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The Student Community Wardens pictured above with staff and members of the local community.
Photo credit: Jasmine Cragg
University Updates
Welcome to your February newsletter, packed with information, events and reminders
Community Wardens' Award
The Student Community Warden team (pictured above) was presented with a Special Recognition Award at the Harbour Lights 2019 Community Hero Awards. The team has been up and running for less than five months but during that time have collectively dedicated more than 400 hours of work into community matters, some of which has been voluntary. Richard Gates, Falmouth Town Manager, presented the award and highlighted the valuable work the wardens have been doing. Read more about the wardens and their award in your students' union, FXU news.
National Student Survey
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 University experience and help shape future plans. The survey is open until 30 April. You can complete the survey here.
Keep your appointment
Winter’s a busy time for the NHS and so if you no longer need your appointment with the Penryn Surgery, or other medical services, please let them know as soon as you can. That will ensure they can offer the time to someone else.
Win a £20 Amazon voucher and improve digital learning at Exeter
The University is looking to enhance Digital Education for all students
through a new project called EdTech Exeter. As part of the project we’re exploring ways of improving our current systems and what new technology we can use to better improve your learning. We really value your feedback, so please complete this short survey on how you want to learn for the chance to win a £20 Amazon voucher.
Trolley dash
If you’re visiting nearby Asda or other supermarkets in the area, please make sure you return the trolley to them, to help keep the neighbourhood looking lovely.
Choose green
We’re continually improving our environmental and sustainability performance and have a commitment as part of Cornwall’s Green Travel Plan and the requirements of planning conditions, to discourage students and staff from using cars as their main method of travel to and from campus. We’ve received some complaints about parking nearby – specifically Kingston Way, in Mabe and Greenwood Road, Penryn. Please avoid parking there and wherever possible consider an alternative. The significantly discounted Fal Mussel Card Uni offers unlimited bus travel anywhere in Cornwall as well as some train and ferry travel. We’re always working to improve alternative methods of transport – including a current project to increase the number of cycle shelters on campus. Read more here
New cycling path for Falmouth?
There are plans to work towards a joined up cycling/walking network across the whole of Falmouth and Penryn so that everyone can safely cycle or walk to school, work and university. This would benefit the residents of Falmouth and Penryn hugely. It would be safer for the schoolchildren and give huge public health benefits if it got more people cycling and walking. To help secure funding, more data is needed to show the reasons why people of Falmouth and Penryn are not walking or getting on their bikes, please could you spare a couple of minutes to answer this online survey.
Kids camp discount
Students with children aged 4-14 can get a 20% discount for Go Active holiday day camps. There will be one held at the Penryn Sports Centre on campus from Monday 18 February for half term. To claim your discount quote penryn20 when booking
President Elections - your vote counts
Voting for the candidates in the FXU President elections opens at 6pm on Friday 15 February and closes at 12 noon on Friday 22 February. Find out who's in the running at the Union General Meeting on 15 Feb and meet the candidates at the Art Attack Challenge, Music & Manifestos, or Question Time. Check out the Elections events on the FXU website for more info.
Stannary Study Sesh
Your student union FXU has launched new social study sessions for Exeter students. The next Stannary Study Sesh will be held on 20 Feb. Pop along or Volunteer to be a Peer-Assisted Learner.
Additional study space in Peter Lanyon
The new Multimedia Laboratory on the ground floor of Peter Lanyon building is available for all UG students to use when not in use for teaching. This in an ideal space for students wanting to work on-campus at a PC – card access will be required (see below). There will be headsets available for students studying language modules who wish to practise their language skills. The computers here replace those that were on the first floor.
To ensure access, you will first need to update your unicard by holding it over the silver keypad in Peter Lanyon Reception until the pad flashes green. You will then be able to access the room by holding your card over the lock on the room door – when it flashes green, you can open the door.
An Undergraduate Study Lounge providing additional self-study space will be opening opposite
the Multimedia Lab after Easter and an upgraded Postgraduate Study Suite and academic spaces on the first floor will be ready by the end of May.
NUS National Conference
FXU pays a membership to the National Union of Students (NUS) and as a result they are entitled to send three delegates to the NUS National Conference in April to vote on behalf of FXU. One of the delegate places is allocated to one of the FXU Presidents, with the other two places up for election. If you are interested in representing FXU at this year’s NUS National Conference, nominate yourself for election.
Truro campus drop-ins
Your students' union in Cornwall, FXU, is dropping in to the Knowledge Spa Common Room on Friday 15 and Wednesday 20 Feb at around 10.15am. Please feel free to say hello and ask any questions you may have.
EHRC Racial Harassment survey for students & staff
The Equality and Human Rights Commission has launched an inquiry to understand the types of racial harassment experienced at UK higher education institutions, how these are reported and how effectively they are dealt with. Students and staff who have experienced, witnessed or helped in an incident of racial harassment from September 2015 onwards are invited to complete their online surveys by Thursday 28 February. The surveys are available here. Professor Janice Kay is leading a Provost Commission so that we can implement new approaches, events, initiatives and policies to create an open, diverse and safe University community for all. If you have experienced or witnessed any form of harassment, bullying, intimidation or discrimination we would encourage you to report it and get support through our Exeter Speaks Out webpages.
Exeter cements position amongst top 200 best employers for LGBT staff
Exeter has maintained its position as one of the top-200 best employers in Britain for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender staff. We are positioned 181st in the high profile rankings, published by leading charity Stonewall in January. The ranking, now in its 15th year, celebrates the efforts of leading organisations to create inclusive workplaces and is based on a range of key indicators which includes a confidential questionnaire of staff. Find out more online.
Your safety: drugs
We have a zero tolerance drugs policy at the University. We may invite police patrols onto campus and if drugs are found on your person or in your accommodation, this could have serious consequences that impact you for the rest of your life (for example, the US and Australia deny entry to visitors who have had convictions for drug related offences).
What materials are missing from the library?
Does the library need more reading material for your subject? Library Champions have access to a significant resource budget and made 596 extra resources available to Exeter and Cornwall students in the last academic year. You can email your Library Champion to place an order or to share your feedback on library services.
University College Union members' ballot
You may be aware that the University College Union (UCU) is currently balloting its members for strike action, with the ballot closing on Friday 22 February. This ballot followed the rejection by UCU of the nationally agreed 2% pay increase for staff.
Since the ballot was announced in January, we’ve been taking steps to prepare for any potential industrial action and have been working closely with the Students’ Guild and FXU to ensure the measures we put in place are the right ones for you and your course.
Dependent on the outcome of the ballot, UCU must notify the University 14 days before any industrial action begins. We will let you know of any planned action as soon as we can, along with the measures we will put in place to ensure that disruption is kept to a minimum and that your academic outcomes are protected.
Careers health checks
There's plenty of careers activity to get underway this term regardless of whether you are a 'Decider', 'Planner' or are 'Competing' for opportunities. If you're on campus (any campus!) come in and see us for a quick 'health check' or to book a more in-depth conversation with qualified, experienced professionals. If you're not often on campus, do check out our enhanced online resources at My Career Zone Digital. There's really no reason not to engage with careers activity, even if you've already secured a role when you leave, there are still things to learn - remember: Your Career Starts Here!
Teacher training open days
Becoming a teacher will lead to an exciting and rewarding career. Quality teachers are highly sought after, and choosing the right teacher training programme is an important step in ensuring a successful career. Come to our Teacher Training Open Day at the St Luke's campus in Exeter, on Saturday 23 February and visit our campus; meet our tutors and some of our trainees/graduates; and learn more about our Primary and Secondary PGCE and School Direct programmes. Book your place today
Work shadowing scheme
The Work Shadowing Scheme provides an opportunity for you to shadow a professional in their workplace for a day in April 2019, either in the South West or in London. These opportunities are a brilliant way to get a valuable insight into a sector, company or job role. Opportunities are awarded on a competitive, first-come first-served basis so please apply promptly to avoid missing out. Applications open 18th February, visit the website for further information
Considering postgraduate study?
If you're considering postgraduate study, why not find out more about what we
offer?
Join us for our Postgraduate Open Day on Saturday 16 March in Penryn, this small and friendly event gives you the chance to hear from current postgrads, talk to staff and find out about scholarships, loans and funding. Exeter students progressing to postgrad study in 2019 will receive a scholarship and can use the fast track application system. Book your place today.
Student Internship Opportunities
The University of Exeter Internship Schemes provide internship opportunities for current students, all roles are paid and are part time during time so are a great opportunity if you are looking for paid work, or if you are looking to gain some work experience to enhance your skills! The Student Business Partnership offers roles with local companies across a variety of sectors. The Student Campus Partnership offers the chance to work for the likes of SID and the Career Zone or on exciting projects! Find out more here.
Take up a new Grand Challenge
Interested in making real change at the University or around the globe? Looking to develop your transferable skills? Want to meet like-minded people? Grand Challenges is a unique, high-energy week that gives you all of that and more. This year (10 -14 June) sees the launch of The Case for Earth, a Grand Challenge designed especially for students on the Penryn Campus. You will work in an interdisciplinary group on a topic you feel passionate about, and develop an innovative and creative project that tackles a real world challenge. You get to work closely with leading academics, hear inspiring talks from external speakers and form new friendships along the way. Sign up now for The Case for Earth Challenge or take a look at the other Challenges available in Exeter.
Had help from a graduate? Why not nominate them for an award?
Have you or your Society benefited from the time and support of an Exeter graduate? Is there someone you would like to see recognised for their fantastic help or who deserves an extra special thank you? The University’s Alumni Volunteer Awards 2019 is open for nominations. We’ve made nominating quick and easy as we’d love as many of you as possible to get involved. Find out more and nominate online.
New University Global Strategy
We’ve launched our exciting new Global Strategy, setting out how we will become more international, offer more global opportunities to our students, and be one of the world’s best universities. Find out more online.
Join an evening language course
Planning to travel or study abroad? Interested in learning languages? Then it’s not too late to join the evening classes in French, German, Italian or Spanish. You can also sign up for the Language Exchange or Connect schemes which aim to put people in contact to exchange and share some of the 70+ languages spoken on campus. Visit languages.fxplus.ac.uk/mfl to find out more.
Green gold and clay tips: Dirt economics in British Columbia and Cornwall
Tuesday 19 February 2019, 5 - 6.30pm Old Chapel Lecture Theatre, Penryn Campus
Public lecture with Professor Trevor Barnes, University of British Colombia.
This will be a critical reflection on the changing nature of resource economies and their conceptualisation. Tacking between memories of an upbringing in Cornwall and academic research at UBC on the forest industry and latterly the transportation and processing of oil and natural gas, Professor Barnes will consider the profound economic geographical changes affecting the extraction, governance, and politics of resource-based economies set against contemporary socio-environmental concerns. Full event details available online.
Animal Welfare & Conservation Conference, Saturday 23 February, 10am - 5pm, Exchange Building, Penryn Campus
Find out what academics, students and local charities are doing to support animal welfare and conservation in Cornwall. Everyone welcome, further details on Facebook.
Rethinking the boundaries of our discipline, Daphne Du Maurier Lecture A, Monday 4 March, 1 - 3pm, Penryn Campus
Professor Ulf Buentgen from the University of Cambridge will give short introduction into modern tree-ring research, will be followed by timely examples of how different tree-ring archives and parameters help to identify and shift research frontiers and cross disciplinary boundaries; not only within the natural sciences but also the humanities. Further event details available online.
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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