberships and everything you care about with your Students’ Guild more quickly and easily. If you’re part of a society, you’ll even be able to vote in your society election right from the app.
How do I get the app?
Search StudentLink on your app store and download it
Find University of Exeter Students’ Guild in the list of unions
Follow the registration instructions
And then that’s it – you’re in!
Apply now to be a Student Community Warden
Do you want to be part of an innovative team, supporting your fellow students and working in the local community? Are you interested in a flexible, part time job that provides experience in working with community organisations?
We are currently seeking to recruit Student Community Wardens to work with our Community Liaison Team throughout 2021/22. To find out more about how to become a Community Warden visit our recruiting page on Handshake. If you haven’t already, sign up for Handshake here. The deadline for applications is Monday 26 April at 12pm.
New Exeplore episode: Climate change - community is key
When it comes to trying to reduce our carbon footprint and make changes in the face of the climate emergency, local knowledge from communities is vital, according to Professor Patrick Devine-Wright. It's something he knows about on a practical level as well as an academic one, as he talks about his role as Chair of the Devon Carbon Plan and the actions needed to reach net zero in the county. We also discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on climate policy and changes in recent years to the narrative.
You can listen to this episode of Exeplore on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Join a global event to mark Earth Day
Undergraduate Skye Frewin has organised a global online event as part of her internship with the University’s Student Business Partnership scheme. The ‘Youth Voices on Global Climate Justice’ event will take place on Sunday 25 April at 2pm, using zoom. Guests include Jerome Foster, an appointee to President Biden’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council, alongside other young people from Germany, Sweden, Columbia, and the Philippines, who will be telling their fascinating stories in celebration of Earth Day. Register for free here.
Q&A with alumnus 220 Kid
The latest alumni video chat features current No.1 artist 220 Kid talking about his career and supporting Exeter.
Print Services Update: Join us on our new Instagram
Come and join us on our Instagram journey @UOEPrintservices - simply give us a follow and you’ll be kept up to date with all things print. We are here to support you through your University journey by; printing posters, fliers or leaflets for your student societies, or printing and binding your finished dissertation.
We will be showcasing recent projects and running monthly promotions to get involved with. You can get in tough with our friendly team at: printservices@exeter.ac.uk.
Scam Prevalence and Prevention survey
Plymouth University and Devon & Cornwall Police are working in partnership to better understand scams affecting university students. You are invited to take part in this survey, which is anonymous, and takes around 5-10 minutes to complete. Upon completion there is an opportunity to be entered into a prize draw for a £10 Amazon Gift Card. Access the survey here.
Stress Awareness Month
At the Career Zone, we know - more than ever - that career planning can be a source of stress. To mark Stress Awareness Month this month we’re using our social media channels to highlight our range of online resources that can help you feel more confident about tackling life after University. We’ve got info on everything from how to research possible career paths, to acing interviews, and everything in-between. And if all that feels like too much choice, you can Live Chat with us Monday – Friday and let us guide you through the services and support that’s right for you. Find out more here.
All of the following events will be held online:
Thursday 22 April, 6-7:30pm, A conversation with Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé: On impasse, internationalism and radical change, Online via live stream on the IAIS YouTube channel
Sunday 25 April, 2-3pm, Youth Voices on Global Climate Justice
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
