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Dear all

At the beginning of June we started our phased return to site. The first and second phase has been in progress since then and has seen the successful restoration of laboratory-based scientific research onsite and the return of some basic services for students. We are now moving into the third phase and today I want to share some further details with you on this.

Third phase

The third phase is the commencement of 2020/21 academic year courses from their normal start date.  As you know, for your first term, we are adopting a blended model for teaching and learning that combines online learning with practical, skills-based sessions on campus.  Specific details of the on-campus sessions for your cohort will be provided by your course team.

This phase will also see the reopening of the Student Life Centre and the welfare room onsite.

Please note, the Library computer room, study spaces and basic Library services were restored as part of the second phase. Further information on these can also be found on the student FAQs here.

Students with pre-existing illnesses or disabilities, or who have been shielding

If you suffer from a serious illness which may increase your level of risk, or were required to shield due to Covid-19, we recommend that you complete a personal risk assessment. Please contact your course team to arrange this. St George’s is committed to supporting our students and will explore all reasonable adjustments to support you to thrive on your course.  

Placements  

You will be required to undertake a personal risk assessment for Covid-19 before you can attend any placement (or undertake certain other activities as advised by your course team). Where a health concern arises every effort will be made to identify alternative placement arrangements, but your health and safety will be the first priority, and where alternative arrangements may not be possible, there may be implications for your studies. If you are clinically vulnerable or have been shielding we strongly encourage you to contact your course team now to undertake an personal risk assessment.  

Attendance at site

For the majority of our courses we will be delivering an element of face to face, hands-on teaching on campus in line with social distancing guidelines which you are required to attend. If, due to a health reason you will be unable to attend teaching on site you must let us know before the start of the academic year so we can consider alternative arrangements to ensure you can progress through the course. Mitigating Circumstances can be submitted for unforeseen illnesses, however being unable to attend the site due to shielding or being at heightened risk of Covid-19 from a pre-existing illness or disability will not be accepted as grounds for Mitigating Circumstances. Please discuss this with your course team and complete a personal risk assessment so that all reasonable adjustment can be made

Accessing the Student Life Centre and the welfare room

The Student Life Centre (SLC) will offer a combination of remote and in-person services in the new term. In-person services are due to resume from 24 August. The 6th Floor Student Centre desks will continue to run a remote-only service.

Advice sessions, including disability, student finance and accommodation will continue to be held online in the new term. The SLC front desk will also continue to be available by phone and online, 9am to 5pm, during the week and will be physically open for enrolment and induction activities and offer a limited in-person service during the rest of term. For more information please see the Student Life Centre FAQ here. An FAQ on accessing the welfare room is also available via the student FAQs here.

Institutional safety measures

The top priority throughout this process is the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff. With this in mind, we have undertaken a detailed institutional risk assessment. This risk assessment is being updated for each phase.  Further measures which have been taken to manage risks include:

  • Undertaking local risk assessments and implementing mitigations
  • Programming timetables to help the management of social distancing
  • Establishing socially-distanced teaching facilities
  • Cleansing facilities and providing additional resources for individual hand cleaning/ clear hand cleansing signage
  • Displaying signage for social distancing and one-way routes on site
  • The provision of necessary PPE by the University, if required.

Student responsibilities and key principles

In addition to actions we are taking, students are required to comply with the principles guiding our return to site, which will evolve to reflect the latest Government guidance. This of course will change with time but at present, the following points apply:

  • Any work that can be done at home, should be done at home.
  • University work/study places are being made safe by following Covid-19 Secure guidelines.
  • Government advice is that extremely vulnerable and vulnerable staff/students no longer need to shield. If vulnerable individuals need to return to site, an individual risk assessment evaluating fitness to return should be completed and discussed with their course team or line manager. All individuals undertaking clinical placements will be required to complete an individual risk assessment sent to them by their course teams. Further advice may be obtained from course teams and HR. Willingness to return to campus does not automatically mean they should.
  • Individuals must self-isolate if they have even mild symptoms of Covid-19, or are a household contact of someone who has been symptomatic. Anyone with symptoms should obtain a test through the government Test and Trace systemTests can be booked online, or ordered by telephone via NHS 119.
  • Staff and students should minimise use of public transport as far as possible; if it is necessary to use public transport, face coverings are mandatory.
  • Travel into St George’s must be for work/placement/teaching that cannot be done at home. Staff and students should go directly to their laboratory/place of work/teaching space and leave the University premises after your business on site has been conducted.
  • Face coverings must be worn if entering the Hospital, public areas, retail facilities and the library on site. Face coverings should be worn whilst in the communal walkways and reception of the University. As stocks are limited and in accordance with our environmental policy, students are advised to bring their own re-usable face coverings for use at University.
  • Line managers, course leads and project supervisors will facilitate staff and students to organise their work to enable social distancing but individuals must also take personal responsibility. Where it is not possible to organise work to maintain social distancing then careful consideration must be given as to whether or not this activity should proceed. If it must then additional precautions must be identified to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
  • Staff and students must wash their hands with soap and water or hand gel frequently and whenever leaving the laboratory/place of work/teaching space.
  • Staff and students are advised to bring their own food and drink to work if required as access to kitchen facilities will be limited.

Please review the complete principles here.

Key documents for students

Please can you read and familiarise yourselves with the following documents, which are now available on the Return to Site webpages and student FAQs:

A handy pocket guide on social distancing and returning to site can be found here. A large-font version is also available here.

Support and raising concerns

We are committed to supporting our students through this challenging time. If you would like to talk confidentially to someone, the counselling service can be contacted via email or on 020 8725 3625. The Counselling Service will continue to run sessions remotely from September-December 2020. Students can also seek advice from the Student Life Centre and their Personal Tutor.

For study support students can visit the Canvas Study+ online area for advice and resources including the Academic Success Centre. Please see our website for further details on the range of student support available.

If you have any concerns or are not satisfied with the alternative provision and support you’re receiving and would like to raise this as an issue with us, please discuss this with your course team in the first instance.

Thank you for your patience during this challenging and uncertain time. We aim to return to site in a way which prioritises the safety of our students and staff, while also enabling the vital teaching and research we offer, and the services we provide to support these, to continue.

 

Very best wishes

Paul Ratcliffe

Chief Operating Officer

St George’s, University of London

 

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