Important message to students and staff from the Vice-Chancellor & President - 5 January 2021
Read this letter from Universities minister Michelle Donelan issued after the Prime Minister's 22 February announcements.
Dear All,
Following the announcement last night by the UK Prime
Minister, Boris Johnson, that a national lockdown has commenced, we have a challenging start to 2021.
Whilst the continuing restrictions are extremely tough on us all, it is hugely
inspiring to receive messages and actions of positivity and resilience from
many in our community and I wish you all happiness, health and fulfilment for
the new year. I have stated previously that our University community engaged
and working together is a powerful and positive force – together we will
continue to move forward positively and to achieve great things.
The University has been and continues to be well-prepared
in delivering a high-quality, careers-focused education throughout the pandemic
and in managing changes to Covid-19 transmission/government guidance throughout
this academic year. Following on from my message of 31st December 2020 updating
you on the implications of government Covid-19 guidance on our University,
please find a further update below.
The UK is now in national lockdown until at least 15th February when government guidance is subject
to review. You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary.
New laws reinforcing the restrictions will come into force today.
Higher Education provision will remain online (University institutional Tier 4 campus status) until mid-February for all except future critical worker courses. As previously communicated, any teaching, learning
and assessment through January will be on-line with a restricted number of
clinical and practice-based assessments scheduled as planned on-campus.
Students can access their assessment schedule here.
Week 1 of the Spring term commences at the University of
East London on Monday 1st February 2021 (please refer to the 20/21 academic calendar).
The University will continue teaching and learning on-line (at University
operational Tier 4 status) until at least mid-February when government guidance
is subject to review. A small number of clinical courses will commence the new term at University institutional Tier 3 campus status (whilst the
majority of timetabled teaching and learning will be on-line, clinical practice will take place one-day per week
on-campus). Further information about your course will be provided by
course leaders via Moodle/TrackMyFuture.
Essential University campus services and support at both
Docklands and Stratford Campus will remain open (e.g. library, Halls of
Residence). University Square Stratford will be closed during the period of
national lockdown. Updates about on-campus access to all University services
can be found here – please note on-line services remain fully available.
For any student or staff member who fulfil the necessary exemptions of the lockdown restrictions to come onto campus, please ensure you are in
receipt of a negative Covid test (unless you have had a positive test within 90
days). Quick turn-around asymptomatic Covid-19 testing continues to be available for weekly testing of students
and staff at Arena 2 at the SportsDock throughout the period the University is
operating at Tier 4 status.
Please note that the government has detailed additional
advice for people who are clinically extremely vulnerable to coronavirus and households with a possible or confirmed coronavirus infection. If you are clinically
extremely vulnerable you should not attend work, school, college or university,
and limit the time you spend outside the home.
Some of us may be feeling anxious and concerned about the
implications of the national lockdown. Please know we are here for you and will
do our utmost to support you as you study, work and live through the continuing
restrictions. Please remember that wellbeing resources are available via our Well-beingPortal including Togetherall – providing free, confidential, 24-hour online support. The University Hardship
Fund continues to be open for application for those students who are struggling financially. In addition, the University
has allocated an additional £1/4million specifically to support students
experiencing digital poverty which is available for application now.
Further information about the implications of the national
lockdown for new and returning students and for both international students and
students residing in Halls of Residence will be sent out as soon as possible.
In addition, students with queries can contact each school via the email:
School
of Health Sport & BioScience: HealthSportBioscience@uel.ac.uk
Royal
Docks Business School - buslaw@uel.ac.uk
School
of Education & Communities: EDUCOMSchooloffice@uel.ac.uk
Architecture
Computing and Engineering: ace@uel.ac.uk
Arts
and Creative Industries: aci.uel@uel.ac.uk
School
of Psychology: psy.uel@uel.ac.uk
With best wishes,
Amanda
Professor Amanda J. Broderick
BA (Hons) PhD DipM DipMRS
PGCTL FRSA MBGS FCIM FHEA
Vice-Chancellor & President
Government guidance for universities
The Government announced a 4-step plan to ease lockdown in England on Monday 22nd February. For universities that plan includes students on higher education courses requiring “practical teaching, specialist facilities or on-site assessments” returning to campus on 8 March.
Guided by data, the government will review the return of students on all other courses by the end of the Easter Holidays.
Read this letter from Minister of State for Universities Michelle Donelan for further information.
Visit this page for up to date advice from the UK government on travel restrictions.
Those students who are undertaking training and study for the following courses should return to face-to-face learning as planned and be tested twice, upon arrival or self-isolate for 10 days:
- Medicine & dentistry
- Subjects allied to medicine/health
- Education (initial teacher training)
- Social work
- Courses which require Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) assessments and or mandatory activity which is scheduled for January and which cannot be rescheduled.
Students who do not study these courses should remain where they are wherever possible, and start their term online, as facilitated by the university until at least mid-February.
If you live at university, you should not move back and forward between your permanent home and student home during term time.
For those students who are eligible for face-to-face teaching, you can meet in groups of more than your household as part of your formal education or training, where necessary.
Students should socially distance from anyone you do not live with, wherever possible.
We have a quick turn-around asymptomatic Covid-19 testing centre, at Arena 2 in SportsDock ( DocklandsCampus). You can book your test ahead of your visit, using this form.
Staff and students are highly encourages to attend and play their part in helping to reduce the spread of the virus and to commit to the University of East London Covid-19 Community Pledge.
When visiting campus, please commit to our Covid-19 community pledge and remember to follow our Daily 123.