Dear colleagues
To keep you in the loop on what information students are being provided with, see below:
We have just published a refresh of the top level of Essentials with the aim of highlighting the most immediately important information for students over the next few weeks (Big thanks to colleagues in Student Comms for whipping this up!). https://www.reading.ac.uk/essentials/
Top line:
- Christmas at the University of Reading (Suite of pages, with staying on campus/travel advice/support, etc) – new
- Returning to campus in 2021 (Plans for teaching, testing, etc) – the ‘life on campus’ section
- Starting a new course in 2021 – Welcome and enrolment information extensively updated
Second line:
- Brexit guidance – extensively updated
- Get Together Apart – events, new section including events in reading over the Closure period
- COVID-19 testing and symptoms info page
Each of these are being promoted in various ways – all the usual channels, plus our new Instagram page, featuring in email communications, and with the support of MCE, RUSU and other social media pages. In addition, last week’s end of term Student Services Newsletter highlighted much of this information in an email direct to students inboxes.
We have asked students who are staying in Reading over the closure period to let us know so that we can highlight specific information to them this week and early next before we close on the 22nd. If you know of students who are staying do please encourage them to sign up to this so we can keep them informed. Please also highlight the RUSU Community facebook group which students can use to connect with each other.
For students staying in halls over the Closure period, we are relaxing the current ‘no visitor’ policy in line with the government’s Christmas bubbles arrangements (i.e. for the 5 day period only), in order that students can invite friends from other flats etc to their halls. Students are being informed of this via UPP shortly.
All Student Support Services are available to students until 1pm on Monday 21st Dec and will re-open on Monday 4th January regardless of the arrangements for staggered return to face-to-face teaching. Although most buildings are now restricted to card entry Carrington remains open so that students can access both Student Services Reception and the Wellbeing, Welfare and Disability teams if required. During the closure period UPP and Halls Welfare Teams (Wardens & Hall mentors) and Security will continue to operate the normal out of hours arrangements.
Do let me know if you have any questions that are not answered by all of the above information
Best wishes
Paddy