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University Updates
Welcome to your regular update
This week in University Updates...
This week there's an update on exam results, the National Student Survey and the SU's new Colab platform!
COVID-19
Test to protect and stop the spread of COVID-19
Get tested twice a week, every week, and stop the spread of COVID-19
You’ve all worked hard to control the transmission of COVID-19, but with the emergence of more easily transmissible variants it is crucial that you carry on helping to stop the spread by getting tested for COVID-19 twice a week, every week. Make it part of your routine by scheduling two tests in a week.
Below are details of how to book/access your twice weekly tests at each of our campuses:
Cornwall Campuses
Booking is simple, schedule your slots and book in advance. You can make multiple bookings, just leave a gap of two to three days between your two tests in one week. To book your regular tests please use the relevant online booking form below:
When you come for your tests please remember to bring your University ID and to continue to follow the current government guidance and lockdown restrictions.
The testing process is easy, quick and free, and by getting tested twice a week, every week, you’ll help us to spot outbreaks and ensure everyone can live together safely. Establishing regular testing routines will also help us to make the case that it is appropriate for managed in-person teaching to resume at the end of the current lockdown.
Further information about our rapid twice weekly COVID-19 tests, including advice on what to do if your test result is positive, can be found on our dedicated student COVID-19 test webpages.
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.
Keep to just one bubble!
You can only form a support bubble with another household during lockdown, under certain specific conditions, such as if you live alone. You can read more about eligibility here. You should not swap your bubble to create a new one with a different household; wherever possible you must stick to the one support bubble throughout the whole of the lockdown. This is to minimise the spread of COVID-19 to different households.
National Student Survey open
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. It is open until April 30 and you can complete the survey here. Once again, we will donate £1 to charity for every survey that is completed, via RAG (Raise and Give) in Exeter and RAD (Raise and Donate) in Cornwall. Last year that led to a donation of £3,286 which was distributed to worthy causes.
Registrar and Vice-Chancellor emails
Have you seen the emails from the Registrar and the Vice-Chancellor? If you’ve not read them please check your inbox and if you’ve not received them, you can find them here.
Exam results
January exam results will be released by email, to your University email account, on Thursday 18 February. They will be released throughout the day but if you do not receive an email by 4pm, please contact your Hub Info Point. If you are concerned about your results, please contact your Academic Tutor to discuss it with them. You can also contact The Compass or Students' Union Advice Service if you need further support and guidance.
Exam Adjustments for May 2021 exams – deadline next week
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 exams 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.
ResLife Social
To help you during this time we would like to invite those currently living in their usual University accommodation to join the ‘ResLife Social’ programme. This involves one of our ResLife team getting in touch with you during the lockdown period to catch up socially, make sure you are doing okay and aware of the support available. The ResLife team is a friendly group of fellow students with a good understanding and knowledge of student life. They will also be able to tell you about upcoming online events that you can participate in and how to sign up. Previous online events include, Pictionary, Bingo, Film Festivals and an upcoming virtual online, Locked In! Chatting to other students is a great way to support one another so if you are interested in this service, please complete the opt-in form.
Colab - SU platform for student collaboration
The SU has launched a new platform for Cornwall students to use to start new projects together:
CoLab is a platform built to help develop and diversify portfolios, experience, and skills.
CoLab is for making connections, collaborating, and creating extraordinary student-led projects.
Who can get involved?
Any current student on our Cornwall campuses with an idea, plan, project, or pitch.
This is a student space, purely intended to enhance and encourage student collaboration across courses and across both universities.
How does it work?
CoLab works by allowing you to post collaborative projects and reach out to your fellow students to share skills and expertise. For example, if you're looking to create an animation but need a unique soundtrack to accompany this, perhaps you’d like to reach out to a music student to create something bespoke.
Maybe you're a filmmaker wanting to interview a student who's researching the effect of marine plastics.
The possibilities are endless - it’s time to work together and learn from each other.
CoLab is a platform to get you started. Search for projects relevant to you, and post your projects to get them off the ground.
More information available on our website.
LGBTQ+ History month resources
To mark LGBTQ+ History month, the Library has curated a selection of digital research archives, books, TV shows and films exploring LGBTQ+ history, culture and community. You can explore the collection online.
Interested in US Politics? Check out our latest podcast!
The United States of America has gone through one of the most tumultuous times in its history. In our latest Exeplore podcast we catch up with University researcher Will King to discuss what challenges will face its 46th President. The episode is available to listen to on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Climate Emergency Action
Since our Environment & Climate Emergency declaration we have been working on developing our climate agenda and carbon net zero commitments. Our aim is to mobilise our colleagues, students, partners, and the wider community across the region to work together to deliver a meaningful agenda for climate action. Take a look at our new video which outlines how we plan to achieve this. #oureffect
International Mother Language Day competition
International Mother Language Day is on Sunday 21 February. Whilst we may not all be together to celebrate, we want to raise awareness of the amazing cultural and linguistic diversity across our community with a special competition.
In your video please:
💬 Say Edmund de Waal's phrase below in your own language:
'With languages, you are at home anywhere." ― Edmund de Waal
Then add a message of your own in your own language and repeat it in English. We’re particularly keen to hear positive messages which bring us closer together. You could even write it down and hold it up.
You'll need to log into Flipgrid using your University email address to enter. Good luck!
Widening participation during Covid – seeking participants!
We are seeking participants for a 2-week smartphone study on Social (Dis)engagement during Covid. Participants will have a 1 in 10 chance of winning a ₤20 Amazon gift card This is an experience sampling study looking at social isolation, social engagement and solitude-seeking in daily life during COVID. Participation in this study is done entirely online using smartphone apps and online surveys. Click the study URL to sign up and complete the initial 20-minute online survey
Future of Work
This week marks the launch of the ‘Future of Work’ spring programme and Global Hackathon, which provides you with the unique opportunity to engage in a range of interdisciplinary, global experiences and experiential learning activities. These will help you understand how the world of work is changing, whilst helping you to understand how you can prepare for and succeed in a post-pandemic graduate labour market. The programme launch is a special ‘Industry Leaders Forum’ on Wednesday 11 February, allowing you to hear from experts and alumni representing various sectors and employers.
You can register here. To learn more about the range of exciting webinars, virtual work-related experiences and Global Hackathon, visit the programme website.
Become digitally excellent with the Digital Hub
As we’re spending more time online, we’re all having to quickly become more digitally skilled, and it’s easy to continue doing things the way we always have. This week we’re asking you to take 5 minutes to seek out digital excellence!
Are you tired of hand-writing your notes? Why not use try dictating your notes with office.com?
Or try using an app on your phone to organise your work. Planner on Microsoft Teams is great for this, and it synchronises with your desktop app so you can easily switch between devices.
For more tips on becoming digitally excellent, visit the Digital Hub.
Digital and Coding Week
Join us for the Digital and Coding Week to find out more about the variety of roles available in the IT sector. Jobs in the IT sector are available to all graduates who have an interest in technology and who are prepared to up-skill themselves.
Throughout the week we will be running a range of sessions to help you decide whether this is a sector you wish to explore further. Sessions include How to Design a Mobile App, a Q&A Panel, as well as some special episodes of the Career Zone podcast. For more information visit our website.
Forage for Virtual Internships
We’ve partnered with Forage to bring you a range of online virtual work experiences that’ll help you develop the skills top employers are looking for. Forage is free, open to all students, and you don’t need to have any previous work experience to take part. Plus, Forage is flexible so you can complete the work experiences in a timescale that’s best for you. Experiences are available from a range of Fortune 500 employers including Microsoft, KPMG, and JP Morgan, along with SMEs offering experiences from data analytics to design and branding. Interested? Go Forage!
All of the following events will be held online:
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.
Wednesday 10 February, The Sex and Nature Salon presents 'What's the deal with gay frogs? Join stand-up comedian Siân Docksey and Dr Ina Linge from the University's Sexual Knowledge Unit for this event. You can book a space here.
Tuesday 2 March, 6 - 7pm, University talk and Q&A for students in Cornwall co-hosted by the Students' Union. More details and a link to join this live event will be sent via email.
Friday 5 March, 7 – 8:55pm, we mark St Piran's Day by looking at that global, outward facing aspect of Cornish past and present in a Cornish World. For further details, please visit the Cornish World/Bys Kernow event webpage. To attend please register here.
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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