Dear , I do hope this finds you well. I am writing to you to provide further information on the Government’s guidance for higher education on the end of term and arrangements for students to travel home safely at Christmas. Teaching We have been told we must end all on campus, in-person teaching by 9 December and move any remaining sessions for this term online. Your course team will be in touch with you by 17 November to outline plans for teaching, assessment and any placements for your course for remainder of the term. Research and postgraduate supervision will continue as planned. Facilities Both campuses will remain open including libraries and study spaces. You will still need to book a study space. We will also remain open to support students who will remain in student accommodation over the Christmas period as well as those students who live locally and need our continued support. We will provide an update on sports facilities once we understand which tier Leeds will be in when the national lockdown ends on 2 December. Transport The Government is asking all students who want to spend Christmas at an address other than their term time address to travel during the ‘student travel window’ of Thursday 3 December to Wednesday 9 December inclusive. We are working with Leeds City Council and other higher education providers in Leeds to co-ordinate plans with the travel authorities to help support safe travel home for students. Your course team will be in touch to let you know the date of your last session on campus before the break. Testing The Government has asked universities to consider mass testing of students during the period of 30 November and 6 December. We have submitted an expression of interest in the programme. This may not be accepted because the Government intends to target testing based on a range of factors including a high number of cases of the virus amongst students. Cases at our university are currently very low. You do not need to take a test to travel during the student travel window, unless you have symptoms or have been contacted by NHS Test and Trace, in which case you must follow the existing process for testing and self-isolation. Accommodation If you are staying in one of our halls of residence, our Residences team will be in touch with you about your plans for safe departure during the ‘student travel window’. If you are planning on staying in residence during the Christmas break, they will also provide details of the support, facilities and services available to you over this period. Student support You can continue to access a range of student support services through the student hub including support for mental health. Wellbeing support for students is also available through the Government’s Student Space service. National lockdown restrictions – 5 November to 2 December The national restrictions on movement remain in place for everyone until 2 December. This means you are expected to remain at your term-time address until 2 December and should not travel to any other household before then. You should only travel for specific purposes including education and continue to follow public health advice on hands, face, space and the health and safety measures on campus in the mean time. We are still awaiting guidance from Government on plans for January and I will be in touch with you again as soon as that information is available. Best wishes, Peter Professor Peter Slee, Vice Chancellor Leeds Beckett University, City Campus, Leeds, United Kingdom, LS1 3HE 0113 812 0000. |