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University Updates
Welcome to your regular update
This week in University Updates...
This week there's information on regular COVID-19 testing, wellbeing resources, updates from your Students’ Guild and a reminder to get in touch if you need exam support.
Save lives with regular tests
You can now be tested twice a week, every week, with rapid, free testing at the Sports Hall at Streatham. It’s a fast and easy experience.
If you’ve returned to your term-time accommodation, whether private rental or University Halls, you can now get tested twice a week, every week.
Regardless of when your in-person teaching starts, everyone can play their part and engage with regular testing to help us protect our community. On-going testing will enable us to spot outbreaks quickly and ensure everyone can live together safely.
The tests are quick and easy, using the Government approved nose and throat swab Innova Lateral Flow Device (LFD) test. Each test only takes around 15 minutes.
You’ve all done a great job in helping to control the transmission of the virus, but with the emergence of new, more easily transmissible variants we need to up our game to avoid any further outbreaks of COVID-19.
Play your part. Book twice weekly ongoing rapid LFD tests:
Please remember to bring your University ID to the test centre with you and continue to follow government guidance.
It’s very important to understand that regular testing does not negate the need to follow the current lockdown restrictions at all times. Further information about our rapid twice weekly COVID-19 tests, including information on what to do if your test result is positive, can be found on our dedicated student COVID-19 test webpages.
If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you need a different test
If you develop symptoms of COVID-19 such as a high temperature, new continuous cough or a loss of taste/smell, you must self-isolate and contact the Rapid Response Hub to request a HALO PCR test. If you're in Exeter, you can book a HALO PCR test through our Rapid Response Hub.
Living in lockdown
We realise that lockdown is hard and that the rules have changed, and it can be difficult to stay up to date on the guidelines. However, the new variant of COVID-19 spreads more easily and so it is more crucial than ever to do what you can to protect yourself and others.
Parties and other social gatherings are illegal for a simple reason: they are one of the most effective ways to spread COVID-19. Cases are still spreading across the country and our region, as are the numbers of hospital admissions and deaths. The majority of our community have been extremely careful to stay within their households, so please continue to only meet with your household or support bubble.
Please remember these points particularly:
You can’t move between households – for instance if you’re already living at your term-time address you must remain there and not leave to stay elsewhere
You can only mix with your own household indoors (unless you have created a support bubble under certain, specific circumstances)
You can only exercise outside with members of your household, or with one other person. Health officials strongly recommend that you minimise the number of ‘single people’ you meet with across the week, as the new variant of the virus is more easily transmitted. You should also maintain a social distance from them
When you’re taking your daily exercise, remember to stay local and wear a face covering in busy areas
Keep following the advice of washing hands regularly, wearing face coverings and keeping socially distanced
Remember if you do test negative for COVID-19 the result is only valid at that time, so it's crucial you continue to follow Hands - Face - Space to minimise the chances of catching it
You can read more on the UK government’s website.
Cleaning routines
In order to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 it is really vital that we all strive to keep areas where we live and study clean, particularly touch-points. Touch-points include surfaces like fridge/freezer doors, cooker and microwave handles, kitchen sides, taps, kettle handles, switches, remotes and other appliances which are used frequently by multiple people. New to cleaning? Here’s a helpful guide.
Disabled and Chronically Ill Staff and Student Network
The Disabled and Chronically Ill Staff and Student Network exists to provide support and representation to staff and students who identify as disabled or chronically ill. They meet monthly on Microsoft Teams to share updates, experiences and to provide advocacy and representation to senior management. For the Spring term, the meetings will be the last Wednesday of the month at noon. This means the next meetings for Spring 2021 will be:
• Wednesday 27 January
• Wednesday 24 February
• Wednesday 31 March
For accessibility information and the meeting links, please email disabilitynetwork@exeter.ac.uk. All are welcome to attend, including allies, and it will be an open discussion. Please also email if you would like to join the network mailing list or the Teams chat group.
Supporting you
We understand that the current situation 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. You can also earn up to £60 in shopping vouchers for your contribution.
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.
New nature experiment launched with BBC Music
A new experiment launches today, as part of a collaboration between the BBC and the University, called ‘Soundscapes for Wellbeing’. The experiment is exploring how people feel when they engage with natural environments through varying digital formats, from rich visual scenes to immersive natural sound recordings and wildlife documentaries.
The study is being led by Wellcome Trust funded PhD student, Alex Smalley. Alex said: “We’ve assembled an amazing team to create this experiment, which fuses approaches from the arts, natural history, and science. We’re hoping as many people as possible will take part, and help us understand how best to bring virtual experiences of nature to those who can’t easily get outside.”
The experiment is online and open to anyone over the age of 18. It takes around 10minutes to complete. You can take part here or visit our website to find out more.
Digital Learning and Development – Bringing Uni Home
Whether you’re studying from home or halls of residence we have pulled together some help on improving the ways we learn and study digitally. For week two of the Bringing Uni Home campaign take a look at these digital resources to help you. They include digital studying skills from Study Zone, boosting your CV and employability via LinkedIn Learning and tips for using the library online. Don't forget that the Digital Hub is also here to support your understanding of the digital tools we all use, like Teams, OneDrive, Zoom and more.
Insessional Programme at Study Zone's Writing Café
Over the coming weeks, Study Zone's Writing Cafés continue to welcome all students, but would specifically like to invite students who are studying overseas to come along on Thursday January 28 and Thursday February 4, 1 - 3pm (GMT). At these sessions Study Zone will be welcoming colleagues from the Insessional Programme. Come along to receive advice and guidance in a range of study skills including learning online, time management and English language skills. Students from all subject areas welcome. To find out more visit the Study Zone website or contact studyzone@exeter.ac.uk.
Deadline approaching: do you need exam adjustments for the May 2021 exams?
If you require exam adjustments such as extra time or rest breaks and you have not already been in touch with Wellbeing Services to organise this, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can arrange an appointment for you.
The deadline for arranging adjustments for the May 2021 exams is Monday 15 February at 5pm, and you need to have filled out a disclosure form and sent your supporting evidence to Wellbeing Services by this date and time. If we receive your form and medical evidence after this time, we cannot guarantee your adjustments will be in place for May.
Please be aware that the next examination period in May will take place online. We post information about the exams on the webpages here, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Look out for further updates in the coming weeks.
Events from your Students’ Guild
Your Students’ Guild events listing for Get Connected x Refreshers is now live. Take a look at all the different events taking place over the next two weeks.
Wellbeing Week
Your Students’ Guild is launching Wellbeing Week from 1-5 February. Ruby, your VP Welfare & Diversity, will be putting on lots of events and providing resources focusing on a different theme each day of that week, including isolation and loneliness, finances, and general wellbeing and mental health.
Elections 2021- Nominations Open Soon
Following feedback from you about how your Students' Guild can improve representing your student voice, the Guild is excited to announce some changes to the roles up for election! You can find out more, including how to nominate yourself here.
Online Fitness Class Timetable
During the national lockdown, our sports department is offering an extensive online class programme. Please see the timetable below; you can book and join a class here. There is also a Facebook Health and Fitness Group where further health, wellbeing and workouts are shared.
Share your news
Have you been volunteering for your community, won an award, or are running your own company? Whatever your achievements, we want to hear from you. We’re looking to share your stories with others and some could even feature on our social media channels, or as stories on our website (and can be added to your CV!). Submit a brief description (no more than 300 words) to studentcomms@exeter.ac.uk for the chance to feature.
Social mobility prospects in a post pandemic world talk
What can we do to safeguard social mobility in a post pandemic world characterised by widening educational inequalities?
Drawing on his new book and latest research, the University's Professor of Social Mobility, Lee Elliot Major, argues that society is characterised by a grotesquely unlevel playing field. Yet the COVID-19 crisis also offers an opportunity to develop national and regional and university policies to improve prospects for those from less advantaged backgrounds.
This talk is on Tuesday 2 February between 12:30 – 2pm and will be chaired by the University's Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Lisa Roberts. There will be an opportunity to ask questions following the presentation. You can find full details and registration on the Eventbrite webpage.
Microbiology Symposium
On Monday 8 February through to the end of Wednesday 10 February, our Microbiology Symposium will be held online. Each day, from 1:30 - 4:30pm, will feature a variety of academic speakers, whose talks will be live streamed to the ESI Facebook page. You can find out more about the confirmed speakers and sign up for a free ticket here. For further details please contact Devi Whittle.
The Undergraduate Research Showcase is now open!
Our Undergraduate Research Showcase begins today! It’s your chance to learn about the research your fellow students have been working on. Explore our online exhibition here throughout the week to see the fantastic posters and abstracts that have been submitted. Maybe it will even inspire your own project! Missed your chance to share your research? Take part in our twitter challenge and #tweetyourresearch!
Great Hall closure
Please be aware the Great Hall will be closed from 8am on Thursday 28 January until 7pm on Friday 29 January for annual maintenance checks.
iSCA Eats discount code
iSCA Eats is our on campus food delivery and collection service, with a great, reasonably priced menu. We currently have a promo code for 25% off your orders. Just enter REFRESHERS25 in the box at the check out! Find out more here.
Access to Internships (A2I)
Access to Internships (A2I) can help you arrange your own paid internship in the UK. We can provide information, support and generous funding for eligible students. All funding is issued on a first-come-first-serve basis until Friday 7 May 2021 for internships at the University of Exeter, and Friday 11 June 2021 for all other qualifying internships. Please visit A2I for further information.
All of the following events will be held online:
Monday 25 January (weekly event), 6 - 7pm, Meditation Mondays with your Students' Guild. Kick start your week with a mindfulness session, sign up for free here.
Tuesday 26 January, 5 - 7pm, Korean Cooking Workshop with the Students' Guild. You can sign up for free here.
Thursday 28 January (weekly event), 5 - 6pm, Virtual Yoga with your Students' Guild. Find out more and register for free here.
Tuesday 2 February, 12:30 – 2pm, Social mobility prospects in a post pandemic world talk. More details and registration can be found on the Eventbrite webpage.
Wednesday 3 February, 12:45 -1:30pm, Mind Over Natter: The Power of the Pen. Former journalist, current Student Communications Manager and fiction writer, Jo Cole, shares ideas on the power of writing. Register for free here.
Monday 8 February- Wednesday 10 February, 1:30 – 4:30pm each day, Microbiology Symposium. You can find out more about the confirmed speakers and sign up for a free ticket here.
Keep an eye on the Students’ Guild 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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