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University Updates
Welcome to your regular update
This week in University Updates...
There's news on the end of term travel survey, the release of your January exam timetable and the return of our Mind Over Natter series. Also wellbeing webinars on busting exam stress and coping with uncertainty.
Help us to help you, with our new survey
Are you planning to travel after the current government lockdown lifts, either within the UK or overseas? If so, do you know when, or what mode of transport you’ll use? Perhaps you’ll be staying in your term-time accommodation over the Christmas break? Please fill out our survey this week and let us know – even if you don’t have all the details. Its aim is to help you by informing our planning; ensuring we have the right support for those staying over the break and making sure we have good information about the numbers of people intending to travel for our discussions with local partners and transport companies. You have until midday this Friday 27 November to complete it.
Please book your end of term transport
Enabling you to travel home or elsewhere at the end of the term is our priority. If you wish to travel you should do so between Thursday 3 – Wednesday 9 December, unless you have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been asked to self-isolate.
We strongly recommend that you book your transport as soon as possible. Rail operators have now released all of their seats for the period 3-9 December. If you plan to travel by coach, it is especially important that you book in advance as this will allow coach operators to monitor demand and increase services accordingly so that social distancing can be maintained.
For more information on travelling home, please look out for the Registrar’s emails in your inbox.
Recording of Vice-Chancellor's talk
Our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lisa Roberts, Students’ Union Exeter President Cara Chittenden, Registrar Mike Shore-Nye, Provost Professor Janice Kay and Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Education Professor Tim Quine held a talk and Q&A for students recently. If you missed it you can now view the recording online.
Exam Timetable
January exam timetables will be released this Wednesday 25 November throughout the day. You'll get an email to confirm when it has been released. Once you’ve received your email please take a look at your timetable, and check that all of the examinations you expect are showing. If you haven't received an email by 5pm on 25 November or there are any issues with your timetable, contact your Hub team.
COVID-19 reminders:
Under the current lockdown rules in England, you can only exercise or meet in a public outdoors space with the people you live with, a support bubble (or as part of a childcare bubble), or with one other person.
You can attend face-to-face teaching, shop for provisions, or go to work if you cannot work from home. You can read the full information here.
When you are outside your home please remember:
Wash hands - keep hands washed regularly and/or use santiser
Cover face - wear a face covering when indoors, or in enclosed or busy areas
Make space - maintain social distancing
Contact us about COVID-19 symptoms, even if they’re mild
If you begin to experience COVID-19 symptoms (a high temperature, new continuous cough or a loss of taste/smell), you must self-isolate immediately and contact the Rapid Response Hub via phone on 01326 370402 or email rapidresponse@fxplus.ac.uk. You should get in touch even if your symptoms are mild.
As soon as you have requested a test from the Rapid Response Hub you must remain in self-isolation (apart from going to have a test) until a result is received. This is a legal requirement and any breach of this is subject to a fine as well as University disciplinary procedures. The team will get you booked into a test as quickly as possible and we aim to get results within a day or so.
Students at the College of Medicine and Health studying health programmes (Medicine, Medical Imaging and Nursing) should access testing as directed by their programme leads.
If you have a positive test result you are required by law to continue your self-isolation for at least 10 days. The Rapid Response Hub will contact you to make sure you’re ok and you have the support you need. Anyone in your household will also be required to self-isolate for 14 days. Public Health officials will also get in touch to identify any “close contacts” outside your household. Close contacts must also self-isolate by law for 14 days so there is no need for them to get tested and a test will not be provided. You can read more information about our Rapid Response Hub on our web pages as well as information on the support we will provide you during your self-isolation
Mind Over Natter
Mind Over Natter, our wellbeing talk series, is back! Join us live on Teams at 12.45 -1.30pm this Wednesday 25 November for Professor Andy Brown’s talk on trees and how being in, among, or up them can help improve our wellbeing. Register now to reserve your place.
Wellbeing Services Webinars this week
Busting exam stress
Preparing for exams can be a difficult process; you may feel under pressure to do well and this can lead to high levels of stress. This webinar aims to give you techniques to decrease stress around exams and enable you to perform better as a result. It will take place this Wednesday 25 November from 11:30am – 12:30pm. You can find more information and booking details here.
Uncertainty: How to cope with change and tame your worries
Now more than ever, life can be uncertain. Uncertainty can be very overwhelming, causing us to spend a lot of time worrying about things outside of our control. This webinar focusses on strategies to manage our worry and to tolerate the uncertainty that life can bring. It will take place this Thursday 26 November from 2:30 – 3:30pm. You can find more information and booking details here.
Both Webinars are for up to 60 people and will be recorded and added to the website afterwards.
Speak Week - we want your feedback
It’s Speak Week! Over the next few days, The SU will be sharing #FiveWaysToGiveFeedback on your student experience. They’ll be highlighting how your feedback has already made an impact and why it’s important for you to have your say. Throughout the week, they’ll be turning the spotlight on to different tools you can use to share your thoughts, opinions, suggestions and ideas – and most importantly, why. Find out more here.
Mature Student Survey
The Mature Student Working Group wants to hear about your experiences of studying as a mature student (anyone 21 or over at the start of their undergraduate programme) at the University. The results will help them identify and prioritise issues raised, so they can increase support for mature students. There is also a chance to be entered into a £50 Amazon Voucher draw. Please complete the survey by Friday 27 November. If you have any queries regarding the survey, please email mature-students@exeter.ac.uk
Corporate Social Responsibility to Respect Human Rights
We are pleased to invite you to the launch of BLISS – Business and Law Interdisciplinary Seminar Series. Co-organised by the Business School and Law School each seminar will look in depth at an important Business and Law topic and it is open to all to attend. The first seminar will address the issue of Business & Human Rights with one of the most influential scholars in the field of law and business, Professor Michael Addo, who will discuss the responsibility of corporations to respect human rights. The event will take place on Wednesday 25 November, from 4 – 5pm via Zoom. Please register here.
The Sustainable Cornwall We Want
Cornwall is about far more than just tourism and at our online ‘Sustainable Cornwall We Want’ event, the Institute of Cornish Studies and Tevi will showcase local businesses, organisations and research that demonstrate this. Joined by Daphne Skinnard from BBC Radio Cornwall, they will discuss how we are at the forefront of global technological innovations, with an emphasis on sustainable solutions and how Cornish organisations are providing solutions to community problems. It takes place on Friday 27 November, 11am – 1pm; you can find more information and how to register here.
Family Christmas Lecture - Solar Orbiter, Building an Instrument to Study the Sun
Join us for the annual family-friendly Christmas themed lecture from the Institute of Mechanical Engineers and the University. This will be an evening of fun, facts and physics about how our star creates and controls the giant bubble of plasma that surrounds the whole Solar System and influences the planets within it. The guest speaker is Chris Brockley-Blatt, BEng(Hons) CEng FIMechE, Project Manager of the Solar Wind Analyser instrument on Solar Orbiter. The event will take place on Tuesday 8 December between 6:50 – 8 pm. More details and event registration can be found here.
Christmas takeaways
The Stannary and Fox Café are offering a variety of Xmas takeaway choices including a full roast, a meal deal and Ruby Murray (Cockney rhyming slang for curry!). The menus, which will be launched today, Monday 23 November, can be found online. These offerings may change according to demand so move quickly to grab your festive food!
Change of pedestrian routes between the Heart and Stannary
Pedestrian routes around the new Stannary extension change today (Monday 23 November) and tomorrow (Tuesday 24 November) for external works to be completed. The alternative routes are signposted.
Penryn Campus alternative contact details
The phone lines at Penryn Campus are going to be switched over to a new infrastructure and testing is being carried out to ensure the required functionality is working. As we are all using Teams and email much more at the moment, we are expecting this to have minimal impact. Alternative means of contact have been provided where necessary. Details below:
The below number ranges will be ‘at risk’ between 10am - 2pm on Thursday 26 November:
- 254000 - 254499
- 259000 – 259499
- 255000 – 255999
These numbers include ESI Reception, Finance, Security, SU Reception and Exeter staff direct lines. On the 26 November to contact Security, please call Reception on 01326 370400 and the SU by email info@thesu.org.uk.
The below number ranges will be ‘at risk’ between 10am - 2pm on Tuesday 1 December:
- 370400 – 370499
- 370700 – 370779
- 371800 – 371899
- 253000 – 253799
- 253900- 253949
These numbers include Accessibility, Accommodation, Coronavirus Enquiry Line, Exeter Information Desk & Recruitment Line, Glasney Lodge, Little Wonders Nursery, Penryn Campus Reception, Sports Centre Reception and Student Services.
On the 1 December contact Student Services by email studentservices@fxplus.ac.uk or call 01326 213600. For the Coronavirus Enquiry Line email coronavirus@fxplus.ac.uk or call 01326 313599. For the Penryn Info Point email info.penryn@ex.ac.uk, for Glasney Lodge call 01326 213699 and for Penryn Campus Reception call 01326 255875.
Career Zone Virtual Fairs, this Tuesday and Wednesday
If you haven’t already activated your Handshake account and registered for either (or both) of our Virtual Careers Fairs, now is the time to do it. Our Virtual Careers & Opportunities Fair is this Tuesday 24 November, 10am - 4pm and our Law Careers Fair is this Wednesday 25 November, 10am - 4pm. Both Fairs are accessible only via Handshake, where you can book into group sessions or 1:1s with a wide range of top national and international employers and organisations. Not sure how to activate your Handshake account? We’re here to help. Please contact us at careers@exeter.ac.uk. You can find more information about Handshake and registering for the Careers Fairs here.
Looking After Yourself Whilst Exploring Careers
Deciding on what to do in the future after University can be both a stressful and overwhelming experience. In this Webinar Jo Blakely (Mental Health Adviser), and Kate Foster (Employability & Careers Consultant) help you explore, through discussion and activities, your concerns about making career decisions. They will share practical tips on how to manage stress and how to explore the right career path for you. There will be a focus on managing the stresses associated with the recruitment process and the opportunity to find out more about the resources available to support you. The webinar will take place this Wednesday 25 November, from 2-3pm. Please book your place.
Virtual Law Event
Dentons, the largest law firm in the world, will be hosting a virtual presentation dedicated to vacation schemes, where a trainee will provide you with an insight to what a vacation scheme is, how to apply, your tasks & responsibilities and how to make the most of the experience. There will also be a Q&A after. If you’re currently applying for vacation schemes or considering a career in commercial law, make sure you don’t miss out! It takes place this Thursday 26 November from 3pm-4pm. The event link is here and the Zoom details are (ID) 695 523 4398 and (password) 777858. Follow the link to the vacation scheme.
All of the following events are held online:
Tuesday 24 November, 10am-4pm, Virtual Careers and Opportunities Fair on Handshake. For more information please follow this link.
Wednesday 25 November, 10am – 4pm, Virtual Law Careers Fair on Handshake. For more information please follow this link.
Wednesday 25 November, 4 - 4:45pm, Workout Wednesdays, these sessions aim to encourage us all to get moving during this second lockdown. You can find more information here.
Wednesday 25 November, 6 - 7pm, Gender dysphoria and Transgender healthcare. Please see the website for more details.
Wednesday 25 November, 7 - 10pm, Stannary Bar Online Bingo, event will take place on Teams. Please book your place.
Thursday 26 November, 6 - 7pm, Q&A with the Mindful Hive. Join The Zero Waste and The Mindful Hive discussing setting up an online sustainable business.
Friday 27 November, 12:30pm, Stacey Hynd, Sefina Dogo Aliyu, and Elena Gadjanova, ‘#BringBackOurGirls and Humanitarian Advocacy: Analysing Race, Gender, and Childhood in Local and Global Child-Saving Campaigns’. Find out more and book here.
Saturday 28 November, 7 - 9pm, Cocktail night! Womxn in STEM with Mathsoc and FalFem.
Tuesday 1 December, 4:30pm, Joao Florencio, ‘COVID-19: Pandemics, Care and Communities’. Find out more and book here.
Friday 4 December, 7 - 10pm, Stannary Bar Christmas Quiz! There are a range of funny and exciting prizes to be won. Please book your place.
Tuesday 8 December, 6:50pm-8pm, Family Christmas Lecture - Solar Orbiter, Building an Instrument to Study the Sun. Find out more and register here.
Thursday 10 December, 4:30pm, Hazel Carby (Yale University): ‘Imperial Sexual Economies’. Find out more and book here.
Keep an eye on the Students’ Union Website to keep up to date with upcoming events.
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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